Comments on: How will it take to become a nurse after I become a CNA?

By: hvandyk82

hvandyk82 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:55:40 +0000

Without knowing where you live it is difficult to provide you with accurate information. CNA courses are considered to be continuing education classes and do not count towards a 2 or 4 year degree. However a CNA course or some other documented direct patient care experience is usually required as a prerequisite to any nursing program. The CNA program I attended was a weekends only class and took an entire semester (4 months). The others that go full time take only a half-semester (8 weeks) but leave little time for anything else. If you can provide the school of your choice verifiable direct patient care experience then you may be able to bypass the CNA program all together. A full-time nursing student (only school-no work) can usually attain an Associates Degree of Nursing in 2 years depending on how many developmental classes are required before the actual college credit courses are taken. Talk to a community college about their RN programs, they tend to be cheaper.

By: JL

JL — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:06:04 +0000

You can’t become an RN any faster by becoming a CNA first. You will need an associate degree of 2-3 years or a BSN of 4-5 years, depending upon your state.

By: ebe b

ebe b — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:05:39 +0000

Just go straight for the RN. An Associates Degree in Nursing will take two full years maybe longer. After your first semester of nursing courses, you will be able to become a CNA. The waiting lists for nursing are long. It could take 4 or more years for you to become an RN. It depends on how many classes you take. Look into your local community colleges and see what courses you need to take and just work as a caregiver while you take your prerequisites. Many students cannot work full time while taking the nursing courses. My local college forbids students from working a full time job.