Volunteering Vs. CNA certification

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Hello I am new to this site and I am taking my pre-reqs for the BSN program.I was wondering if I decided to volunteer at the local hospital would that be more beneficial than getting a CNA certification?

Because I feel like If I was to get a CNA certification I would be getting a job in a nursing home and would not be receiving actual, hospital environment, experience. But I know my certification would count as medical experience it just would not be the type of experience I want. Which is to be in a hospital environment. I just feel like I need some advice from actual people who have experienced this before.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Whether or not your experience is in a hospital is immaterial. What you want is experience providing patient care, interacting with patients. Volunteer activities do not give you this experience - CNA does.

Do you fell the level of acuity is not as great in a nursing home? Because you are gravely mistaken - you'll see a lot, and get to do a lot working in a nursing home.

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I would tell you to do both. Perhaps you should get your CNA certification and volunteer when you have time available. Even though you want to get hospital experience, you may not be employed in a hospital when you get your CNA. You may be employed in LTC where you can gain experience for 6 months-1 year, then you can decide to start filing applications for hospitals. I would not say it is impossible to get employed in a hospital with a CNA certification with no experience, but it is especially hard. I would stilla dvice you to file applicoations in home health agencies, LTC, and hospitals to broaden your chances of being hired.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

marycarney is right.Voluteers don't do patient care.Plus CNA will teach you skills that you will use as a nurse.

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Like most posters have said, get your CNA because a lot of what you'll learn and do will help you in nursing school and as a nurse. It's tough trying to get a job in a hospital as a CNA, but there's nothing wrong with working in LTC to get experience and then applying to a hospital. I got my CNA in 2008, worked in LTC, now I work in a psych facility. I don't know how your school is, but the BSN program I was accepted to gave extra points in your application if you were a CNA, had any healthcare experience or volunteered. You just got more points if you had paid experience. I start the BSN program this fall. Any experience will be beneficial, good luck to you!

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marycarney, I completely agree with you. I just have heard from someone who is a nurse that the best thing in this situation would be to volunteer, on the other hand on threads on this website and all of your opinions the best thing is to be a CNA. But, I do like the idea of being a CNA and volunteering.

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

I would say both only if the volunteer program is hands on. Before I started working as an ER Tech, I was part of a hospital internship that was pretty hands on. I volunteered in the Acute Care Unit, ER, OR and NICU and I was able to work in 4 very different departments for 3 months at a time each. It provided me with opportunities that I probably wouldn't be able to have otherwise. If you are just doing non patient care related tasks then I would say go for the CNA only.

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Get your CNA.

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I would also look at hospitals around your area for nurse tech positions. At the hospital I am hoping to work upon graduation, they have nurse tech positions that you can apply for once you hit your junior year (BSN) and sophomore year (ADN). That is what I plan to do bc the only CNA programs around here are offered during the semester when I already have 15 credit hours... Plus kids and a husband lol good luck whatever you decide!!

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Bob is right... totally depends on the volunteer opportunities. I did two different internships, one in a hospital in multiple depts, and one in an ER, but both had direct patient care opportunities.

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