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Should an RN Work as a CNA First?
I'll be beginning my last semester of nursing school in a few weeks and I was wondering if it would be beneficial to try to get a job as a CNA in the hospital I would like to work at as a nurse in order to get "my foot in the door?" I've heard pros and cons: -Pros: *It would help me get noticed and give me an "in." *I could see how the hospital works and how the staff is treated/treats each other before I begin my career there. *Provides good experience *Money... which I don't have! -Cons: *It would interfere with school and studying *I already have limited time, so adding this could be an additional stress *It may be hard for the staff to treat me as a nurse when I graduate, for they would be used to me being a CNA (plus, it doesn't help that I look really young!) *The hospital is a bit of a drive away (30-45 min, depending on traffic) What are your views on this? Thanks!!! -Shelby 10 Responses to “Should an RN Work as a CNA First?”Leave a Reply |
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December 22nd, 2007 at 9:42 am
I am a nurse tech, but I only work PRN. That has been great for me because it fits in really well with my school schedule.
However, only you can decide what is best for you. If your studies will be hindered in such a way that it would prevent you from graduating, or the stress would be so great that you would resent having to be at work that day, then don’t get a job. Working as a CNA does provide valuable experience, but in many ways the type of work is similar to a good clinical experience that your school should have provided. And don’t forget to factor in the cost of gas and the value of your time when thinking about how much money you will earn as a CNA.
December 27th, 2007 at 10:46 am
I was a tech while in nursing school, and i would highly recommend it. i got comfortable with the atmosphere and the idea of patient care…the whole aspect. it gave me respect for the techs when i became a nurse. i worked part time, so i still had time to study. it definately benefited me!
December 27th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
I have worked as a tech for the last three years while going to school in multiple units, and it has been the best thing I could have ever done! I have learned an amazing amount about everything and it has helped me in nursing school tremendously. I have seen new grads come and go and I will tell you the greatest nurses are those usually that were CNA’s before. They have respect for the tech’s, understand patient care to the fullest, and the list goes on and on.
Since you are in your last semster I dont know how beneficial it woul be , but getting a per diem(prn) CNA job would help you out even still I think.
Good luck!
December 27th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
I have been a CNA for the last 3 almost 4 years. I have found my work to be very rewarding for the future. I know that once I graduate in a year as a RN that I will not have to worry about how to help get people up, change bed linens, etc. I have also learned what it is like to be on a Med-Surg floor as well as many others through being floated.
I work part time (one 12-hour shift a week) which is enough to keep me up on my skills but not so much that I struggle to find time to study.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:12 am
I think that it would be wonderful! I work in an ER as a nurse partner (pretty much the same thing as a CNA) and I’m entering into my last semester of nursing school. I think that it really gives me an appreciation for our support staff. You can definitely tell a difference between the nurses that have worked as an aid, nurse partner, etc. before and those that haven’t. Those that haven’t really take advantage of the support staff. I definitely think that working would be beneficial. Just let your employer know straight-away that your hours need to be limited, since you are in school. And the experience is priceless, let me tell you!
December 28th, 2007 at 9:23 am
I worked as a CNA for 3 years before I was a nurse and it really makes you feel more comfortable in the nursing world. Even if it is just one day a week. It doesn’t necessarily have to be at the same hospital. I would worry about the respect going from a CNA to a nurse but I did not experience that I worked at a different hospital as a CNA . I’m sure that it would all work out.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
I did not work as a CNA before I became a nurse 24 yoears ago and I don’t think that it hurt me one bit. It does get you used to the atmosphere but there is a hugh difference between being an RN and being a CNA. I think it is a decision that only you can make but I don’t really think you have to do it before you become a nuse. I can still clean bottoms with the best of them and I know how to do every aspect of their job and I have great respect and admiration for all of the hard working CNA’s out there. But it doesn’t make me know my job any better
December 28th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
I worked as a PCT prior to graduating nursing school, and it helped me tremendously! By the time I graduated, I knew the staff, the computer system, the way things worked, and to me that made focusing on my new nursing skills easier, and let them be the priority. I also gained much respect for the role of the PCT, and how hard they work as an integral part of the team. To this day (11 yrs later), I still value the time I spent working as a PCT first as I feel it gives me an added perspective in my nursing career.
January 6th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I have a year and 1/2 left in nursing school and I work as a Tech now. I have found it very benefical! It has been a great learning experience because I started working @ my hospital befor emy first clinical so I had good experience.
A lot of hospitals in my area have programs in which nursing students work as techs or aids before graduation and then can become RNs at the hospital. You might want to look into that!
As far as becoming a CNA, I’m not sure that the training time it takes will be worth it especailly since you’re in school now.
Good luck and God bless!
Ashley 🙂
April 1st, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Many nursing schools are starting to require CNA certification as an entrance requirement…I personally worked super-part-time (only one weekend per month) as a nursing assistant during nursing school and I think I learned more from that job than I did from some of my clinicals. This also has a lot to do with the nurses you work with. I happened to work with a really great group of nurses that would alway pull me in an teach me “nurse” stuff.
So, judging from my experience, I would definately say go for it!!