subject: 5 Tips On How You Can Go From A Cna To An Rn [print this page] As a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), it is more than likely that you will have had a Registered Nurse (RN) as your immediate boss. An RN is has many duties and responsibilities and has a team under her. While you may find your career as a CNA very worthwhile you may still want to study further and become and RN. The demand for CNAs is very high in various medical fields, but RNs are sought after because they can deal with a wider range of situations.
*Before you make the decision to join an RN training program, you should make sure that you have really enjoyed your stint as a CNA. You should want to become an RN because you feel you are ready for the responsibility and love the nursing profession; and not just because the pay is more.
*Before committing to the training program, you should consult with a few RNs you know and ask them about their responsibilities and duties, where they completed their degree, and how much the job actually pays. You should weigh all this information before making a decision.
*You should research the colleges or organizations that you are interested in. Because the demand for RNs is rising daily, there are quite a few schools that offer scholarships. This is something you could look into as these programs are expensive.
*Some RN courses take two years, while others take four. The former is less difficult to get into and also costs less. The four year course is more extensive but it will help you earn more once you get a job. What many people do is begin the RN program at a two-year college and then get their credits transferred to a four year course. You will need to check if the college you join has a 'guaranteed transfer' policy.
*Your work experience as a CNA can also be turned into school credits, and you need to find out if your school allows this. This can save you a lot of money and time. Courses you did as part of the CNA certificate could also pertain to your RN degree and you should talk to the school counselor about it.
There is a shortage of RNs today which is why they are in such demand. While a CNA can earn $27,000 on average per year, RNs can earn as much as $100,000. Besides the salary, the demand for skilled RNs also means that there will be attractive perks on offer too.
