CCA Mail Carrier vs Nursing

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Currently in training to become a CCA for the USPS, but I was also recently accepted to an ADN program. I'll have 2-3 weeks of time to work as a CCA to get a feel for the position until I need to attend a mandatory nursing orientation day, but it will be hard to get an accurate representation of the CCA position during that time as I will be completely new to everything and there is a steep learning curve to the job. Nearly everything I've read about the position says it will suck until I become a regular (can take anywhere from 1-5+ years). Even the postmasters told us during orientation that the position will be very demanding (physically, mentally, emotionally), we will unfortunately be pressured/yelled at by managers to 'be quicker', and to just not give up when these things happen.

On the flip side, I was also in an ADN prgram for a year (in 2013), but my time there ended abruptly and it left a REALLY salty taste in my mouth. It's taken me a long time to get back to a place where I even thought about wanting to apply. This is also pretty much my last chance to pursue nursing without having to go back to school to renew prereqs/teas testing. My prerequisites are all over 5 years old, and my teas 5 score will not count towards the majority (if not all) nursing schools in my area after this fall (many schools switched to teas 6).

I guess it depends on if I like the CCA work environment, if the time it takes to make regular isn't too long, coworkers/managers, and if the work is satisfying and/or if I can handle the physical aspect of the job (10 miles a day, 10-20+ days in row, dealing with dogs...etc). Also, CCAs can be fired for nearly anything during their first 90-day probation (Attacked by a dog? Fired. Injured? Fired. Call in sick? Fired. Accident with the post office van (LLV)? Fired.), so that's not too appealing.

Any opinions?

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I guess it depends on if I like the CCA work environment, if the time it takes to make regular isn't too long, coworkers/managers, and if the work is satisfying and/or if I can handle the physical aspect of the job (10 miles a day, 10-20+ days in row, dealing with dogs...etc). Also, CCAs can be fired for nearly anything during their first 90-day probation (Attacked by a dog? Fired. Injured? Fired. Call in sick? Fired. Accident with the post office van (LLV)? Fired.), so that's not too appealing.

Any opinions?

There might not be too many people on a nursing board who know about your current job with the post office. I don't even have any clue what a CCA is. As a side note, you probably shouldn't call yourself "Nurse" until you've actually earned the title.

Best wishes with your decision.

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There might not be too many people on a nursing board who know about your current job with the post office. I don't even have any clue what a CCA is. As a side note, you probably shouldn't call yourself "Nurse" until you've actually earned the title.

Best wishes with your decision.

@Sour Lemon - Thank you for your response. I believe you're looking way too much into the value/credit of my username. If you give that much credit to a random person's username as much as you just did mine, then you are in for a rude internet awakening. Would I say to you that you shouldn't call yourself a "Sour Lemon" because you are not really a sour lemon, but rather a human being? No, I would not, because this is an internet forum and that is a USERNAME that bares no official title and holds no value. I am not, and have not claimed to be anything. Would it make you feel any better if I made my username "DoctorMcleod", or would I then invite the MDs and PhDs of the world to critique my username then?

Just because you don't know what a CCA (mail carrier - as I stated in the title) is, doesn't mean that others will not, and will provide a helpful response as evidenced in some older threads linked below:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/letter-carrier-or-74906.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/undecided-whether-to-29147.html

Since these questions and their subsequent answers are somewhat dated, and the position of a mail carrier has changed since these threads, I have decided to ask here in the hopes that a few people may have some helpful responses instead of your (I'm paraphrasing here) "Not many people will know what you're talking about. You're not a nurse."

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@Sour Lemon - Thank you for your response. I believe you're looking way too much into the value/credit of my username. If you give that much credit to a random person's username as much as you just did mine, then you are in for a rude internet awakening. Would I say to you that you shouldn't call yourself a "Sour Lemon" because you are not really a sour lemon, but rather a human being? No, I would not, because this is an internet forum and that is a USERNAME that bares no official title and holds no value. I am not, and have not claimed to be anything. Would it make you feel any better if I made my username "DoctorMcleod", or would I then invite the MDs and PhDs of the world to critique my username then?

Just because you don't know what a CCA (mail carrier - as I stated in the title) is, doesn't mean that others will not, and will provide a helpful response as evidenced in some older threads linked below:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/letter-carrier-or-74906.html

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/undecided-whether-to-29147.html

Since these questions and their subsequent answers are somewhat dated, and the position of a mail carrier has changed since these threads, I have decided to ask here in the hopes that a few people may have some helpful responses instead of your (I'm paraphrasing here) "Not many people will know what you're talking about. You're not a nurse."

Focus on #8 if you decide to check out the terms of service you agreed to when you made your account. And since I'm trying my very hardest to be nice, I'll leave it at that. :p

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My first thought was an accountant for the Post Office!

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Focus on #8 if you decide to check out the terms of service you agreed to when you made your account. And since I'm trying my very hardest to be nice, I'll leave it at that. :p

Maybe YOU should re-read #8. It states, "You agree NOT to use titles that you have not earned. (RN, Dr, LPN, LVN, Nurse, etc)". Do you see a comma next to my name with any titles? I don't. I'll leave it at that. :p

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Maybe YOU should re-read #8. It states, "You agree NOT to use titles that you have not earned. (RN, Dr, LPN, LVN, Nurse, etc)". Do you see a comma next to my name with any titles? I don't. I'll leave it at that. :p

Yeah, I do, your screen name says nurse. Whether having R or LV in front of it nurse is still a protected title. It is both against the sites' TOS & against the law.

So unless you went to school to earn that title, change your screen name. I didn't bust my behind in school so people like you could come around & pretend to be a nurse.

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Please be a troll.....please be a troll.....please be a troll.....

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Specializes in PCCN.

:wideyed:

hmm

well, i myself would go for the postal job.

afriend of my husbands made out well over time.

any union job the 1st 90 days are hell.

good luck.

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I don't care what your username is... but you are not going to come in here and talk bad about sour lemons. I will have none of that.

All jokes aside. CCA is pretty dang good gig. And it's unionized, no? I wouldn't worry about getting fired if that is your main concern. However, nursing can pay off big in the long run, esp if you choose to go into a specialty. Just something to think about.

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Thread closed for review.

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