Volunteer work/Paid work

[Selenaa]

Hi all,

I'm a new pre-nursing student at a community college and I'm thinking about becoming a CNA to gain work experiences. However, I want to focus more on school and earn good grades. Would volunteer work and good grades be enough to get into nursing schools? I know the it is very tough to get in but I don't want to jeopardize my grades. Also, what jobs would you guys recommend I do if I need them to boost my chances?

Any advice is appreciate.

-New student

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Volunteer work as what?

[michfish]

Check if your community college requires you to have your CNA. I start the ADN program at my community college in August and they require you to have your CNA to even apply. My school goes off of a point system, grades help, but aren't everything. My GPA is a 3.9. I work at a LTC on the weekends, so I got additional points for actually using my CNA. I would talk to the nursing adviser at your school to find out the criteria to acceptance into their nursing program. Find out the average GPA of those accepted into the program, do they require you to have your CNA?

Being a CNA is not fun work, but it gives you valuable health care experience. I have been told by many nurses and patients at my work that the best nurses were CNA's first. I have gotten to be friends with several of my nurses and they are all very willing to help me when I start nursing school and they will give me little tips here and there that will help me in my nursing career.

Good luck. :)

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

Unless you're required to have your CNA, I'd strongly suggest not working if you can possibly afford it. Working while in school is very difficult. I was accepted based on grades and volunteer work/extracurriculars from high school.