working as a CNA

HappyJaxRN · Dec 2, 2005

I don't think it counts as experience as an RN, however, it also depends on what your functions are as a CNA. Being a CNA before RN definitely helps!

I didn't get anything special for being a CNA before I was an RN other than recognition. No points, extra credit, bumping ahead...nothing. But it was helpful in school as well as in the field...having the CNA experience.

HappyNurse2005, RN · Dec 2, 2005

In my hospital, it could make a difference of how much pay you get as a new grad nurse. Every cna year counts for like 1 RN year. So if you are a CNA for 3 years before becoming a RN, then when you start as an RN, you'll get paid like someone who'sbeen a RN for one year. Make sense?

plus, the experience really helps

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Dec 2, 2005

Depends on location. Many will tell you getting your CNA is a plus for the experience and others will say it is not worth it cause they didn't learn anything. Not sure myself as I am neither.

Good luck to you. :)

Soon-to-be-NurseJess · Dec 2, 2005

None of the facilities I have applied to have mentioned getting pay benefits for my experience as a CNA, but I feel it is great experience to have for nursing. You are most likely going to be a delegater to CNAs in your career, and I think it is very helpful to know what CNA duties include and how tough it is to be a CNA before you go about telling them what to do. I've worked as a CNA for about a year and a half now and I love it, and it just provided me with more assurance that this profession was for me. Also, if you've never worked in a health care field, its a good starting point for some experience before you start nursing classes or clinicals.

I also feel being a CNA puts you in a position to be a great resource to your classmates. I have classmates who felt completely at ease at clinicals starting IVs alone, hanging meds alone, starting foleys alone...but were scared to death to give a bed bath or help transfer from bed to chair because they had never done it before and they wanted someone with them that first time they did it.

Oh yea...acute care...this is short term treatment usually at a hospital (many times youll hear of them referred to as acute care facility)...it pretty much means they are gonna get you in, treat you, and get you out in the shortest time frame possible.

:nurse:

sherichance · Dec 5, 2005

Here in Seattle at one of the community colleges you have to become a CNA before you can enroll in the LPN program. I found that interesting. I took my CNA class in Connecticut and I found it very helpful. I helps you understand things more. I worked in a LTC/Hospice center and I learned ALOT. I highly recommend becoming a CNA first but thats just me. :)