Question for nurses, nursing students, and CNA's.

ladyinwaiting4 · Nov 18, 2009

I agree with the above posters that you really should get a job as a CNA to make sure that nursing school is what you want to do. Keep in mind that as a nurse, you have to be willing to do the dirty work if necessary. Dealing with vomit, bowel movements, colostomy bags and such is not always fun, but the difference that you can make in the life a patient is what can make it all worthwhile.

Also, try to think outside the box when it comes to getting some experience. As a brand new CNA, I started out volunteering at my local free clinic to get some experience and I learned alot! A little later on, I had a nurse manager to take a chance on me and I got a job as a CNA in a large hospital near where I am currently going to nursing school. Another option that I had considered was home health or working in an assisted living facility (as apposed to a full-care nursing home).

Just get out there and see what you can do. Best of wishes!! :up: :specs:

TristanT · Nov 18, 2009

I can't speak for the person who started this thread, but the CNA horror stories I heard had less to do with dreading bodily fluids and everything to do with burning out from a low-paying job where you are treated like a servant--you'll get plenty of that in nursing school. The prospect of paying a lot of money on nursing school only to end up burnt out on health care in general is a valid concern.

The admissions folks want to see something on the application that says you know what nurses do. There are many smart people who don't! And after you get in, I think nursing school is far easier with patient care experience and you should try to be a nurse tech if at all feasible with your life situation. But pre-nursing school, shadowing and volunteering are great alternatives to being a CNA.

muffylpn · Nov 18, 2009

Well you have to be talking about a community college-because private ones are more than happy to take your money.

And strongly encourage most all the take pre-reqs. We have a community college in my area that you have to be a CNA

with 1 working yr under ur belt before they will allow you to apply to the program. My girlfriend in Hawaii who is in an RN

program ( her college) insists everyone take their CNA during the summer and then take the LPN boards midway thru their BSN-it's not a suggestion they make you do it. In my hospital only one CNA out of several CNA was given a job as a PD nurse when she graduated this yr, the rest had a very difficult time finding jobs in nursing homes. I guess my point is this

if you really have ur heart set on this school-you seem to have no choice. Nursing schools do not want to teach people

how to be CNAs-if students already have this under their belts-it is of benefit to both parties involved. Second, if you

live in an area like me and want to work in a hospital after you finish ur RN. Really do yourself a favor get in a hospital

now and get a know everyone, be willing to learn and be pleased to do any task they ask of you. You will be the one

that gets the job in the end and in the end-you will know the floor and people you will be working with-no mean people

to orient you.

CountyRat · Nov 18, 2009

Well, I can't advise you on your choice of schools, but I STRONGLY urge anyone considering a carreer in nursing to work as a CNA, or at least do volunteer work in a hospital. Nursing is a very demanding profession, and frankly, most people will not like doing it. I have met too many angry, unhappy people with nursing licenses who hate their jobs, hate their patients, hate their colleagues, but stay in nursing because it is the only work they have learned to do (and usually do badly, oh by the way).

I also agree with all of the posters who write that, if the work of a CNA is "the worst of the worst" as you see it, you will NOT be happy in nursing. There are much easier ways to make a living, and help others at the same time. Don't go to nursing school unless you are one of the few who feel truely excited about caring for the ill, even though it is hard, and sometimes unpleasant.

BabiCMA · Nov 18, 2009

Well, I say to that "hooplah!" I was accepted into a very competitive nursing program in Florida with 75% B's, 20% A's, and a single, solitary C. Granted, I was the lowest GPA accepted - but got in, nonetheless. I have now finished nursing school and am awaiting my Authorization to Test for the NCLEX-RN. Please do not get discouraged. Apply anyway! If not, try other accredited schools. We need more high quality students like yourself in the nursing profession! :yeah:

nursingstudentinnc · Nov 18, 2009

this simply amazes me! i can't understand why anyone would even have to ask this??? there are wayyyy too many people wanting to get into nursing school who have zero common sense!! that should be the first test!

let me ask, do you think you should go to mechanics school and not ever have had a drivers license?? i'd hate to be a patient of a nurse who'd never been a cna. WALK BEFORE YOU RUN........geezzzzzz. there is no lack of common sense in this business

PhoenixFyre · Nov 18, 2009

I think many of the suggestions above are great, but being a CNA isn't the only way to get into nursing school. I don't have a whole lot of experience in health care, per se - I've never worked in the hospital environment. What I do have is training as an EMT (which I didn't use much because at the time I was in late stages of Lyme Disease), experience in an animal emergency clinic, and experience (one summer) as a home health aide for two young men with Muscular Dystrophy. At this point, my biggest background boost is that I work at the National Institutes of Health doing public health research funding.

And I'm about to start an accelerated second bachelor's program at Georgetown.

So, if you don't want to do the CNA deal, there are other options. I'd suggest some home health aide work (keep in mind pay is low, but it can be great experience). You might also volunteer at the Red Cross. Most volunteer work in the hospital setting that I've found isn't patient-care related at all.

I do feel strongly that you should get some sense of patient care before you actually apply and get to school. As harsh as the previous poster comes across, it does make sense to know what you're getting in to. Don't just think that nursing, no matter what level, is all butterflies and rainbows. It's a tough, sometimes dirty, "roll up your sleeves and push back your hair" kind of job.

Take some time to figure out if you know why you want to apply. That's usually a huge component of being accepted (in my experience).

nursingstudentinnc · Nov 18, 2009

i think you have proven my point about "medical" background! i did not mean to be harsh, but anyone who has worked as much as you , qualifies as VERY medically experienced. wait till you actually are IN clinicals & you'll notice those who did zero medical work. you will be stunned! i have been around too many nursing students who were very smart, studied & applied themselves , but had no soul or "natural" nursing ability. it hurts me to think some of them may be caring for me one day!

Nursing is about heart, sacrifice and determination. any less is shorting the patient. i'm sure you will be a superb student and nurse!

PhoenixFyre · Nov 18, 2009

Oh I agree that I proved your point. I think that SOME kind of experience is needed, especially in a field like this. But I think that telling the poster they have no common sense is harsh - that's just my take on your previous post.

I'm not sure I would qualify myself as "very" experienced, but thank you for the compliment. I'm sure I'll see many without that natural spark. Sadly I've seen many out there already, without having started school. I think that anyone who is interested in any type of medical field would be well-advised to seek out any way to get experience, and in my opinion being a CNA isn't the penultimate experience for nursing.

NurseBanana · Nov 18, 2009

Hello everyone,
I'm looking for some opinions based on sound experience in the nursing community. I was going to apply to a few nursing programs this Fall for the following year, but recently had a conversation with an admissions advisor at what will remain an "unnamed" school. In any case, they said that in spite of the 14 As and 1 B I have completed for the prereq courses that I stand a snowball's chance in Hell of getting into a nursing program because I have absolutely no medical experience; for instance, volunteering, pushing a broom in a hospital, working as a "CNA", a receptionist, etc. They suggested I get a "CNA" and go in the trenches for a year, then apply. So....my questions.
Do you think this person is correct in light of the overwhelming amount of applicants for nursing programs?
I've read nothing but horror stories about CNA jobs. Duties entail the worst of the worst of the worst. Moreover, pay is not a living wage.

Thanks,
K

I would not waste your time doing a CNA before applying to nursing school- you might as well volunteer/work for free, but you will be spending extra money and time that you could be spending on your higher degree. I think you should go ahead and still apply, and also start volunteering. If you get rejected, keep volunteering and apply again! You WILL get in, with a great GPA like that. Don't CNA unless you are already done with all the pre-reqs and really need the job (although as i said before, the low pay is almost like owrking for free!) I mean, you could work as a waiter/waitress and make a LOT more.... :twocents:

CeilingCat, ASN, RN · Nov 18, 2009

I had zero medical experience, and I got in the first try (RN program). Zero. Never volunteered for anything remotely medical related. Only thing in my favor is that I did have vet experience doing lots of equine rescue work [injections, wound care, etc], but that probably doesn't count. My general adviser said they wouldn't accept me in my situation. It cost me nothing to apply... the worst they could say is no. They said yes to me.

Unless they're charging a huge application fee, why not apply?

justpeachy84 · Nov 18, 2009

I too had absolutely no medical experience before applying to nursing school and got in the first time I applied (and we had over 500 applicants for 60 spots in the program). I know admission requirements vary from school to school, but it's definitely worth going through the application process, you never know what could happen! Also, if it's that hard to get into that particular school, it may be worth looking around and researching some other nearby schools. As far as having CNA or other experience when applying for an RN position, one of my teachers told me it's more about who you know and what kind of references you have. Good luck and don't give up!!