Recommended courses/certifications before starting clinicals?

[luv_clyde]

Hello, I am new to this website and hopefully I am doing this right. I am a nursing student in New York. I recently got into nursing school and was wondering if there were any courses or certifications for undergraduates that could possibly help with my future clinicals? I've heard from a few of my classmates that they took the EKG & phlebotomy course. I've also heard experience as a CNA is helpful. There's just so many things I'm hearing from different people I'm not sure what to do. At the moment, I'm volunteering at the city hospital but I wanted to know what other people had to say about this.

[Taylor13, CNA]

I absolutely recommend getting your CNA. I was a CNA before nursing school and it made me way more confident in the clinical setting. You learn the basics of patient care, so when it's time for clinicals you have more time to focus on the new nursing skills. EKG and phlebotomy really aren't as important since you should learn both in school and you probably won't use either of those skills until after your first term of school, so the info won't be fresh. 

[luv_clyde]

14 hours ago, AlissaTaylor13 said:

I absolutely recommend getting your CNA. I was a CNA before nursing school and it made me way more confident in the clinical setting. You learn the basics of patient care, so when it's time for clinicals you have more time to focus on the new nursing skills. EKG and phlebotomy really aren't as important since you should learn both in school and you probably won't use either of those skills until after your first term of school, so the info won't be fresh. 

Thank you for the tips! I really appreciate it. I'm actually starting my clinicals this Spring but didn't know that having experience as a CNA would be helpful until now. I was wondering if it would be too late to do it in the Summer? I would already have been in my first semester of clinicals by then.

[Red Shirt 6, CNA]

Do you have a specialty or area of interest?

I know of 8 week CNA programs. 

Here are some other general certifications, courses that may be helpful. a Direct Care Worker (DCW) certification, Food Handlers Permit, FEMA - Independent Study. ACLS and PALS however your employer may pay for these. 

 

[luv_clyde]

@Red Shirt 6 Well, to be honest, I don't know much about all these certifications and courses which is why I'm having a hard time deciding. But one thing I know for sure is that I like to focus on caring for the older population. I was thinking of maybe finding a student intern opportunity if a CNA does not work for me.