Should I get a CNA or EMT job

[Newstu22]

I'm a new nursing student and many of my classmates have CNA jobs or are EMTs. Does this help boost your chances of getting a job at graduation? I currently work at a pharmacy and have had clinical experience in a pathology lab and in a Microbiology research lab. Does being a CNA or EMT help better prepare you for clinicals?

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

The scope of a CNA prepares you to assist nurses. I'm an LVN and I use my CNA skills often. Completion of that program has been an asset to me. Working as a CNA helped me to really understand the work environment of nursing.

But, EMT, to me, is more "exciting". I wish I could have done both. If you think you'll work in the ER or in sports medicine or ortho, maybe EMT would provide you with useful skills.