Did being a CNA make you NOT want to be a nurse anymore?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I'm just curious, because I'm working as a CNA and am really having doubts about whether or not nursing is for me anymore. For now, I'll blame it on the fact that I'm new and am HATING life. I hope it improves. What was your experience?

When I first got my CNA I was excited because I knew it would be good to get experience and the pay was well. After doing it for a year I hate doing the job, and I am almost done with nursing school. the reason the job sucks is because the nurses are usually depending on you to do the dirty work and its understandable at times when there busy but it just makes your work place unbearable. anyways it does make me realize that I hate doing med-surg as a nurse and I know nursing as a lot of different areas to be in so it helped me eliminate a lot of options. plus it gives a experience in dealing with difficult people so it will make me a better nurse in the future. overall it just depends who you work with that can make you love or hate what you want to do or in the future.

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I had days like that, but when I sat down to analyze what it is about my job as a CNA that makes me unhappy it's things like this:

1. The nurses have zero respect for us (some of them---it depends on who I'm working with) and think we're Certified Nurses Slaves, not Certified Nurses Assistants.

2. I absolutely hate giving bed baths. I do it with a smile on my face, but I hate every second of it. (on a funny note, the nurses here think I'm awesome because my baths are always done by 10am, but truly it's because I just want to get it over with LOL!)

3. I hate pushing beds... I'm terrible at it. I am seriously a "woman driver" when it comes to that.

I realized that my issues are things that are CNA related, not nursing related. Of course, I know that I'll still have to do those things as a nurse, but it won't be nearly as much.

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Nope! I was iffy about going back to school for nursing, working as a CNA is what solidified my decision! Made me realize this is what I'm supposed to be doing :)

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If anything being a CNA has kindled my fire to become an RN.[/quote']

This! I work on an oncology/hospice floor in a hospital and I LOVE it! Yes, it's hard work and can be very frustrating and tiring but I believe it is my calling. I don't want to be anything other than a nurse.

God,I like being a CNA but then again I know I could not do this forever!

I am a go-getter type person and I hate being on the bottom of the medical-profession-food-chain. So I know I want to move up.

I want to become an RN, then eventually an NP.

Its all about what you really wanna do, in your heart... you will make the right choice!

This is also so me!! I've always been the one trying to keep moving forward and I love school so getting my RN, and eventually my NP is a no-brainer....

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No. If anything being a STNA has made me want to work harder to further my education

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Specializes in Acute Rehab, IMCU, ED, med-surg.

You'll love that you've been a CNA when you become a nurse! So much of bedside nursing makes me call on my skills learned while working as a CNA!

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I personally hate being a CNA!! I have no interest in working with the elderly unfortunately hospitals around my area require years of experience or usually you need to be recommended in to the hospital. So i was stuck working in a LTC until now and hated every minute of it. It hasnt discouraged me its pushed me to work harder because i know im capable of much more and refuse to stay as a CNA. ive met ppl who just settle for being a CNA i know i couldn't. just remember there is many many aspects of nursing many seem to forget about ! its like nursing screams old people to almost anyone

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A CNA and a RN are totally different sets of roles.

Hating being a CNA should not stop you from wanting to become an RN. It should push you to want to hurry and get your RN so that you are no longer the worker bee, you are the supervisor. Being a CNA you are limited in your care when as an RN you are providing full care. CNA is only a stepping stone to higher and should not be a reason you don't pursue nursing school. I feel anyone who is allows CNA to cause them to not want to do nursing is not really cut out for nursing period because that is not a good excuse. A CNA who wants to purse nursing needs to pursue their goals so they no longer have to do the CNAs job. To me CNA is not a career, its a stepping stone towards nursing.

My opinion.

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Specializes in Med-surg, home care.

In high school I took a CNA course and we did internships in both a local nursing home and hospital. I loved CNA training and I thought the hospital internship was interesting but hated the nursing home, so much that I decided nursing wasn't for me. Now 17 years later I am looking to change careers into nursing and plan to take a CNA course at some point in the future but fear I will get discouraged again. I am hoping to have a better experience this time around

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I hated being CNA. UGH!! Being a CNA motivated me to go back to school more than anything ever in my life at that time. CNA was definitely definitely not for me. God forbid, but if anything ever happens and i dont have nursing licensure anymore or cant work as a licensed nurse professional anymore....i will work fast food before i ever degrade myself with CNA work....no offense but IJS.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Being a CNA motivated me to go back to school more than anything ever in my life at that time.

Agree...went back to school and became an LPN...was motivated to go back to get my RN...I will say having the ability to do MORE for my patients makes me enthusiastic in my career...but my CNAs are my lifeline as well. :yes:

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Becoming a CNA helped me figured out that I love nursing! I had thought about doing nursing school but decided a year after high school, that I really wasn't sure. A few months later, I got pregnant with my son. I needed to do something to get a good job and FAST! I also figured maybe I would good into nursing later on because it's recession-proof and pays pretty good. So I became a CNA and discovered that I actually absolutely love it!!!! I love my job, my patients, all the thinking involved, the multi-tasking, and I work with great RN's. This is truly my calling and passion! I start nursing school in January :). I plan to continue my education up to getting my DSN and becoming a FNP! As a sidenote: I definitely prefer working in the hospital over a nursing home. I worked 5 months in a nursing home and have been working at a hospital for 7 months now.

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