Starting as a CNA and working your way up the ladder

Nnickelle · Jan 4, 2012

I am currently taking a CNA course as a pre-req for the Nursing programs here in Washington state. All of the local programs require this and probably for good reason too! I have heard from plenty of veteran nurse friends that new and young nurses come in without any experience in basic forms of patient care. Supposedly, they stand there with eyes wide!

I have also heard that by working as a CNA before you are thrown into the nursing field, you have a smoother transition and are more likely to be hired since they will not have invest as much into you (series of immunizations, back ground checks, etc.) well, they will probably be performing their own back ground checks, but you will have been experienced in the health care field, and that is important for yourself and for the facility hiring as well!

Good luck! :)

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Jan 4, 2012

I know many nurses who started their careers as CNAs. I was an aide before there was such a thing as certification and now I'm a director of nursing. Try to find a job in a place that has a career ladder program or at least has tuition reimbursement. Many places even have their own CNA classes for free. Best of luck to you.

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Jan 4, 2012

There are tons of nurses who were CNAs beore becoming a nurse. I was a CNA for 4 years beore becoming a RN.

some places will offer tuition reimbursment

azcna · Jan 4, 2012

Apenland,

I started off as a CNA, paid cash for my program, and got it all reimbursed by my employer after 6 mos on the job. Now I am paying cash for my LPN program, and will pay cash for my RN program. Absolutely no debt, and being a CNA gives you a HUGE advantage for finding work as a nurse.

VioletKaliLPN, LPN · Jan 4, 2012

Not all Nursing programs are costly, in fact, most community college programs are incredibly reasonable. I paid 4100$ for my LPN program, and that total includes what I spent for books, background check, uniforms, etc. Health ins paid for my school physical.

Apenland · Jan 4, 2012

Thank You all for the feedback! Very helpful!! I seen a few programs near my house ( pomona Ca) that offer paid training for CNA courses as well as Red cross. I am not discouraged by the type of work a CNA does but I do hope to move up in the nursing field. I think CNA experience will look good on my resume and Im really leaning towards taking these steps. I currently work at the front desk of a hotel making 9.50 and hour, Im sure CNA's dont start at much but it would be a step into my career path. I do plan to further my education and I hope to find a ladder type program. Are there any other websites or certifications for a CNA that I can look into that can help with pay or education?? I do plan on going to a care facility to ask questions as well.. any feedback will still help! =)

theleaf · Jan 4, 2012

I plan on starting my career path in the nursing field, however I will be starting off at the bottom of the chain by doing CNA work first. My question is how likely are the chances of me advancing my career in the nursing field by starting off as a CNA? I know there is always the options of going to school for MA or LVN but those courses are pricey and would put me in debt. A CNA course is alot easier to get into and less expensive than other courses to take in the nursing field but it is also alot of work. Are there any nurses out there who started off as a CNA and worked your way to something higher?? If so did you go back to school for that or did you get hands on training in the work field??

Good for you! I've been a CNA for over four years now and currently work in a hospital. I started out at a nursing home/rehab and think that should be mandatory for everyone starting out. I graduated from LVN school this year and am feeling good about the NCLEX (I got the good pop up) which I took last week. About your question, working as a CNA will definately help you be more comfortable with the basic aspects of care one you are in nursing school. There were a few people in my program who had no experience working as a CNA (even though being certified was a requirement). They made it but weren't as comfortable with the basics as those of us who do it all the time. If you want to move up in the nursing field, you will have to go back to school, no way around it. Find out what the prerequisite classes are for the LVN/RN programs at your local community college and work on those while working as a CNA. Apply for both and get in where you fit in. I personally would bypass MA school, especially if you like patient care. While still interacting with patients, MA positions are much more office oriented than a career as a LVN or RN.

Apenland · Jan 5, 2012

Theleaf,

Thank you for the feedback, I will be looking into LVN programs. And Congrats on passing the NCLEX!! =)

h_kitty, CNA · Jan 8, 2012

I was a cna before going to lvn school:). A lot of the nurses at my work started off as cna's. One was a cna for 10 years! The other one for 8 !

bigboi · Jan 8, 2012

I know many nurses who take that route, I'm planning to be one of them. I believe it sort of prepares you with pt contact and all other aspects namely vitals, accuchecks, etc. Most of all though, CNA work in my opinion makes you appreciate being a nurse.

Jessicainsantafe · Jan 11, 2012

Apenland-I have to agree with you as far as the 'starting at the bottom' goes.

I will start my CNA training in two weeks here in Santa Fe, and will be taking A&P 1 w/lab and Psych too....I know this will be tough, but I think beginning at the bottom gives you a better perspective of the job itself. The last five weeks of the program in April-May have us do clinicals; I had to make sure that I was able to schedule the other classes around that.

I know that having the experience, no matter how 'small', in a medical setting will give you an edge when you have finished your more advanced nursing courses. I also think that the CNA work will give us the basic training for the work to come.

Good Luck in your courses.