Should I gain experience or money?

Leafhouse · Oct 23, 2011

This is a tough one. You'll have to work twice as much to make what you're currently making now. I did work throughout nursing school but I didn't become a CNA until my 5th semester. Personally, I liked that my job had nothing to do with school. For my own sanity, I needed that seperation. On the other hand, when I became a CNA, I wish I had started BEFORE nursing school because I felt nursing school would have been a lot less stressful. I think becoming a CNA and a nursing student at the same time is a little different. It may either create more stress or less stress in your life depending on the person that you are. Is this CNA position a full-time staff position or a per diem position? My position was per diem which is perfect for any student especially nursing students.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Oct 23, 2011

If there is ANY way to make the CNA job work, it will give you so much useful experience- especially with time management that very often (and understandably) overwhelms new grads. If I hadn't had CNA experience during school, I would have sunk like a rock when I got my first job in LTC w/30 SNF patients on 3-11 and another 30 dementia patients (60 total) on nights.

It also will have more weight on your application/resume. :up:

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Oct 23, 2011

Oh, BTW..... I worked all of my 40 hours between 3pm Friday and 11pm Sunday: 3-11 and 11-7 on Friday and Saturday, and bounced back for a 3-11 on Sunday (I was 19-20 years old). :)

NurseToBe3 · Oct 23, 2011

That's where I'm at right now! I work as a waitress and I really thought hard about weather I wanted the experience or the money. I decided to stick with my serving job for now. I'm a month into my nursing program and I'm sooo glad I stuck with that decision. My work is flexible with my schedule, I make great money in 4 or 5 hours (and still have time to study that day), and there are always people to pick up my shift if I need to do homework. I think after my first year I will go look for a CNA job, but for now I'm happy to be where I am. I'm already having a tough time juggling school, clinicals, my kids and the few shifts I work each week. I'm very grateful for the flexibility! Good luck with your decision!

Striving2BG8, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2011

I would go for the money because even though experience would help you in the future. Right NOW you need to make sure you pass your classes! All the experience in the world won't make sure your readings, care plans, are done. If you have to work 4-5 days to make ends meet with the new job you maybe pushing it. At least start the semester and see how your time-management is going. If you find yourself with good grades, all your work done but have tons of free time then go for it. :)

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ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2011

Go with the waitress job if it's here and now, you do it well without having any problems, and you make the money you want. To go to school you have to work and make money so that's priority number one. Anybody can be hired as a CNA and find a job without trouble. Heck, shake any tree around here and a CNA will fall out.

chevyv, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2011

I would do the CNA. It was scarry watching some nursing students who had never worked as a CNA try to gain the confidence that others who worked in the field had. I had worked for many years as a CNA before nursing school and can tell you that it made a huge difference in the way I handled myself with patients as well as in difficult situations. My instructors didn't need to hold my hand nearly as much as others with no hands on experience.

Just getting comfortable touching a stranger can be difficult for many people. You could always tell who didn't have the experience. If this is your chosen field it seems you would want to work in it from all the ranks possible.

If money is a huge issue, then you have to do what you have to do. If you can make it on less, than it's just my :twocents: but getting some experience will go a long way.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Oct 24, 2011

Is the CNA position PRN, part-time, full-time? If you can get a PRN position, why not do both? CNA experience is invaluable and if anyone has an opportunity to work a CNA or tech or whatever while in school, I strongly encourage them to do so (check out my post here).