Are you insulted????

Nurses General Nursing

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Okay, I do not want to insult anyone or step in a hornets nest here, but I have a serious question. Recently my hubby had surgery, and everyone at the hospital would ask"are you a nurse?" to which I would reply "No, I am a CNA". Most of the time it was accepted and the nurses, techs, etc were happy to let me do most of the care for my man, and were very appreciative. There were 2 or 3 nurses that asked me "why not continue my education and become a "real nurse"? I gave my reasons for not wanting to, in a mild tone, without judgement.

The reasons I listed are 1. I am very satisfied with my life. I was in nursing school when I gave birth to my first child and chose to be a stay at home mom to my 2 boys, so decided to not finish. 2. Nursing has changed considerably over the last 26 year, so I chose to return to school and go the CNA path and am quite satisfied. I have much respect and admire good nurses, as I do good teachers, but chose not to pursue either path.

The responses I got from these 2 or 3 nurses was off the charts over reaction. They were so insulted and rude. One even told me she did not believe me, that all CNAs and TECHs say that , but they are really just frustrated with their jobs. So my question is this: Are you insulted by this as a nurse? Does it bother you that some would choose not to continue on the education path and be "just a CNA"? Does it insult you as a nurse that I feel like your job is not the job I aspire to and I am happy where I am? I work 2-3 shifts/wk. and truly enjoy my low key, 3-11 position. What are your thoughts, please. Did I say something wrong????

I'm guessing they were jealous that you were content in your position. People who are miserable want everyone else to be miserable. Good for you that you know what you want, and you're doing it!

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Who the heck cares what ANYBODY thinks about your job, your family situation, your fiances, your ethnicity???:?...TOO MUCH DRAMA!!! I have no energy for this kind of situation...who CARES what anyone else thinks??? If you're happy, to me that's all that really counts and I applaud for loving your work and sharing yourself with humanity!!! You are a "CNA" and I'm happy for you...that's all that needs to be said. Boy..some people (not on this thread!) ...geeessshhhh! :rolleyes::nurse:

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Specializes in Vents.

The only one who has any right to be insulted is you! You should not have to justify your decisions to anyone other than yourself and for anyone to try to make you feel like less of a person or make you feel like as a CNA you are less important is unreal! The next time you face a nurse who questions you regarding your decision simply remind that nurse that without CNAs, nurses wouldn't be able to get anything done. I know! I was a CNA once too! Be proud of who you are as a wife, mother and CNA and remember that you make just as much of a difference as any LVN and RN in the lives you touch!

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Oh, for the love of it!

I'd be insulted if some nurses cannot believe an aide wants to be just that-- an aide.

Like being an aide is so lowly and awful, lol!

Trust me, I would stay an aide forever, if it paid.

It's satisfying to me to be "Robin" and I fought being "Batman" for close to 20 years.

Why are these nurses insulted?

They must be the (thankfully rare) insecure ones.

Maybe they are shocked to find that not every aide is a "wannabe". That shatters their illusion of "superiority", doesn't it?

I suppose it is a compliment to you that some nurses tell you "you should be a nurse!"

That, usually, means they think you possess what it takes to handle it.

If you truly enjoy being an aide and you are able to make a financial go at it, well, it's no one's business but your own.

Yes, trust me, I'd rather be "Robin"!

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I'm so happy to hear someone say they love the job of a CNA - of course I'm not insulted and it appears those nurses need a "mind your own business" protocol -jeeze! If I've learned anything around nursing it is that whatever you've done, there is a ready-made group of "why don't you get your blah blah blah whatever-is-next-up-the totem pole?"

Ah... the "totem pole".

Not everyone is driven to climb it...

And frankly...

Some people just need to climb up off it.

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As a CNA-like you ? several years. We have heard everything and encountered so many different people. I personally feel for my patients that were nurses, doctors and many profession having to do with medical- before having become ill. Good and seasoned medical personnel know not to treat you or your family member any differently than any other patient - that does include not being rude. Rudeness is not part of our jobs no matter how much experience you have. I am sorry you feel hurt - you are justfied.

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Specializes in Alzheimers, Muscular dystrophy.

Apparently they may be unhappy with their lives and feel the need to possibly live vicariously through someone elses goals. You have the right to do what makes you happy. I am an LVN who did all of my pre-reqs except for 2 classes to get into the RN program. I got all A' and B's while I was also working 72 hrs a week, looking for a house to buy and in the middle of a custody battle. I know I can do the RN thing with no problem, BUT, I like being an LVN, I love working with Alz/Dem pt's. They make me happy and I am fulfilled with the work I do. If I became an RN it would mean working at a much lower RN rate to stay in the field I love or not being able to work in the field at all, so I made the decision to stay an LVN. My life, my choice, my happiness. Your life, your choice, your happiness is what counts. Try asking them why they settled for being only an RN? How come they didn't become P.A.'s of M.D.'s?

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I have no problem with you staying a CNA. Thats your business!!!

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It's sad that the American culture is so focused on greed and power... CNAs work very, very hard and many of them do it their whole life.. There are very man Nurses that definitely should not be nurses and who knows how they ever made it through school.. And there are those that truly deserve what they've worked for.. Whatever the case may be, just because someone "went to school" or "makes more money" doesn't make them smarter, happier, or a better person then anyone else.. I take my hat off to you and keep doing what your doing if you enjoy it. Life is too short to worry about stuck up people with ego's! How bout those nurses that are talking crap go to school and be a "Real Doctor".... HA

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I think I would ask those nurses if they had complexes because the "settled" for being nurses, instead of doctors. :rolleyes:

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Specializes in stepdown RN.

My mom is a CNA and loves her job. That's what she wants to do. I have never thought for one minute that she should be a nurse. I was a nurse aide before becoming a nurse and I liked my job also but that's not what I wanted to do. That doesn't mean I made a better decision than someone who doesn't become a nurse just means I went down a different path in life. Same argument could be said because I "only" have my ADN and never went for my BSN. Again, that's not what I chose to do. Who cares what other people think, as long as you are doing something you want to do.

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

Yes, I am utterly and completely insulted that you don't want to have the same training and career as me. :lol2:

Seriously, I think CNA is an awesome career, and I'd be willing to bet that some of the best CNAs are people who are happy with what they're doing and have no intention of training to become something else.

At the hospital where I used to work, almost all of the CNAs were amazing, and all or nearly all of them had been CNAs for a long time with no plans to become RNs or anything else.

Sorry you had to deal with such rude nurses on top of dealing with your husband being sick!

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