Why be a CNA first?

[Mama_Cashew]

I have seen many threads where people suggest to prospective nursing students to become a CNA first so they will and I quote, "know what it's like to be a nurse."

My question is, the scope of practice is totally different for those two positions, so how does being a CNA first help?

I understand that it will help with basic functions and assessment skills, but what else?

[♑ Capricorn ♑]

I understand that it will help with basic functions and assessment skills, but what else?

Yes, the scope of practice of a CNA to an RN do differ. What the CNA may offer someone is experience. Experience before attending nursing school, experience of getting to know the health profession, experience to gain and practice skills, experience with working with patients. The list can go on and on.

The truth is, is that being a CNA will give you a background. You will be able to form your own opinions and decisions about nursing just from working in the environment. You will be able to ask questions and learn something.

Is it necessary to be a CNA before nursing school? No, not unless if your nursing program requires it. Many people seek the CNA because they feel it will aid them somehow before/during nursing school, plus they may need a job.

[Mama_Cashew, ASN, RN]

Thank you everyone for the wonderful answers. I learned a lot by reading all your replies.

[lane2012]

My personal experience as I CNA will definitely help me in nursing. Besides the fact that CNA's can't dispense meds and their paper work is way more complex, there's really not a big difference. There's usually not enought CNA's working the floor, therefore, it's an RN responsability to also answer call lights and do CNA stuff.

I have always been one of those CNA's who will take interest further than what I really need to know. I've always asked questions about everything related to a patient's care plan, and some of them won't mind coaching you. True! You can't dispense the medication, or touch the IV, however, you know what they're having, why, for how long, and protocol of interaction with some other med. I've always come up with other scenarios, such as, "what if this and that?" and they've always answered.

Being a CNA has taught me very important lessons on interpersonal behavior. I have a very good idea of what/who/how to be as a nurse. Because being able to work as a team is valuable. I've seen nurses on the floor that were my perfect example of what to be and what not to be after i graduate.

I've had a chance to practice "compassion", if that is possible LOL bedside manner is crucial. As well as patient education! Being a CNA helps me understand about such an issue, and because I didn't get my understanding from a text book, I believe I can relate my jargon to lay people.

I could go on and on here... these are just to name a few advantages :)

Good luck!

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Being a CNA teaches you a lot that you can't learn in nursing school. First, you learn up close and personal some of the dirtiest tasks of nursing. More importantly, it teaches you how to be comfortable with a patient's body, how to do basic assessments, how to communicate with patients, and how to prioritize and manage your time.

I can't tell you how many nursing students had never even given a bed bath when they started clincals. The idea of seeing a stranger naked and helping them wash really freaked them out. Never mind changing the diaper of an incontinent adult. Being a CNA gives you experience with personal space. It can give you a huge advantage when doing your first urinary catheter if you aren't already uncomfortable with seeing and touching a patient's member.

As a CNA, you'll be assessing vital signs, skin integrity, mobility, orientation, rate and work of breathing, size and type of bowel movements, measuring I&O, etc. All good skills to have as a nurse. Practice with basic assessments makes it easier to transition into head to toe assessment.

Communication is huge in nursing. Being comfortable asking personal questions such as "When was your last bowel movement?" can take a lot of practice. Being a CNA gives you lots of practice talking to patients and using active listening skills. You also learn to communicate with families, nurses and doctors and be a patient advocate.

Finally, time management and prioritization are huge. In nursing school you'll be lucky if you care for more than two patients in a clinical rotation. It's nothing like being assigned 10 or 12 patients in a skilled facility. Being a CNA teaches you how to organize your shift, multi-task, care for multiple patients at once. You learn who you need to see first, how much time you have to take care for each patient. You can't learn skills like that in nursing school. In my opinion, this is the best reason for becoming a CNA before or during nursing school.