Question for those already in nursing school

[Nolander]

This is mainly directed at those in an RN program: how much of nursing school is just a refreshment from what someone would learn in a CNA class (such as bedpans, bed paths, ROM, dressing/undressing) and how much of it is a more analytical "science-y) approach that I would think would be the backbone of an RN program.

[loveoutloud]

Not a whole lot of it is CNA-y. In my program, we did a self study tutorial on bed baths, etc. Other CNA duties such as dressing, AM/PM care and bathing are done at clinical and not something we actually learn at school.

My program is very "science-y", meaning you have to be solid on your pathophysiology in everything or you will not survive.

[KatieJ91]

My first quarter was all CNA clinical skills with my theory being RN based: ethics, culture, growth and development, and the last few weeks basic health needs of peds and adults, and last preoperative nursing.

[OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN]

We did CNA stuff for our first week of clinicals but thats kind of the most. For us though when we care for a pt. we do all their care and usually don't use teh aids at all.

[Tree5981, ADN, BSN, MSN]

First couple months of the semester were mostly CNA skills for our program as well.

[FineAgain]

It depends on whether you are doing an ADN or BSN, although you will do CNA type studies for both. In my area, after 1 year of an ADN program and 2 years of BSN, you can apply for a CNA license. My BSN program is very sciency based, you really have to know your A&P and pathophysiology to pass the nursing courses. The clinicals are where you learn your skills, and the first 2 semesters of clinicals are very CNA oriented but you give meds and other nursing care as well.

[JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN]

We all had to have our CNA certificates to apply to the nursing school. While it is helpful to be able to do basic care for your patients, your ability to understand the sciences and be able to think critically is far more important. Our first week of clinicals was a lot of CNA work but we also worked on assessing our patients.

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

One hour and fifty minutes exactly. Basically one lab period.

[silverbells_star]

Maybe a 1 day of lab. Why do you ask?

[tokyoROSE, BSN, RN]

One day of lab. It isn't rocket science.

[SC APRN, DNP, APRN, NP]

we had videos and one lab for CNA skills. We assist our patients in ADLs but our focus is on assessments, care plans, and passing meds.

[blueyesue]

None! Our school states that they "expect you to come to class the first day knowing your CNA skills because they don't re-teach them."