CAREER CNA'S/PCT' S

Missingyou, CNA · Dec 29, 2013

I am a CNA and have no intention of going on to nursing school. I love my job and doing the direct care. I love being able to move and be very busy and having the patient contact.

I thought long and hard about nursing school in the past, but decided that the responsibility, and that I'd spend less time with patients and more time behind a med cabinet and a desk filling out endless paper work (my sister is a nurse and says it seems all she does is paperwork) isn't for me.

The expense and effort of nursing school just isn't worth it to me. (I watched my sister and now my neice go thru nursing school :eek: ).

I make more than $15. an hour and that suits my needs just fine...plus I love my job, can listen to the tales of my residents lives and really get to know them. Money isn't everything.

I wouldn't trade my CNA position for a nursing job. The amount of $$ just isn't worth it.

There is no cap on the pay for my position. I get a raise every few years along with everyone else in the facility where I work (LTC). I've worked in assisted living and have done home care and all agencies have always offered me more $ because of the amount of my experience. I've never had trouble finding a job.

jaylynn06 · Dec 29, 2013

Aww I love your post ! Glad you are proud of your job and love it !!!!!

taylynnfree · Dec 29, 2013

I am a CNA and have no intention of going on to nursing school. I love my job and doing the direct care. I love being able to move and be very busy and having the patient contact.
I thought long and hard about nursing school in the past, but decided that the responsibility, and that I'd spend less time with patients and more time behind a med cabinet and a desk filling out endless paper work (my sister is a nurse and says it seems all she does is paperwork) isn't for me.
The expense and effort of nursing school just isn't worth it to me. (I watched my sister and now my neice go thru nursing school ).
I make more than $15. an hour and that suits my needs just fine...plus I love my job, can listen to the tales of my residents lives and really get to know them. Money isn't everything.
I wouldn't trade my CNA position for a nursing job. The amount of $$ just isn't worth it.
There is no cap on the pay for my position. I get a raise every few years along with everyone else in the facility where I work (LTC). I've worked in assisted living and have done home care and all agencies have always offered me more $ because of the amount of my experience. I've never had trouble finding a job.

Thx for your post :)

Mr Sacdiff · Dec 30, 2013

There's only a couple reasons for someone not progressing past CNA/PCT. The best reason is that CNA/PCT's truly have the most patient contact out of anyone in the medical field (for most workplaces). You do not have anything close to the responsibility of an LPN or RN. You typically do not have to go home worrying about whether you made any errors. I know dialysis PCT's that make 18-20+/hr. and love what they do. That is not a bad living at all. I only started a year ago and make over 15/hr. Very good pay for a CNA and I don't even live in a higher cost of living area. That being said, I have too much drive and ambition to want to do this long term. It's only a means to an end. It is giving me invaluable experience that I will take forward in my career as an RN (in 18 more months!!!)

I truly understand and appreciate anyone who would want to make a career out of it, so long they work somewhere that will eventually pay them well for what they do, because CNA's will work their butts off if they are good at what they do.

taylynnfree · Dec 30, 2013

There's only a couple reasons for someone not progressing past CNA/PCT. The best reason is that CNA/PCT's truly have the most patient contact out of anyone in the medical field (for most workplaces). You do not have anything close to the responsibility of an LPN or RN. You typically do not have to go home worrying about whether you made any errors. I know dialysis PCT's that make 18-20+/hr. and love what they do. That is not a bad living at all. I only started a year ago and make over 15/hr. Very good pay for a CNA and I don't even live in a higher cost of living area. That being said, I have too much drive and ambition to want to do this long term. It's only a means to an end. It is giving me invaluable experience that I will take forward in my career as an RN (in 18 more months!!!)
I truly understand and appreciate anyone who would want to make a career out of it, so long they work somewhere that will eventually pay them well for what they do, because CNA's will work their butts off if they are good at what they do.

What city are you in where a cna makes 15/hr after 1 year. And 18-20 for dialysis? In stl, mo >>>> cna ltc 8+/hr pct hosp 10+/hr. Dialysis 12+/hr ..these are starting pay figures

schnookimz · Dec 30, 2013

What city are you in where a cna makes 15/hr after 1 year. And 18-20 for dialysis? In stl mo >>>> cna ltc 8+/hr pct hosp 10+/hr. Dialysis 12+/hr ..these are starting pay figures[/quote']
The dialysis techs have some sort of certification or license around here. They are not the typical pct. They make 17-18 dollars per hour, but are being phased out in the acute setting.

allnurses Guide · Dec 31, 2013

I was a CNA for 23 years before I became an RN.

I loved being a CNA.

Sometimes, I think I sold my soul to the devil.

Moriah02 · Dec 31, 2013

I'm a CNA and I love interacting with the patient. I love taking good care of someone, making them feel better, hearing their stories about life. I an in school to be a nurse but I can understand how someone can love being an aide because of the good, rewarding feelings that you get from taking care of someone.

Daniglam91 · Dec 31, 2013

I feel that there are many reasons why someone would chose being a CNA as a career. The training is short, fast, and easy, and the fact that if there will always be a need for Nurses, there will always be a need for CNAs. Some are okay with the pay and do not mind moving up slowly, and plus the schedule offered as well.

I personally would choose being a CNA as my career for the rest of my life, but I would work under the title for a good few years until I become a Nurse or whatnot.