CNA with no nursing in the future?

Go for it. It will help you understand people!

I want to be an OT, not a nurse. So I feel like this is helpful. Even if I was planning on becoming a chef or a newscaster or something totally unrelated, I still think it's a good job.

I want to be an EMT.

If it is what you want to do, by all means. Good aides are invaluable. They're my eyes and ears. Every time in the past month that we've sent someone to the hospital - and we do with some frequency - it is because one of the aides spotted it.

We need you!

Perfectly OK. There's nothing written in stone that says you have to become a nurse later on. If that is what you want to do, then stick with it and don't let anyone tell you different. It is similar to all types of jobs. People work many blue collar and white collar jobs everywhere that have no desire to move up so to speak because they are happy where they are!

Hi there!

I am also new to the forum. 7 out of 8 persons in my CNA class last summer had plans on attending nursing school (I was the exception). I have yet to apply for a CNA position (I'm on the fence about applying for the nursing program), but know that with a CNA position, there will be so many opportunities for patient contact and making a difference in someone's life :) Even though the pay is on the lower side, I believe that the job will give back what you put into it :)

I don't think there is anything wrong with that. The skills you learn as a CNA can be very helpful on many different levels. I think it would be a good experience.

When I was in my CNA program there was one woman who was there to learn how to care for her ill Mother (at home).

I'm currently enrolled in a course and one of my instructors has been a CNA for about 12 years. She loves her work and had no desire to become a nurse.