Will be a CNA help me find an RN position?

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

I have been a CNA for 3 years, 1 year in LTC and 2 in ED. I am starting my 2nd year in nursing school. What I am wondering is how much my CNA experince would help me in finding that first new grad job. Would it put me ahead of other new grads with no hospital experience at all? I am asking because I am considering quiting my job while I finish my last year in school, so I can focus more on school, but if having some experience helps me than I would contiue working.

I really like where I work and I would love to work there as a RN, but with the economy there is no promis of a job when I graduate.

Then I also worry about not being able to find a RN job at all when I graduate and I would much rather work in the ED than a LTC while trying to find that first job.

[hcer4507]

I've seen on here that a hospital wouldn't even accept experience gained at a hospice for a RN. I doubt working as a CNA counts as experience with the few tasks they perform. A CNA doesn't do paperwork, give pills, IVs and all that stuff.

I would become a CNA myself but jobs for CNA are so scarce that I'm not even going to waste my time. If you leave your CNA job I doubt you could get another one for income.

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

--- edited by staff ---

i would become a cna myself but jobs for cna are so scarce that i'm not even going to waste my time. if you leave your cna job i doubt you could get another one for income.

not to sound rude, but i find that insulting. that is not what cna stands for at least not where i work. i work all over in the ed, from the front desk, assisting the nurse in triage, in the back assisting with a heck of a lot, i am trained for ekg's and splints, plus to fill in as the unit secretarty.

so i guess my orginal question should mainly be directed at hr, and hiring managers, would having more cna experience help me out, by the time i graduate and start looking for a job i will have 3 years ed experience

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

Having been a CNA on a cardiac unit is what got me a job as a nurse on that unit.

[jules2980]

I think being a CNA is a great experience and would give you an advantage over other job candidates who have never worked in a health care setting. If you think it's too much, maybe you can reduce your hours until school is out.

Good luck!

[nminodob]

I worked as a CNA all through nursing school and the contacts I made helped me find my first RN position. Knowing the role of the unit secretary and all the other skills you've picked up will make you a much better RN when you do get out of school. I wouldn't quit my job unless it looked like my education was jeopardized. In my case, school was enhanced by my working as a CNA because I also picked up lots of knowledge and skills along the way. Stick with your job and keep your eyes on the long term prize - not just getting that first job, but also soaking up all the knowledge your ED training can offer, because it will be an asset all through your career.

[Platypus]

Having experience as a CNA hasn't helped me find a job yet. Neither has graduating Summa Cum Laude. But, that is the economy and job market right now!

What I did gain as a CNA is a comfort level working with patients that other nursing school peers did not have - which greatly reduced my stress level during clinicals. I also know how hard CNA work is and think it will make me better at delegating tasks to CNAs that I will work with one day. Being a PCA (basically a CNA that can draw blood) gave me a comfort level working with needles. Being a massage therapist helped me become more comfortable touching strangers bodies - something I was kind of shy about doing before. My point is, whatever experience you can get in the healthcare field, may not help you get the job but can help you grow other ways professionally.

Good Luck with whatever you decide!

[tclema]

Actually, my opinion is, that it will help you. If you can manage to keep your CNA job while going to RN school, you should. As previously suggested, maybe you can cut your hours down to help focus on school. We look favourably at an applicant with CNA experience versus one with no experience at all. Plus, lately we have been having problems with new grad RN's that don't want to take patients anymore, but only sit at the desk and do paperwork. I have heard things like "the LPN's take the patients, and as the RN, I will only take 2 patients or so, but the only lighter cases" on Med/Surg units.

I think as a RN with CNA or LPN experience, you are much better equipped to understand how the team works together and what it takes to give the patients the best care they can get.

[amanda_leigh0221]

tclema,

hello, I was hoping I could ask you a few questions.....I am currently working on my prereqs for a nursing program in Sacramento California, I have no previous health care experience and I know that it is important to have experience for a rn program. My question is, do you think that I should become a CNA, or a Medical assistant? I have a friend who is in a Med assistant program right now and she is learning how to take blood, give shots all sorts of things. I know CNA's do not do those types of things. I don't know which way to go.

Thank you for any help that you can give.

Amanda

[tclema]

@Amanda

Well the Medical Assistant will let you do more things compared to what a CNA does, but then the CNA gives you the experience on a hospital floor (if you work in a hospital setting) and the Medical Assistant works in an office setting. Either way, I look at it in a positive way compared to new grad RN's that don't have any health care experience.

Does that help you any?

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

I'll be honest...being a CNA on my unit WITHOUT A DOUBT helped me get my RN job on the same unit. My manager knew that I was a hard worker, willing to help out everybody, only ever had a patient complaint maybe ONCE a year(if at all), and knew the basics of unit policies and patient care.

I do not draw blood(our lab tech does that-been doing it for 24 yrs), Shots took about 5-6 tries to learn, and like any skill, there are some that took a lot of practice, and some I'm not good at(IV's come to mind)...but I really felt that being a CNA helped me learn how to deal with all sorts of patients, and being part of the team helped me learn how to assist with caths, line draws, what to do with low b/ps how to manage pain, etc.

I firmly believe EVERY RN should be a CNA first, it really helps you learn how to care for patients directly...and your CNAs are thankful if you can get someone to the bathroom, if you can get them on a bedpan, if you can just take care of a easy need for them quickly. I don't get them for everything unless I am SWAMPED, and if I also know they aren't doing a thing currently.

[husker_rn, RN]

I worked as a CNA in a very small hospital while in nursing school. The nurses there were incredible; they taught me as much as my instructors. And being in that environment also helped me learn how to prioritize. No it may not get you the job you want but it would sure help you once you get that job.