Should I get my CNA over the summer?

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Hello:

In mid September, I will begin my prereqs for a BSN at a 4-year university, which I'm very excited about. I got a few classes out of the way in high school, so I should be able to apply to the nursing program for the Fall '15 quarter and follow my school's 1+3 roadmap rather than going the typical 2+2 route.

Anyway, I'm really wanting to get my foot in the door for nursing, so I did some research and found out that the community college here offers a CNA course over the summer (Summer '15). I don't know the exact details of it yet (the website was very basic, not providing many specifics, and it's Sunday so no one's there to answer the phones) but if the program is something I would be able to do over the summer, would it be practical/feasible to work as a CNA part-time while going to nursing school for my BSN? I know working part-time as an RN is practically impossible until you have at least a few years in, but what is it like for a CNA? Is it unheard of a CNA working part-time, or at least getting hours that can be worked around a nursing school schedule? My sister worked as a CNA while she went to nursing school and it worked out for her, but she was in an ADN program, and I'm not sure if it would work out the same for someone in a BSN program.

One more short question. If everything works out and I am able to work as a CNA and still go to school for my BSN at the same time, would having worked as a CNA make it easier for me to find a job as an RN once I get my RN license?

OH and if a copy of the 1+3 roadmap that I mentioned earlier (that I'm hoping to follow) would be helpful, let me know and I can post a copy of it.

Sorry if this is long :/ I didn't mean for it to be a book, I just have a lot of questions. I'm sure you've all figured out that this is just a highly tentative "plan" that just popped into my head about 30 minutes ago. I really appreciate anyone who took the time to read all of this and may be able to provide feedback. Thanks!

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First, check the requirements for the nursing program. Some require that a person get the CNA certificate, others only give credit in the application process, others don't consider it at all, unless you can mention it in your app essay. Others look favorably on having a CNA certificate and even more favorably on one who has paid CNA work experience. Find out what the CNA cert will do for you in this respect. As far as helping you get hired as an RN, don't look for that. Employers look for paid RN experience when hiring for RN. Most limit, or don't count at all, work as an LPN/LVN or CNA/HHA. You can work around your school schedule with CNA work, but don't forget that your school program comes first. If you find that the job impinges on school, then you may be forced to make a choice between the two. Do not expect school personnel to be sympathetic that you had a job if you start to have academic problems, they don't want to hear it.

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That would be incredibly smart of you to do. I wish I did that before starting my nursing program, because now it doesn't make sense if I got my CNA due to me starting fundamentals this Fall. After completing fundamentals, nursing students can usually work as a nurse tech, patient care tech, or nurse's attendant at a hospital setting - essentially filling the role of a CNA. But given the chance to turn back time, I'd definitely do the CNA thing for a year while completing my prereqs. It will be a bit of a juggle with studying, work, and social life, but it should force you manage your time efficiently. It's definitely a habit you want to stick to as soon as possible!

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Thanks for the responses, caliotter3 & knnyz! I wasn't really intending on using it on my app for nursing school, seeing as I most likely wouldn't start the CNA class until after apps are due (if I even do the CNA class at all). It's good to hear that I would probably be able to work the schedule around school, and yes, school definitely comes before work. My ultimate goal is to get licensed as a NP (right now I'm leaning toward ACNP), so I wouldn't jeopardize or delay getting my BSN for a CNA job.

EDIT: It's also interesting to hear that you can usually work as a nurse tech/etc. after completing Fundamentals. I haven't heard of that before. I'll have to email my adviser and see if the fundamentals class offered at my school would allow me to take that route. If I did do the CNA, it wouldn't be until Summer 2015, then I would take Fundamentals in Fall 2015 (considering I'm accepted), so I would be finding myself in a situation similar to yours. I'll definitely contact my adviser and get her opinion/advice on this as well regarding the specific program at my school :) Thanks!

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Specializes in None yet..

If you want to work as a CNA before nursing school only to get experience that will help you in nursing school, then go to one of the far less expensive and time-consuming CNA schools. Pick one that is also a test site so you can do your certification exam in the same place you learned and practiced.

That's my advice based on taking my CNA course at a community college, paying three times the tuition and spending an entire quarter instead of four weeks sitting in a hot, stuffy classroom listening to materials that for the most part was a lightweight rehash of material I'd learned already in my nursing school prerequisites. Students in the specialty school got all the same additional CNA stuff about whether jello is a solid or a liquid for I/O purposes without the useless extras the college class stuffed in to fill time. The students from the testing site school who tested with me all flew through their exams and passed. I passed, too, but I sweated bullets as I tried to remember all the steps while learning a completely new layout.

Just like you, I intended to work as a CNA only as a steppingstone to and through nursing school. I start nursing school this fall so I can't give you hindsight perspective on how much my CNA work helped me in nursing school but I suspect that after three months I'll have milked all the nursing school help I can get. That's been plenty of time to get comfortable and fluent with all the skills and to flush out the practical politics and pitfalls of working in healthcare. Last but not least, to appreciate that CNAs are the bedrock that nurses stand on, overworked, underpaid and often unappreciated.

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I'm getting ready to do a cna program at an LTC facility that is 4 weeks I originally planned to do my pre reqs for fall but due to financial reasons decided to do pre reqs in spring and start my BSN journey in fall 2016. With the cna I'm hoping to gain experience. People say you really find out if your meant for nursing if you start out as a cna or lpn

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I'm getting ready to do a cna program at an LTC facility that is 4 weeks I originally planned to do my pre reqs for fall but due to financial reasons decided to do pre reqs in spring and start my BSN journey in fall 2016. With the cna I'm hoping to gain experience. People say you really find out if your meant for nursing if you start out as a cna or lpn

Did I mention if you train at the facility if you choose to work for them they reimburse you, and they also pay for nursing school.

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