Does CNA help with Medical School Application?

[love_plague]

Does anyone know whether acquiring a CNA would benefit an applicant to a medical school or a nursing school?

I had a chance to volunteer at a nursing home and I want to work there. So, I'm planning to take a CNA class this coming fall and try to get a job in a nursing home in spring. Do you think this is a good idea? Or should I be doing something else if my ultimate goal is to go to a medical school? 😕

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[OSUdoc08]

experience always helps.....but I would really recommend EMT over CNA, although something is better than nothing...

 

[orthoman5000]

I worked as a CNA for a year while applying to medical school and it was the only clinical experience I had for the application (I decided rather late in college that I wanted to be a physician). It worked fine for me and I got accepted on my first try. Overall it was a good experience, although there were some nights (I worked the night shift on a medical-surgical unit) when it was very stressful. Of course having a patient to CNA ratio of 20:1 on average was tough. It is good to see the real grunt work of health care and will make you appreciate your nurses when you are a doctor.

 

[love_plague]

experience always helps.....but I would really recommend EMT over CNA, although something is better than nothing...

I have a friend that is also a pre-med, but instead of taking a CNA class this coming fall he would be taking an EMT-Basics. So, basicallly I think that these two classes would help. But, I'm not so sure if EMT-Basics is harder than CNA. However, I feel that people who do EMT-Basics would more likely to work in the ER Department in the future.

 

[vschow]

I worked as a CNA for a year while applying to medical school and it was the only clinical experience I had for the application (I decided rather late in college that I wanted to be a physician). It worked fine for me and I got accepted on my first try. Overall it was a good experience, although there were some nights (I worked the night shift on a medical-surgical unit) when it was very stressful. Of course having a patient to CNA ratio of 20:1 on average was tough. It is good to see the real grunt work of health care and will make you appreciate your nurses when you are a doctor.

Orthoman5000,

I could not agree with you more!!! I'm a CNA myself and have worked in a long-term care facility and am currently working in OB. I have SOOOO much respect for nurses and CNAs for all they do. It truly is amazing how much work we all have to do. Granted my pt. ratio is much smaller, there is still a lot of work CNAs have to do. I would like to pursue a career in medicine, and will be so grateful for these great memebers of the health care TEAM. I am almost positive that anyone who has been a CNA will never disrespect a nurse or CNA - I SURE WON'T!!! Just my opinion!!!

 

[lax]

I am not in medical school. I do know that any extracurricular activities-including experience payed job in the hospital is definately good!

 

[deuist]

Being a CNA did not help me get into medical school, but as one poster already noted, working on a hospital's nursising staff is a good, yet humbling experience. You'll meet fantastic nurses and wonder why you ever decided to become a doctor.