Can I be a good nurse, I hate being a CNA

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Nov 6, 2005

Yes, you will still be a good nurse. I feel the same way you do. When we are staffed correctly, being an aide is ok. I am used to being understaffed, so that's not the problem. I just feel like I'm not paid enough to work that hard and I also feel like people think I'm not smart just becaue I'm an aide. Take yesterday for example. I heard a nurse asking another aide ( one that had been working as an aide for at least 40 years) if the diarrhea that a patient had smelled like C. diff. Now, when she said it, my mind thought that sounded familiar and I asked her what she was talking about and how you spelled it. she said she didn't know, but that it was short for something. I thought a minute and I asked her if it was clostridium difficle and she said no that's not it. I even said it was spore forming blah blah blah, but she said that wasn't it. She goes and gets a medical dictionary and looks up what SHE thought it was for about ten minutes. I'm looking over her shoulder and never looked up what I said. Finally, she asks me what I said and she looks it up. I was right. This may be a small example, but it is one of many. I just don't feel like people think I know anything and that's why I don't like being a tech.

Cute_CNA, CNA · Nov 6, 2005

I hear ya, I hear ya. It's very depressing when you are doing the same thing every day, day in and day out, and not learning much. I feel like I have other skills that I'm not using, and that is frustrating.

As a CNA, exactly what would you rather be doing? Is there someplace else you could go to that would satisfy this need for you?

CNAs have different tasks than RNs. Find out what those tasks are. You might want to look around to see what RNs do in different areas of nursing. If you find something you like, then you'll have something to look forward to once you get your license.

NurseLatteDNP, MSN, DNP, RN · Nov 6, 2005

Thank you for your replies. I don't mind working as a CNA, but I do mind being there by myself with so many patients. Sometimes when our census is low, and I take care of about 15 patients during the night, I have time to pass them water, get them a snack, clean them up faster, turn them q 2 hrs and not q 4 hrs. Now poor patients have to wait for all of that, just because my hospital is sorry enough to get 2 aides per floor if needed. And I am not even going to get into the story of me being exausted after 12 hours with one walking break. Sorry, I just needed to vent.

Gennaver, MSN · Nov 7, 2005

I have been an aide since I started nursing school. I love that I am doing patient care, but I just hate my job. Every weekend night (7p-7a) I have an avarage of 24 patients by myself. I am PRN, and they always put me on the Cardiac floor because they never have an aide. ...
...I told my boss about it, and he said that night shift can only have one aide, no matter how many patients they have. He does not agree with it, but there is nothing he can do, since administration assumes that all patients are sleeping at night. I love nursing, I love helping patients, but I just don't want to be the only CNA for 12 hours and 24 patients anymore. Can I be a good nurse, if I stress out like this? Please give me some advise.

Hi Kiyatylese,

This is tough, I have been there. I also worked full-time nights on a floor with a rotten ratio and asked my nurse manager about it, she said, "nope, this is how we schedule." Later, i asked her if I could drop down in my fte to a .6 or .5 and she said also, "nope". Less than a month later I turned in my resignation. Then she said she would put in a good word for me if I wanted to transfer to the registry, (prn staffing.) I believed her at that time but, by then, was really so burned out that I didn't even follow through with applying with them.

However, things worked out, I completed my undergrad degree and am happily working towards my Masters Entry to Nursing and in the process of searching for appropriate work. My fingers are crossed on a position right now.

Gen

p.s. good luck!

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Nov 7, 2005

I don't see why you would not be a great nurse. :)

Good luck

Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN · Nov 7, 2005

I was an aide in CCU and loved it so much I went to school I am a LPN now and even though I never went to RN school I am considered good I love arrythmias and put forth an extra effort to learn all about them, now I am considered an expert at thwm. I also am an instructer for acls. and teach rhythms for it. I have a job now that sought me out because I became so good at cardiac patient. I got the job on my reputation. Go for it maybe your job will pay for you to go to school. Good Luck.

KatieBell · Nov 7, 2005

Switch positions.

It is that simple. When I worked as an Aide, my first job was on a dreadful combined Ortho/GI (what a combo!) floor. It was heavy work and I did not enjoy it. I had a casual discussion with the house sup. one day telling her how I didn't want to be a nurse if what i saw was nursing. She got me transferred to the Emergency Room, and I've remanied in ED ever since (except for that first year of ICU so I could really and truely manage those patients.)

The house sup. created a nurse that day. Just try to go to a different area. 24 patients with daily wts is too much.

SinfulCNA27 · Nov 7, 2005

I have often wondered if I would make a good nurse also when I hate aide work so much. I just think that aide work is seen as the lowest of the low and we dont get much credit for anything. We're like walking babysitters, I feel like sometimes. I'm working towards my LPN now and I just HAD to get out of the nursing home atmosphere. I HATED it there. :angryfire I never felt part of the team, or valued in anyway. Some of my classmates frown upon me b/c I told them....when I get out of school, you wont catch me working in a nursing home. It's sad to say...but thats not my place. The only time I really enjoyed aide work was when I worked with mentally challenged adolescents. I'm returning to that when I leave school. I cant wait!:)

vegnurse21 · Nov 7, 2005

Twenty four patients? Wow...that's insane. I know aides have a 'lesser' job...but we still have A LOT to do one a shift! That's horrible that they give you that many patients. It sounds like it's the stress that's pushing you away and not the actual job itself. You said yourself that you enjoy patient care, but you are just so stressed that you want to cry...well I don't blame you hun.

You sound like you will make a great nurse, and I think anyone would feel the way that you do in this position. I really think you need to look into switching floors or hospitals or something. Just get out of what you're doing before you stress yourself out too much!

NurseLatteDNP, MSN, DNP, RN · Nov 7, 2005

I asked about switching positions today, but they have told me that I will not find anything else on a weekends only basis. I had a feeling that they did not want to let me go, since they have many night aides quit recently. But I had the idea to switch to 7a-7p where they have only 10 patients per aide. I have done days before, I know that is busy, but I will do anything instead of quitting. I really hope, the fact that I do not like my job as a CNA does not indicate me being a horrible nurse. :sniff: I love my nursing clinicals a lot.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2005

Good luck to you.

You don't dislike being a CNA because you don't like doing patient care. You don't like being a CNA because you're overwhelmed with the ratio.

As a nurse I have the same issues. In fact, it's probably the one and only reason I don't like my job right now. But it doesn't mean I'm a bad nurse.

Try separating the issues and you'll feel better about yourself being a nurse. But you are learning about yourself, what you can and can not handle and how to cope with the stress. That's a good thing.

(I see NICU as your avatar, so as a nurse in NICU those kind of ratios won't be an issue.)