true or false

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 16, 2010

It depends on the particular employer. At my hospital ...(not in Tennessee) ... we rarely hire nurses from non-accredited schools, but will do so ocassionally if that person is known to us. (e.g. has worked for us in a non-nursing role and we know he/she to be a good employee)

Murse901, MSN, RN · Dec 17, 2010

I'd be more worried about whether or not the state will even let you sit for NCLEX if graduating from an unaccredited school. I don't know if Tennessee requires accreditation or not (never bothered to check as my school was NLN accredited), but many states do require either NLN or CCNE accreditation.

If the state doesn't even allow you to sit for the NCLEX, you won't have to worry about whether or not the hospital approves your program.

Out of curiosity, what program are you referring to? I think that if a nursing program forgoes accreditation, then that speaks volumes of the program's administration. And not in a good way. Not to say that you can't get a good nurse out of an unaccredited program. It just makes you wonder why they aren't accredited.

shortcake17 · Dec 17, 2010

well i havent started the school yet ,but the name of it is career academy they offer cna classes every month or so . i might just wait until september and do the lpn program at tennessee tech

shortcake17 · Dec 17, 2010

well donaldj i really dont know WHAT I WANT TO DO!!!! START a cna program first because i have no experience or just go in the lpn. what do you think is best. :uhoh3:

dee78 · Dec 17, 2010

I got my CNA at Tennessee Tech Knoxville in March 09, then started the TTC LPN program in Chattanooga in January 2010. I never worked as a CNA because I couldn't find a job that fit my schedule.

There are pros and cons to both. Your other option is getting your CNA at a nursing home and working there until you finish school

Murse901, MSN, RN · Dec 17, 2010

well i havent started the school yet ,but the name of it is career academy they offer cna classes every month or so . i might just wait until september and do the lpn program at tennessee tech

I apologize. I thought you were talking about accreditation of LPN or RN programs.

For CNA in Tennessee, it just needs to be state approved. I don't even know that there is a national accrediting body for CNA programs.

shortcake17 · Dec 17, 2010

thats ok. im really just really trying to figure out what i want to do with my life. nursing is what i want to. so i want to chose the best course for me. :rolleyes: by me not having no experience makes me worried becaused what if i dont like it. :idea:

Murse901, MSN, RN · Dec 17, 2010

In Memphis, the market for LPN's has been on a downward spiral, while the RN market seems to be about the same as it was a few years ago. If you're interested in nursing, I'd highly recommend going the RN route after obtaining your CNA. You may even be able to get a job at a hospital as a CNA that will pay for nursing school.

As a CNA, you may not get a lot of the technical experience related to nursing (IV's, assessment, meds, etc), but you will be able to work alongside nurses and observe what it is to be a nurse. You'll get some great insight as to whether or not it's a field you want to be involved in without having to jump head-first into RN school.

Good luck.

shortcake17 · Dec 17, 2010

All ok thats a good idea. do you know how much they pay cna exactly . i know alot ppl that work at the VA hospital thats cna's . I be wondering how much they make.

Murse901, MSN, RN · Dec 18, 2010

All ok thats a good idea. do you know how much they pay cna exactly . i know alot ppl that work at the VA hospital thats cna's . I be wondering how much they make.

Depends on the setting. I've worked at a hospital that paid CNA's 9/hr (they were called Medical Assistants, but had CNA credentials), and worked at a nursing home that paid CNA's 13/hr. It could be a lot less or a lot more anywhere else. No idea what the VA pays.