CNA as a career

unbrokenx3 · Apr 9, 2015

Yes, my anxiety is well managed. I have been trying to get on top of it for five years through medication and therapy.

unbrokenx3 · Apr 9, 2015

Thanks everyone for the input. This is extremely disappointing to hear. I want to be a nurse more than anything, I just have terrible anxiety which makes it difficult. Does anyone have any tips or advice for making it through nursing school? Or any ideas on the easiest way to get a nursing degree? Thanks so much.

Wave Watcher · Apr 9, 2015

As previously stated....I believe your body will give out before you are ready to retire. Working with patients in general wears on you physically and mentally.

Libby1987 · Apr 9, 2015

If your anxiety is managed well enough to work as a CNA, you can do more. Maybe not nursing but an ancillary healthcare field.

unbrokenx3 · Apr 9, 2015

I'm actually going to visit Chamberlain college of nursing today to meet with an admissions counselor about their BSN program. My grades from high school are really well qualified for the program and I'm just going to discuss options. I'm really excited. I'm going to keep working on my anxiety because I think it would be unfair to myself to give up my dreams just because of a mental health issue.

Farawyn · Apr 9, 2015

Some of the people I have learned the most from have been CNAs, NAs, the "lifers". Not school stuff so much as the "art" of dealing with people.

Dranger · Apr 10, 2015

It's not a viable job for a career, hell being a bedside RN isn't really all that viable for an entire career.

SierraBravo · Apr 10, 2015

My unpopular opinion is a resounding "No."
In regards to the pay, I'm sure a respondent will come along and post that they earn $20+ hourly as a CNA in ___ (insert name of any city with a high cost of living).

I agree. Any CNA that earns $20/hour has probably either been doing the job for 20 years or, like you said, live in CA or NYC. As others said, it's a stepping stone job.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2015

Thanks everyone for the input. This is extremely disappointing to hear. I want to be a nurse more than anything, I just have terrible anxiety which makes it difficult. Does anyone have any tips or advice for making it through nursing school? Or any ideas on the easiest way to get a nursing degree? Thanks so much.

It shouldn't be disappearing to hear. If you want to be a nurse more than anything, why would being told "a CNA is not a good choice for a life long career" be disappointing?

There is no "easiest" way to get a nursing degree. Every path has its pros and cons.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2015

I don't think CNA is necessarily that safe of a career. The CNAs on my unit just got downgraded to secretaries. Management decided we didn't need CNAs anymore, so they took the CNAs' jobs away and gave them pay cuts and even made them buy uniforms in a new color without giving them any money for it. Some of them have been with the hospital for 20+ years, which obviously doesn't matter to anyone.

The other thing about being a CNA is there is no room for advancement. To go to the next level of nursing care, you have to become a LPN or RN. At least in most other jobs, you have an opportunity to get a promotion and move to a new pay grade. There is none of that as a CNA. You are just stuck at the bottom of the totem pole, earnings-wise, forever.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2015

The other thing about being a CNA is there is no room for advancement.

Outside the acute care hospital setting, CNAs can be promoted into lower management positions and/or 'nicer' roles. This happens regularly in the area where I reside.

I've seen CNAs promoted to staffing coordinators, central supply managers, purchasers, administrative assistants, bookkeepers, HR assistants, case management assistants, directors of housekeeping, activities directors, and so forth. These positions provide upward movement in pay, working conditions, and career mobility.

Dranger · Apr 11, 2015

Outside the acute care hospital setting, CNAs can be promoted into lower management positions and/or 'nicer' roles. This happens regularly in the area where I reside.
I've seen CNAs promoted to staffing coordinators, central supply managers, purchasers, administrative assistants, bookkeepers, HR assistants, case management assistants, directors of housekeeping, activities directors, and so forth. These positions provide upward movement in pay, working conditions, and career mobility.

Problem is a lot of those positions you just have to follow into with OJT or the moon aligning just correctly. For most places as a CNA you are stuck there forever.