Do you recommend becoming a CNA before going to college for nursing?

Hi Simona, I don't think there is a huge down side to becoming a CNA if your end goal is to go to nursing school. It will give a real world look at what nursing is; however, it will be a very small slice of the wider scope of nursing. Getting your CNA first will give you the basic tools of nursing that you will learn in your first clinical year so in that way it will put you a little ahead of your non-CNA classmates. Having your CNA will also enable you to work PT when you are in nursing school! Best wishes. Cathleen

Absolutely! I, and almost every nurse I know, was a CNA first. Working as a CNA will give you a realistic idea of what truly entails in the career of nursing, and give you a stable income during college. In fact, many programs require CNA certs as part of their course. Not to mention it betters your chances of getting into a competitive program.

~Ursula, LPN