Take cna exam or not?

[Stoogesfan]

I am about to start year 2 of a 2 year lpn program and then I plan on doing the RN bridge program. When I get my lpn I plan on working as an lpn while I'm finishing my ADN which will more than likely be at a nursing home since that's really the only place in my area that still hires Lpns.

Anyway, my question is would it help me get hired on at a nursing home if I'm already employed there as a cna? Would it be worth it to take the cna exam and apply for a position or just take my chances getting hired on as a new lpn?

Currently I work at a hospital as a monitor tech if that makes any difference.

[bubblejet50]

i personally worked as a cna for 6 months before becoming an lpn but i know that quite a few of my classmates had not worked at a LTC. the ones who did, like me, ran into the problem of that facility not having nursing openings when we got our licenses. in our state you cannot work as a cna if you have your lpn or rn. so that actually left us jobless! if you do get your cna talk to the DON at the LTC that you apply to and ask if they are willing to work with you when you get your license or if you have to wait until there is an opening.

[Stoogesfan]

Thanks for the response.

Anyone else have experience with this?

[BloomNurseRN, ASN, BSN, RN]

Obviously it generally doesn't hurt to have your foot in the door but like the previous poster said, it's a good idea to check on those kinds of regulations. My sister-in-law had no experience as a CNA when she graduated from nursing school and was hired at a LTC facility easily as an RN.