Hate being a CNA

LightX · Jul 26, 2013

I would say that if it's just the people you work with and not the job then stick with it. Being a CNA is great experience and in my opinion will make you a better nurse. You will be able to say that you know what it's like to be the aide.

Going to another facility or even doing homecare may be the change you need while in school.

Ms Kylee · Jul 26, 2013

I love being a nursing assistant, but in my first job, I really hated my job. It wasn't the job itself, but due to having no orientation and RNs who tried to constantly get me to go outside my scope of practice to do tasks I was not qualified to do. I was fortunate to find a very good nursing assistant position a year and a half later where I jumped at the chance.

I was very lucky to have RNs and LPNs that not only were willing to teach me the ropes of the facility, but also actually helped out when I needed it.

If it's just the people, then I'd say stick with it. The CNA experience does help you out in the long run.

malamud69, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2013

It is by far the best experience for being a nurse...sounds like the people you work with suck! Move on... per-Diem is a great way to find your niche'.

LadyLeo75, LPN · Jul 27, 2013

Thank you all for the input and yes it's the people I am a new CNA as of May 6,2013 and they won't help me at all and then this seasoned aid gonna tell me no one wants to help you because you always need help. That made feel real good and she also said you lucky you not going home crying everyday. I felt like crying but I couldn't let then see me sweat. This is my first job as a CNA and I think going per diet until I find something else is a good idea. Thank you. I start school in September and I want the clinical experience but I hate going there but I will keep trying. This is not my career plans unlike the mean aids so I will press on and when my day come tell them enjoy you job as a CNA.

EaglesWings21, ASN, RN · Jul 27, 2013

Good advice to keep looking. And don't let those mean girls make you sad. If they are too dumb to realize they were once new too then that is their fault.

Teeanne · Jul 27, 2013

I took the CNA class in the spring semester and applied to work at the place I did my clinicals because I thought the staff was so terrific. Having good people with you really makes a difference, and if you have a better relationship with the people you work with, it makes it easier to ask questions and learn from those around you. Even though I feel pretty settled in with most things, other senior CNA's love to helpfully give their little tips and advice when we work together on a resident, which I appreciate so much. And most people I work with have no problem picking up the slack because they know others will do the same for them when it's needed. It's a terrific environment. I hope you find something that's less toxic so you can really enjoy what you're doing.

IEDave, ASN, CNA, LVN · Jul 28, 2013

+1 on changing employers; so long as you're not having difficulty with the patients/residents/clients I'd say tough it out. Incidentally, I'm a 50 y.o. male and I received the same hazing you're getting - it's not gender specific.

Had one instance where a CNA physically dragged me away from a resident that I was attending to - she felt I needed to be labeling resident's belongings. I was shocked; the resident was shocked; I spoke to the lead CNA and the DSD about the incident - the CNA no longer works for the facility.

Let's face it - while the above was something of an extreme case, in the workplace it's going to happen that you'll have co-workers that are sub-par; part of the challenge is learning to take them in stride. If it's bad enough, and you can't get resolution through other means, move on.

----- Dave

anichka · Jul 28, 2013

I feel your pain. I am at my first CNA job too and it's not as bad for me, but I can relate. A few other aides have said things like that to me. It is hard because I am not a timid person; I do not back down from confrontation. I do have to control my tongue so it won't hurt me in the long run. I can recognize when people are being toxic. I am lucky enough that there's more good CNAs and nurses that I work with than bad ones.

That said, and I know this may irritate people, but I don't buy the argument that being a CNA will make you a better nurse. That may be true for some people but not for others. I am enjoying it now while I am a student because it gives me insight into how things work in different environments, but I think that some people are going to be better nurses because of their personalities - not necessarily their experiences. One of the LPNs I work with was an aide for a long time. She is a technically competent nurse, but her interpersonal skills are lacking.

Anyway, just my two cents. Take care of yourself and don't let them get you down. Find another job if you can, and if not, bowing out gracefully could be your best option. Staying in a bad situation will take its toll.

forbidden2know · Jul 28, 2013

This isn't a reply to any threads but I couldn't find the section for a new thread and I'm kinda new here so I apologize if I have posted in the wrong section, and this isn't a question, it's just something I wanted to get off my chest (sort of speak)

I'm on my way to become a CNA, with classes behind me and half of clinicals behind me, I have one more week left to go of clinicals and then state testing. I wanted to share what it was like for me on that very first day of clinicals in a nursing home. I was told that some students will probably drop out at this point during clinicals, due to the realization of what it's really like working as a CNA. (hands on toileting, hygiene etc..etc..)

I'm not dropping out because I knew from taking care of my mom which passed away from cancer years ago, what this type of job entails, however, after working that first day of clinicals, I went home and cried my eyeballs out. (I'm still not dropping out though)

After drying my eyes, I started to really analyze everything that happen that first day of clinicals and something hugh dawned on me, hit me like a brick wall. What I thought at the time was cruelty was not at all cruel. After researching online,(good ol internet)

I realized that the CNA I was shadowing was doing exactly the right thing. (for the residents benefit)

Moving forward...Now the thing I'm trying to figure out is, WHO is responsible for keeping that supply room stocked. (gloves, ointment, soap, briefs) that sort of supplies. I have learned to not to be so fast to jump to conclusions, so for now, thats all I have to say about that.

I have one more week to go of clinicals and then I will be taking the state test to become a Certified Nurse Assistant. I'm excited about it and hope to find a job in a nursing home that has as much compassion as I do, for the elderly.

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jul 28, 2013

Listen...being a CNA isn't going to make you a better nurse. They are 2 entirely different jobs. Find a new CNA position but if you don't like it and its making you unhappy and doing customer service feels better...do customer service. Learning to be a good provider of customer service will serve you just as well as learning the tasks of a CNA when it comes to being a nurse.

CNAs aren't nurses or a form or nursing. They provide tasks. They don't have a nursing education. So the things you do as a CNA are tasks.

Want to be a better nurse? Do well in school, understand what you are learning, respect each position at the hospital (including your dietary aids, house keepers), have excellent customer service skills, always try to learn more...

Jayblade · Jul 28, 2013

Don't listen to some people on this forum. A CNA job will make a great nurse. If the people you work with are not very pleasant just stick to your job.; complete your tasks, care for your pts, and go home. I immensely dislike when some people undermine CNA's as if their job is not important. A customer service position will never compare to a CNA position, experience wise. Have you dealt with a sick customer with chest tubes, feeding tubes, foleys, ect. How can the experience be similar?