Should I accept this CNA position?

[KyleV]

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Hi guys, I need some advice on whether or not I should accept a CNA-type position I was offered. First, I need to say a bit about myself: I am 25 years old, trending towards a non-trad as I will have my Bachelor in Medical Technology at the end of next year, with several pre-reqs for medical school outstanding. I have had minimal clinical experience, with a brief volunteer stint in an emergency department. What I am wondering is if this CNA position would be great clinical experience on the road to medical school. I should also mention that I am fortunate enough in that I am being offered this job without any actual CNA cert to my name, as the hospital does not require it. Since I have 1.5 years left until I am a medical technologist, I could use this time to get significant hours racked up as a CNA, or I could do the other option I am considering and obtain hours through volunteering and shadowing that I will continue as I work as a medical technologist and continue volunteering and shadowing as I work full time. Thanks for all input.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

What is it? Nursing home or hospital?
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[ananasmed]

In your shoes, I probably wouldn't take the job. I am working a CNA-type position at a hospital right now, having finished my pre-reqs and MCAT and all that jazz, and I'm not sure I would have been able to do both at the same time. I did work part time all through college, but the CNA job is incredibly physically and emotionally demanding. Maybe I'm just a wimp, your mileage may vary!

Edit: Especially if not taking the job means you have more time to do volunteering, shadowing, etc. to have some clinical experience.

 

[RoadNurse33]

What I am wondering is if this CNA position would be great clinical experience on the road to medical school. Since I have 1.5 years left until I am a medical technologist, I could use this time to get significant hours racked up as a CNA, or I could do the other option I am considering and obtain hours through volunteering and shadowing that I will continue as I work as a medical technologist and continue volunteering and shadowing as I work full time. Thanks for all input.

1)I never know what is considered "great clinical experience." I think everyone would say the usual you get out of it what you put into it.
2)What would you do instead of being a CNA? If you need a source of income, and this provides good income relative to another job you would already be working, then it would appear to be a good opportunity to get two birds with one stone.

I worked rotating 24-hour shifts while completing two prereq classes per semester (with labs) for three years...and boy did it suck. It is doable, though. The thing is, even though I had a ton of clinical experience I still had to shadow. I still volunteered as well. My clinical job made it easy to find physicians to shadow and my volunteering opportunities were also largely created by my clinical career. The more difficult component for me was squeezing in MCAT studying.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[GreyF0X]

My friend got his CNA cert and hated it. I would rather be a scribe if i were you.

 

[JeBrAs]

I am currently a CNA and have worked in different hospital settings. It is great clinical experience and get you more comfortable working with patients and being a member (low on the totem pole) healthcare team. Just like ananasmed just stated, the job is very physically and mentally taxing. I will say that if you decide to take this position while taking on a full load of other things be prepared to be tired all the time and cut out on your social life. I worked as a CNA full time to support my wife in grad school while studying for the MCAT = really sucked for a while.

 

[KyleV]

What is it? Nursing home or hospital?
Sent from my RM-917_nam_usa_100 using Tapatalk

It's in a hospital where I would primarily be split between patient rehab, psych, and geriatrics.

Responding to some other posts: this hospital is an hour away from me, I would be working 24 hours over Saturday and Sunday (12 hour shifts), low paying obviously, where I do need to make whatever I can but wi only be able to work part time as a full time student. My plans to take the remaining premed classes are most likely after I become a technologist so I can save up the funds. So overall I do need clinical experience, but I do realize there are other opportunities out there. Thanks everyone

 

[cabinbuilder]

Hi guys, I need some advice on whether or not I should accept a CNA-type position I was offered. First, I need to say a bit about myself: I am 25 years old, trending towards a non-trad as I will have my Bachelor in Medical Technology at the end of next year, with several pre-reqs for medical school outstanding. I have had minimal clinical experience, with a brief volunteer stint in an emergency department. What I am wondering is if this CNA position would be great clinical experience on the road to medical school. I should also mention that I am fortunate enough in that I am being offered this job without any actual CNA cert to my name, as the hospital does not require it. Since I have 1.5 years left until I am a medical technologist, I could use this time to get significant hours racked up as a CNA, or I could do the other option I am considering and obtain hours through volunteering and shadowing that I will continue as I work as a medical technologist and continue volunteering and shadowing as I work full time. Thanks for all input.

Yes, it is great clinical experience, you will be the better doctor for it. I did that job for 7 years and didn't need much more exposure after that. You will also learn who the doctors are and create a network where you can shadow and see what we really do behind the scenes. If you are working full time, you won't need to volunteer anymore.

 

[greenflash5]

I am a CNA in a nursing home right now (been one for 6 months) and yes it is one of the most physically demanding jobs out there. My complaint is that in a nursing home you don't get to hear about the medical side of the matter (which is what is cool to us pre-med's!) I change diapers, record bowel movements, how much the residents eat, and give showers etc... You will get more 'medical' exposure in a hospital sure, but at the end of the day you do mostly the same tasks. It also depends on whether you need money or not. Most prefer getting paid to volunteering hours, and if you don't have to go through the 120+ hour certification and work in a nursing home first why not do it? 😉

 

[keels99]

My friend got his CNA cert and hated it. I would rather be a scribe if i were you.

Agreed. As a scribe, I feel like I have gained the best pre-med experience possible.

 

[JeBrAs]

Yes, I forgot about the networking that is available working as a CNA. After searching the internet for local DOs to shadow and not really getting any quick responses I just asked some of the doctors where I work if they had any DO colleagues. I got some phone numbers and got to use their names as references and then I got a response the very next day and scheduled to meet a DO a week later.

 

[RoadNurse33]

Yes, I forgot about the networking that is available working as a CNA. After searching the internet for local DOs to shadow and not really getting any quick responses I just asked some of the doctors where I work if they had any DO colleagues. I got some phone numbers and got to use their names as references and then I got a response the very next day and scheduled to meet a DO a week later.

Exact same experience; networking was key. I went from zero DOs to shadow via traditional methods (national/state societies and cold calling) to four in a period of a couple of days.