Should I get my CNA certification before RN school?

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Dear Nurse Beth,

I wanted to pick your brain. I am in the middle of a career change into nursing. I have been accepted in nursing school and my plan for the summer prior to the fall start was to obtain my CNA license. I felt this would give me good clinical experience, and make some contacts before nursing school begins. I was contacted by the nursing school stating a vacancy has opened in their summer nursing program. If I accepted the spot, I will be finished with school 5 months earlier. I am torn between finishing sooner or staying on course with the CNA and then nursing school.

In your opinion, especially for a late starter into nursing, which path would you recommend? I've read that while a CNA license is great, it isn't necessary for success as an RN.

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Dear Should I get my CNA certification before RN school,

Skip the certified nursing assistants (CNA) track and start nursing school now. Working as a CNA is helpful and gives you exposure to the hospital setting, but in no way should delay your start in the nursing program.

Your first semester of nursing school is considered equivalent to CNA training and certification by many hospitals. Hospitals will often hire second semester RN students to work as CNAs or patient care technicians (PCTs).

You are right that working as a CNA will help you make contacts. My advice is to start school, get a job as a CNA second semester in a reputable hospital, and work part-time until graduation. Your chances of being hired will be astronomically higher than those of your fellow nursing students who do not work as a CNA or PCT.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

[BethCNA]

My ADN program requires completion of a CNA course before applying. I find that it has been very helpful to have that level of background in my other classes.

[Scroll89]

I'll go ahead and put this out there.. Getting your CNA cert so late in the game may hinder your educational experience. Many of the CNA's that I was in school with (I was a phlebotomist before nurse) had a very difficult time making the role transition to licensed professional nursing. They found it difficult to adopt the clinical aspects of nursing and instead continued to think like UAP's (Unlicensed assistive personnel). A lot of this translated into hind-sight bias with in class work and testing. Did they have an advantage when it came to things like changing beds, feeding patients, and ADL's? Sure. But that was the extent of it, and like Nurse Beth said you will learn that very early in your program. Learn to think like a nurse from the start and you will find it much easier to get through the program.

[inprocess]

In our area, virtually all of the nursing schools require applicants to have their CNA 1 (certified nurse aide) license AND a minimum number hours of paid CNA work experience before they're allowed to enroll in nursing school. The nursing schools do not want to take students who might quickly change their minds about nursing, and they don't want to spend time teaching basic ADL and vital signs skills. Check with your nursing school to see what is required and go from there. Also, in our state, no one can be hired as a CNA without a license, and you have to take the written and skills test for the license. You can challenge the test, but you'll be teaching yourself the required skills. Most students go to a private CNA school and take a class that includes classroom instruction and three or four days of clinical work. The state will not issue CNA 1 licenses just because you completed first-semester nursing classes. Again, check with your school and go from there.

[chacha82, ADN, BSN]

I was a CNA before I applied to nursing school. There were several of us who were CNAs in my nursing school class. But many were not, and after the NCLEX my whole class got to work. It just depends. In my case it proved to be very helpful because I was able to work in a "pool" CNA position the last two semesters I was in school. Before that I had CNA experience but in other settings. If getting your CNA means you can get a flexible job and work while in nursing school then I think it is a great move. But if the classes aren't available to you or it is a big burden to get it done while in school I wouldn't.

[Caroline123]

Wow, when I went to nursing school that was not a requirement. I never stepped foot in a hospital (except for being born) until nursing school. I would say skip it, save your back early on.