Worth it to go back for a BSN?

Students Pre-Nursing

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phuretrotr

292 Posts

CNAs assist RNs and LPNs by helping patients with their daily living activities, such as bathing, eating, ambulating, some take blood glucose levels (depends on facility), empty and record amount of output (urine) and other similar duties as assigned. CNAs are not allowed to do anything of what I've described in the above paragraph.

If you just want to get your feet wet and have a taste of the environment, then go for it. But, don't pursue a CNA education thinking is similar to what the RN does.

'Tis true! That is a very good point to be made. A CNA will have their own responsibilities in that job. However, you have close contact with many nurses whenever you work, and I am sure a few will help you in deciding whether nursing is for you.

sbear24

20 Posts

Also, unless you're working in a hospital setting, CNAs are mainly utilized in LTC or home health...and that is a world away from what can go on in non-geriatric wards of a hospital...I got my CNA as a stepping stone to my BSN, and clinicals were a difficult experience for me because I'd never dealt with dementia patients before. My CNA clinicals reinforced the fact that geriatrics is not my calling. It is for many others, and I respect their strength and patience in being able to deal with that particular field of nursing, but it is not for me (I'm leaning more toward L&D or ICU/CCU). It was, however, great experience for me in terms of getting on the inside of a medical facility and getting an idea for how things work, seeing patient medical records, etc. I'd say go for it to get your toes wet, but don't expect it to be an example of exactly what you'll be doing (unless you want to work in LTC). Good luck!

PatMac10,RN, RN

1 Article; 1,164 Posts

Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.

Despite what some other posters have stated, working as a CNA can be beneficial in your decision to be come a nurse, more often than not. It can really depend on what you make of the experience too. Shadowing various professionals in various settings a few times will be beneficial too.

Working as a CNa, you do have a different set of responsibilities, which no one ever said they didn't, but like another poster said you're working side by side with nurses, in most cases. Home health is different, but you can still learn patient interaction Skills. Working in a LTC facility or acute care settings helps you begin to learn basic principles if time management. It's working as a CNA that will help you realize the demands that can be placed on healthcare personnel by difficult patients who come into all healthcare settings. You learn about the various role in code situations, you see delegation in real time.

AlaBro2010

265 Posts

Specializes in Public Health, Women's Health.
Despite what some other posters have stated, working as a CNA can be beneficial in your decision to be come a nurse, more often than not. It can really depend on what you make of the experience too. Shadowing various professionals in various settings a few times will be beneficial too.

Working as a CNa, you do have a different set of responsibilities, which no one ever said they didn't, but like another poster said you're working side by side with nurses, in most cases. Home health is different, but you can still learn patient interaction Skills. Working in a LTC facility or acute care settings helps you begin to learn basic principles if time management. It's working as a CNA that will help you realize the demands that can be placed on healthcare personnel by difficult patients who come into all healthcare settings. You learn about the various role in code situations, you see delegation in real time.

I think it would also be beneficial. Our CNA can do everything we can do except medication administration. So she also does blood draws.

lucylooo

17 Posts

Thank you all for the advice. As Devon Rex says, the responsibility of being a nurse is great. It seems overwhelming to me. If I am overwhelmed thinking about it now, would nursing not be a good fit for me? When I shadowed a nurse in the hospital, she mentioned some of the legal aspects - a nurse who was fired for copying and pasting charts. A nurse who was fired because she gave Tylenol she claimed the doctor told her she could give. A doctor's office seems more ideal to me. But I've heard they don't pay as much, and may not be worth the expense of going through school again.

iPink, BSN, RN

1,414 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

Hey lucy. I was in your position as a Research Analyst too, but I was located up North and had a B.A. My company went through layoffs and after drying my eyes, I decided to really go into the field I've always wanted - Healthcare. I took 1-2 months to research including talking to people in the field and also to pray about it. I got advise to take the Accelerated BSN route over the ASN route as the nurse managers I spoke with said they don't look at ASN applicants. I just moved to FL and the friends that work at the hospitals here have their ASNs, but they are enrolled in a BSN program. If they weren't they wouldn't have been hired.

Yes an RN's responsibilities are great but worth it. Good luck in your decision.

lucylooo

17 Posts

hi glad. thanks for sharing. what did you think of an accelerated program? was it too much too fast?

I have heard that I should get BSN over ADN. but then my friend who went to Edison in Naples and got her ADN said the local hospital was more likely to hire Edison grads with ADNs than graduates from FGCU in ft Myers with BSNs. she had a BA in another field. (as you did and I do)

does the school matter that you go to as long as it is accredited and you study a lot for the nclex? I'm limited to where I go by where my fiancé gets a job. but I don't want to go back and not get a job.

iPink, BSN, RN

1,414 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

If you plan to get hired at that specific local hospital, then I say go for the ADN. If you plan to broaden your prospects to other hospitals, get the BSN.

The ABSN program was tough for me, but I never failed a class and I graduated as scheduled. It is all doable with time management and persistence. The pace is fast and if you're lacking in organization skills and prioritizing, you can easily get overwhelmed.

The school must be accredited and that's all that matters. Also try to maintain a 3.0 or higher if you plan to get a higher degree. I'm already looking at post graduate programs for next year.

I'm a bad test taker so I got a Kaplan book on nclex test strategies and I did lots of questions to condition my mind.

lucylooo

17 Posts

I think I would prefer to get the BSN over the ADN. Very impressive that you did so well in the ASBN - congrats! I too am not a great test taker but I would prepare a lot as you did.

Did you have trouble getting a job as a new grad? I think i would prefer to work in a doctor's office over a hospital. Is the pay really that much less?

My sister is a physician assistant and thinks I should try to go for that. Very difficult to get into though and I think it's more like medical school. I think I would prefer nursing because of the caring role.

Thanks again for the advice

iPink, BSN, RN

1,414 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

I wouldn't recommend new grads to go into a doctor's office. You won't get the experience needed to be a good nurse. Maybe after a year or two then you can decide to work in a doctor's office. I heard the pay isn't much there though.

The reason why it was easy for me to get a job is I know someone. I actually know several people and I got the "hook-up." I always wanted to be a P.A., but during my initial research, I found there was more autonomy with the NP than the PA and decided to go the NP route. I had run into people whose primary health providers are NPs and they love their NP. The time the NP spends with them one-on-one is very refreshing. I can't wait to become one myself.

lucylooo

17 Posts

That's great! The best way to get a job is definitely by knowing people. That's how I got my job now, recommendation from my professor. My sister may be able to help me get a job being in the medical community.

NPs are the best! When my childhood doctor left the practice, I just continued to see the NP. She used to give us discounts when I was uninsured. We're working on trying to get an expanded scope of practice for NPs at my work right now since they can't prescribe controlled substances in FL.

Thanks for all your advice :) Good Luck with your graduate program.

Starting pay for Nurses in NY near Syracuse is about 25 an hour and up to 29 without BSN with BSN its roughly 2 to 5 dollars more an hour depending on where you are!

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