How hard is it to get your RN (registered nurse)?
Asked by laateeda
Im planning on becoming a CNA (certified nursing assistant) (start the 2 part course in the fall, takes about a year), then a year of gerenal classes to prep me for nursing school, then devote 2 years to the RN (registered nurse) program. I would like to know how difficult it is, and if getting my CNA will help me at all.

Best Answer:
Yah its hard. You have to have higher then a c in all science classes(anatomy, physiology and microbiology) and in an english class. Then you have to get a c or higher on the teas exam. Then you can apply but they recommend you to take all your co-reques and additional requirments before you enter. They are like psychology, anthropology, statistics, History, humanity and communications. Then you can apply when you have all the pre-reques done and some or all of your others classes. At my school they have 250-300 people apply each semester and only 80 make it it. The lowest GPA for the prereques last semester was 3.4 or a solid B average! Just study hard and really focus and you can do it! As far as the CNA it might help but it is your grades that make all the difference in he end!
I am a prenursing student and plan to apply to the RN program next june to get in the spring of 2011! Good Luck!!!!!
Answered by Nurse of the future

All nursing schools or university courses are different. I am currently doing a 3 year university course to become a registered nurse in Australia. The course so far has been pretty full-on - a lot of readings and assignments - but it is a very fun and exciting course to do. Generally nursing students are practical, eager, hands-on people, so there will be plenty of support throughout your study. I have gone into this course straight from high school and I don't find it much harder than the workload at school. Once you start doing practicals in hospitals be prepared to say goodbye to any free time you have though. At the university I'm at (Flinders) people that have completed their Enrolled Nurse training (I assume it's similar to the CNA course you are doing) can choose to skip the first year of the course and go straight into second year because they have already had experience in the field. I'm not sure how beneficial skipping the first year is however.... they may have the practical skills of an enrolled nurse, but they will miss out on learning the basic anatomy and concepts that are taught in first year. Hope you found my ramble helpful. Best of luck in becoming an RN =)
Answered by minnie F-C

the difficulty i see is getting into nursign school, especially here in America. the competition is so fierce with mediocre GPAs. finish your nursing prereqs and then see where that'll get you. try to get good grades in them too! good luck.
Answered by Scooby

Wow. I don't know what state you live in, but where I live (California) to become a CNA it takes about two months of training. Are you attending a tech school, community college…? I'm currently about to start school to become an LVN which takes a year, and then they have bridge programs (or you can earn a BA) to become an RN. I know you have to meet certain requirements before attending certain schools, but I know it works differently everywhere. Generally to become an RN it takes four years, unless you want to further your education or get into a specialty, such as surgeons first assistant, for example. In my view, CNA is good step to become an LVN/LPN and LPN is a good step to become an RN. Some people like to climb the ladder, others prefer to make a large jump and go straight for RN. You'll know what's best for you. I would ask your CNA instructors what they think, because a lot of these instructors have higher degree’s and licenses. My anatomy professor (first two years in college) was a doctor, and my LVN instructors are RN’s. Either way, any type of medical experience (or experience in a clinical setting) will be beneficial in the future, even if it doesn’t ease the education, it’ll ease the transition into higher degrees of medical/healthcare fields. Good luck!
Answered by Anna Lynn

Just make sure that your grades are very good.You should skip the CNA and start the RN right away.
Answered by ?

Being a CNA first will definitely help you as a nurse. I was never a CNA and I find that I have great difficulty with transfers, fixing sheets, etc. I resent that such things are all most people think that nurses do, but the CNAs that work for me are visibly upset when the nurse can't help them move a patient from lack of experience. Other than that, you can just become a nurse first. If you have the brains and the desire, you can get through RN school and pass the NCLEX. The problem is getting into nursing school- there are usually waiting lists of several years. It took me about three years to start nursing school. So in the meantime, apply for the nursing route at your local college or university, but take all the other required courses (sciences, general studies) in the meantime so that when you are finally permitted to start the nursing curriculum, all you have to take are the nursing courses.
Answered by JL

Working as a CNA will definitely familiarize you to the world of nursing, However, it can work against you as well as you will learn short-cuts and bad habits that you risk carrying over into your time a student nurse. As for how "hard" it is to complete a program depends on what you define as hard. If this is what you are meant to do, it will come naturally (with some hard work). Nursing is not a burden but a privlege and a work of service. The hardest part is earning a seat in nursing school as there are far more applicants than there are seats and instructors.
Answered by MHnurseC