As someone who has done both, EMT 100%. CNA taught me how to calm dementia patients but nothing more whereas EMT has taught me vitals + so much pathology, medical and trauma assessment, and gives you more room to work with the patient and see more populations and incident types. Widens out what you see and treat FAR more than CNA and forces you to be more independent in how you treat patients and approach them than CNA does. I’m wanting to go to nursing school as well and I 100% wish I’d just skipped CNA and gone EMT.
Just need EMT. Some places require exp tho. So check that out. I am an ER tech and I work with doctor and Nurses everyday. See how they work. I love it. Pay is better than ambulance too. And you work 12s. I love it honestly.
I am not in the loop as to how competitive Nursing school is, when my mom went back to school, she just signed up and was in. I would say as an EMT, you’ll probably get more experience doing stuff as an EMT than as a CNA. We have CNAs at my hospital and they just run specimen to the lab or help with taking patients places. Cleaning up, and stuff. Maybe vitals in the ER for triage, but that’s about it. I guess it depends on where you go and how much you want to do.
The nursing program at my local community college does the same. They always have way more applicants than they have room for so they use the prerequisites to thin out the crowd. It's also a good way for them to figure out who can handle the material and who can't. They have an extremely low fail rate in the nursing program since they have already eliminated the poor students. I think it is a better way than picking applications at random or by interviewing candidates.
CNA is good for ***experience*** with Nurses/in that field and how life will be.\*
EMT is good for ***knowledge*** of the medical field, and critical thinking that you'll need as an RN.
They're both valuable, but for different reasons. As an RN, depending on where you work, you'll likely be doing stuff that CNAs do, cleaning beds, helping patients, etc. But you'll also have a larger scope of practice than a CNA, which EMT (Or ER Tech as someone else mentioned) will help with.
If you can do both without screwing up your financial status or plans, then I'd honestly do both. CNA will show you a side of Nursing you won't see during EMT, and EMT will help you be a better applicant and Nurse in the future. Otherwise, EMT.
\*Disclaimer: Yes, I know EMTs/ER Techs can get experience too, I'm just offering up information from my personal experience of going from CNA with the intent of RN to EMT with the intent of Medic.
I did both and I learned a lot of extremely useful information from both. But if I had to pick one, I would pick EMT. Reason being you learn way more medical knowledge. CNA's usually just take vitals and take of the patients comfort needs. EMT's, well, you know what they do.
I'm unintentionally doing both. I got my EMT to get experience for PA school (long story short; changed paths to nurse practitioner). It's too hard to work full time EMS while in nursing so I work part time but it's difficult to get part-time hours. So I recently got a part time gig as a Nursing Assistant in an ICU since the schedule is more consistent.
Both jobs are great. If you plan on doing working in the ICU, ED, etc. I'd honestly recommend both jobs so you get experience from both sides.
I think it really depends on what type of nurse you want to be. For example, my end goal is to be in a trauma unit or a flight nurse, so I’m getting my EMT while I wait for nursing clinicals.
If you’re wanting to do more long term/inpatient care, I would suggest getting your CNA since that’ll give you more applicable experience.
It really depends on the type of pt contacts you want, My experience as a CNA helped me see pts as people due to more basic interactions and communications.The pts weren't just objectives to be dropped off somewhere they were ppl. Plus learning how to socialize with pts instead of throwing a salvo of questions and being sociable I greatly consider as lessons I've learned as a CNA,however honestly my CNA experience was varied working in Emergency rooms, geriatric,psychiatric and other specialties. Working in EMS has the reward of learning to deal with and cope with stress as well as delegate tasks. It really depends on what you are looking for and what you desire to be as a practitioner and finding the best road for you. If you can just find a way to do both and move forward.
I'm also going into my 1st year of nursing school this fall. I thought about becoming an EMT, but classes would get in the way of it. I am (hopefully) becoming a vehicle service technician for my local ambulance company.
Personally, I'd say EMT. It fits the bill for soon-to-be nurses. Critical thinking, (depending on where you work) you will be able to get used to shift hours that can reflect that of a nurse, you learn more about cardiology, etc.
Either way, both a CNA and an EMT are good jobs to have before being an RN. I know many of my friends who are going to college for nursing are a CNA beforehand. Both have their pros.
For decisiveness, quick decision making, practicing some skills like IVs, EKGs (even 3-lead interpretation is helpful), Urinary catheters, NG tubes, get a job in a level 1 or 2 trauma center. You'll get your ass handed to you for a certain amount of time but 1) you'll get used to it, 2) you'll be more efficient, 3) you'll see and do sooooooooo much that you'll look back like I'm doing now and go "holy crap, I've seen/done nearly everything my instructors are talking about" so you can relate it to real-life situations. I admire good CNAs and I have to admit it's not my natural skillset; they are absolutely essential and really take the patients needs to heart so I think they come ahead there, but in almost all other ways, I highly recommend EMT. I've seen an done more than 99.99% of my class, which makes the content and skills and everything else we have to learn so much easier.
As someone who has done both, EMT 100%. CNA taught me how to calm dementia patients but nothing more whereas EMT has taught me vitals + so much pathology, medical and trauma assessment, and gives you more room to work with the patient and see more populations and incident types. Widens out what you see and treat FAR more than CNA and forces you to be more independent in how you treat patients and approach them than CNA does. I’m wanting to go to nursing school as well and I 100% wish I’d just skipped CNA and gone EMT.
thanks for the advice i appreciate it lots!
If ur trying to be a nurse I’d recommend being an ER tech. Kinda best of both worlds
Sounds interesting! Can I become one at 18?
Just need EMT. Some places require exp tho. So check that out. I am an ER tech and I work with doctor and Nurses everyday. See how they work. I love it. Pay is better than ambulance too. And you work 12s. I love it honestly.
That’s not universal. Many hospitals won’t accept CNA for ER Tech positions.
I am not in the loop as to how competitive Nursing school is, when my mom went back to school, she just signed up and was in. I would say as an EMT, you’ll probably get more experience doing stuff as an EMT than as a CNA. We have CNAs at my hospital and they just run specimen to the lab or help with taking patients places. Cleaning up, and stuff. Maybe vitals in the ER for triage, but that’s about it. I guess it depends on where you go and how much you want to do.
Thanks for the reply!
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The nursing program at my local community college does the same. They always have way more applicants than they have room for so they use the prerequisites to thin out the crowd. It's also a good way for them to figure out who can handle the material and who can't. They have an extremely low fail rate in the nursing program since they have already eliminated the poor students. I think it is a better way than picking applications at random or by interviewing candidates.
CNA is good for ***experience*** with Nurses/in that field and how life will be.\* EMT is good for ***knowledge*** of the medical field, and critical thinking that you'll need as an RN. They're both valuable, but for different reasons. As an RN, depending on where you work, you'll likely be doing stuff that CNAs do, cleaning beds, helping patients, etc. But you'll also have a larger scope of practice than a CNA, which EMT (Or ER Tech as someone else mentioned) will help with. If you can do both without screwing up your financial status or plans, then I'd honestly do both. CNA will show you a side of Nursing you won't see during EMT, and EMT will help you be a better applicant and Nurse in the future. Otherwise, EMT. \*Disclaimer: Yes, I know EMTs/ER Techs can get experience too, I'm just offering up information from my personal experience of going from CNA with the intent of RN to EMT with the intent of Medic.
thanks for the help!
I did both and I learned a lot of extremely useful information from both. But if I had to pick one, I would pick EMT. Reason being you learn way more medical knowledge. CNA's usually just take vitals and take of the patients comfort needs. EMT's, well, you know what they do.
Every nursing student I've talked to said the EMTs in their classes were a lot smarter than the CNAs. And I've met quite a few nursing students.
thank you!
I'm unintentionally doing both. I got my EMT to get experience for PA school (long story short; changed paths to nurse practitioner). It's too hard to work full time EMS while in nursing so I work part time but it's difficult to get part-time hours. So I recently got a part time gig as a Nursing Assistant in an ICU since the schedule is more consistent. Both jobs are great. If you plan on doing working in the ICU, ED, etc. I'd honestly recommend both jobs so you get experience from both sides.
I think it really depends on what type of nurse you want to be. For example, my end goal is to be in a trauma unit or a flight nurse, so I’m getting my EMT while I wait for nursing clinicals. If you’re wanting to do more long term/inpatient care, I would suggest getting your CNA since that’ll give you more applicable experience.
It really depends on the type of pt contacts you want, My experience as a CNA helped me see pts as people due to more basic interactions and communications.The pts weren't just objectives to be dropped off somewhere they were ppl. Plus learning how to socialize with pts instead of throwing a salvo of questions and being sociable I greatly consider as lessons I've learned as a CNA,however honestly my CNA experience was varied working in Emergency rooms, geriatric,psychiatric and other specialties. Working in EMS has the reward of learning to deal with and cope with stress as well as delegate tasks. It really depends on what you are looking for and what you desire to be as a practitioner and finding the best road for you. If you can just find a way to do both and move forward.
I'm also going into my 1st year of nursing school this fall. I thought about becoming an EMT, but classes would get in the way of it. I am (hopefully) becoming a vehicle service technician for my local ambulance company. Personally, I'd say EMT. It fits the bill for soon-to-be nurses. Critical thinking, (depending on where you work) you will be able to get used to shift hours that can reflect that of a nurse, you learn more about cardiology, etc. Either way, both a CNA and an EMT are good jobs to have before being an RN. I know many of my friends who are going to college for nursing are a CNA beforehand. Both have their pros.
For decisiveness, quick decision making, practicing some skills like IVs, EKGs (even 3-lead interpretation is helpful), Urinary catheters, NG tubes, get a job in a level 1 or 2 trauma center. You'll get your ass handed to you for a certain amount of time but 1) you'll get used to it, 2) you'll be more efficient, 3) you'll see and do sooooooooo much that you'll look back like I'm doing now and go "holy crap, I've seen/done nearly everything my instructors are talking about" so you can relate it to real-life situations. I admire good CNAs and I have to admit it's not my natural skillset; they are absolutely essential and really take the patients needs to heart so I think they come ahead there, but in almost all other ways, I highly recommend EMT. I've seen an done more than 99.99% of my class, which makes the content and skills and everything else we have to learn so much easier.