Suggestions appreciated :)

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Hello all :]

I'm new to allnurses but have been using it as a source of info for a while now... I love this place :p

Anyway I would appreciate some suggestions on what I should try to do for the next few years. My end-goal is to be a CNM. Right now I'm doing my undergrad in linguistics and plan on finishing it even though I want a career in nursing.

I am volunteering at a hospital and am planning on becoming a CNA soon.

After I graduate I want to do my BSN, maybe join the navy, then get my MSN for midwifery.

I live&go to school in NYC, so being a CNA is appealing for the pay and the flexible schedule. Is there anything else I can do to get more/better experience?

The idea that I've gotten is CNAs mostly work in nursing homes? Honestly I really want to work in a hospital, in L&D, mother and baby, neonatal, anything like that. Are there other certifications higher than a CNA that I can get and then work while going to school full-time? One issue is time; I know some programs would take up to a year or more, but I want to maximize the time I spend working. I graduate in two years...

Thanks!

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I don't think you'll find many CNA opportunities in hospitals in NYC and if you did they definetely would not be in the fields you listed. Most jobs are nursing homes or homecare. I think CNA is the only certification you can get besides LPN.

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Specializes in GYN/GON/Med-Surg/Oncology/Tele.

Well I don't know much about NYC but I work as an NA in NC in a hospital...one of the largest in the state! Anyway, I currently work on all female unit. Most pediatric units want you to be a least a NA II but a classmate of mine was hired as a NA I in the NICU if she agreed to go back and get her NA II certification. I don't think they have NA's on the labor and delivery unit but I don't know for sure.

I think that any medical experience is good experience!

Good luck!

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Specializes in MED SURG.

Well I have been a CNA for several years but I got tired of it and I became an EMT and it takes one 12-16wks I got alot of experience. As an EMT they train you to deliver babies, it doesn't happen everyday but it does and you get a wide range of experience as an EMT. I am not waiting to see if I am going to get in the nursing program for the fall. I to want to work on L&D and get my NP in Midwifery. I did get alot of experience on several differant flours of the hospital by working at an agency. Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in Oncology/Hematology.

I second the EMT experience. That'll guarantee you some hospital work. However, it's not impossible to get a job in a hospital as a CNA. If you look around and catch them during their hiring period and apply to every open CNA position, you're bound to get called for an interview. I did! :) Fresh out of CNA class without being certified. I'm not working as a CNA, I actually got a job in a hospital with better pay where I'm practically working as an RN (even though I haven't even started nursing school!) so I turned the CNA thing down. But MOST CNAs work in nursing homes for atleast 6 months to a year. What will help in the way of a hospital is getting your acute care certification in addition to your CNA. Also, some hospitals (I know a few here in CA do this), partner with specific CNA programs in their areas and automatically hire the top students in each graduating class! I'd call the hospital and see if they have anything like this set up.

:) Hope this helps!

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Thanks for all the replies... :) I'll look into the EMT thing and call around...

nurse12b, what type of agency did you work at?

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