Any tips or advice for someone just starting a nursing program?

Hi Everyone!


I just recently enrolled in a 1 month CNA program. After obtaining a job as a CNA I will be attending a local part time RN program. I figure... as a CNA I will make the same salary I have now but gain some sort of health care experience.





Anyway, I am reaching out for some tips or advice I may need while going to school and working. Can anyone relate?Any tips or advice for someone just starting a nursing program?
Stay organized, and don't procrastinate. RN programs are very tough because of the volume of work / reading / paper writing you need to do in such a short time, so structure your study time well. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you aren't understanding something - your instructors are there to help you learn. Try to make friends, form a study group, people to unwind with after classes and go to dinner / drinks. It will make your experience a little more fun.





Don't presume that being a CNA is anything like being an RN, because they are very very very different. I would absolutely hate being a CNA, but I love being an RN. Being a CNA will give you a little valuable experience doing some basic patient cares, but above that, what the RN does is way more complex, so being a CNA doesn't really give you as much helpful experience as you would believe.





Good luck to you!Any tips or advice for someone just starting a nursing program?
I partially agree with Jill. Being a CNA, in MY opinion, will help quite a bit with your endeavor to be an RN. While the two fields ARE very different, being a CNA will give you a lot of basic experience which, in turn, will make you a more confident fresh-graduate RN. CNA's dont do the same things that nurses do, but just working in the hospital (even at a basic CNA capacity) will familiarize yourself with the whole day-to-day process of hospital work. You'll learn how to interract with the nurses and the doctors, you'll learn what pieces of equipment are commonly used by both nurses and CNA's, and you'll become familiar with the paperwork and charting that has to be done, even if you arent going to be the one who does it all. You'll also learn the layout of the floor and the routines that are expected of each employee. As a CNA, you wont ever be in a position of being in charge and being responsible for everyone else.....what better time to learn the basics than when you arent in a position of so much resposibility?