3. Put Yourself Through School
Working as a CNA is a great way to fund your nursing education. It pays decently—about $11.54 per hour as of 2010 according to the U.S. Department of Labor. It also offers flexible, part-time schedules that work well for busy students. Just be sure to cut back your hours as your schooling finishes up as you’ll need extra time to complete your coursework and graduate successfully. Some prospective RNs get caught up in working double-shifts and fail to finish their studies. Balance your work and studies to stay on the road to becoming an RN.
4. Some RN Programs Require It
Select programs such as in Ohio expect that you get your STNA (state tested nursing assistant) or CNA certification before you apply. You don’t actually need to work as a CNA to be a nurse, you just need the practical training. For those schools that don’t require it, CNA training may give you an edge to get in. Of course the extra income and on-the-job experience you get by holding a CNA position are great assets for your future nursing career.
5. It’ll Be Easier To Find A Job
Nursing is a booming business—the demand for RNs will increase by a whopping 26% between 2010 and 2020 according to the U.S. Department of Labor. If you’re a CNA, it’s likely that your employer will be eager to provide assistance or tuition reimbursement if you’re enrolled in an RN program. Plus since you’re already employed at a hospital or other facility you may find an RN job waiting for you at the end of the line.
I love this teaching. I have been in EMS for a couple of years now and I was once given the advice (by both an instructor and a colleague) to be an EMT for a while. Get to know the job inside and out. Become a GREAT EMT. Then go on to Paramedic or nursing. In order to teach someone below me how to do that job, I have to do it, earn it, experience it, etc.
Now I am halfway through LVN school and my ems background makes me more successful than some.