Should I try to work as CNA before I get my RN?

[nolamor]

Hello-

I'm hoping to get accepted and start nursing school (BSN) Aug. 2011. In the meantime I'm holding a full time job in an unrelated field while I take a few pre-reqs. I am wondering if it might be a good idea to get my CNA certification and work as a CNA before I start school to become an RN. Some nurses tell me not to do it because the work is "awful", others seem to think its a good idea because it will give me that experience and may help with applying to schools.

Please send me your thoughts on this if you have a moment. I would greatly appreciate it.

Best regards,

Lili

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Yes.....

[happy2learn]

My school requires CNA certification to get into the program. You don't have to work as a CNA, but you have to take and pass the class and pass the state test. If your school does not, then more than likely they will teach you most of those skills.

But if it's going to put a financial strain on you then no. I think there is enough stress with school that adding financial stress, if it can be avoided, is unnecessary. I would volunteer at a hospital in that case. You can network.

I think even just taking the class will help you as well.

[grateful2010, LPN, LVN]

I don't see the sense if it isn't required. Nursing school teaches you the skills to becoma a REGISTERED NURSE! Working as a CNA isn't the same as working as a RN! CNA's ASSISTS RN's, big difference. Nursing school is suppose to expose you to basic Nurse care (CNA work) during the Fundamental course! If I were you I wouldn't waste my time unless I really needed the money.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

I didn't work as a CNA or PCT. I didn't want to. I'm glad I didn't.

However, it does make landing your first job more difficult if you don't have CNA/PCT experience. Probably, the ideal scenario is to work as a CNA/PCT/intern/extern after your first or second semester of nursing school. This allows you to get your foot in the door at a facility.

I'm still glad I didn't, though. And I got a job.

[Jules A, MSN]

Not if you can make decent money doing something else! I'm sorry but it is back breaking work that pays horribly. In my class the CNAs, PCTs, GNAs etc. really only had an advantage during the first semester when the rest of us were trying to figure out how to take a blood pressure.

[BSNRN2010, BSN, RN]

I was a CNA before I became a nurse. I did CNA work for 3 yrs before I actually got into the program. I only did it for a little bit of money and my mom thought it would be good to get an understanding of their job so when I became a nurse I would understand their responsibilities.

With all that being said, I think it was helpful in my 1st semester as far as basic duties. It also helped with general patient interactions. I did both LTC and hospital. I think it will be helpful to do it PRN in a hospital and not a LTC facility. If you do, find a nurse that is willing to teach you some things and be the best at what you do even though you may not like it. I didn't always like what I had to do as a CNA but I like most of my patients and it was gratifying when you could actually make them feel a little better in the midst of illness.

[yousoldtheworld]

I think it's a good idea.

Yes, it is hard work and it is very, very different from the work you will do as an RN. But the thing that makes it so beneficial, in my opinion, is getting you comfortable in the healthcare setting.

If you've never worked in that setting before, you're going to be extra nervous, extra timid, and extra stressed when you're a new nurse. Yes, you have your clinicals, but even those seem to go much more smoothly when you already have a feel for the environment.

I worked at a large teaching hospital that hired many new nurses, and you could often tell the difference between the ones who had worked as an aide/pct and the ones who hadn't. Ones who hadn't might be timid about rolling a (easy to roll) resident over to do a dressing change, for example, and would walk around until they found someone to ask for help, whereas the ones who had a bit more experience felt comfortable enough to just do it themselves.

[jb2u, ASN, RN]

I don't see the sense if it isn't required. Nursing school teaches you the skills to becoma a REGISTERED NURSE! Working as a CNA isn't the same as working as a RN! CNA's ASSISTS RN's, big difference. Nursing school is suppose to expose you to basic Nurse care (CNA work) during the Fundamental course! If I were you I wouldn't waste my time unless I really needed the money.

It does go a long way towards understanding exactly what the cna's go through!! Fundamentals do teach you basic nursing care; however, it by no means gives you a hint of what it is like to be a cna. Not to say that one can not be a great nurse without first being a cna, but it does help. Also, you will learn some great time-management skills.

[stephaniep05]

I didn't start working as a Nursing Assistant until I was in nursing school (I didn't have to take the course because the hospital accepted my nursing school clinicals in lieu of the actual CNA course). I worked on an a Labor and Delivery floor and it was such a valuable experience. The nurses I worked with knew I was in nursing school and went out of their way to make sure I got to see/assist in many different procedures. Of course, not every unit treats their CNAs like this, so that's another thing to consider..

I'd say you should definitely work as a CNA before you get your RN, but you certainly don't have to do it before nursing school. Honestly, you're going to be a nurse for many many many years after nursing school..mine as well have some fun (if you like your other FT job, that is) before nursing takes over your life :)

i believe this is why you should work as an aide before hand, coming from an aide myself we don't always get treated with respect from fellow nurses and it makes our jobs even more stressfull and teamwork isn't great which then reflects on patient care. The nurses that have worked as an aide have better understanding at what it's like and help out a lot more. Plus, there are basics that you would think they would teach in nursing school but don't, tricks you learn that can help you not only through out nursing school but when you are working as a nurse.

I start nursing school in two weeks and i'm so glad that i have experience as an aide first but it isn't something you have to do but i highly recommend it, at least prn or pt... so you get a feel of it. And from my experience i reccomend hospitals before a nursing home, nursing homes are rough and very demanding and as a nursing student you'll learn more in hospital. Good luck to you!!!

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

It helps you get comfortable interacting with patients, physically and socially. And it gives you an idea of how a hospital or nursing home is run. You learn how to be organized and efficient. Not to mention you get your foot in the door after you graduate. So if you had a crappy job to begin with I would say definitely work as a CNA. If your current job pays decently and you don't mind it, I'd say keep that job- nursing school is stressful and expensive and being exhausted when you come home from work (and broke all the time) is going to make you regret doing it. If you keep your current job you can still try and get a PRN gig as a CNA.

[singingtothewheat]

Working as a C.N.A. can only do you good as far as I'm concerned. I started working as a C.N.A. after our first semester of nursing school. It was an eye opener. It will give you an idea of how hard our friends and workmates really do work. We need to know that. I never forgot it.

[penelopelp]

My school requires that we take the CNA class before we start nursing classes. I've decided that I'm going to go ahead and get my CNA this semester. I still have 2 semesters left of pre-nursing classes. I'm really nervous about the class because I don't have any clinical experience. However, I'm hoping that being a CNA will give me skills that I can use as a nurse.