CNA Classes offered but I just don't know

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I've read and researched for months upon months on whether or not I should go ahead and enroll in the CNA classes at a nearby school.

However, I have a question for all of you experienced CNA's out there. I'm really more interested in doing hospital or clinic work, taking vitals, etc. Do CNA's ever get those opportunities, or is it all changing bed linens and serving food? That's what i've read on bls.gov and such, but from other sites i've read that CNAs do have the opportunity to take vitals and such. There are several hospitals in my area, so I hope i'd get to the chance to do something there, but I wonder if a hospital will even care if I apply.

I want to do something productive with my life and have a career that I can be excited to go to and proud to tell people about.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks a lot!

Brianna :nuke:

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Hi I am in cna classes right now and just wanted to let ya know that CNAS do vitals constantly! its a big part of the job ,but you do also change linens,feed,bath etc........

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Specializes in CNA.

Look for the question "what do CNAs do in a hospital" which will be on 2nd or 3rd page of postings. There are explanations of hospital work.

I worked first as a CNA in an ambulatory clinic, then went to hospital. In the clinic, I 'roomed' patients (you know, I would call you in, take vitals, confirm your meds, and tell you to sit on the table with the paper on it for an hour until the doc showed). In hospital, we did two sets of vitals --- it took about 15% of our day to perform vitals on all patients and chart them.

So the short answer is yes, many other tasks in a hospital. You will make beds, you will assist in feeding some people, you will bathe some people, but a large portion of your day is involved in vitals, i/o's, ambulating, helping nurses with various tasks. But, it's difficult to get those positions without some basic CNA experience in LTC. Yes, I did it (went from clinic to hospital), but it helped that I was older and had worked with developmentally disabled people in a group home prior to being a CNA and was familiar with basic cares and ADL's prior to being a CNA. But, as I always state, if you're interested, go for it..........

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Thanks, that's actually helped a ton. I guess I just wanted to hear it from people who have truly experienced it. I am interested and more than anything in the world I want to go for it!

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When I worked at a hospital up until a month ago, taking vital signs was one of my daily tasks. In Indiana, though, CNA's don't do vitals in LTC for some reason, except once in a while I might have a nurse who is busy ask me to run down and get a set of vitals for her. I know that it is different in other states, though.

It is possible for CNAs to work in hospitals BUT you have a much better chance if you have some experience in LTC!

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I'm still in school doing clinicals and on the fence about it all.

I love the patients, I love the feeling that I've helped them, but at then end of the day its all a game of checks and balances.

Yes you get to feel useful and know your helping someone.

But you also get very little respect from nurses, even less from doctors.

And starting out, you'll spend a lot of time doing some gross things often while getting yelled at by the patient themself. Don't even get me started on the smells and we're in one of the best.

I hear all the time from nurses if you really care about people work your tail off and go on in the field.

Cnas have an average of 200 percent job turnaround because the idea behind the job, caring, and the reality of the job are so vastly different. The field has lost, even from my class (we had a couple of intended cna lifers), some very caring people because of the reality.

I know it sounds like I'm being a downer but I don't want to lie and say its all fun and joy. I've got to put in my time before NA2 and thats going to be I know some of the hardest in my life. Cnas have my complete and utter total respect because they do the most caring and get treated the worst.

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I will say though, in contrast to the last post, SOME nurses do respect CNAs, as do some doctors! Most likely, you will run into a combination of those who treat you with respect and kindness and those who treat you like a mindless peon. I have been lucky enough to mostly work with good nurses who have been respectful. If you work in a crappy, dirty facility, it will usually be understaffed, the staff will therefore be more stressed and there will be more disrespect and bad attitudes. At a decent facility, there will still be some stress but it usually won't be as bad.

CNA work definitely takes some getting used to. When you first start, you will take everything personally. If a patient yells at you (and at some point, someone will) it might hurt your feelings or make you think you're not doing a good job. If you get snapped at by a nurse or another CNA, you might take it too much to heart or get angry and resentful. I know I did.

After you settle in though, you learn when to just brush things off of your shoulders. That patient who yelled at you or refused to let you touch them might be happy to see you five minutes later. Sometimes they're just confused or scared. That other worker who snapped at you was likely tired and stressed...if you show your willingness to learn and/or help them out, they will usually respect you and be willing to help you out in return.

I'd say it takes at least a month or two to really get the swing of what you're doing. It is a challenging job, but I think it's so worth it.

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Thanks again. It's really nice to hear it from people who know what they're talking about. Just reading the job description helped a bit, but to know the real life situation makes me feel a lot more comfortable about taking the plunge.

Currently, I work at a daycare and have for 3 meaningless years, and i'm tired and want out. I really want something i'm proud of and something I feel I could advance in..meaning to an LPN or possibly someday, with enough motivation, an RN. Daycare is pointless and I feel like i've done nothing. I cannot wait to join the CNA program and finally put in the 2 weeks i've so looked forward to doing.

Thanks everyone :)

I'll have to stay on here, from the looks of it, i'll have a million more questions!

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Your right, Yousoldtheworld, there can be good things. And I really like your post :) :) :)

Some places nurses ect do give the respect ect. But for me and this is totally selfish I know, its also come down to the money. I can't live a safe life on what a 40 hour work week as a cna is going to provide. Strong shoulders I have in spades but I'm not going to add economic worry to them. But thats a complaint I've heard echoed by cnas everywhere. Its a soapbox but if I got more pay, I'd hang on longer and help more people. As is, as long as I have to worry about food, shelter, health insurance ect, I'll go on and work another field then come back and volunteer.

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Thanks again. It's really nice to hear it from people who know what they're talking about. Just reading the job description helped a bit, but to know the real life situation makes me feel a lot more comfortable about taking the plunge.

Currently, I work at a daycare and have for 3 meaningless years, and i'm tired and want out. I really want something i'm proud of and something I feel I could advance in..meaning to an LPN or possibly someday, with enough motivation, an RN. Daycare is pointless and I feel like i've done nothing. I cannot wait to join the CNA program and finally put in the 2 weeks i've so looked forward to doing.

Thanks everyone :)

I'll have to stay on here, from the looks of it, i'll have a million more questions!

Your years in daycare you did give a lot and helped a ton of kids! Any parent who won't admit that is crazy. I know daycare workers and there are so many similarities, changing diapers all day, lots of noise, people crying, feeding. You will make a great cna!

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Oh, I definitely understand that. WHere I live though, jobs are in such short supply that CNA work is about the best paid position I can get at this time, at least until I finish school. I only make 10.50 an hour right now, but that beats the 7 I'd make working retail. Sigh. Money.

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Oh, I definitely understand that. WHere I live though, jobs are in such short supply that CNA work is about the best paid position I can get at this time, at least until I finish school. I only make 10.50 an hour right now, but that beats the 7 I'd make working retail. Sigh. Money.

Well said! We're on a minibreak right now and I catch myself missing things about retail like the clothes, and the smell of perfume in the air. But I will never miss what I got paid, how people live on that alone I have no idea.

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