CNA as a career?

[MissBrianna]

Hello,

I am 24 years old. I have an associates degree in Early Childhood Education and am a Director or a preschool. It's a good job, but it's not something I see as a career, and it all honestly, working with such young children wasn't something I ever saw myself doing. I like kids and all, but not this much. I've managed to make my way up in childcare which isn't easy to do, but I am definitely ready to get out and move on.

I have always desired a medical career and decided I should start out doing something that doesn't require a lot of educational background, that being a CNA. I want to get started ASAP so I have enrolled myself in a local program which lasts about 6 weeks. I'm eager and excited but worried, can I make this a career for myself? I don't need a super high paying job, so i'm not worried so much about that, but is this something that in 2 years from now when I might want to start a family, I can work with? I see other people doing it, so I guess, but in all honestly, how easy is it to work as a CNA and make it your career? I may be able to go back to school one day, but right now, I just can't. I don't make enough as it is, and I really need to work.

I guess I might not be making a lot of sense but overall, I just want to know how people really feel about working as a CNA full-time and still providing for themselves and/or others. Enjoying the career, etc. I'm scared to death to leave the industry i'm already in because i've been working in it for 6 years but I want/need a new career..period.

Thanks!

Bri

[peachshan, BSN, RN]

I have been considering becoming a nurse and I wanted to get my CNA license so I could have my foot in the door. To answer your question, I think you have to look at what your goals are and if you feel that becoming a CNA is something you see yourself doing long term. You never know, you may decide to become a nurse or do something else in the healthcare field. I am learning that you have to just go for it:)

[madirose]

Better to do you LPN then CNA it would would be used to your education as an RN later.

[h_kitty, CNA]

From experience, I couldn't make being a cna my career.. too tiring (physically) to do for the rest of my life you know? Ofcourse I enjoy it, but I want to go higher. A lot of my coworkers have been doing it for years... 5+ years. A lot of them tell me they wish they would have gone to school, but they got stuck in the cycle & plus CNA's get paid crappy..not enough to support yourself financially. I get $12 an hour..barely enough to support myself let alone if I had children.

[JDZ344]

some aide jobs are less physically demanding- paediatrics, doctors office etc.

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

I enjoyed the experiences & learning that I got from being a CNA. I have only been a CNA for about 3 yrs, and just completed an LPN program. However, I have met a lot of people who have been CNA's for 10+ yrs and enjoyed it & did not want to become nurses. My advice would be first check out the starting wages for CNA's in your area, and if the job outlook is good. The wages in my area for CNA's is a bit higher than other places in the country, but I'm sure that's because the cost of living is high here. If you still decide to take the class & then discover that being a CNA isn't something you want to pursue, than that is okay too, because you have your career as a teacher to go back to. Good luck w/ whatever you decide to do :)