Would it be best to be a CNA then an RN?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi, I'm new to the forums! I am a pre-nurse, which means I'm getting my prerequisites out. I'm aiming to get into the Nursing Program by Fall of 2017, if not, even sooner than that! (I didn't take Chemistry in HS due to disability hitting me the senior year. I might get in sooner if I can manage to get into the summer program for 2017)

Someone suggested that it would be best to pay for a CNA course outside of the program, and then work as a CNA because many places pay tuition to go higher and for hospital experience. I'm not sure if its wise to, so I wanted more opinions on it.

Plus, I'm a little worried about being a CNA because I can't touch poop at all. Mainly because I have IBD and I can't tell whether the difference between being sick from my immune system or being sick from an outside source.

Specializes in Emergency.

Personally, I gained a lot of experience and realized I really DID want to be a nurse while working as a CNA.

If you were seriously considering becoming a CNA because of tuition reimbursement, I would ask around a bit before basing your decision on that. The hospitals I worked at only offered it to employees who have worked there at least a year and often it was only for full time employees. One hospital did offer it to employees with a part-time position scheduled 20+ hours/week. Will that benefit you?

Best of luck!

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Around here, most RN programs require students to have their CNA 1 licenses and some CNA work experience as well before applying to the nursing program. Check your program requirements.

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Specializes in NICU, telemetry.

I think being a CNA would be beneficial, but you don't "need" to. If you are looking for a job during school, it's a great suggestion. You get your foot in the door and can network for future job opportunities when you graduate, and some nurses may even let you see some interesting things if they know you're a student.

However, I agree that if you really can't touch stool, you may need to think your career altogether. There are MANY risks in nursing involved, and that surpasses just stool (that 9 times out of 10) you'll be wearing gloves when exposed to.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I was a CNA before becoming a nurse and now teach a CNA program. While it is not necessary to be a CNA first, I feel it does help. Mainly because in your first semester, while others from other types of previous jobs, are getting used to seeing people nude, and touching nude people, you will already be comfortable with that. You will also be familiar with the process of putting a catheter in or doing a tube feeding. NO, you won't actually be doing those things, but you will likely see them and this helps a bit with the first semester nerves. That being said, it is important that ones who are CNAs first, don't go into school with the attitude that they know everything. Good luck in whatever you decide.

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Hello :) I would highly recommend that you try to become a CNA first. I am a CNA and I was just accepted into nursing school. I can tell you, Id be going into clinicals blind if I didnt work where I work now. I currently work in a hospital, and I have assignments each day of different patients. This helps you really get an idea of having to be responsible for many different tasks throughout the day, learn teamwork with your nurses and other CNAs, and helps you prioritize!!!

I as a cna would highly recommend it forsure!!! And yes its true, that hospitals will pay some amount of money for your tuition. usually though it takes you working at least part time for about 6 months before that will kick in though..

also, being a cna youll totally get over the whole poop thing. Honestly, I dont even care anymore about what bodily fluids I have to deal with, (as long as I have gloves on!)

good luck to you, and let me know if you have any more questions!

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Nearly all the nursing schools near me are requiring a CNA licenses/class completion to apply -- some are requiring you to pass the state license test while others require experience as well. But I've been hearing that it's great experience to have and to see if you'd really be committed to nursing. This has been proving a pain for me because the class times just don't correlate with my work schedule. And I'm already a medical assistant so you'd think that'd count for some of the patient care experience but they only seem to care specifically about CNAs :(.

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Most Nurses (CNA, LPN, RN, NP) will or have, at some point, touch poop...

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Specializes in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

Being a CNA can give you an upper hand but it is definitely not required. Of my class of 60, less than 10 were actually CNA's or CNA certified. If you did get your CNA and started working in the hospital, it would give you both first hand experience at what basic nursing is. 2nd, it will put your foot in the door in terms of getting a job when you get your RN license. I would only recommend getting CNA if you had 0 hospital experience or 0 nursing experience overall. I would have done CNA prior/during nursing if I had not already worked in the hospital as a tech.

Plus, I'm a little worried about being a CNA because I can't touch poop at all. Mainly because I have IBD and I can't tell whether the difference between being sick from my immune system or being sick from an outside source.

I don't mean to be rude, but you're going to have to deal with this. If you absolutely for the life of you cannot deal with poop, you are in the wrong profession. Poop is not the only thing that can sicken/gross people out and you will learn that the hard way during clinicals and when you start working.

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You want to be a nurse/cna and can't touch bodily fluids?

you are definitely in the wrong direction for this career. No hospital worker should ever expect to NOT ever touch poo.

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Yes! I was in a RN program, failed out. But I never felt confident or comfortable talking to patients or family. One time during the program I was told to give a patient a bed bath, and I did but in the back of my mind I was thinking "This is what CNAs are for, why am I doing this ? Can't I learn something useful?" Now being a cna made me realize how important they are, how busy they are, and truthfully it has made me a better person. It also made me FINALLY understand all the Cna, lpn, Rn role questions. After working as a Cna for a couple months you will lose the fear of bodily fluids, if you are using standard safety precautions then it shouldn't be gross. I think it will be worthwhile. My Cna class was a month long, around $600 bucks, I would work as a cna for a couple months to get the gist of it. Plus, you can always work for a staffing agency while in College, it pays better and you can pick when you want to work.

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Check your program requirements. Most programs in my area want their prospective students to be on the state registry as a CNA prior to admitting. I think it depends on you as a person and your background. If you have zero experience or unsure about nursing, becoming a CNA is a cheaper and faster route to get experience.

If you are certain you are not supposed to be around fecal matter, you might not:

A) meet the health requirements for the nursing program

B) Find a plan B (not necessarily out of the health sciences if that's what you want but maybe on the non-clinical/nursing side)

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I mean it'll help get your foot in the door once you graduate. But it's not gonna make or break you. I admire CNAs. They have one of the toughest, dirtiest jobs out there. Oh, and you deal with some sort of "poop" anywhere you work. Places like MED-SURG deal with it more than any other area though.

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