Can't decide..help?Cna wasn't for me will Rn be?

Published

Hi everyone im new to this thing but im suppose to start this fall at a tech center for associate nursing degree, thing is i took my cna class i like the residents but the thing is i could not do that everyday as a job. if i cant handle being a cna could i handle being an rn. I didnt mind caring for the patients such as showering, changing depends just the back breaking work and feeding them everyday got to be to much.Maybe working in a nursing home wouldent be my thing but i passed the class with an A but the teacher said i was hestitant at doing things which i was. And i dont mind dealing with bm, blood or urine but vomit absolutley disgustes me and some things such as skin peeling on people or open cuts, and I'm just nervous that if i sign up for this i wont beable to do it. I was debating between this and forensic science but there are hardley any jobs as that even though it hink i would beable to do that.

Oh and one more thing i heard the schooling for nursing is very hard and you have to put everything into it?any advice would be fantastic or if you want to tell me what you do on an average day?because i am stuck Thanks!

Specializes in CT stepdown, hospice, psych, ortho.

Why go through it if you think you might not like it? Sure, you may end up loving nursing but you just as likely won't. Don't do it for the money or job security or employability because (as you may have ascertained from these boards) those things aren't really true anymore for new grads.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I used to get queasy and even faint when I saw blood and wasn't sure if I could get through nursing school. I somehow eventually got over it. Blood doesn't bother me a bit now. I've since discovered other things that make me want to gag that I never even knew about before becoming a nurse. :lol2:

I think you will be fine!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

If you are worried that you will simply be too grossed out by vomit, peeling sking and open wounds, but would like the tasks otherwise and are highly motivated to become a nurse, you do get somewhat used to those things.

If you didn't like feeding the residents because you felt it took too long and was not enough of a challenge, most RN jobs will provide the variety and mental challenge you want.

If you were contemplating this 10-15 yrs ago, I'd say there are many jobs you can do as an RN that are very tailored to your interests and personality, but the reality of now is that very likely you will need to take what's available just to have a job at all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.

I had taken the CNA class in high school to give me a rough idea of what the nursing field was like... I just didn't have what it took to be a CNA, no way. I did end up going into the nursing field and now work in a long term care facility as a charge nurse, I love it. I never thought the nursing home would be the niche for me, but I will never regret my decision. The nursing field is possibly one of the most stressful and highest burn out rated jobs, but it is very rewarding and it is what you make of it... Like most things.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC currently.

Maybe nursing isnt for you, as you typically have to perform some degree of CNA work in nursing school(fundamentals) and sometimes in the field. Perhaps you should look into being a physician assistant as they work directly with patients in the medical field, but more on the diagnosing/medicine side vs. nursing direct patient care.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

Eh, I am completely grossed out by sputum. It makes me almost throw up every time. I haven't built a tolerance for it. But I still get in there and clean it up (while gagging). It is my job, I may not like every task, but I love being a nurse, and doing something like that is not a big enough indicator for me to leave nursing. I simply Thank God for Respiratory Therapists!

I believe most nurses have some things they don't handle well, if you realize that chances are you are still going to encounter this in your career, you will probably have to clean up vomit at one point, and can deal with it, it's worth it. If you really cannot clean up vomit no matter what, then you may want to look into other careers.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you could not handle being a CNA, what makes you think nursing will be right for you? That means more responsibility, and I don't think you are ready for it. CNA and RN both deal with direct patient care. CNA is hard work, and so is RN. You have got to dig deep and recognize what your calling is in life. I believe that in order for one to be successful in the medical field, they have to have been born with all the required qualities and characteristics. :) Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

um, most cna and nursing jobs aren't back breaking. being a cna in a nursing home is probably the most physically demanding nursing related jobs (but they have all kinds of lifts/equip these days to make it easier too), so don't use it (cna @ ltc) to base your impression of cna's or nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CT stepdown, hospice, psych, ortho.

It isn't about could OP become accustomed to the work or the gross-out parts - if there are doubts about a career's suitability why pursue a demanding program that doesn't have a great employment rate right now? Right now the only reason to become a nurse is the satisfaction of being a nurse/helping people/etc, whereas in the past it was more traditionally viewed as being one way of having a good salary, job security, and mobility. Not so much right now. There are people clamoring for open spots in programs that are passionate about being a nurse. If you are on the fence, go for something else and if you decide later that you do really want to be a nurse, then go for it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The one thing that I would like to address in here is what i haven't seen anyone else address yet. YES Nursing school is hard. it is supposed to be. If your nursing school isn't difficult in one way or another then it probably isn't properly preparing you for being a nurse. I am still a student but from what I can tell so far, being a nurse is hard. It takes a great deal of critical thinking and boundless amounts of other qualities that you need to get through the schooling. Then again I don't think that anything worth doing is going to be "easy"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

I really hated doing the CNA type things when I learned them in my fundamentals class, I even hated being in LTC. I too found myself wondering, "crap, did I make a mistake?". But, I kept on. I have 2 more semesters left of my ADN program and I couldn't be happier with my decision. I Love nursing! Sure, I hate poop and vomit, but I really have gotten used to it. I do encounter it and from time to time have to clean it up, even though I am past the CNA type learning in my education. Honestly, I say if it's something that you want to do, go for it. It IS a lot of work. I've had to put my life on the back burner, and I couldn't have done any of this alone with the support of my family. Most importantly my husband. He's basically taken over doing everything around the house because I am just always studying and hardly home, keeping odd hours. It's tough, schooling is tough, but I really feel that if I gave up on that first day that I decided that poop in a depends was just gross... I wouldn't have found that I really do enjoy nursing quite a bit. Don't give up; every profession will have it's downsides and things that you don't like about them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion