Working during NS -- CNA or desk jockey?

Sart45 · Jan 13, 2011

Something to think about besides the money. Do you really want to do 2 or 3 days of clinicals (12 hour shifts) followed by a day or two as a CNA with a 12 hour shift!!!! Also it is not that easy to get a hospital CNA job these days without experience.

tokidoki7, ASN, RN · Jan 13, 2011

Some places might let you work casual as a CNA.

chinacatSN · Jan 13, 2011

I would stick with the office job. Sometimes, CNA positions aren't very flexible at all, even though HR claims they are. Some places get all bent out of shape if say you normally work the evening shift but you end up with a clinical or two that need you to be there in the evenings and you need to work the day shift on those days instead of the evening.

Also - you tend to learn A LOT of bad habits working as a CNA and it WILL mess you up in school and on tests. Many working nurses don't always go by the book - a lot of the time "by the book" isn't practical for real life. But you have to answer questions on the tests "by the book". Many times, I've found myself referencing my previous experience while trying to figure out the answer on a test question and many times I get it wrong.

Don't get me wrong, having CNA experience is a plus, but it can hinder you as well. I've worked as a CNA so long that when I was supposed to be a nurse, I found myself being a CNA instead - it can be difficult to get out of that mindset of caring for what the patient wants rather than doing what needs to be done first.

Not to mention the HUGE pay cut you'll be taking! And most likely you won't be offered benefits if you're only working part-time as a CNA.

Good luck and let us know what you decide!

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2011

Hey everyone!
I'm not in NS yet, but will be soon. I do know I need to work at least part time throughout school, and was wondering something. I will be a CNA by the end of this year (required for the program), and I do want to be able to have some experience as a CNA before/during nursing school. However... I have a flexible office job at the moment that I've had for about 5 years, and making about $18 an hour (in North Carolina) which isn't terrible. CNA's in NC make (from what I understand) about $8-$10 an hour. I do want to perform CNA work so I have a stronger foundation for NS, and get a general feel for nursing... but sheesh, I don't think I will be able to take a pay cut like that without having to eat top ramen for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Money is tight enough as it is. I know I could do some weekend shifts as a CNA but I also have a husband and daughter I would like to spend time with at some point during NS. So, what do you guys think, CNA for the experience or cushy office job for the money? By the way, I freaking hate my office job but it is flexible, good benefits, and pays the bills.

If you can keep your job and go to school then do it! You might decide into the program that you don't like it, you might fail, you might get pregnant, or experience a host of other issues where a career-track position with good salary and insurance would be beneficial. I wouldn't become a CNA. I also don't get why it'd take you until the end of this year to become a CNA. Around here becoming a CNA takes like a week. :confused:

bhanson · Jan 14, 2011

There is a definite learning curve when you assume the responsibility of caring for a person. I'm not talking about any technical skills or complex knowledge, but for most people it takes a while to get used to the nursing role. You have to be comfortable around patients to make them feel comfortable. It is important for you to project a professional and confident image which isn't easy to do when you're new.

Working as a CNA will definitely give you the experience to do this quicker. You would still get this without working as a CNA but it may take a little bit longer. Being a CNA would effectively remove one more barrier to becoming a competent nurse.

Some of our best nurses worked as CNAs first, but you certainly can be an excellent nurse without that too. My local school graduates great nurses, but none of them are prepared for the difficulty of basic nursing tasks on real people. They'll place bedpans incorrectly which causes the bed to need changing which turns a simple task into a more time consuming task. This leaves them less time to focus on the more advanced nursing tasks because more time is needed to learn the basics. Some of the nurses pick up on it quickly and go on to become amazing providers. Others don't get enough practice and still cannot place a bedpan after a year or more as a nurse. You may think this sounds silly, but if it takes 10 minutes to change a bed and you place a bed pan incorrectly 4 times in one shift, you've created an extra 40 minutes of work.

Being a CNA is HARD WORK. You will be on your feet for 12 hours a day with too much to do and never enough time. It is stressful and some days will push you to the limit. You will work with amazing people and there's nothing more satisfying than doing an excellent job taking care of someone. You will also work with lazy people that drive you insane because you have to do their work as well. You will become comfortable taking care of people and inspire confidence in your patients. If you work in an acute care environment you'll probably even have to do CPR on a person (you'll never forget your first time). An RN's job includes everything a CNA does and as a CNA you get to make the same intimate connections with the people you're caring for as the nurse does. If you're going into nursing for altruistic reasons (which I hope you are), then working as a CNA gives you that component of nursing.

However, if money is an issue I would stay at your flexible cushy office job. In order to complete nursing school you have to be flexible and adaptable and there isn't much room for that with 12 hour shifts. I have a great manager that is allowing me to work the only two days a week I feel comfortable, but many other people are stuck with awful situations. Who wants to go to school all day, work all night, and then go to school the next morning?

Nursing school is going to be stressful enough and you have a job and a family to worry about as well. There's no use adding extra stress (I see nurses and CNAs literally in tears occasionally which can attest to the stress level) when you don't really need to.

HTH

ErinRN2B · Jan 14, 2011

Nursing school is stressful enough as it is, I wouldn't advocate switching jobs and having to worry about money. Like others have said, being a CNA is hard (and often thankless) work, and is very physically demanding. Would you be able to read over your notes and study from time to time at your office job? That will be a HUGE plus for you if you plan to continue working in nursing school. A lot of students (myself included!) aren't really able to handle working during school, period. Many of the skills that CNAs are taught you learn very early on, either in a Fundamentals class or in your first clinical. Things like bathing and turning a patient, calculating I&O, etc.

Good luck with whatever you choose.