CNA job making me almost want to give up Nursing

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Ok all I need to do is vent on this because I am just a bit freaked.

Started a new CNA job... while I wait on the list for NS school to start.

So back story is that I was a CNA 8 years ago for 5 years and well, I think thats why I am not already a Nurse, I hated being a CNA so much at the end that I switched fields into Customer Service.

So yeah I hated it pretty bad, and now I remember why. I worked the Rehab side yesterday.. liked it. Def like a Med Surg Floor. Work similar to that of a PCA in Hospital. Went home feeling good. I like this. No worries about going back in for next day. But... last night I worked the LTC side. AHHHHHHHH!!!:crying2: They asked me if I was going to come back? If that tells you about how bad it went.

Ok so I drove home this AM thinking.... I hate this... Do I even want to be a Nurse? Of course with 20 patients and 7 to get up on my own...wouldn't you be hating it? Oh did I mention this was my 2nd day there!!

But yeah so finally I tried to chalk it up to being tired,:yawn: but I really thought I should just quit this process and go to school for something else. :banghead: Or quit this place at least.

Someone slap me please.... LTC CNA is nothing like being a Nurse!!! Right? :uhoh21: Of course all the Nurses did last night was pass meds... so yeah that actually looks more fun to me.

I was a CNA who used to think that that all the nurse does is pass meds. :icon_roll

No we don't do all of the same things that CNAs do and no we cannot always come in and lend a hand because we have our own work to do and any CNA who thinks that all we is pass meds is in for a rude awakening upon becoming a nurse.

Someone slap me please.... LTC CNA is nothing like being a Nurse!!! Right? :uhoh21: Of course all the Nurses did last night was pass meds... so yeah that actually looks more fun to me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 2 years as CNA.
I was a CNA who used to think that that all the nurse does is pass meds. :icon_roll

No we don't do all of the same things that CNAs do and no we cannot always come in and lend a hand because we have our own work to do and any CNA who thinks that all we is pass meds is in for a rude awakening upon becoming a nurse.

I agree with you. A CNA that thinks that way is definitely way off course. There is so much more that a nurse does and the stress of knowing a life is in your hands...oh my!

But being a CNA is hard work (we all agree on that here) and I can't wait for the day that I am a nurse. I am not currently working as a CNA, way too physically demanding for me. I know that being a nurse is physically demanding too, but the nurses in my hospital here do have aides and only assist as needed. I have no problem assisting as needed but I do have a problem doing the work of a CNA every single day for the amount of patients that a CNA has. A nurse (at least where I live) does not have 20 patients and don't have to turn them all themselves, change their linens, give baths, etc. Doing that on even just 8 patients wouldn't be nearly as bad as 20!

I really hated being a CNA and just thinking about it is bringing it all back to me. I was considering going back to work as a CNA but now I think that I am going to be a unit clerk instead. Thanks for reminding me how hard it really is! :bugeyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This newstory on the most depressing jobs, ranked, may interest you:

www(dot)msnbc(dot)msn(dot)com/id/21292612/

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Care.

LOL this was not a debate on what a CNA and Nurse DO... I know both sides I get it and I want to be an RN... I said I'd rather be the RN than being a CNA, especially in LTC- I think I am just too old ( did this outta highschool as well and well I know I won't put up with this type of position if I don't have to)... however... if you= RN need to put a patch on someone's arm and they are laying on it... don't call a CNA to turn them if they can roll OVER... Doen't the time you spend standing there waiting for me to finish with a bedpan down the hall... waste time you could have been passing your meds? Enough said... Today I am HAPPY!!

Ok I did decide that I didn't want to work there... so I just won't work if I don't have to... of course that being said I liked the Rehab side of things and enjoyed PCA work at the hospital.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sorry I didn't mean to come off sounding blunt and angry. It's just that I really resent when the CNAs assume that I do nothing more than pass a couple of pills and then rest on my hinney. Yes working as a CNA is very physically demanding and working as a nurse is a little less so.

However, there are aspects of the nursing role that the CNAs have zero clue about.

I guess I could write a book length post to explain things to you but experience will be the best teacher.

I would never call a CNA into a room for something as simple as applying a patch to a resident's arm. However I will call a CNA into the room if I have to do a dressing on the sacrum and the resident is full of poop. No it's not because I am too good to clean poop (because I'm not to good and I do clean it). The reason I will call is because I have multiple dressings to do and I can't spare more than a few minutes per resident.

I have noticed that when the shift comes to an end the CNAs always manage to "finish" their work while I am always stuck charting and waiting for my relief to come.

There are pros and cons to being a nurse or a CNA.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

As a CNA, I was never above telling a nurse.."hey, I need a hand in here...could you help?" the nurses who wouldn't help take someone to the bathroom, or help change, or just tell me crap....would feel my wrath.

As a RN, I am NEVER above helping my techs. I'll fold down beds, get admit kits, pull up in beds, roll, help change, take VS, etc. I will always remember where I came from. I belive it should be a requirement for all nurses to be a CNA before they get their license. Or, they should have a 2 week period where they do the work of a CNA before doing RN work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

agree..............

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 2 years as CNA.
Sorry I didn't mean to come off sounding blunt and angry. It's just that I really resent when the CNAs assume that I do nothing more than pass a couple of pills and then rest on my hinney. Yes working as a CNA is very physically demanding and working as a nurse is a little less so.

However, there are aspects of the nursing role that the CNAs have zero clue about.

I guess I could write a book length post to explain things to you but experience will be the best teacher.

I would never call a CNA into a room for something as simple as applying a patch to a resident's arm. However I will call a CNA into the room if I have to do a dressing on the sacrum and the resident is full of poop. No it's not because I am too good to clean poop (because I'm not to good and I do clean it). The reason I will call is because I have multiple dressings to do and I can't spare more than a few minutes per resident.

I have noticed that when the shift comes to an end the CNAs always manage to "finish" their work while I am always stuck charting and waiting for my relief to come.

There are pros and cons to being a nurse or a CNA.

Thank you for explaining why it is that you might call a CNA into a room to clean a patient. You are busy!!! I think alot of CNA's might not get that and just think you are lazy when that is not the case at all. I am glad to hear someone finally give a valid as to why you would do this, totally makes sense to me. :bowingpur

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I definetly feel your pain. Good CNA's are hard to find and when you do get one they become burned out quickly. I began doing CNA work on weekends while I attend nursing school during the week. $8.00 and hour ,12 hour shifts anywhere from 16-32 residents. Wanting to do the best you can for each patient, but knowing that you can't . Family members wanting their loved ones placed in top priority status(rightfully so), complaints to nurses because Mom did not have her foot on her wheelchair, it doesn't matter that you are doing post mortem care on the resident down the hall.LTC consist of individuals pretending like they are able to do all the work required and are reprimanded when they are unable to do so.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, L&D.

I had the same concern about CNA work ruining my ambition to be a nurse. And there are days that I have wondered... but I have found since clinicals the real reason I will like being an RN over being a CNA. I need intellectual stimulation that taking sets of vitals and blood sugars alone can't provide. I am going to stick out my job as a CNA as hard as it can be to get through sometimes because it has given me a huge advantage in patient care and comfort level in a clinical area, and the nurses at work answer all my silly questions, help me with studying and let me observe all of their procedures. I would suggest trying to find a position in a hospital as the ratios seem to be a little more managable and it is helpful to see some acute disease processes.

By the way, I wanted to comment on the CNA/RN anger that I see around a lot on some of these forums. I just wanted to point out that every profession has it's share of lazy people... it has nothing to do with the job title. There are lazy CNAs, RNs, LPNs, managers, lawyers, teachers, sales clerks, etc. Learn how and who to ask for help and try not to let other people's laziness get to you. And I never mind if an RN asks me to do something he/she could very well do themselves if they politely ask me to do it and give a rationale as to why they called me. "Hey, could you clean up Ms. Smith, I have to go get another patient his pain meds" or something of the sort- that always makes it go down more smoothly and I hope to remember that in my practice as an RN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello,

I would have to agree with you that CNA work is diffcult in LTC. I work in a oncology unit. I also will be going to get my BSN. I have recently been very sick with devertulitis. I also have a 5cm cyst on my ovary and I have gall stones. I found this out all @ once. Well anyways, CNA are treated awful. I was in the hospital for one week and the new nurse manager terminated my position. I have been trying to get my job back. I talk to HR and they told me she couldn't do that. Well HR talk to my Nurse Manager and she told them she didn't terminate me. The Nurse manager is singing a new song to HR. She is new to our our unit. I have been sick for over a month and have called off many times. My primary doc thought this was a UTI. I didn't know anything until I had a CT scan and finally they hospitalized me for a week. Now I have to get the Ovarian cyst taken care of and the gall stones. I am so upset by the way I have been getting treated by my employer. i need to be working. I am the sole supporter for my kids 6 of them. Sorry about going on and on about myself, so back to the main topic. Yes I would have to agree with you CNA work is not easy. I will be looking for another position within the hospital. I don't like the treatment. What makes it so hard that some Nurses will take advantage of you if they know you are a hard worker. I have experienced this many times. All the blame will go on you if the patient hasn't been bathe or if a foley bag hasn't been emptied. I am saying that some of the nurses have been this way. I also know if there is a nurse floating from another unit, they will treat you worse. CNA are not given respect even by doctors. I want to get more education in Nursing so I can be respected. When I get my RN I will have a lot of respect for thoses people who have not made it yet as nurses. I think that housekeepers in the hospital get treated unfairly also. I would like to add that there are good Nurses out there. I don't mean all Nurses do this to there aides. My unit just had a recent change in Nurse Managers and all the good Nurses left the unit. Thanks for listening

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have noticed that when the shift comes to an end the CNAs always manage to "finish" their work while I am always stuck charting and waiting for my relief to come.

There are pros and cons to being a nurse or a CNA.

And it's amazing how CNAs manage to eat their lunch at lunchtime while nurses sometimes don't eat until 3!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment