Those who can't.....teach?

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Okay I decided I think I want to teach CNA classes:idea:...but do I need to have CNA experience before I can do that? or do I have to get my RN first? :confused: I think I would really like to teach, instead of working in the position

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Most schools won't want to hire someone who does not have work experience as a minimum. Some require teaching experience and/or credentials, depending upon what level you want to teach. For CNA courses, they are looking for RNs or LPN/LVNs to teach. The instructors usually have experience as CNAs. But you can always apply for a position. See what they say.

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Specializes in Clinicals in Med-Surg., OB, CCU, ICU.

Why even try? Do something else... :uhoh3:

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Specializes in icu/er.

Well the saying is "Those who can do and those who can't..teach".

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

I taught a CNA program in Louisiana. I loved it. I was never an aide, but that didn't matter. Many states require a certification to teach CNAs, on top of your license.

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Being able to tell your students how many years experience you have as a CNA will go a long way in establishing your credibility with them. Kind of difficult to do if you tell them you are teaching because you didn't want to work as a CNA. Their logical answer to that would be to ask you what, then, makes you qualified to tell them about the job.

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Specializes in Med Surg-Geriatrics.

Yes you can teach theory,but can you teach from experience? can you actually relate to the challenges that a CNA will go through on a daily basis? the answer is NO, personally I don't think a Nurse is really a Nurse without some sort of basic hands on training at some point in their career and nothing is more basic in nursing than CNA experience or Hands on nursing...do your students a favor and experience the real world first before trying to teach them anything

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I remember some of the anecdotes shared by experienced teachers. Experience = street credibility.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education, and Acute Care.
Well the saying is "Those who can do and those who can't..teach".

As a teacher I find that to be very glib and misleading statement. It is misleading because you seem to say that those who are incompetent to practice go into teaching. It is glib because it is not based on any fact, it is just one of those oft repeated cliches that have no real purpose except to make one sound falsely knowledgeable.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education, and Acute Care.
Okay I decided I think I want to teach CNA classes:idea:...but do I need to have CNA experience before I can do that? or do I have to get my RN first? :confused: I think I would really like to teach, instead of working in the position

I don't think that you necessarily need CNA experience, but you at least must have significant experience in nursing. Also, most educational programs require at least an associate's or baccalaureate degree in a related field to teach.

Reaching this goal is going to depend upon the requirements of the school that you apply to teach at.

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Specializes in OB, NICU, Nursing Education (academic).
Well the saying is "Those who can do and those who can't..teach".

And it's a stupid saying, because the fact of the matter is.....those who teach, DID (and did well) for quite a few years, in most cases.

Not everyone can make it into (or through) graduate school. Those who teach, did that also.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I have a friend that teaches a CNA course and his background is in sales and isn't even a CNA. He's a good teacher and his students probably love him, but I was a bit taken aback that he got this job. The school is a private school and doesn't have clinicals.

I imagine accredited schools that have clinicals more than likely require RNs or LPNs.

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