This is a hard decision ^_^;;

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OK, I am male who wants to become a nurse. As of now, I am going for the nursing assistant program. While at it, I am taking biology, math, and english. I am a full-time student. I am struggling in biology , but I find it interesting. UPS is a great company and the hours are convenient. Also, they let people switch shifts. I love the fact that they have tuition and good benefits. I will graduate in the nursing assistant ( if everything goes well ) in the summer. I plan to work as a nursing assistant after summer. Am I on the right track? because if I work as a nursing assistant, the hours will be longer and I won't get tuition assistant.. You think I should drop the nursing assistant program and stay UPS while taking science course for the BSN degree? I think I need A & P 1-2 ( I will take that after summer or 2012 )

But I am taking microbiology, chemistry 1-2 in 2011.

I think I should go for the nursing assistant because I am shy and quiet... I can probably get rid of my shyness in the hospital.. you know, to get used to it,working with patients and people.. I think this is a good idea.

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I took the CNA program and it did not help me at all when I went to nursing school.

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I took the CNA program and it did not help me at all when I went to nursing school.

:o, I need more replies! But really? Dang. ^^

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I think it's more important to focus on your schooling rather then going through the CNA course. However it would give you some experience...but not totally necessary. I don't know....good luck! Yes, it's a tough decision!

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Specializes in Acute Care Pediatrics.

I think working as a CNA will definitely give you an edge once you get into the hospital. :) If for nothing else - it will get you over that AAAACK feeling you get the first day on the floor. I walked on to the floor with not one minute of patient care my first day of clinical (I challenged out of the CNA programs and tested. :) )

Good luck in the future!

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I quit a fairly successful career to work as a tech at a hospital while I am in nursing school. It has been about four months now. I am definitely over the "hospital anxiety" that I had my first semester in nursing school, because I can pretty confidently walk into a patient's room and talk to them without shaking in my boots. I can also do the basics, like vital signs, discharge IVs and Foleys, empty Foley bags and JP drains, suction a trach, etc. In the next three months I am supposed to be trained to do blood draws in the hospital, even though we are not covering that until next semester in school. I seem to be more confident in clinical than some (although not all) of the students who do not yet have hospital experience, so I think working in the hospital has helped me with the "hands-on" aspect of nursing. On the flip side, I have not learned anything more about medications, medications administration, wound care, or the critical thinking that nurses need, but neither are any of the other students. I also still struggle with the feeling in clinical that the assessments we do are not necessary or beneficial to the patients. What concerns me about the choice you have to make is the increased hours. I work only one shift a week right now and find the time necessary for school to be a struggle (I am a 2nd semester junior). By the way, my husband also worked at UPS through college; what a great company for students!

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I think it's more important to focus on your schooling rather then going through the CNA course. However it would give you some experience...but not totally necessary. I don't know....good luck! Yes, it's a tough decision!

It's indeed a hard decision. I can still take other classes while in the nursing assistant program. UPS is a good company, but I am not looking forward to lose weight and perspiring during the summer. UPS is very nice because of the tuition and hours. I only work 20-23 per week so I will have plenty of time to study and even for myself to relax.

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Getting the CNA certificate is good enough for points to enter some nursing programs. Your UPS job is giving you tuition assistance and there is flexibility there. I think you would do better to stick with that job and go for your nursing degree. Remember that you can also get the kind of CNA job where you only do one shift a week or every other week. You don't need to give up your UPS job for the CNA job. Stay with that if it is better for your school plans. Good luck with your nursing school plans.

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I quit a fairly successful career to work as a tech at a hospital while I am in nursing school. It has been about four months now. I am definitely over the "hospital anxiety" that I had my first semester in nursing school, because I can pretty confidently walk into a patient's room and talk to them without shaking in my boots. I can also do the basics, like vital signs, discharge IVs and Foleys, empty Foley bags and JP drains, suction a trach, etc. In the next three months I am supposed to be trained to do blood draws in the hospital, even though we are not covering that until next semester in school. I seem to be more confident in clinical than some (although not all) of the students who do not yet have hospital experience, so I think working in the hospital has helped me with the "hands-on" aspect of nursing. On the flip side, I have not learned anything more about medications, medications administration, wound care, or the critical thinking that nurses need, but neither are any of the other students. I also still struggle with the feeling in clinical that the assessments we do are not necessary or beneficial to the patients. What concerns me about the choice you have to make is the increased hours. I work only one shift a week right now and find the time necessary for school to be a struggle (I am a 2nd semester junior). By the way, my husband also worked at UPS through college; what a great company for students!

Thanks for sharing that. I think I should work at the hospital because I am shy and quiet. Working as UPS I won't learn anything... just lift and bend, whereas at the hospital, I will probably learn new things everyday.

So this is a hard decision for me because I am concern about the hours if I work at the hospital. I am going for the BSN so I need more time to study. I can only go below 20-25.. I am not that smart. ^_^

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Getting the CNA certificate is good enough for points to enter some nursing programs. Your UPS job is giving you tuition assistance and there is flexibility there. I think you would do better to stick with that job and go for your nursing degree. Remember that you can also get the kind of CNA job where you only do one shift a week or every other week. You don't need to give up your UPS job for the CNA job. Stay with that if it is better for your school plans. Good luck with your nursing school plans.

You think I should get the nursing assistant license? The financial aids pay for me anyways. However, I went from grants to loan.. so I am trying to get it back at grants, if to no avail, I am going to drop the nursing assistant program. I think the program is just "Nursing asssistant" Not CNA. :\

PS: I am taking this program in college which is a credit program.

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Never mind! I am going to keep the nursing assistant program because I want to get used to working with patients and with nurses. hopefully I can find a job to work on the weekends only and work at UPS on the weekdays.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Good idea. Stick with it. It's the very basics of nursing. You will become familiar with medical settings and have an edge in getting into nursing school. Some nursing programs require you to be a CNA before they accept you anyway.

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