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

U.S.A. Oregon

Published

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.

  1. Do you think this person is correct in light of the overwhelming amount of applicants for nursing programs?
  2. 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

Specializes in Med/Surg - Cardiovascular.

It really depends on the school and the program. I am in a direct-entry program for people with bachelor's degrees in an area other than nursing. My only med-related experience was volunteering in an ER for 3 months. They were more interested in how my experiences would help me as a nurse.

If you are worried about finding a job after you get into a school, make sure you get to know the nurses and nurse managers on your floors during your clinical rotations. If there are not any openings on their floors when you are job searching, they may be kind enough to be a reference. They may even know someone at another facility who is hiring and their reference may be enough to put you over the top.

I've also met nursing students who work as CNAs when they are not in school. They get the experience and money to pay for school. Also another way to make connections. Three birds with one stone.

Good luck.

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From the OP,

Wow, for so many days this topic attracted very little attention, then bang! For the doubters, I come with a very diverse education and work history. For example, a BA in Humanities, and BS in Computer Science, and a MA in East

Asian history. I graduated with honors in all of them. I have worked at the legislative level writing Bills; have lectured; owned a company; lived in other countries, etc. I could go on. The point being is that I don't consider myself, nor do my friends, an idiot. The long-term goal is to become a NP with a specialty in Psychiatry. I have lived with anxiety and panic disorder my entire life and have received fabulous help along the way. I want to give back. It's something I've wanted to do for many years. When I mentioned horror stories about being a CNA, it's that I've never heard anything good. I've asked other nurses and practitioners and they've offered a variety of descriptions, but typically dismal. I'll have to see for myself. I will enroll in a CNA class. It's only about $1500 and three months. I'm sure it won't kill me. And hopefully, I'll find employment someplace to get hands on experience.

Thanks for all your input. :-)

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I am not sure what region you are from but I live in the south where they don't even ask on majority of the 4 and 2 year applications if you've had experience. They only accept you based on GPA and test scores. With those grades you would have no problem getting in down here. Any interest in coming to the South?

As far as becoming a CNA goes...I thank God everyday that I dodged that bullet. I was all signed up to taking the course and ended up meeting with my advisor right before who told me that experience gives you no advantage whatsoever!!! Good Luck!!!!!

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Hmmm. What makes you think being a nurse is so much better than being a CNA? Baths are baths whether you are an RN or a CNA. Diapers are diapers.

I have been both, and I don't see a big gap between the quality of the jobs. More responsibility as an RN, harder physical work as an aide but you actually get to take your "break time". More mental stress as an RN. In both jobs you have people yelling at you and looking down on you. Maybe being a CNA would be a good experience for you to see if this is really what you want. Oh wait, you are going to be an NP, so you will be able to look down on the RNs!

I think if all nurses got to walk in the shoes of the CNA first, they might be a little more humble and a little more aware that CNAs are valuable members of the team. If you have to work anyway you would greatly benefit from being an aide before or during nursing school. I worked as an aide in nursing school and was one of two in my class that actually got hired at the hospital I was an aide at. Everyone else either had to look elsewhere, move away, or give up on nursing.

Good luck, you sound like you have been drifting from thing to thing. I hope nursing is what you are looking for. Being a CNA may help you decide that before you waste more time and money on another degree.

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no school cares if you're a cna in the south??? in NC, SC and Va, most ALL schools have 1 year at least as a licensed cna , before you can even bother to apply! CXG174 says it all. you do the same work 1/2 the time, & you can always tell those that went into nursing to find a husband.....nursing is hard, hard, devoted work, not simply a way to recession proof your economic base. It's a shame that you could even take the nclex without a year of hard, honest cna work! geezzzzzz........thanks CXG174

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Hi, I have worked as a CNA and now a 1st yr nursing student. I would have to say first, Cna is hard work and yes little pay. However, it is very rewarding caring for people. I really think this is a field where you have to be a caring and giving person. With that said if you want to go into this field then do it!! DO NOT let someone discourage you from something you want. Work as a CNA while waiting to get into a nursing program not only do you get experience but you also learn a lot that will help you when you do get into a nursing program.

The last day of my CNA class, my instructor had me crying, saying I would never make it it. Boy did I prove her wrong. Not only have I made it but I was also a cna preceptor the last cna job I had.

I am going to a community college that gets over 500 applicants for 95 seats. I worked hard and got in. They go on GPA is what they say. I think it is a little hand picking too. If you don't like what this advisor said to you then by all means go talk to another one. If you're still not satisfied then go talk to the dean of nursing. The first advisor I talked to, stirred me in the wrong direction.

Like I said, if this is something you want then don't let anyone discourage you. Believe in yourself and follow your heart! I've cried, been depressed, but excited to be in a program finally. Its hard work but very rewarding.

If there is anything questions regarding my post, certainly ask me and I will try to help in anyway I can.

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What school did you get into?

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Specializes in OB, Med/Surg ,Homecare, Teaching.
The story and comments are most intersting. I would strongly suggest inquiring about the requirements that the school you wish to attend, will be judging you on when they are making selections. They may not be forthcoming but it's worth a try. In the year, one, 0001, when I went to nursing school, they had 400 applicants for 45 slots so competition was rough. I had all prereqs completed and was also an operating room technician. But my friend who was going to be a teacher switched her major and applied to nursing school AD program with me and we were both accepted. We had been told that no one with a score lower than 45 percentile on the NLN exam would be considered. They are selective because they need to maintain the schools credentials and can only do that if their students pass the licensure exam. That doesn't seem to bare any resemblance to how they test you in nursing school. Back to year, 0001, I passed on my first attempt with a perfect score in OB. Back then each area had a separate test. And you needed to score at least 350 out of 700 to pass that area. I don't believe they will ever make it easier and I don't believe they should. I went on to obtain a BSN with honors, and a NP and then a JD.

I have never noticed the initials JD used in the medical field. What does JD stand for. Just wondering.

Thanks and have a great day!

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no its actually kind of funny. all the applications ask for is your address and transcript. not even an interview or essay or references or anything!! its crazy. I volunteered in ltc for over 800 hours and learned that nursing was for me. i commend the cnas for doing what they do. i just didnt pursue it because i didnt think it was best for my situation.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ER, Sedation Nurse,.

"Healthcare experience"...Hmmmm who says it has to be as a CNA. There are tons of jobs out there in healthcare that aren't CNA jobs. What about EMT??, phlebotomist? Tech of some sorts. be creative, check out the web sites of all different types of medical facilities.

Laura

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"Healthcare experience"...Hmmmm who says it has to be as a CNA. There are tons of jobs out there in healthcare that aren't CNA jobs. What about EMT??, phlebotomist? Tech of some sorts. be creative, check out the web sites of all different types of medical facilities.

Laura

The only reason I said work as a cna while waiting to be accepted to a program is because where I am from(Chicago area), you have to have taken the cna class a pre-req, so why not use it and work as a cna while waiting to be accepted. I learned a lot working as a cna. I worked with a terrific nurse (30yrs+) and when she had to do a nursing procedure, she would have me assist her ( such as handing her things, help with body checks for new admissions, etc) and talk me thru the procedure as she was doing it. It helped a lot to learn for the future.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ER, Sedation Nurse,.

I remember some of the nurses I went to school with. Some of them had just graduated from high school. The way our program worked is that you became a CNA, then an LPN, then and RN. they 60 first yrs slots, who became lpns, and 45 second year slots. So quite a few only made it through the first year. Some of these girls had "always wanted to be a nurse". They looked shell shocked for the first 3-6 mo of school. I on the otherhand, got a job as a fluke as an EKG tech. Liked the work, but decided you couldn't pay me enough money to work as an Nurse. I went to a different hospital, where I was much more involved in pt care, as a cardiology tech I attended codes, and was the monitor for the codes. After about a year, I decided I needed to know what they knew. I wanted all that knowledge, to be able to do for people what they did. Granted, it was a long time ago. I was in the first group of nurses who took the combined nursing exam, instead of the separeately scored exams. Wow...dating myself.

As another thought, those of you who get to take a test in a room w a computer, well, you don't have to wait 4-8wks for the results, but the experience of taking the exam w all your fellow nurses is something I would never give up. What a great experience.

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