Taking CNA course before nursing school Worth it?

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I am not sure what I should do. So, I am going to go for my RN. I am not 100% sure which program I will get into yet. (may go to Carrington/Apollo this spring) *In the meantime, I need to be taking my pre-req classes. I came up with an idea that now has me debating whether I should do it or not. I was thinking of doing the CNA class this semester. It is **Mon-Thurs 8-4:30** For only 6 weeks (fast compared to most programs in the area) Aug. 30-Oct 11! Which Would be nice that I could get a glimpse of what's to come, a certification to "fall on"/add to resume & if I NEED to work (while going to school) I could do CNA work, if my school does points-that's an extra point, or if it is a requirement- then I have it met, also I am anxious to get started w/ nursing stuff & this is kinda a "sample", also I read a hospital (assuming some are similar) that had a new grad student program that will hire u if u have ur CNA & are getting ready to sit for ur NCLEX exam. Also, it is a quick way to get 6 credits in 6 weeks (less homework & done for the semester after Oct 11)

Here is why I am debating to do or not to do it:

*1-I have to get the money to pay for the rescuer CPR, 2 TB tests & Health insurance I need in order to even register, almost $200 (they won't let me until I have ALL completed)

2-I would need a sitter on Mondays, My sister's schedule is currently off on Friday & works all other days... Mom could maybe, but I haven't talked to her in 2 months & idk how "Daddy" or I would feel about that. I haven't checked with my friend. But I MIGHT be able to find someone, but it might be someone I don't know??

3-Tuesday & Thursday I will be gone like all day doing the CNA class AND my other classes. (for 6 weeks) not coming home until late like 9p?

4-Not sure how My baby (7 months) will do & how breastfeeding/pumping will factor into the day etc. I am NOT giving up until 1 year!!! (I'm a stay at home mom)

5-I will miss my babies (2 kids) for those 6 weeks (it will kinda be like a very Full-time job bc I will be commuting about 45 minutes each way as well as the day there & classes after on T/Th) Will I be stressing the fam/kids? Spreading too thin??

So, would this 6 week strain be too much & not necessary? Or would the 6 week sacrifice be worth it?? Help? Lol thank u for any input or even if u don't have any, just taking time to read it!

PS-If I go to Carrington/Apollo then I don't really need to take pre-reqs bc She said they absolutely don't have any openings in other semesters, only 1st semester & she said "why would u want to take them in the fall of you are just going to retake/have to take them over again in January?) which I thought was a Good point. I'd rather do 6 weeks for 6 credits & get a CNA VS an entire semester & 2 classes full of homework & studying bc I'm gonna do a lot of that when I get into nursing school!! (PS-I AM going to school this fall, I have to do 12 credits)

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Um....go ahead?

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Are you sure you are going to be able to handle nursing school? The CNA course could only help for the reasons you stated, but if it is too much trouble, think how much more trouble nursing school itself will be. You have to really come up with a concrete plan for dealing with your childcare issues before going to nursing school. They won't take lack of childcare as an excuse to miss class and you will be dismissed forthwith if you can't get it together. Just a word to the wise. Good luck with your decision.

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Specializes in none.

I'll be taking the CNA course this fall while waiting for my acceptance letter and taking classes. In my area, it's very hard to get a job as a new RN grad (especially in a hospital) unless you've been working as a CNA or a tech.

I'm a mom - I was a single mom for years and then I met my husband - and I have two kids ages 12 and almost 3. I've worked full time since I was 22 and gone to school off and on. You have to decide what your priorities are, what you absolutely MUST do, and what can wait. My husband and I have spent a lot of time planning and we're willing to sacrifice time and comfort now to get what we want in the long run. That might not work for you, which is fine. Lots of people take things slow to accomodate their personal lives.

I suggest taking some time and research your nursing program. Find out everything - how much time outside of class you need to study, how much time you'll spend inside class and clinicals, and what they require of you before you enter.

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I'm taking a CNA course now, even though I will likely be in my RN program this spring. To be honest I need the money desperately or further education will be nothing but a distant dream. However, I am also in school part time, so I won't finish nursing school for quite some time.

So far some of what we're seeing in the course we've been told we'll see again in nursing school, so its good to get some of the basics down. For me it's motivating to be stepping up the ladder. I think if you are having trouble managing being able to take the CNA class, you should give it a try, because for something that's only six weeks, you'll be surprised what kind of arrangements you'll find for childcare and your various expenses, not to mention the time involved, and it may give you a better idea of what you need to get together before getting in to nursing school (I myself am still nervous being that I'm taking on a full time job too). In an ideal world, forty hours a week wouldn't be necessary and childcare would just be there. In the real world we all know its not so easy. I take a bus from 444 in the am and I'm not home until five or six in the evening, and on days i have class, I don't see my fiancee at all. On days I don't have class I'm working. As far as not being home a lot, you'll need the cooperation from your family to keep things running smoothly and that will definitely be a sign of how they're gonna handle things while you're in nursing school. And missing your babies? Well I'm not a mom, and I think that's gotta be really rough, I can tell you I miss my fiancee like crazy (I'm in bed before he's home and gone long before he's awake) but we've learned to communicate. I email him on the bus in the mornings and often times he emails me back throughout the week. It's not ideal, but what you get depends on how much you put into it, and if a CNA class takes this much, we can only imagine what nursing school is going to take. Good luck!

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My state requires nursing students to be on the CNA registry as a pre-requisite for acceptance to nursing programs. I will be taking a course through the American Red Cross since they have more options than my local community colleges. I won't get college credit for it, but the course meets the requirement for what I would need to take the state exam. I was able to get into an accelerated course because I have college course experience, the course meets for two full weeks. I already have my CPR certification I also have a nursing baby at home and will have to figure out how to manage pumping for the feedings I miss. I also have some evening commitments during one of the weeks, which will make for a few very long days for me. It isn't ideal, but my husband and I decided that we would figure out a way to make it work since it is such a short time frame.

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Thank you so much squirmy & witty!!! Great points & stories. U have inspired me. I know I can make anything work. I think for this semester I will not do it, but maybe spring or summer I will pursue it. Thank you everyone for your input!!!

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Thank you so much squirmy & witty!!! Great points & stories. U have inspired me. I know I can make anything work. I think for this semester I will not do it, but maybe spring or summer I will pursue it. Thank you everyone for your input!!!

LotteryGirl- Where are they offering the 6 week CNA course? TMCC? I really think this will help when trying to get a job once you've graduated...especially if you work as a CNA on the floor where you want to work while you're in nursing school. I would go for it.

I also keep hearing about being a "nurse tech". I've actually only heard about it on this site so I'm not sure if they even offer it in the programs around here but from what I've heard, after you're first semester in school, you can go and work as a "nurse tech" which is bascially like a CNA. This would be something you'd have to ask the different programs about. It would be great because you don't have to take the extra CNA course and pay the money and all that...they just consider your nursing school enough to start working. Pretty interesting.

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I am going to tell you what my mother's friends/coworkers/boss said...lol (this is just what I heard and I have seen growing up around hospitals all my life)

Medical Assisting and CNA are a waste of time if you end goal is RN. If you want to take something first you might want to consider going to LVN/LPN first which generally only takes one year. You will get more money, and you will still be able to continue your education toward RN with a bridge program.

Both of the women who talked to me were in fact single mothers. And I am a single mother of a 16 month old. I understand how it must feel to leave him/her with someone that you do not know...but if you are going to go nursing school then you need to know that this WILL take a lot of time (you and child time) from your child, and you will have to probably take him to day are and also consider those 12+ hr clinicals that you will have to find someone to either pick him up or watch him/her. BUT when you get to your final goal you will be rewarded, and you will have a career that will provide for you child in the long run and will give them someone to look up to. This is very important...I have struggled with what to do so that I could be earning money faster and LVN is the way to go. And if you need help you might consider applying for WIA or another source that will help pay for your costs, WIA I believe helps with child care, transportation (gas), uniforms, books, and your classes and exams. (not 100% sure though) GOOD LUCK!

The only way I'd consider doing the CNA is if you really had to wait a year plus for nursing school, and it didn't cost you much to complete it because then you could work as one....but you might consider looking around for a different nursing school.

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Leilani1983-WNC in FALLON is offering it, they have 2 this fall semester. But only the Fallon location. Yeah, I decided not to do it bc now my schedule is packed with pre-reqs so I can go for my BSN @ UNR instead. Interesting about the nurse tech...I will have to check into that... Anything to get my foot in the door!!

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LotteryGirl- What made you choose UNR over TMCC or Apollo? How long will that end up taking you? I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with Apollo just for the fact that all the pre-reqs are included. I have owned my own business so I have zero college credits at this point. The only thing I'm scared about with Apollo (and I've done some research on this) is the fact that their accreditation is from ACICS, which is a national agency instead of regional. That could create a problem for me down the road if I continue on to a masters program. Well good luck with everything :) Sorry I got WAY off the point of the original thread.

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Leilani1983-Well I didn't know until this month that I wanted to pursue nursing, so I was not able to take any pre-req courses this summer. Which makes me ONE class (Biol 224) away from being able to apply for Fall 2011 Admission to TMCC or WNC!! (Taking Chem 121 this fall, Biol 223 this spring & can't do 224 until summer)

So....I would have to start Apollo this Spring 2011 & attend for 2 years & accumulate more student loan debt & the possibility that I may not be able to pay for it & receive only my ADN. (I will be getting my BSN in only 1 extra semester!!!)

OR I could take mundane courses @ WNC until I could apply for Fall 2012!! (um, heck no-Besides, once I have all these pre-req's done for UNR, I would just try again for UNR in FALL 2012).

THEN!! I learned UNR takes 48 students Fall AND 48 in Spring!! (yay!) Also, starting Fall 2011, you can have 13 credits remaining in pre-req courses when you apply (versus TMCC/WNC-where you have to finish ALL pre-reqs in Spring B4 applying)

SO.... It will be:

1-much Cheaper than Apollo (Plus UNR offers more Nursing student specific financial aid-I won't be working & could use the help)

2-only 1 semester longer for a BSN that I know is transferable/ accredited (vs provisional) & I won't have to worry about having to go back to school later for a BSN & it will give me a little edge in the job market (plus I may get my MSN later on or CNM & I want the ability to grow & obtain other job positions)

3-I can apply & hopefully start Spring 2012

4-The Nursing Program is 4 semesters, but that is summer (Spring/Summer/Fall/Spring)

5- It will feel like 2 years for me, although it is technically "3 years of semesters" Because I will be doing courses fall, wintermester, spring, summer & fall--then the 16 month nursing program (so NOT bad)

6-The UNR program is based on GPA only (I need at least a 3.6-4.0 GPA though!)

I am up for the challenge & I want this very bad. So I am willing to do whatever it takes.

Thanks for chatting with me, I don't mind at all. I am very excited about all this. Actually, I had a meeting w/ a lady at "Carrington" Monday, but I am cancelling & going to a Pre-Nursing group advisemen/info session @ UNR this month!! :) Good luck -keep in touch, let me know what you decide. Do you have ANY pre-reqs done??

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