Student Nurse wanting to work as CNA

Nurses General Nursing

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I am currently a student nurse finishing up my first semester in school. I am on clinical rotation right now. I am not a CNA but was wondering if I would be able to take the test to become one without having to go through training since I am in school. I go to school full-time so fitting in anymore classes would not work. I would like to work as a CNA part-time to gain more experience. Someone had mentioned this to me but I can't remember where I heard it. I currently reside in Indianapolis, Indiana. Any help would be greatly appreciated. If this makes a difference, I am looking to apply at the nursing home I currently on rotation at, thanks!

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, PACU, Travel nursing.

Alot of hospitals will let you work as a Nurse Tech after you complete the first semester of clinicals. Thats what I did and it was a great experience personally, and helped with school for me. You should contact your local hospital's employment center and see what type of position they offer.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

In Alabama, nursing students who have completed their Nursing Fundamental class/clinical can be added to the state CNA registry without testing, provided they have verification of passing the class. Generally though it will have to be the hospital/ or LTC facility that hires you that will have to contact the registry. Good Luck!!

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Specializes in LTC/SNF, Psychiatric, Pharmaceutical.

I don't know how it works in Indiana, but in Oklahoma, you are required to go through a mandated number of hours of training specifically for CNAs. There is no way around this requirement, because CNAs here are certified by the Oklahoma State Health Department Nurse Aide Registry, which the Board of Nursing has no authority over.

However, many hospitals do offer extern/intern programs for student nurses, where you are allowed to practice nursing tasks under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse preceptor, and they work around school and summer hours specifically. If hospitals in Indiana offer something like this, that may be your best bet.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

some hospitals hire nursing students with 1 semester of NS expierence...because you basically learn CNA skills during that semester..and they want you to come work for them when you graduate....

You shouldn't hae to take the test..You could work as a nurse tech/CNA/or even nurse extern. Every hospital is different, try to talk to HR about it.

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I would like to stay in the ECF because I want to work in Geriatrics and finish my masters with that major. So basically working in a hospital right now is my only choice?

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

no, you should talk to HR about it.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

talk to the hiring agency. there are ltcs/ecfs that have their own cna courses and will allow you to take them and sit for boards. others will require you to take the class at the local cc.

as far as allowing you to work as a cna without a class that does not depend on facilities rather it depends on the bon of your state. check out the state bon website to see if your school's program is enough for you to work as a cna after one semester. if you are allowed to work as a nurse tech or extern after one semester (my state requires 2), then i would go that route if i were you... gl! :up:

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I just talked to the Health Division Chairperson at my school about this. I'm also in Indiana.

I was told to come in and get a book from her to study for the written exam. She said I'd have to stop thinking like a nurse to pass the test and I'd have to read through this book to learn what answers the state wanted. She said I wouldn't have to take any other classes or skill tests since I'd made it through Fundamentals.

I was told the cost to sit for the exam is $60 and I'd have to contact the exam administrator to find out when there would be a test in my area. They won't test again at my school until March. Also, my school will have to send a record of my transcripts to the state.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I just talked to the Health Division Chairperson at my school about this. I'm also in Indiana.

I was told to come in and get a book from her to study for the written exam. She said I'd have to stop thinking like a nurse to pass the test and I'd have to read through this book to learn what answers the state wanted. She said I wouldn't have to take any other classes or skill tests since I'd made it through Fundamentals.

I was told the cost to sit for the exam is $60 and I'd have to contact the exam administrator to find out when there would be a test in my area. They won't test again at my school until March. Also, my school will have to send a record of my transcripts to the state.

I can agree that you will basically have to 'throw away' a great deal of your nursing knowledge to sit for that exam, because you would have received a wealth of information that is not needed to sit for the CNA exam. Of course, this is not to say that CNAs are not knowledgable, but that you won't have to give or use most of the nursing rationale you learned.

Years ago, I had a friend who was hired with me as a Patient Care Associate. We had three months of training, and I didn't know in the beginning that she graduated from an LPN course almost a year prior to this. She told me that she got alot of the answers wrong to our tests and at first, I couldn't understand why...my rationale at the time was "if you were trained higher, then, this should be a breeze". Now, I can understand why. I was reading my friend's CNA booklet and answering questions and I got some wrong as well. I had been a CNA in the past, but now, I think as an LPN. There was a difference. Either way, I would take advantage of sitting for the exam and seeing about getting work if that is what you need. Best of luck and continue on your path!

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Thanks everyone for the info, so do you suggest I speak with someone at my school or at the ECF? The ECF offers their own training I beleive.

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
do you suggest i speak with someone at my school or at the ecf?

the ecf, because the management there will make the choice to hire you or not.

wish you the best!

*jess*

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