Will working as a CNA help my application? Worth it?

[kaleidoscopes]

I'm a recent grad working full time in research and I want to get more patient care experience. I already have a EMT certification but have been finding that it's difficult to find per diem/part time jobs. There is a CNA (certified nursing assistant) course I'm thinking of taking and I'm wondering if anyone knows if this is a good way to get patient care experience and if it would help my application. I heard per diem/part time jobs are easier to find for CNA since shifts are not as long. I don't know if I would enjoy working as a CNA though, since a lot of it is dirty work like bathing, toileting, feeding, positioning, mobility, etc. But I feel like most more appealing direct patient care jobs require much more training and is more expensive to get a certification in. A pro is that my employer is paying for most of the class and the course is only 8 weeks long during nights which I'm not doing much during anyway...

Any opinions from anyone who's heard of/worked in CNA jobs?

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[Pose]

Have you looked into getting a tech job with your EMT? At least in Mass., most places would be willing to hire a pre-med with an EMT certification for tech/patient care/medical assistant positions.

Do you have any solid patient care experience already?

 

[Dictionaria]

I wouldn't do CNA just for an app, but I would do it for yourself if you like working with people and want to see healthcare from the bottom up. I did CNA because research put me too far from human interaction (I never liked spending hours at a bench or in a field). It has been great for improving communications skills. I also find practicing transfers, urine collection, resisting gross smells, etc to be valuable. Regardless, I love that it brings me in contact with a lot of interesting people on a long term basis.

 

[mem17]

My certification is an EMT and I currently work in an inpatient setting doing CNA type work. I did work as an EMT for a few years in school, and have found both experiences to be beneficial in different ways. Inpatient grunt work gives a certain level of appreciation for the reality of being in a hospital that pre-hospital work just doesn't.

In my state, EMT's can do inpatient work as techs in both EDs and ICUs without getting an additional cert, like CNA or MA. I'd suggest looking into that.

 

[kaleidoscopes]

My certification is an EMT and I currently work in an inpatient setting doing CNA type work. I did work as an EMT for a few years in school, and have found both experiences to be beneficial in different ways. Inpatient grunt work gives a certain level of appreciation for the reality of being in a hospital that pre-hospital work just doesn't.

In my state, EMT's can do inpatient work as techs in both EDs and ICUs without getting an additional cert, like CNA or MA. I'd suggest looking into that.

oh that's interesting, which state do you live in?

 

[GemelloMD]

I've been doing CNA work for two years in Massachusetts. I absolutely think that being a CNA helped my application. During my interviews I was able to come up with a myriad of real world examples to almost every question the interviewers asked. mem17 is right in that working at the bottom as a CNA allows you to appreciate what goes into an order by the Doctor. It also allows you to have a realistic expectation on the validity of vitals, I&O's, and the difficulty in implementing certain orders. It's definitely scut work. The bottom of the barrel. Think of everything you would never want to do to another human being, then imagine getting a master's degree in doing that very thing. But it's worth it. I've seen so many Doctors that are "afraid" to touch patients or don't know how to talk comfortably. Being a CNA will correct that deficit before it even presents. What's more is that it prepares you to know how to utilize the nursing staff, because you'll have been an integral par of the nursing staff. On your rotations you won't be the annoying Med student getting in their way, you'll know what role to fill and when it's appropriate to fill that role. Good Clerkship means good letters of rec. Good letters rec means a better chance of getting a good residency spot.

Or so I've told myself...

 

[CollegeGirl94]

I am getting my CNA certification too, and working as a CNA is great. But doing something like an ER technician/patient care technician may be more exciting considering you want to be a doctor. To be an ER technician/PCT here, you are required to have your CNA certification. Have you looked into something like that?

 

[touchpause13]

I got my CNA license freshman year and worked as one every summer during college.

I thought it was great. I mean it's absolutely scut work but I got extremely comfortable being around and touching patients. Plus you make decent money and it's been pretty easy to find a job.

 

[HopefulReapp]

You won't enjoy it a good amount of the time, but it is the best direct patient care experience that you can have for going into medicine.

 

[kaleidoscopes]

To be an ER technician/PCT here, you are required to have your CNA certification. Have you looked into something like that?

May I ask where you mean by "here"? Which state?

 

[CollegeGirl94]

May I ask where you mean by "here"? Which state?

In Illinois, but at a certain hospital ("chain" of hospitals?). I'm sure other hospitals can be more/less demanding of your certifications. Sometimes you don't even need CNA certification to be an ER tech.

 

[Moification]

If your employer is paying for it, then there doesn't seem to be a downside to getting your certification.

 

[edgerock24]

Will be a great experience. 10x more valuable than what most premeds do for 'clinical experience,' (hospital volunteering).

 

[sarahss]

a lot of it is dirty work like bathing, toileting, feeding, positioning, mobility

I don't get how any of this will help for a med school application. A doctor never has to do this

 

[Dentalguy8621]

I don't get how any of this will help for a med school application. A doctor never has to do this

I find it confusing that you can't see this. It will help an application because it places you in direct contact with patients and learn the dynamic of the hospital. As someone mentioned above, the CNA lays a great foundation for provider/patient relationship. You know how a nurse is usually the person people think of who really get's to know the patient/spends time with the patient? Well, it's also the CNA/PCT. We are the individuals who really get to know the patient. The one cleaning their bum, feeding them, hearing their stories/background and being there for them when they are spilling out their lives for us to hear. These bonds you build with your patients are what's important. Humble beginnings. Cheers.