Welcome! I am the Moderator of the new CNA - Nursing Assistant Forum. I am also an RN who works in various health care settings. I have experience in Long Term Care, Home Health, and Hospital settings. I have been a Nurse since 1998 starting out as an ADN; I received my BSN in 2001.
I wish I had been a CNA prior to Nursing School; I know it would have helped tremendously. The jitters I encountered make me blush now. I remember not wanting to look at a wound for a new patient because I was "uncomfortable" lifting the covers and envading someones privacy! It is safe to say, "those days are over ;)"!
Please take a moment to introduce yourself. If you have time, grab your cup and tell us about yourself. Feel free to PM me if there are any concerns that are of a personal nature. Oherwise, post your conversations and questions here so we can all learn.
Good for you!! I love my job as a CNA. I am not interested in surgery or passing out meds or doing treatments. I love spending time with my clients and making sure they look good and are clean and healthy. Its so rewarding knowing that their basic needs are intrusted to me. I would never humiliate an elderly person that was incontinant or bowel or bladder. They deserve dignity and respect. We will all be in there shoes one day. Sounds to me like that RN is far from understanding her own fragility that is one day to come. I hope she has a CNA like you to care for her that will gently wash her private area so she doesnt get UTI's. Who will make sure no gunk is stuck in her dentures so that she doesnt end up with mouth rot. Someone who will make her feel cared about and respected and not humiliated and ashamed. That CNA would be yopu and you will make a great one. What would happen to the elderly without woman like you. You are a blessing to humanity! Dee :heartbeat
my name is alicia im 24 i just finish my CNA program in early April i take my state board exam this Saturday. my plan is to work as a CNA for a while and gain lots of experience then go into a LPN program
Just wanted to update I have been working as a CNA now at a assisting living community for 4 months, and I really enjoy my work. I just got accepted into a community college to do pre-nursing, so in the future I can apply for the nursing program there. My first two classes begin this summer in May. I'M SO EXCITED TO START THIS JOURNEY!!!!
I've been on here for a long time but I'm not sure if I have formally introduced myself on the CNA board so here goes...
My name is Chris, I am a CNA and a nursing student at RIC. I have been a CNA for about 9 months now and I have worked in LTC, Home Health and in the Hospital setting. I can say that by far I like the hospital setting the most but there are aspects of home health that I really miss at times (I don't miss the LTC/Nursing Home setting for a second.) Currently, I am working as a CNA on a cardiovascular med/surg. floor where I also do phlebotomy and EKGs as well as my regular CNA functions. Being a CNA has been really helpful as a nursing student and the experience I have gained I wouldn't change for anything in the world.
I have been a CNA about 5 years. I became a CNA because I again was thinking about going back to school to become a nurse. I had been a Emergency Med tech before I had married and had children, let my license expire. Later I worked as a bookkeeper and returned to school and got an associates in business. It became an isolated and depressing job for me. So I took the entrance exam for nursing and I was accepted to nursing school however I was hesitant to invest my time, money and dedication to studies for a new trade that possibly I would not be happy with as I had previousley done. So as an experiment I decided to become a CNA and test the waters. I worked full time through an agency for two years and in several different types of facilities, with several diffierent types of patients. I also had a cushy-private duty job for about a year then the patient died. I returned to office work and continued working CNA with an agency part time. Eventualy I found my passion is home hospice. I do admire and respect many nurses and CNAs I have have worked with. I have had several coworkers and patients alike tell me I should go to nursing school. I am happy and content where I am at - working as a CNA part-time still through agency. I do it because I love it. I would work CNA full time but the pay is too too low. I also have no desire to become a nurse because I see the health care industry is getting worse for nurses. - I like so many of us can write a book about our abusive marriage to the health care industry-buy better I would like to thank all of you for being a supportive part of the industry. This site is great.
ok so it sounds like some people have lots of experience as a cna I would like to know why people say it is hardwork im about to become a cna and i am wondering what should i expect and how much should i expect on my paycheck
It's hard work because you stay very busy, you walk around on your feet all shift, you do a lot of lifting and turning people, and it can be stressful. You should probably be making a few bucks over whatever minimum wage is in your area.
:wlcmhnds: I'm working as a CNA, although not certified yet. I have only worked for two weeks at a long term care facility. I'm 53 years old and this is my first time working in this field. I went to community college when I was in my early twenties, majoring in health, then my husband and I found out we were expecting. Well, I had three children and homeschooled them. My youngest just graduated from high school and now I'm finally taking that step out in faith.
I have worked 3 day shifts and 2 evening. Still really scared and I'm post on another thread why. Anyway, welcome to our group and thank you for all your help!
I was a CNA many, many (30 to be exact) years ago. I loved it.....but it just didn't pay enough to raise 2 children. I wanted to go to nursing school but there was no way I could quit my job and go to school--there were no evening classes back then either. So, I chose my 2nd passion--law. I worked as a legal secretary and went to school in the evening and became a certified paralegal. I worked as a medical malpractice paralegal for a number of years and was quite content. I then decided to work in the Risk Managment Dept of a 520-bed teaching hospital....I LOVED being in the hospital but, again, it wasn't the right time that I could stop working and go to nursing school. But I did avail myself of many of the in-services offered to the nursing staff (they liked me!). Eventually, I went back to a law firm and it was okay. We moved to Florida 8 years ago. My elderly Mom lived with me and I was her caretaker for 4 years after she broke her hip. The kids both grew up and got married....started families of their own. Mom passed away....and one day, I was in a nursing home to do a real estate closing (one spouse was in the nursing home and needed to sign papers)...and I just stopped as soon as I walked in...and I know it sounds very crazy but a "feeling" just seemed to wash over me from top to bottom and I KNEW that I BELONGED in nursing. My husband and I talked everything over and he could see I really wanted to go to school. So I quit my $45,000/yr job and got a $20,000/yr job as an Activities Asst in a LTC and I took the CNA classes at night. I passed the State Exam last June and have been working in a LTC and doing home health. I just took the pre-competencies for the LPN program and PASSED..YAY! I hope to start in July.
I would be content with being a CNA forever...except for the people I work with. There are a handful of good CNAs where I am. Most, however, just don't give a damn. I have had way too many arguments with co-workers that leave me with a headache or stomach ache. I understand burnout...that's why I left the legal field and went into risk management....if a CNA is burnt out, they don't belong taking care of fragile people. And the nurses....they don't want to hear the complaints. They're "too busy"....honestly, where I work, NO ONE supervises the CNAs...no one ever checks their patients to see that they are clean, etc. I've had CNAs not feed a difficult patient and when I tell the nurse, she tells me to go feed them...which is fine...but she does nothing to correct the behavior of the CNA who left the patient's tray on the cart!
So, if I'm going to try to change anything, I need to get my LPN...then my RN and BE THE SUPERVISOR!!! HA-ha!
I hope you all will approach your work as CNAs with compassion and skill. We are the eyes for those who can't see; the ears for those who can't hear...the legs for those who can't walk...the words for those who can't talk...always remember, you are taking care of someone's CHILD...they may be old...but they are someone's son or daughter...how do you want people to treat your son or daughter when they are old? Pay it forward....for your kids, grandkids, etc.
Specializes in Interested in nursery, L&D, and med-surg.
Hello everyone. I've been a CNA for about 5 years now in a long term facility. I work at one of the two top nursing homes in South Carolina. This is my first health related job and it won't be the last. I've been there since I was 18, right out of high school. I got my CNA through one of the few highschools that offer the program. I am very thankful for everything including:becoming a CNA, my first job right out of high school, being accepted into the nursing program, and having so many people that suopport me. All of it sounds great,but I do have a problem. My problem is that I am having some trouble getting through the program. My main problems are time management and possibly anxiety. Don't get me wrong, I want this and bad. I enjoy seeing different things,especially wounds and figuring out why things are the way they are. It's just that when it comes to compiling it all together and answering the questions on the tests, I lose my direction or finally realize that I dont know the material like I should. I have been unsucessful in three of my classes and is the last one that I can be unsucessful in. So I'm trying to find ways to get myself together before I lose my passion and determination for what I really do want. There are so many people supporting me. Everyday I walk into work, there is always someone asking how are you, how's school, when will you be finished. I'm not going to lie. It bugs the hell out of me, but I ry not to blow it cause they'll know that things really arent what they seem. That's why I chose the broken heart for my icon, because my heart is torn.
Hi, Anna here. as of the writing of this, I am a CNA/CHHA, have been for 16 years. Its been a very long time. I started out in the SNF, then went to Public School as a Health Assistant, then did Home Health and Hospice. I have to say, I really love Hospice. I have had many of wonderful mentors over the last several years. As of right now, I am off on workmans comp, I have recently had surgery on my right shoulder, (torn rotator cuff) and it does not look like I will be able to return to my duties. I just wanna cry! I miss my patients and families, I miss the great outdoors, I miss the "surprise behind every door"...I do want to become an RN and have taken classes towards it, almost done...but I am unsure if I will be able to continue in my choosen path.
So to all you CNA's out there, I think your all gold, worth every penny out there, yes it is hard work, but the rewards are great. Keep up the good work, love your patients, love your job.
Hello everyone. I've been a CNA for about 5 years now in a long term facility. I work at one of the two top nursing homes in South Carolina. This is my first health related job and it won't be the last. I've been there since I was 18, right out of high school. I got my CNA through one of the few highschools that offer the program. I am very thankful for everything including:becoming a CNA, my first job right out of high school, being accepted into the nursing program, and having so many people that suopport me. All of it sounds great,but I do have a problem. My problem is that I am having some trouble getting through the program. My main problems are time management and possibly anxiety. Don't get me wrong, I want this and bad. I enjoy seeing different things,especially wounds and figuring out why things are the way they are. It's just that when it comes to compiling it all together and answering the questions on the tests, I lose my direction or finally realize that I dont know the material like I should. I have been unsucessful in three of my classes and is the last one that I can be unsucessful in. So I'm trying to find ways to get myself together before I lose my passion and determination for what I really do want. There are so many people supporting me. Everyday I walk into work, there is always someone asking how are you, how's school, when will you be finished. I'm not going to lie. It bugs the hell out of me, but I ry not to blow it cause they'll know that things really arent what they seem. That's why I chose the broken heart for my icon, because my heart is torn.
study study study, when you take the test, think you are working with a patient...it has worked for me..good luck!
I currently work as a CNA in the ICU. It is a fun and challenging environment and occasionally I float to other floors and help. Psych, Med-Surg, and Neuro. It is very interesting and the nurses here are so fun and love to teach. I have been here for over a year and before that I was a Med-Aide at an Assisted Living facility, and also worked Long Term Care for 3 months.
Planning on going back to school for the LPN then bridge to RN due to the long waiting period for RN programs in the NW.
There are so many people supporting me. Everyday I walk into work, there is always someone asking how are you, how's school, when will you be finished. I'm not going to lie. It bugs the hell out of me, but I ry not to blow it cause they'll know that things really arent what they seem.
That's why I chose the broken heart for my icon, because my heart is torn.
philippians4:13
41 Posts
Good for you!! I love my job as a CNA. I am not interested in surgery or passing out meds or doing treatments. I love spending time with my clients and making sure they look good and are clean and healthy. Its so rewarding knowing that their basic needs are intrusted to me. I would never humiliate an elderly person that was incontinant or bowel or bladder. They deserve dignity and respect. We will all be in there shoes one day. Sounds to me like that RN is far from understanding her own fragility that is one day to come. I hope she has a CNA like you to care for her that will gently wash her private area so she doesnt get UTI's. Who will make sure no gunk is stuck in her dentures so that she doesnt end up with mouth rot. Someone who will make her feel cared about and respected and not humiliated and ashamed. That CNA would be yopu and you will make a great one. What would happen to the elderly without woman like you. You are a blessing to humanity! Dee
:heartbeat