Working as a CNA?

lashon20 · Sep 14, 2003

Well I'm not in nursing school yet, but I'll be starting on my pre reqs monday at sinclair community college. I quit my government job that I hated to work as a nursing assistant, but I'm wondering was it worth it. I'm wondering like others, should I have just stayed where I was until I finish school to be an rn. I decided to work as a cna to get experience and I thought it was important I start off like that and then go into nursing to be an rn. I just started working for interim healthcare on monday and am having problems already. I might be fired because I refused to take an assignment because I couldn't find at where the person lived cause they couldn't give me good directions and they are unorganized. So I'll be looking for a job on monday.

francine79 · Sep 14, 2003

I have been a CNA in a hospital here for the past month and a half. My problem is the exact opposite and I'm sure you will wish you were me, but I hate it!! Where I work we usually have 4-6 patients each. I work the 3-11. We don't do crap. The only things we do are get them up for dinner, pass trays, help them brush their teeth, get them back in bed, take temps., empty drainage equipment, change ice water, change garbage, and pass linens. It sucks. Oh we are allowed to take accuchecks.

The nurses where I work are all old-fashioned and I think they believe CNA's are incompetent. In the month and a half I worked there, there has only been one occasion that I was busy. I had 8 patients but only because someone called in.

It's just really ridiculous because you stand around more than you really work. And I'm sure the nurses and everyone else complain because that's all that we do, but yet we aren't allowed any other responsibilities.

we aren't even allowed to take any vitals besides temps. I spend most of my night studying, which I appreciate being able to do, but I fear when my evaluation time comes up that I'll hear it about not doing anything.

35 miles from here, CNA's are allowed to draw blood, remove and insert catheters, remove staples and stitches. I wish the nurses where I work, would realize that we are competent enough to do other things besides being a glorified housekeeper.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Sep 14, 2003

I have one nurse who thinks i'm her personal assistant when she works. This is a problem because tehre are 4 other nurses that need assistance, and here i am fighting her off. She will take a water pitcher, walk right by where you fill it an dump it, hand it to me and tell me where it goes. And if i'm in someone's room for 10 minutes, taht's ok, she stands outside the closed door with the pitcher to hand to me. She has the time to do that but no time to fill it herself. She's been a nurse for 2 years, this is the only job she's had, and everyone thinks she needs a dose of reality.

Ortho_RN · Sep 14, 2003

I have worked as a PCA for the past year and a half.. I started after I finished my first semester of nursing school... I work on the Orthopedic floor, so we stay busy pretty much all the time... I love the staff I work with, 95% of the nurses are more than happy to help you do anything. Sometimes management doesn't understand how busy this floor is and sometimes leaves 1 PCA for 17-18 Ortho patients... Those nights suck... But overall I have learned ALOT from the experience.

I think all schools should require a CNA classes as a pre-req... It would make alot more sense than some of the classes you do have to take.. And it definately helps weed out people who can't even handle wiping someones bottom... :cool:

kim0190 · Sep 15, 2003

I am looking for a STNA program (aka PCA/CNA) in Ohio. I am on the waiting list for an RN program and currently work as a unit secretary on a med/surg floor of a hospital. I decided to become a nursing assistant because I know the ones who work on my floor work their butts off--and that experience can only help me. I believe in starting from the bottom up...maybe if all future RN's did it they would appreciate those below them a little more. I am actually searching for a program now so I can get started-I know they are usually 2-3 weeks long. I live in Ohio-Cleveland area. if anyone knows a good program around here, please fill me in. Good luck to all of you!

kahumai, RN · Sep 15, 2003

Hey Reesa23,

Also being from the Chicago suburbs, I know alot of people in the same boat as you. I can't even get a job at any hospitals despite that fact that they're "short-staffed." I have gone in, called, and met with people at job fairs, and they always tell me to just fill out the online application and "we'll call you." I have the experience/training, but why do they keep jerking me and my fellow classmates around? There are certain hospitals in my area that claim to give special preference to nursing students, especially those at my school, but so far I have not seen them hire *anyone* from my program.....so I got a job in retail and as a banquet server. Hopefully, your hospital will smarten up and realize that you're not going to put up with that for very much longer when you become a nurse!

Nusss · Sep 15, 2003

Hi! i work for the dept. of mental health as a psychiatric aide/medaide. I do agree it should be a requirement to get in the nursing school. i have worked 5 years there and been a cna in the passed. And students that have no ideal what nursing constists of is who the nursing program here lets in first because they have a better gpa. I have all my prereqs done. I hope to be in the nursing program by spring or next fall. Go! Girls Go!

audreae · Sep 15, 2003

kim0190 i am in a very different type of stna program no one drop you mouth but my classes are for 6 months i have 2 months left i will spend a week at the nursing home and 3 weeks at the hospital i live in Akron i dont know if that is to far for you but if you are interested just let me know. We learn term, abreviations, this next class is learning caths and blood draws alot i know but i love it, it is really preparing me for lpn school i will be comiing up your way in April to start school at cspn. The best of luck to you all in school and in working

LPN-n-2005 · Sep 17, 2003

lashon, i can totally relate to you about working for interim home healthcare. i hated working home health b/c i had new assignments everyday and half of the people i went to in their homes were mad at the company b/c no one had been out to their home in a week and i was the one that cussed out about it!!! the worse was working with a disabled boy with cerebral palsy. his mother didn't use his hoyer lift and he ended sliding into the floor while i was giving him a bath one day. on top of that she got mad at me and was hard to get along with. back to facilites for me!!!!

lashon20 · Sep 17, 2003

Lpn 2005 I wish I could get into a hospital. I applied at grandview and passed the test but they never called me for a job, all they did was send me a letter saying my application will stay on file for 60 days or so. I even used my sister in law as reference. I guess I did get hired cause they prefer someone with 3 to 6 months experience. Kettering hospital won't be hiring inexperienced nurse aides until sept. 22-oct. 2. I plan on signing up with blackstone healthcare in the meantime cause our teacher recommended them. These agencies seem to be desperate, unorganized and pitiful. I filled out an application for maxim healthcare and took one test but didn't get to take the other tests or skills test and turn it in incomplete and they left a message on our voicemail saying they want me to come in for orientation. They haven't even interviewed me and I never finished all the tests either.

nursesrocks · Sep 17, 2003

Originally posted by francine79
I have been a CNA in a hospital here for the past month and a half. My problem is the exact opposite and I'm sure you will wish you were me, but I hate it!! Where I work we usually have 4-6 patients each. I work the 3-11. We don't do crap. The only things we do are get them up for dinner, pass trays, help them brush their teeth, get them back in bed, take temps., empty drainage equipment, change ice water, change garbage, and pass linens. It sucks. Oh we are allowed to take accuchecks.
The nurses where I work are all old-fashioned and I think they believe CNA's are incompetent. In the month and a half I worked there, there has only been one occasion that I was busy. I had 8 patients but only because someone called in.
It's just really ridiculous because you stand around more than you really work. And I'm sure the nurses and everyone else complain because that's all that we do, but yet we aren't allowed any other responsibilities.
we aren't even allowed to take any vitals besides temps. I spend most of my night studying, which I appreciate being able to do, but I fear when my evaluation time comes up that I'll hear it about not doing anything.
35 miles from here, CNA's are allowed to draw blood, remove and insert catheters, remove staples and stitches. I wish the nurses where I work, would realize that we are competent enough to do other things besides being a glorified housekeeper.

I would love to get this job.