Took my first step and signed up for CNA

[can'tdecide]

Hello everyone

This is my first post and I came here because I am sure all of my friends are tired of listening to me talk about school. Here's my story.

I'm 41 and have 2 kids ages 14 and 16. Always had a great job but since the economy took a turn for the worse I have been home. My DH has a good job and I don't need to work if I don't want to.....but I am so tired of staying home every day. I started looking for a job but every job I came across wants a college degree, if you don't have one it starts out at minimum wage. When I was 18, college was the last thing I wanted to do. Now I really hate checking that box on the job application that says "high School only" under education.

I decided I would go back to school, problem is, I'm not really sure what I want to do. I thought about a radiology or a physical therapist assistant. Everyone I know in the medical field has told me to stay away from these two careers. They said if I was going to go to school I should be an RN, would have more jobs to pick from ( RNs can still find jobs in my area, I pulled up 4 or 5 hospitals in my area and each one had at least15- 20 jobs listed, nothing for radiology or PTA).

I took the first step and signed up for the CNA class. It is a requirement for Nursing school. I am really exicited about taking this first step and can't wait for it to start. I really hope I like it because I think I would make a great nurse....so, just wanted to stop by and say "Hi" to everyone. I should be around these boards a lot the next couple of years!

[nurse2b013]

Welcome! I just finished my CNA course last month and started working part time...I'm currently waiting to see if I get into the RN program at my school this fall.

I'm kinda in the same boat as you, even though I have a bachelor's degree. I lost my job in July and decided it was now or never to go back to school. I'm very excited about my decision!

Everyone tells me how great it is to experience being a CNA before becoming an RN. I hear it will really help me out in school, especially during the clinicals. I hope this helps you to decide what path to take! Good luck!

[Al19067]

where are you people from, you dont need to be an CNA to become an Nurse

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

Good luck to you! :) You are making an excellent move towards your plans to be an RN. You will know through your CNA work whether nursing will be for you.

[can'tdecide]

I'm from Missouri and yes you HAVE to have your CNA license and it has to be kept current to get into the nursing program.

[Al19067]

I'm from Missouri and yes you HAVE to have your CNA license and it has to be kept current to get into the nursing program.

My gf and her mom are nurses in Nj and did not take any classese except two years of nursing school both now are making $40 n hour

[nurse2b013]

I don't have to be a CNA first...I chose to because I thought it would be good experience to have. I'm in Pennsylvania.

[2ndyearstudent, CNA]

I took the first step and signed up for the CNA class.

Good for you! (CPR/AED for Healthcare Workers/Professional Rescuers was a prereq for my CNA class.) You might want to check on that.

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

Every nursing school differs in their admission requirements, so just because a school requires its students to be CNAs prior to admission does not make them weird!

[can'tdecide]

Good for you! (CPR/AED for Healthcare Workers/Professional Rescuers was a prereq for my CNA class.) You might want to check on that.

Just checked, the only thing required for the class is a TB test and $$$.

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

Usually BLS certification is required to get a job once you're licensed as a CNA. Never heard of it required for a training class.

[Jack245]

Every nursing school differs in their admission requirements, so just because a school requires its students to be CNAs prior to admission does not make them weird!

In fact, more and more schools are making this a requirement. Just so that their prospective students have some understanding of the skills they will be learning, and what kind of things will be required of them, should they get in. Makes sense to me too, from a time standpoint, it's far easier to teach the basic fundamentals of patient care before the program starts, to allow more time for more advanced nursing skills to be taught.