Would you recommend CNA experience prior to Nursing School?

zacarias, ASN, RN · Jul 26, 2005

I totally think that becoming a nursing assistant before becoming a nurse is a super way to go!

It's not possible for everyone to go this route but if they can, I think it's great.

Working as a CNA allows you to get used to dealing with new people in the healthcare setting and gets you more adept at giving basic personal care quickly. Plus, you get to understand the healthcare system a little bit more, especially if you work in the hospital. This can only serve to make nursing school less of a shock to your system.

SharonH, RN · Jul 26, 2005

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?

That's a great idea. A lot of hospitals have programs that allow you to shadow a nurse. Another option is to volunteer. I would consider that before I become a CNA.

onesmallspark · Jul 27, 2005

I thought shadows weren't allowed for HIPPA reasons. Is that interpreted different in every facility? I would definitely be interested in doing that. Does anyone know of a hospital in the Dallas area that allows shadows?

I had the volunteer idea as well. I sent in my paperwork about a month ago to become a volunteer at one of the local hospitals, but no one has contacted me yet.

guest64485 · Jul 27, 2005

I thought shadows weren't allowed for HIPPA reasons. Is that interpreted different in every facility?

There are loopholes to this. Our hospital operates a shadow program through the education and volunteer department. Look into those departments at your local hospital to see if they can help you shadow a nurse.

Stella-Ohio · Jul 27, 2005

The absolute best IMHO situation you could ask for is to be a PCT or CNA in the setting in which you think you may want to work.

I started as a 'pool tech' at my hospital and ended up with a quasi-permanent assignment on a floor who had a tech out on injury leave. When it became graduation time, the Manager came to me and asked me to accept a Staff Nurse position on the floor after passing NCLEX.

I gladly accepted as I really liked the floor and the staff.

It has had some akward moments, such as the 'interview' which took place with the girls I work with nightly but they had to follow a protocol although I was bascially recruited to stay. I have also had to make a conscious effort, initially, to seperate myself from my comfort zone in the tech position but the benefits of this arrangement have far exceeded these small barely mentionable issues.

I was familiar with the floor, the types of patients, some of the doctors, a lot of the paperwork and most of all the people I am surrounded by. This arrangement took a big hunk of the 'scary' out of the new job leaving me to truly learn my new position with my preceptor and not at all wondering 'where do I find.....??????? How do I get to lab????? Who would know the answer to........???? The entire routine feels really natural as I was already a part of the routine in a different capacity. I did sit down with my fellow techs and explain to them that although I wanted to become the type of nurse that made their job easier, that it would take time. Most of them totally understood the buried feeling that a new nurse was undertaking and are gladly willing to help me within their scope knowing full well that my goal is to model myself after some of our better and efficient nurses once I get the hang of it. I believe this helped to ease the transition and negated any feelings that I was becoming one of 'them' - meaning the nurses who don't help a lot.

If you cannot create the type of situation that has made my transition easier and my decision to become a nurse rock solid-then I would still FULLY encourage CNA training and experience(our local nursing college requires the training but not the job experience). Being around nurses makes understanding your studies alot easier as you have expanded your base of willing teachers by a gazillion which will help you over a troubled spot.

Ideally seek experience in the sort of position that you think you may seek after graduation. If your goal is LTC then work in a facility to see if you still feel that way. Everybody from Nursing Homes to ICU's can use good techs.

My CNA training was a few weeks and about $300 plus the exam. If you have a local vocational school who also teaches adult education, check with them. You will have your CNA license in just a couple of weeks, not months and you can start your research about your new chosen career and make decent money while doing so.

Pool or PRN positions will offer you the most flexibility and an extra few dollars per hour but usually without any benefits. Part time or full time may offer you benefits, seniority hours, paid time off etc but at a slightly lower wage and you may have to pay part of your insurance premiums and have less flexibility with your hours. I have found they will work with you as long as you are specific with what your needs regarding school and you are willing to work the amount of hours that you agreed to when you hired on (even if that means alot of weekends to get through school).

They know you may be checking them out as much as you are checking them out also. It can be a win win situation that you help create.

BETSRN · Jul 27, 2005

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.

CNA training will give you some good hands on skills and comfort levels before you start nursing school. Definitely go to nursing school. It's a wonderful career with so much opportunity!

Stella-Ohio · Jul 27, 2005

Oh, and a lot of nurses will tell you that they are glad they became CNA's first for the experiences and that they understand their coworkers much better.

If you are a student already in clinicals, it may be possible to get a hospital PCT position without getting your CNA license. Many hire nursing students during school.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jul 27, 2005

I thought shadows weren't allowed for HIPPA reasons. Is that interpreted different in every facility? I would definitely be interested in doing that. Does anyone know of a hospital in the Dallas area that allows shadows?
I had the volunteer idea as well. I sent in my paperwork about a month ago to become a volunteer at one of the local hospitals, but no one has contacted me yet.

Our facility has the people who shadow sign a confidentiality agreement.