To CNA or not to CNA

allnurses Guide · Apr 29, 2006

Well, where do you want to work when you graduate? =) If you plan on working in a hospital, most hospitals do not require their techs to be certified. I would attempt to find a job on a unit that you would be most interested in working on when you graduate. Interested in OB nursing? Find a job as an OB tech. Makes it slightly more likely that, when you graduate, you will simply be promoted from a tech position to an RN position. =)

I say "slightly" because to be sure, it doesn't always happen that way. I mean, if you are working as a tech on a unit and when you graduate, there simply is NO room on the unit for any more RN's... you may have to look elsewhere. Sometimes a manager, in collaboration with the higher-ups, is able to "find" room for a tech that is about to graduate, but to be certain it doesn't always happen that way.

Good luck!!!!!

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Apr 29, 2006

I'm looking into a tech position in a hospital and they don't require certification. I paid $85 for my exam and I think I wasted all that money. I don't even want to work in LTC. I want to work in a hospital. For LTC you do get paid more if you are certified. At least here that is the way it is.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2006

Unless you plan on working LTC, go to the hospital and see if they have a tech position. A lot of hospitals will work students in tech positions rather than CNA positions. Which gives you a little more exposure to some procedures you will be doing later. Never hurts to call, they are always looking for people on weekends and evenings.

gdean1 · Apr 29, 2006

YES YES YES, but set your sites on a hospital. I work while in nursing school and have placed catheters, drawn blood, started IV's in addition to all the other NAC stuff. The nurses are super supportive and help answer all the questions the instructors don't know how to explain well. I don't know that I would have made it wtihout the nurses' help and the experience has more than solidified my decision to pursue the career. Unless you feel drawn to geriatrics, find the work in a hospital: they will probably pay more and most that I know of love nursing students and really want them to gain the experience and be ready when the NCLEX is passed.

nursedawn67, LPN · Apr 29, 2006

I think becoming a CNA while working on Nursing school is an excellent way to gain experience and insight. I say go for it. I had been a CNA for several years before nursing school and it helped alot. Often alot of hospitals utilize CNAs. Here in Michigan you become a Tech after you have finished your first year of nursing school and are awaiting state boards.

Good luck in what you do! :)

DaFreak71 · Apr 29, 2006

Thanks to all of you who replied, I appreciate your advice and insights. I think I will go ahead and do the CNA exam and look into a position at the hospital that will hopefully lead to a tech position. I agree that it would be nice to be able to learn from practicing nurses and get more practice with certain skills like catheters, blood draws, etc. Since I'm only finishing up my first semester, I don't know how much they would let me do, but as time goes on I'm sure they'd let me do more and more.

Again, thanks so much for all your advice! :kiss

Drysolong · Apr 29, 2006

In my case, working as a CNA for a short while helped while I was in LPN school. I didn't have any experience, so interacting with patients, nurses, and other medical personnel was a good introduction into the field for me. It also let me know that I don't want to work in LTC as a nurse, although I will if necessary until I get my RN.

chadash · Apr 29, 2006

Well, it does give you the opportunity to get your hands dirty so to speak, and get over any hesitancy you may have in approaching patients. I agree with the other posters who said do not apply at LTC: HOSPITALs will help you more. I have worked LTC for years, and have been told by hospitals they will not hire me because I have no hospital experience. I don't think it would get you into that rut so much with an education, but it would imply that the skills you acquire in one don't correlate with the other. Also, it would be an opportunity for you to check out the local hospitals and see which would be your choice when you have completed your education. I don't think you ever regret experience in life, nothing is wasted.

MA Nurse · May 5, 2006

My first semester of nursing school is just about finished. We are eligible to sit for the CNA exam after passing nursing one, and I'd like to hear from you about whether or not it is worth it.
The exam costs about $100.00 to take and qualifies me to earn approximately $7.00 to maybe $8.00 per hour. I could work at a nursing home (I don't plan on working in a nursing home when I graduate) but I wonder if this experience would offer me any real learning opportunities.
Would working as a CNA PRN or very part time during nursing school be beneficial in any way? The one thing I can think of that might be a good reason to do it is that I MIGHT get more use to certain smells and might not react so much to it.
What are your thoughts?

I'm glad I started out as a CNA before becoming an RN. I worked in LTC. The hardest part was changing wet beds :uhoh21: BUT, the best part was talking to the elderly people who really enjoyed just talking to you and were glad you were there.

Also did CNA home care and liked it. That is a lot easier than LTC. Sometime sthe home care might be a really easy assignment. ie: I took care of an Alzheimer's pt. at home while his wife went a played Bingo to take a break. She was so grateful to me and gave me gifts, too.

So, I enjoyed my experiences as a CNA.