Student nurse vs. CNA in CA??

[cee_ja18]

I am finishing up my first year in a BSN program in California. I want to gain some extra experience over the summer, so I am looking to work at a facility over the summer, and then into the fall.

I've heard some differences between becoming a student nurse versus a CNA. Personally, I would ideally like to work full time over the summer, but once school begins again in the fall semester, I would like to cut down to one or two shifts at most a week. Given that, schedule flexibility is key for me.

I want to gain the most experience I can out of working, so I want to apply for a position where I can be as hands-on and involved as possible. I know that as a student nurse, you do not need to have any certification, but a CNA requires certification. What are the pros and cons of a student nurse vs. CNA? I've also heard some people recommend becoming a nurse tech.

I am a little lost on to which is the better route to apply, so any feedback would be appreciated!

[John_T]

The requirements for a 'student nurse' job probably depends on the hospital (at least where I'm from it does). Look through the open positions at your local hospitals to see if any positions are available. You may be a little late for this summer. A CNA position would require a license from your state. Depending on your state, you may be able to sit for the exam as a nursing student without taking a class. If you have the CNA certification, you'd probably have more available positions to choose from, but most hospitals won't hire a CNA without experience (again, in my area of the country).