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Nursing Students CNA/MA

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Hello all. Just reading posts on here and thinking of what people have been telling me when I tell them I am going to become a CNA. I want to be a CNA then go and become an LPN and maybe even an RN. But it irritates me how people will try to "push" you away from the field and tell you how nasty the job is. I am sure people who start thinking of becoming a CNA know what they are getting into as far as the "nasty work" I'm sure they don't think they will be just cleaning up the room and helping people get dressed. And the more I think about it, who cares about the dirty work? These are PEOPLE. They are someone's son/daughter/uncle/aunt/sister/brother/mther/father/grandpa/grandma/niece/nephew, and they deserve to be treated with respect. I have an Aunt who has down syndrome and I help clean her up and give her baths and help her eat. She needs someone to help her. And I care for her so why wouldn't I? It just irritates me when people say "You wouldn't catch me doing that job" or "You won't see me wiping butts" well guess what honey? Aging is part of life! People should be more appreciative of CNA's after all who do you think will take care of you when you become old and frail? Yes, it may not be the most glorious job to have, but I am sure you learn soooo much!

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Your feelings and empathy for people is why you would make a good nurse who actually cares for the people!!! I too have chosen to take what they call the long route. This is for my own purpose and only I and you know our cicumstances and why we have chosen to take this route. When I have made my I won't allow anyones negativety to be a determining factor in my life.

Yes, I do know what you mean! Some people just have no common sense, respect, or anything good to say. When you start at the bottom in any field of choose and you anticipated going higher, rather they think so or not they are wiping and kissing butt then.

If this is what one chooses to do and you have no experience or positive insight to offer, I think it is best if you just keep your mouth closed (but who i'm I)!

I wish you well in what ever you choose to do! We all have to learn and start from some where.

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Yep - it's a challenge to deal with people's misconceptions. Still, they do have a point - it's a tough, demanding, dirty job. At the same time, after 23 years in IT, 2 years on unemployment, 4 years & 2 months as my late mother's caregiver, and a slew of other life experiences I can honestly say that the past week and a half of NA clinicals have been the most rewarding & fulfilling of my life, and I'm very much looking forward to having the letters "CNA" after my name.

And - given the choice of wiping butts and kissing 'em, I'll take wiping 'em every time! :devil:

BTW - Vicks and/or cough drops'll do wonders for the smell.

Sounds like you need no encouragement from me - see you on the floor! :hug:

Take care,

----- Dave

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I agree. I worked with the developmentally disabled for 8 years taking care of them in their homes and I found it very rewarding. But I got those exact words a lot from other people. I am now waiting to go to get my CNA and looking forward to being certified and hopefully getting a job in a nursing home. I do plan on getting my RN and going to school while I work. I would be just as happy to remain a CNA if it paid more. People are ignorant don't listen to them... Good Luck to you :)

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Sure, it's a hard and yes, often dirty job...but you're improving the quality of someone's life every single day that you work. How many people can say that?

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Specializes in CNA; Nurse Extern.

I am a CNA in a hospital. And I want to become a nurse.

I've been a CNA at a hospital for a little over a year now, and the job is tough, but it is SO important. If you are interested in becoming a nurse it gives you an up close look at what nurses have to do and how a hospital actually works. Any kind of patient care nursing is messy work. But the rewards, at least for me, are priceless. And you are right, everyone is someone's mother or sister, etc. I hope to pay it forward so to speak--I take excellent care of someone else's loved one, and someone else will take excellent care of my loved one.

Good luck!

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You have a wonderful attitude. I know people look down on the job but it is a wonderful thing to be doing! I am just becoming a CNA after my training is completed in a few weeks and am starting school to be an LPN in April. I feel fortunate that I was able to get a CNA job this soon. I think it will be wonderful on the job training and prepare me for nursing.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

taking care of others is one of the more selfless things that one can do. I was a CNA all through nursing school, and I learned so much while I was on the job. I worked with some nurses that I learned things from that I do today, and some I learned what NOT to do. If you have a good attitude, and can deal with some people that are going to be not so nice, then godspeed. good luck to you! I believe EVERY nurse should be a CNA for at least a year first. It gives you a perspective on your career. I never delegate something to the tech that I can do myself and have time for at the time. whenever I get attitude about some stuff, I always tell em "I came up the ladder, I know what you can do, and I CAN do anything you can as well.....but I NEED to do my job, and you NEED to do yours. I can do your job, you can't do mine." I think you will go far!

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Specializes in Medical - Surgical, Infusion, Oncology.

Youre right, you will learn so much! I wish I had been a CNA through nursing school and I think I would have picked up on things a lot sooner. It is very hard work but the satisfaction you get from taking care of those patients is completly worth it. Good luck!

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Specializes in Nursing homes.

I like your attitude! Yes, we CNA's do not get enough respect. At least we know how important we are. You will be a great nurse because you do care to help those who may have lost their independence and you'll be one of the nurses the aides have respect for. I tend to mention my experience with a nurse who changed a dressing on the resident and she actually squeals b/c the resident had a bm in the shower. Um, maybe she should have changed her career choice! I'm also doing my pre reqs before transferring to a 4 yr school for nursing and I feel that I'm preparing myself to become a better nurse. I do plan to help my aides when they need it and I AM NOT above changing a brief. Do not listen to the negative remarks, misery loves company. You strive for those goals and I wish you the very best:)

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Specializes in med/surg.

As a CNA, you will have a better respect for them once you actually become a nurse. Nurses are supposed to get their hands dirty too, although many leave the nastiest stuff for the CNA's-especially those who never were one. As a nurse who was a tech during nursing school, I know that your CNA can make or break your shift. You learn who to trust, the same goes the other way. Good for you for caring enough to do this important job.

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I became a CNA pretty recently-- right out of high school --because there were people who said I couldn't. They told me the same things: it's gross, it's back-breaking, etc. I work in a skilled nursing unit, and occasionally float to long-term. I won't lie-- the lifting is probably my biggest challenge, given my small size, but it is really quite something to have an impact of someone and to help them realize that they lived a fulfilling life, despite current circumstances.

I won't be a CNA for the rest of my career, but my experience as one will provide me with knowledge of what is appropriate to delegate when I become an RN.

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