Will working as a CNA be a good job while in Nursing school?

U.S.A. Florida

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I am a pre-nursing student. I am going to get my CNA license over the summer. I figured since I could use a job while in school that I would get a job as a CNA since it's related to my major. I don't have any major bills to pay, but my car payments which is $300. Anyone know what the average salary is for a CNA in Florida by the way?

This is an old thread, but I would like to reiterate the importance of keeping a job while in nursing school. I was a PCT/Telemetry tech in school. Out of my little pod of 24 students at my school, there were 4 of us who got jobs after graduation. The common thread... we were all hospital employees.

Having a hospital job while in school is way more important than GPA. My friend who was a freak about being a 4.0, just recently got her first floor job. She had been home health for the better part of 3 years. I think there are still some of our pod who haven't made it to employment yet.

GPA is important for higher education, so keep it up, but there's no need go crazy.

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I am a CNA in Georgia and the patient to tech here is kind of crazy (nursing home and hospital). I trained a really well known hospital here and on my second day of training, they took me away from training and put me on the floor and at the end of the night I couldn't even feel my feet.

But I'm wondering how it is in Florida. I plan on attending nursing school there, but haven't been accepted yet. I'm still working on getting my housing squared away. Being 32, makes it even harder. Luckily I don't have any kids.

I have always wondered how students are able to maintain financially (even if they are paying minimal bills), how do they do it in a nursing program?

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Specializes in ED, trauma.

I have always wondered how students are able to maintain financially (even if they are paying minimal bills), how do they do it in a nursing program?

Honestly. Family helps out, living with them or having them help with meals, etc.

There are programs for students who are seeking a degree (workforce) that pay tuition and books. Federal aid helps if you don't already have a Bachelors degree.

Then there are loans. Particularly if you don't qualify for federal aid.

There are specific nursing scholarships at schools that you can apply for, and also student nursing associations have scholarships as well.

Some people save for years knowing they won't be able to work in school and live off savings, eating PB&J along the way. :)

You do what you gotta do!

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I agree!

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Wow. Thats alot for nursing homes. Here in Atlanta, you may make up to $10 or sometimes $11/hr (depending on experience and location) and would work 40 hour or 20 hours shifts. But most hospitals were the 7a-7p or 7p-7a type shifts.

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Really late but in case someone is scrolling through this... I am also a CNA in nursing school. I was hired at $11.80/hr + differentials at a palm beach county hospital. I chose to go per diem instead of full/part time because it paid an extra dollar an hour.

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I am in Central Florida looking into Nursing School either here or in SoFl. I am looking into doing the CNA course and doing that while finishing my pre-reqs and possibly continuing it as a NS. Thanks for posting this .... let's me know I'm not alone in my thinking. :-)

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