Would you recommend CNA experience prior to Nursing School?

I'm trying to decide if I want to make the effort and expense of becoming an RN (especially in light of what I've read in some of the BB posts) and I was thinking that becoming a CNA (which would only take about 4 months and $600) would be a good indicator of whether or not the nursing field would "be for me", as well as giving me a leg up when it comes to getting into school/applying for a job. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Also - how much math is used when being a nurse? I'm not very strong in math skills.

[Babarnurse]

Yes, yes, yes!!! I always said that one should be a NA/Tech/CNA before being a nurse. You get another point of view and it you hopefully appreciate the techs a little better. I am not a nurse, a nursing student at the time, but I can tell you that I have learned things as a tech that put me ahead of the game when it came time to classes and clinicals. Some of my classmates had never been in a hospital before. I feel lucky to know some of the lingo, procedures, dr's and nurses as well as other staff. I think it is a wonderful idea. However, if you base your desire to be a nurse solely on being a CNA, you might be missing out on some of the nursing aspect. They are totally different!

Best of luck in your endeavor!

Babar nurse

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I recommend being a CNA. It gives you a head start on pt. care, plus it can be such a learning experience while you work.

(And i'm horrible at math but i did great with Dose Calc.)

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

There has been a few other posts with the exact same question posed. I would say definatly yes. You probably can find a class cheaper than $600 and less than 4 months? Many places will pay you to go to class, for the test and give you a job after.

[BabyRN2Be]

There has been a few other posts with the exact same question posed. I would say definatly yes. You probably can find a class cheaper than $600 and less than 4 months? Many places will pay you to go to class, for the test and give you a job after.

I've actually posted this same question in the pre-nursing forum. I'm trying to decide whether to do the CNA or PCT route. The CNA route would only take 2 weeks MAX and cost $495, and the PCT route is one semester at a community college (where I'd probably go for my RN) and would probably cost closer to $600. But in the PCT class I'd pick up more skills that I would in the CNA class, such as being able to d/c an IV, help with Foleys (not sure if they mean starting or d/c-ing a Foley), and I'd be more challenged in the PCT class than I would be in the CNA. Also, I'm not sure how many hospitals would hire me as a PCT. They hire more CNA's for some reason, and I definitely would like to work once I finished school (I'll need to check on that a bit more).

It's really hard to chose at this point...

[onesmallspark]

I've actually posted this same question in the pre-nursing forum. I'm trying to decide whether to do the CNA or PCT route. The CNA route would only take 2 weeks MAX and cost $495, and the PCT route is one semester at a community college (where I'd probably go for my RN) and would probably cost closer to $600. But in the PCT class I'd pick up more skills that I would in the CNA class, such as being able to d/c an IV, help with Foleys (not sure if they mean starting or d/c-ing a Foley), and I'd be more challenged in the PCT class than I would be in the CNA. Also, I'm not sure how many hospitals would hire me as a PCT. They hire more CNA's for some reason, and I definitely would like to work once I finished school (I'll need to check on that a bit more).

It's really hard to chose at this point...

What is a PCT? Patient Care Tech? (I'm guessing here) What is the difference between it and a CNA? And what does "d/c a Foley" mean? I'm still a newbie and don't understand all the abbreviations yet. (Honestly I feel downright stupid trying to figure some of these out :uhoh21: )

Also - the class I'm referring to that's 4 months is a college class and is considered a "semester" but it only meets once a week for 12 weeks for 8 hours at a time. It's $500, but they don't include the cost of the book, uniform or insurance so I assumed it would be prudent to estimate another $100 for those supplies. (Just wanted to clarify that since several people commented on the length of the class)

[hope3456, ASN, RN]

I just graduated nsg school and worked as a cna all the way through and before I started.....I am glad I did. It was always easy to find a job (as a CNA) and get flexible scheduling around classes. I worked in a hosp and got tuition assistance and my foot in the door for a job.

I can't really say it helped me with my nsg school clinicals, however, part of the problem may have been I just had crappy clinical instructors. There is a difference btwn how things are done "textbook style" and how they are done "in real life", so I was already accumulating bad habits by seeing procedures done incorrectly and it got me in trouble a couple times w/the instructor. Also, I had a bad attitude in the first clinical rotation when all you get to do is CNA work. I felt it wasn't fair to those who bothered to become CNA's and it was really boring b/c I wasn't learning anything. But you will find out all schools have a different take on this - how much CNA work you have to do. And some schools (not all) give you preference on admission if you have been a CNA, which I definately am all for. It is only fair.

As a RN, however, it has already helped me. The CNA's definately have more respect for you if you have been "walked in their shoes." In general, i feel i have a better working knowledge of how things are done.

Try to work in a hospital, you will learn more.

[SharonH, RN]

I see absolutely no need to become a CNA prior to becoming a nurse especially if it is going to cost you an extra $600. All of the skills you learn as a CNA, you will learn in nursing school. If your concern is proficiency in that particular skill set, that will come with experience as a nurse. And the experience will not give you a leg up in getting a job. If you do it, fine. But I do not think it is necessary.

[onesmallspark]

I see absolutely no need to become a CNA prior to becoming a nurse especially if it is going to cost you an extra $600. All of the skills you learn as a CNA, you will learn in nursing school. If your concern is proficiency in that particular skill set, that will come with experience as a nurse. And the experience will not give you a leg up in getting a job. If you do it, fine. But I do not think it is necessary.

I'm not so much worried about a particular skill set, but I was thinking being a CNA would give me a strong indication of what the work environment is like for a nurse without having to have all the school.

[Kaseyrn2b]

I'm not so much worried about a particular skill set, but I was thinking being a CNA would give me a strong indication of what the work environment is like for a nurse without having to have all the school.

It may, but where I live there are very few ,if any ,hospitals that will hire CNAs w/o 6 mos LTC experience. I have done CNA clinicals in a LTC facility and vol work in a hospital, and along w/ the postings on this BB, to say that the two are quite different ( or can be) seems an understatement. My point is that CNA work on a LTC floor or nursing home may not let you know if, say, you have the potential to become a fabulous L&D or NICU nurse. Just my 2 cents...why not shadow?

[real51]

most definatly you will learn and grow it will teach you compassion and understanding of the med proffesion and make you very appreciative of your wonderful cna :)

[BGSRN]

Working as a nurse assistant is invaluable IMO. Not sure if there is a need to be a CNA but having experience in the "real world" of an acute care hospital is advantageous. I recall a recent AD grad who had never been in a hospital except as a student with a 1 or 2 patient assignment. She could not handle a 3 or 4 patient assignment after her orientation and ended up leaving and returned to school to become a pharmacist. She said if she had worked as an aide she would have had a better idea of what to expect.

So - by all means, do not jump into nursing without knowing what your getting into it. It is a great vocation - I would have it no other way for me, but I was a nurses aide 1st and knew it was for me from the start. Good luck!!!