Who else is entering a nursing program that . . .

I agree. I don't think having a CNA cert. will help much at all. I don't intent to work as a nurses aide either. My mother did it and it is hard work with not much pay or thanks.

I wish I could pick not to enter this program, but it's the only one in my town, the other ones are miles away and there's no way I could get to them and still be home to take care of my little one.

I have never refused to assist in any kind of toileting of a patient in twenty years of nursing and cannot imagine having the luxury of doing so! We're a team here folks. That's all I'm saying. I cannot believe some nurses think they shouldn't dirty their fingernails, as the saying goes! Oh well...changes in work ethics with different generations, I suppose...

There are three programs here where I live that I'm considering completing applications for. One of them requires aide cert. However, it's a last resort program for me (if I don't get in one of the other two, then I'll take the CNA course and apply to this third). Sorry, but been there done that. I had my aide cert 12 years ago in another state. I worked in LTC and, I must say, inspite of the 'dirty' work, it was among the best, most rewarding experiences I've ever had... but, even still, there's just no way I'd repeat all that training again unless I 'had' to.

My school doesn't require it but entrance into the RN program goes by points and the cert gives you an extra point if you have it. If you ask most RN's that did the CNA first, they will tell you that it was actually beneficial to have that exposure. Our school was going to make it mandatory too but they had the same topic of butt wiping come up as well.

From what I've heard, most schools that require CNA certification do not care if you've ever actually worked as a CNA. They just don't want to take up valuable time in your first nursing semester teaching you the most elementary basics.

I think CNA certification is a useful prereq as well with the main objective being that the nursing program then doesn't have to spend time teaching those basics. Kinda like taking microbio and anatomy before entering a nursing program instead of during the program.

My CC requires this as well, and I'm ok with it....how much worse can it be than changing my gd's diapers? (ok, ok, I can already hear the replies to that one ). The only thing I don't care for is having to shell out an extra $538 for the course & state test.

My program required CNA or paramedic certification. It's an accelerated BSN program, though, so they didn't want to spend time teaching us ADLs and other CNA-level skills. This allowed us to do pretty much everything (except IV push meds and maybe one or two other things I'm not aware of) in our very first clinical. Many of my classmates just took the class and test, and never worked as a CNA. No one says you have to work as one, just be able to do the skills required of one.

The fact of the matter is that any skills a CNA does are actually within the nurse's scope of practice, but the nurse can delegate them to the CNA. It is important to be able to do these things, and by having your CNA certification you will have that education and experience before setting foot in your nursing classes.

The program that I was admitted into also requires the CNA class as a pre req. I think that the real issue here is that did we all not choose this profession to help people? Are we all that pre occupied that we are too good to get are hands dirty? If this is the case then maybe you chose the wrong profession. The CNA class for me was more about cleanliness and sanitation which I think a lot of us need, after all people it is only a 5-6 week course.

My CC requires this as well, and I'm ok with it....how much worse can it be than changing my gd's diapers? (ok, ok, I can already hear the replies to that one ). The only thing I don't care for is having to shell out an extra $538 for the course & state test.

Yeah, actually $538 is not so bad -- I think that's the app. cost at my CC as well but is better than the private institutes that ask for over $1500 to get it done in like 3 weeks--I did the shopping and was shocked to hear how much it was. The private schools or hospitals that teach it my area don't even offer any kind of financing or financial aid where as the CC's do.

At first I thought taking a whole semester to do my CNA was going to be too drawn out but I'm looking forward to it. I will be applying to the nursing school for Fall so unless I don't get accepted right away I will never even get to work as a CNA aside from my clinicals.