i live in florida and want to go into nursing should i do cna first or just skip it?

Answer 1

I was a nurse's aide while I attended nursing school. I did not get my CNA, but I would definitely suggest working in the field prior to obtaining your license, even if only part time. Working as an aide while in school was GREAT experience. I learned time management, how to prioritize patient care by patient acuity, and was able to learn a variety of other things that were invaluable. I also learned to respect the aides because I was one. Myself and the others who worked as aides while in school were more prepared for nursing than those who did not. It is definitely worth looking into. Where I live, student nurses are able to work as aides in hospitals without a CNA certification. Look into it, I think it would definitely benefit you. One thing to remember is that everything in a CNA's job description is also in an RN's job description as well as all of the extra tasks exclusive to an RN. Some RN's fail to see/realize that they, as the RN, are responsible for all the tasks that the CNA's perform.

Good luck to you and welcome to the wonderful profession of nursing!

Answer 2

If you're sure this is what you want to do, get into a nursing program and give it your best. CNAs have very different job descriptions than RNs and you really wouldn't be able to know if you like it by going this route first. My suggestion would be to skip the CNA and just go for it. Nursing school is very hard work, but if you stick with it....it'll be worth it....and we need all the nurses we can get! Good luck ;-)

Answer 3

I'm currently a junior in nursing school. Before I came to college, I recieved my CNA licensure and I really think that helped me understand that i indeed wanted to be in the healthcare field. I really think it helps if you have some exposure to the healthcare field beforehand. Many of my freinds that did not have some sort of exposure dropped out and changed majors becuase they discovered that they didn't like it. You don't really need to take the CNA class, except it does help in the first few years. It won't help if you just take the class and not actually practice it (work someplace). You don't neccesarily have to become a CNA for experience. Have you thought about job shawdowing a nurse perhaps? or volunteering at an hospital just for the exposure. It really helps! Good luck in school and stay strong. Nursing is not an easy subject, but in the end its worth it>

Answer 4

I am a cna and let me tell u its in ur best interest to became an aide first then u can see everything a nurse has to do daily.Plus if something happens to a patient at the end of ur shift u cant leave til u fill out all paperwork.I see what they go through and decided not to go through it.To much stress I've been an aide for 10 years now so i know the ins and outs better than alot of nurses.Sad but true

Answer 5

I live in PA, so I don't know what the rules are like in FL, but I can tell u that being a CNA before going to nursing school helped me tremendously. I knew how to do vitals, bedpans, simple dressings, etc before my other classmates did. I think its a good thing to do. Also, being a CNA helps you as an RN because u know what its like to be in their shoes and u appreciate ur CNAs more than other RNs who have never done their job do.

Answer 6

If you have had no exposure to a hospital or patients you should get some type of exposure to find out if it is something you want to do. People have been known to sail through classes without a problem then drop out their first day in the hospital because it was nothing like they thought. CNA programs are easy and quick, though if you want, you can volunteer at the hospitals to see what goes on.

Answer 7

In my opinion CNA should be mandatory in order to get into nursing school because if you are going to be the supervisor of the CNA's after you graduate, you should be able to be compassionate enough to understand how hard the work is those poor CNA's have to do if you your going to ask them to do something. CNA is the hardest work you will ever know! Just don't forget that when you graduate nursing school!

Answer 8

Unless you're going straight into Nursing School, go for the CNA & work your way up.
Both my sisters are Nurses.

Answer 9

Check with the nursing program you are going through. My niece was going through a nursing program (RN) and it was required that she got her CNA.

Answer 10

Just skip it. Go straight for your RN. Don't settle for your LPN you can do anything you set your mind to. Good luck.