Did being a CNA make you NOT want to be a nurse anymore?

FutureLPN16 · Aug 21, 2014

Yeah I just started working as a cna 3 weeks now and I'm ready to quit. Definitely don't want to become a nurse anymore. I start my lpn program august 28th. But I know how you feel

Krispy critter · Oct 26, 2014

YES! I started in an assisted living,there were no RN's there only LPN's. The LPN's responsibilities were to pass meds for 4 hours and chart for 4 hours. The only contact they had with residents was giving them medications and I really wanted more one on one contact with the residents,and I had that as a CNA. Three months ago I started working at a Hospice House,because of the strict guidelines with Medicare and Medicaid the RN's and LPN's spend the majority of their shift charting,not really what I had in mind when it came to nursing. I had already started prerequisites for nursing school but,I haven't enrolled for anymore courses because I really don't want to be a nurse. Financially it's a bad choice on my part but my heart says stick to CNA,because I enjoy the day to day care that I give to our patients. We don't make anywhere near the money that nurses do,but I love my job,but I'm not liking the back aches:cool:

Nursing24/7, LVN · Nov 1, 2014

CNA work is hard work no doubt there are good times & a lot of bad times but it's really made me see that nursing is really where I want to be & was meant to do. I want to do LVN or RN but then I see how there isn't much patient interaction once you get to those levels & then I start to change my mind. I go back & forth. I really love the patient care & interaction that a CNA gets to do. Don't know if I want to give that up but I def know that I don't want to be a CNA forever. Lately I've been thinking about getting my LVN, so I can become a DSD and/or CNA instructor

Graduatenurse14 · Nov 12, 2014

I was a CNA for 3 years while in nursing school and had to quit because I was beginning to strongly dislike everything about healthcare, nursing, patients- everything! It was much better after I left a crazy med surg floor and went to work at a psych hospital.

MDRINFLA · Apr 21, 2015

Hi! I'm a current CNA as well an a RN student (ADN, overall gpa is not competitive enough for initial BSN program ). I really enjoy being a CNA and I'm sure when I become an RN, I'll appreciate the CNA work much more. I've been lucky enough to work in a Dementia faculty for over 6 months now and it's nothing short of a challenge. I clean poop, blood, take vitals and become a voice for those who can't community effectively. I never thought I would enjoy a job working in Geriatrics but so far I enjoy it. I greatly look forward to becoming a RN!

That being said, I worked for 4 1/2 days (that's right, only 4 1/2 days ) at a rehab facility and let me tell you, I had a panic attack that lasted over 24 hours. I haven't had a panic attack like that in almost 8 years!! There are CNAs who do it for money (not sure why it's not great money in Florida) and because places are ALWAYS hiring CNAs. I saw them make fun of, mock, and verbally abuse the elderly in literally less than a week. Those people really made me reconsider what the hell I was doing in nursing. The next day I went for an interview for the facility I'm at now and I love it! They are flexible with my school schedule and respect their residents! The point of my story is maybe it's the facility that is leaving a sour taste in your mouth, so to speak. Maybe a change of scenery will repspark your interest on being a RN? I hope so!

Here is my background. I'm a 25 year old female. No kids. No husband/boyfriend. I work part time with dementia residents and babysit. I'm full time in RN school. I earned a previous AA degree and BA degree from the University of Central Florida. I took a year off and then I completed all my pre read in a year and got into the nursing school this past March.

I know this this post is a few years old but maybe it will shed some light on CNA life.

Biosciencegeek · Jul 10, 2015

Becoming a CNA helped me to learn what kind of nurse NOT TO BE. It's simply mind boggling to me how quickly some RNs and even LPNs can forget what it was like to be a CNA. I work with 3 that were previously CNAs. All 3 have extreme cases of amnesia. There are some that just can't handle being in charge of something or remotely understand what it's like to work as a team. I have vowed that once I complete nursing school next year, I will NEVER be THAT NURSE. I will NEVER forget where I came from. When team leaders behave like lazy, entitled teenagers simply because they now have "RN" after their names, it's the patients and residents in their care who ultimately suffer. After all, THEY are the reason we go to work everyday.

WCSU1987 · Jul 15, 2015

Logically the next step for a CNA is more OT/OTA work. Seems OF A is more of a continuity of being a CNA.

Sagegrr · Sep 12, 2015

After being a cna for six month, I lost all motivation to become a nurse. I see how cut throat it is everyday and how much drama it is. Alot of responsibility and work with little appreciation. But then again you will have issues at any place you work at.

Momof8CNA · Sep 13, 2015

maybe it is different at hospitals, but i LOVE my job now. working at a nursing home will totally burn you out, but you arent going to run yourself to death at a hospital. ive been at my job for a year and a half and its great...the nurses are friendly, the drs are also friendly, the staff in general is awesome too. ive had a couple of issues but nothing too bad. my advice for any cna is to go work at a hospital. yes, the residents are sweet and its great to get that one on one interaction, but the brute strength it requires to keep up with it all will burn you out.

BBboy · Sep 19, 2015

Being a CNA makes me want to be a nurse even more because:I want to be able to do more for those i provide care to & I want to make sure that i treat my NA's the way I wished to be treated as an aide.

shunb1978 · Feb 7, 2016

Help me please, I have been working in the medical field for 14 years. My dream and passion has always been to become a nurse, I worked

at a children's hospital for five years and I loved it. Well for the last four years I have worked at an adult hospital as a CNA, and my dream of

becoming a nurse has went halfway down the drain. 90% of our patients are drug seekers, homeless, psychiatric patients or people that are lonely and looking for some kind of attention. We are not helping these people, they are frequent flyers that are non-compliant. I love medicine, the whole disease process I want to make a difference. I want to help these people put there self in a position to not have to come to the hospital every week. For the last few weeks I have really been looking into another career were I can help people. I don't know if I am making a mistake by looking into something else, or am I just suffering from job burn out.

hookyarnandblanket · Feb 8, 2016

Help me please, I have been working in the medical field for 14 years. My dream and passion has always been to become a nurse, I worked
at a children's hospital for five years and I loved it. Well for the last four years I have worked at an adult hospital as a CNA, and my dream of
becoming a nurse has went halfway down the drain. 90% of our patients are drug seekers, homeless, psychiatric patients or people that are lonely and looking for some kind of attention. We are not helping these people, they are frequent flyers that are non-compliant. I love medicine, the whole disease process I want to make a difference. I want to help these people put there self in a position to not have to come to the hospital every week. For the last few weeks I have really been looking into another career were I can help people. I don't know if I am making a mistake by looking into something else, or am I just suffering from job burn out.

Have you looked into becoming a social worker? It could still allow you to work in health care but you can also help people address their needs appropriately.