Working as a CNA before nursing school?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I was just wondering what you guys would advise? Are there any nurses who worked as a CNA before nursing school?

Also if I wanted to work in pediatrics at a local hospital - can I do that as a CNA? or will I not get hired there??

How much are you CNA's making in ohio??

Any information would be lovely!

Specializes in ER, progressive care.

CNA (or STNA as they call them in Ohio ;)) or PCT...either one is great experience and allows you to network. I say go for it. As for how much they get paid, it depends on the hospital/area. I was making around $12/hr working nights at one job and at another job I started out at $10.50/hr working nights but the fact that I didn't have to drive an hour to work and I had free parking made that small pay cut worth it. This was also between the years of 2009-2011 so I'm sure wages have changed compared to now.

I want to go to school for CNA while completing my last 3 pre-req's. However I can't find a school in Sunrise, Florida that will work around my work schedule. Any suggestions?

Specializes in Med/Surg.
Divatologist I'm so eager to get in your shoes. I'm a prenursing student in MD with hopes of a CNA/unit clerk position at either UMMC or Hopkins. I'm currently at Genesis with my first job as a GNA but the environment is toxic and disorderly. Did you have to take a PCT or unit clerk course before applying for your position in the hospital?

Have you tried Baltimore Washington Hospital. I believe it's close to Maryland live or in that area. I'm on their email alert system for jobs. I got one recently that had a couple of tech and unit clerk positions. If you're in a position to travel, you may have to do that. I live in Laurel and travel to Olney to work. I don't blame you for wanting to get out of the nursing home. Some of them can be pretty bad. My 1st job was in a nursing home ran by the state. Need I say more. I actually didn't have to take a tech class to get my 1st hospital job. They hired me with my GNA. My manager wanted me to cross train to the desk. I fought that with all my might lol. I'm glad that I did though. Luckily I was a unit clerk before the hospitals started the electronic charting. I learned a lot and that is helping me a great deal in class. Check all the hospitals in the area. I know that Howard County Hospital in Columbia actually has a tech course through their hospital. I'm not sure if you have to pay for the course. Look at all the hospitals in our area.

Holy Cross

Washington Hospital Center

Howard University Hospital

Shady Grove Hospital

Washington Adventist Hospital

Providence Hospital

Sibley Memorial Hospital

Georgetown University

Southern Maryland

Prince Georges Hospital Center

Laurel Regional Hospital

National Institute of Health...government job = good benefits :-)

George Washington University Hospital

Saint Agnes Hospital

Good Samaritan Hospital

Sinai Hospital

There are so many hospitals in this area! Look on the USAJobs website as well. That will give you a list of healthcare openings. We both know them government jobs got some good benefits lol. That is usually where you find the jobs at military hospitals and clinics. Look around to your urgent care and clinics as well. Make sure you ask them about the benefits they offer though. Some may not offer tuition reimbursement. University of Maryland in College Park has a clinic on their campus. You have so many options in this area. You have to get out there though. It's not like it was when I 1st got certified. You could get a job just like that. If didn't like your job and left early enough, you could have another job by the end of the day lol. I'm dead serious. That's how I got this job lol. There aren't that many openings these days. You have to check on the daily though. Good luck with everything and keep looking.

Hi Divatologist. I am curious as to what nursing school you went/or are going to in Maryland? I am trying to find some nursing or pre-nursing friends who are in the same area as me. I am taking pre-reqs now at Montgomery College.

Specializes in Med/Surg.
Hi Divatologist. I am curious as to what nursing school you went/or are going to in Maryland? I am trying to find some nursing or pre-nursing friends who are in the same area as me. I am taking pre-reqs now at Montgomery College.

Hey

I just started in the nursing program at PGCC. A couple of my co-workers are taking prereqs at Montgomery College. One is freaking out about having to take the TEAS test lol.

Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

I am also a CNA/Unit Clerk (although on kind of a hiatus atm). I love it and I learn so much! As a unit clerk I do a lot of order entry for the Dr.s so Just that alone i've learned alot. (Names of tests and what they're for, labs, etc.) As a CNA I have learned how to be comfortable with a patient and how to handle different types of patients. I've worked alongside some stellar nurses who have allowed me to watch and learn. (Sometimes do, too. )

I make a little over 11 and I am in SC. I started at 8.75, though.

Hey I have a question about genesis. I'm considering their Cna courses in Maryland. Do you know anything about their program? I've been trying to find information but can't seem to come across any up to date info. My main concern is finding out if the facility was terrible and is the pay really low.

Greetings,

Happy Holidays to ALL. I will be starting a CNA program on December 2, 2013. I am also pre-nursing. I am currently in college taking classes that will go toward my nursing degree. I would also like to get the experience so I figured I would take a CNA course whille on break. I volunteer at a top 10 hospital in Atlanta, Ga. I would like to find out how can I get into the L&D department as a CNA and will a hospital train a CNA as a OB tech?

Specializes in critical care.
Greetings Happy Holidays to ALL. I will be starting a CNA program on December 2, 2013. I am also pre-nursing. I am currently in college taking classes that will go toward my nursing degree. I would also like to get the experience so I figured I would take a CNA course whille on break. I volunteer at a top 10 hospital in Atlanta, Ga. I would like to find out how can I get into the L&D department as a CNA and will a hospital train a CNA as a OB tech?[/quote']

I don't know if this is the norm or not, but the hospital local to me does not staff CNAs on l&d. Their CNAs assist with ADLs more than anything else, and a woman in labor doesn't need that. Postpartum, on the other hand, will have CNAs, but again, they don't do quite as much as they would on a med/surg floor. They handle vitals, mostly.

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