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Nursing aide then become an RN?

next year im gonna be a junior and i am planning to attend a vocational school or career technology center.. and that's two years. by the time that im a senior, i'll have an associate degree in nursing.. then i can get my certification in that career. my question is, is it possible to become an RN when you start off as a NURSING AIDE ?

Public Comments

1. Yeah, I don't see why not. You will just have to balance school and work as you go along. People in the nursing profession do it all the time. I had a friend who started out as an aide and is now in med school working on being a doctor, has his RN under his belt and is doing work plus school. It's a big commitment if you are willing, but worth it.
2. Being a Certified Nursing Assistant is valuable hands-on experience in doing basic patient care and assisting them with their activities of daily living. Most RN schools, regardless if associates degree programs at community colleges or BSN programs at universities, actually require their RN students to be CNAs in order to be in their nursing program. You don't necessarily have to work as one, but you often need to at least hold the certification. Nursing Assistant courses are about 4-8 weeks long and are offered at technical colleges and through private schools and some employers offer the courses too, like nursing homes. LPN programs are offered at technical/trade schools and are about 9 months in length. RN programs are either associates degree programs offered by community colleges and some universities, and BSN RN programs are offered at the university level.
3. You can be a bag-boy at a grocery store and become an RN if you want to. My training is in physical/life and behavioral sciences and I will have my RN in August.
4. Of course it is. In fact some of the best nurses I know started as aides. They know what it's like to be one of us little peons. Congrats on going forward in your career I hope to join the ranks of the nurses soon myself.
5. That's what a lot of my classmates are doing. I recently finished a STNA (State tested Nursing Assistant) class, but haven't taken the state test yet. I had to take the class as a prerequesite for the LPN program I'm applying to. I'm going to work as an LPN while going to school for my RN degree. From what I've heard from other people in health care most employers are willing to work with you and schedule your work around school, and some will even pay for it.
6. Not only is it possible, but it's envaluable! As an RN, I have been told by many a CNA that they wished more nurses were aides before becoming RNs. CNA work is hard, demanding, and it's pretty much the grunt work. Lots of ADL (activities of daily living) work like feeding, dressing, toileting, etc. Yes, RNs have a busy job, too, but some feel that helping a patient on the bedpan is way below them. I personally never was a CNA before, but I truly appreciate what the CNAs do. RNs and CNAs are a team and it's just as important for a patient to get their bath as it is for them to get their medicine. I think it will benefit you!! Great career choice!