Trying to see if nursing is for me?!

I also wasn't sure if I wanted to be a nurse so I did the LPN program first figuring I could get through a year of anything and still have something to show for it. It was a great option for me and now I'm working on my BSN. If you do decide to be a CNA just keep in mind that it is a really hard job so even if you don't like doing that it might not be a fair assessment of how you will feel about nursing. A great CNA is invaluable but I wouldn't do their job for my RN wages.

Becoming a CNA may steer you away from nursing to be honest. The job of a CNA and the job of a Nurse (LPN or Rn) is so different! If anything though, you can at least be exposed to the environment of patient care as well as see what it is that a nurse really does! Remember, there are soooo many different avenues a person can take with nursing, so really look into before you dismiss the idea. I wasn't sure either when i started my LPN program and now that i'm done with it, im glad i did it. It really steered me into the direction of the nursing field that i want to go into. Now, I'm working on my BSN and waiting for my NCLEX results...ahhhhhhhhhh!

I think this is a very wise choice to become a CNA first. Many people start nursing school without a clue as to what nurses do, and by the time they figure out it isn't for them, they are already very in debt and have spent time that could have been used elsewhere. It is very true that the CNA and Nurse are very different but this will get you into the environment, start you down the path of learning, and allow you to visit with the nurses and see them at work. Just remember that there is also a LOT to nursing that isn't always visible to others. Everyone thinks "well I could walk up and hand someone pills all day" but they don't realize that even this "appears like nothing" task requires a lot of skill, responsibility, and knowledge base that people don't realize is involved. It also is not apparent that in the few moments the nurse is handing those pills to the patient she/he is assess the environment, the patients ABC's, level of consciousness, orientation, affect/mood, ability to swallow, range of motion, color, speech pattern, non-verbal language, skin condition, skin temp with a brief touch, respiratory pattern & quality, hygiene, noting any odors, signs of discomfort, (the list could go on and on). All this and more transpires and is compared with previous assessment in a few moments of what appears to non-nurses to just be a very simple "no-brainer" task. So what I recommend is do more than just watch the nurses during this time, find one that seems willing to share knowledge and discover what is going on behind the scenes (just make sure not to interfere with a constant barrage-there's lots to be done,) and try to learn something new every day. The experience should give you at least some idea if what you like is working with patients. Keep in mind also that there is a vast array of settings that nurses work in but IMO you need to work the floor to get good at nursing. Students that expect to come right out of school and be the "boss" usually find out quickly that they still need some patient care experience first, and that a company who will hire their DON fresh out of the NCLEX exam room, may not be the best company to work for.

You may want to shadow a nurse at a series of different healthcare settings to see if nursing is for you, as well as to obtain a realistic idea of what you'll be doing. Shadow a nurse for a few hours at a hospital, nursing home, clinic, home health agency, hospice house, and so forth. This might give you an idea as to whether you'll like nursing in the future.

Nursing is like being the mother of the world! All eyes and questions will come to you! You may think at the start that you don't know, but by the end...you will Work as a CNA for a while, that will show you the basic needs of people. I did 10 years as an aide before I was certified. It will teach you hands on care, you will be able to touch and help people in an intimate way. Then, be a nurse....from then on your life is unlimited! Choose any and all places you want to work! Long term care, hospice,acute care,home health,school nurse,travel nurse,
teacher, leader, community worker! This is one of the things I love about nursing......you can go and do anything you want to. ER, OR, Life Flight. Just one thing. Nursing will give you anything you want...but do you want what nursing has to give?