CNA Classes offered but I just don't know

[superherobrin]

I've read and researched for months upon months on whether or not I should go ahead and enroll in the CNA classes at a nearby school.

However, I have a question for all of you experienced CNA's out there. I'm really more interested in doing hospital or clinic work, taking vitals, etc. Do CNA's ever get those opportunities, or is it all changing bed linens and serving food? That's what i've read on bls.gov and such, but from other sites i've read that CNAs do have the opportunity to take vitals and such. There are several hospitals in my area, so I hope i'd get to the chance to do something there, but I wonder if a hospital will even care if I apply.

I want to do something productive with my life and have a career that I can be excited to go to and proud to tell people about.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks a lot!

Brianna :nuke:

[caliotter3]

You will get a chance to take vitals if you work in long term care facilities. But there is nothing to stop you from applying for jobs in hospitals or anywhere else that utilizes CNAs, so go ahead and get your certificate. If you plan on continuing on into nursing, getting your CNA will be to your advantage.

[caliotter3]

Oh, and daycare is not pointless. You have learned a lot about how to deal with kiddies. This will come in handy if you work with peds patients. Also, there is a career path for daycare that I'm sure you are aware of. If one gets a degree in child development one can become qualified to be in charge of a daycare facility or one could get a teaching credential, so don't feel like you have wasted your time there. At least the kiddies appreciated your help! Remember that and good luck as a CNA.

[CBsMommy]

I wanted to chime in here! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being a CNA. There are people who were in my class and even people that I work with that just aren't right for the job. And, that's okay! I am not meant to be a CPA or an Engineer and thank goodness that I never went into those fields!

There are some downfalls to every job out there. It's a balancing game for you personally, to answer personally. Is it worth putting up with some of the attitudes that you may get from nurses, doctors, patients, families, other CNAs? Only you can answer that for you! Is it worth smelling the different smells? Only you can answer that for you!

I've had some pretty bad attitudes thrown my way but my choice is to brush it off and not worry about it. It's not personal. Nurses are very busy people with lives in their hands. That's bound to be stressful for anyone! Doctors are in the same boat. If they make a mistake people die. That's an awesome responsibility. In keeping that in mind, I don't mind so much if they have an attitude. They're human too. Helping people? That is the highlight of my day! That's what makes my soul sing! Knowing that I made a difference, a life changing difference, made someone smile that day, that is what keeps me going. I feel that I was made to be a nursing assistant and eventually a nurse. That is what GOD put me on this earth to do!

Oh, and back to the original question, yes. You do get to take vital signs, a lot!

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

I don't miss retail at all! Being a CNA is stressful, but retail sucked! I was always angry. I hated every customer that walked through the door. I couldn't stand how men got ***** when I didn't build them up and flirt with them. The only customers I liked were the old people... lol. I will never go back to being a cashier. No way.

A lot of the people in my CNA class are still working retail though. They're not even using the certifications they paid for.