Years of CNA experience helpful?

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Is it helpful to have some years of experience as a CNA to get accepted into an LPN program?

I am starting the process of admissions for a local LPN school. I so nervous that I won't be accepted. I will really be crushed! I am hoping my 8 years as a CNA will give me some what of an edge next to someone with no experience, know what I mean?

So what have you found in your experience?

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Are you going into one that's in high demand?

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I believe it's in the middle.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med Surg.

I don't think it will help you get in, but I think that once you are in, it will give you an edge over other classmates on some of the material and basic skills (bed making, transferring patients, etc). Things that are brand new to some classmates will be things you've been doing/hearing for years. Good luck!!!:up:

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Specializes in Geriatics.

IT WILL HELP YOU, once in school, I'm currently in a LPN program and my being a CNA for 4 yrs has helped me. The familiarity with the whole "nursing" technique is extremely helpful. And if you were paying attention to the nurses you were working around for 8years it will help you. Mind you I've only been in this program for 3 weeks and I already see the help it can be.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

I've been an aide for two years, and I do think it helped me in some ways (mainly in skills and at clinical), but honestly I feel that the the CNA,techs,etc..who have worked in hospitals have more "know-how" and experience than those of us who have only worked in geriatrics/ltc..but that's just how I see it. Now for theory? That's NO JOKE! Being an aide did help me b/c I knew some medical terms, but other than that..it didn't really help me all that much.

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My LPN program (I am attending part time) requires that you have your CNA certification in order to apply. I don't think it helps in your classes (like, pharmacology, peds, etc...) but it will certainly make you more comfortable in clinicals-bedside manner, understanding how a facility works, etc...

I work as a CNA in LTC and I agree that a hospital will provide a greater variety, in terms of experience. A friend/classmate of mine works at our local hospital and she sees everything-deliveries, basic med/surg stuff... very interesting. If a spot opens up there, I'd love to get on.

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Is it helpful to have some years of experience as a CNA to get accepted into an LPN program?

I am starting the process of admissions for a local LPN school. I so nervous that I won't be accepted. I will really be crushed! I am hoping my 8 years as a CNA will give me some what of an edge next to someone with no experience, know what I mean?

So what have you found in your experience?

as aomeone who did the lpn with a lot of friends who is cnas , donot rely on ur experience because when u are working as a cna u think like one and as a lpn student u should not be thinkin like a cna so most of the time what u think u no as a cna its really not correct as a lpn.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.

It isn't degrees and grades that make a good healthcare professional, after all.

It's experience. So, healthcare experience is always helpful...and you'll (almost) always get extra points when compared with someone who lacks it.

...and that'd probably be most people. Everyone's afraid to get their hands dirty, it seems.

*laugh*

ANYWAY - my cna work impressed my (nursing school) interviewer. She was also impressed that I did xray/ct.

*shrug*

...but I didn't get into nursing school for those reasons alone.

Couldn't have made it in if I lacked the test scores (pretty good for one that didn't study) and gpa.

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