I Need Help!

I think you should conduct a research on the role and job description of both RN and CNA. But I will give you a little insight..

Work hours: Both RN's and CNA's work in a variety of settings which include hospitals, clinics and home health agencies. Work hours depend on the wrok setting. So, if you work in a hospital regardless of your job title you will work 8 or 12 hr shifts (except if you are in management). Nurses usually do not get calls unless they work iin units like the OR or CATH lab. If you want to work a 9-5, then maybe you should look into a clinic setting.

Pay: Yes RN's make more than CNA's. To become an RN you need to have higher education and pass a state board exam. To become a CNA you need to complete a 1-3 month course and pass a certifcation exam. Two very different pay scales and EDUCATIONAL requirements.

I think you may benefit from shadowing a nurse to figure out what you really want.

There is a substantial difference between the pay that a CNA would get versus an RN because of the level of responsibility and education achieved. Maybe begin as a CNA to get an entry level position and once you are working, you will see what the nurses are doing and why they require that you would have to perform the duties learned in CNA school. Or you can volunteer at a hospital or nursing home to have a bird's eye view of what everyone does, nursing asssistants, LPNs and RNs.

Most nursing positions are shift work - 7-3, 3-11, 11-7 or 7a-7p, 7p-7a. There are some clinic positions with M-F office hour type positions but mostly they are filled by medical assistants. MAs have different training than CNAs - usually a year with front office (billing) and back office (taking blood pressure, etc) training, while CNA is all patient care, usually focused on inpatient care (nursing homes, hospitals - bathing, feeding, assisting to walk). There are some nurses that work in clinics as well, but there isn't as much demand and it can end up being limiting to a nurse without other experience who may not maintain enough tranferrable skills to find another job if they must.

Given your interest, you might want to also look into medical assisting. The opportunity for growth in that area can be limited but it can be a good place to start if you don't know what else you're interested in. Just be wary of those programs that charge an arm and a leg and promise that you'll be making big bucks after finishing the program. Check out the local demand and pay range yourself.