Beginning the nurse journey hopefully! Advice?

Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN · Jul 15, 2011

Hey Sj, welcome to the forums! I'm quite new here myself, and there's so much to look at here that you'll feel overwhelmed at first, I know I did. I'm finally starting to adjust and take all of the information in that I am receiving through this site. I'm telling you, since you are just starting out, this is the best place to ask questions and get advice. It's helping me tons.

With all of this being said, I do know someone who is currently a CNA and they are working themselves through the rest of their schooling. It's doable, but first you want to look at everything around you as far as your COL goes. That is what makes or breaks it for a lot of people. Cost of Living may not even seem like much until you calculate it all together. I'm saying this because the lady that I know who works as a CNA and goes to school, that's her life. She's barely keeping her head above water grade-wise, because she has significant bills to pay while schooling. I'm definitely not trying to discourage you, not by any means. There are millions of us who work full-time or part-time and still make it successfully through Nursing School. A lot of CNA jobs can just be per diem, which can definitely relieve the stress load a lot of times. Overall, if you can multi-task in that type of sense, the CNA job will look fabulous on your resume/application when you're through with NS.

Please remember, I'm not speaking from experience, just from what I've read and seen others go through.

I wish you the best of luck! :clown:

tishluvnc · Jul 15, 2011

Hello,

I am a cna in nc and have been long enough to get through a bachlor degree. I have never worked in a facility before though. It benefited me having clients I can visit in their homes. I was bless with clients who didn't mind me reading books in between my duties on the care plan. I was also fortunate for the last 2 years having a client where I get a lot of hours on the weekend. I was able to go to school during the week and work only on the weekend.

I regret that I didn't get some experience in a facility like a nursing home because you don't keep your skills up. Now I'm ready to work say between 8am to 1pm and possibably start my nursing pre-reques. The only problem I'm having is where I live the pay is extreamy low. Don't get me wrong the pay is low in home health period, however, I can't see working for a job for years and then moving to another company because of job availability and recieving a almost 2$ pay cut. Also, most people in homes need you in the morning so this makes it impossible to take classes in the morning. I did find a company that paid me more however, I have to transfer a 165lb man and I hurt my back doing it once. It have scared me. So now I may have to take a pay cut just so I can keep my back good a little while longer. lol. Were there a will there is a way.good luck