CNA Opinions and Experiences Q & A!!

Julie19, CNA · Jun 29, 2012

Hey all! I am currently a CNA student and for an assignment, I was asked to interview CNAs about their career. So I was wondering if any of you could please answer these questions for me? Thank you so much! :)
What are the cons of being a CNA?
What are the pros of being a CNA?
Are you happy with your career decision or do you regret it?
How long have you been a CNA and where have you worked?
Have you ever thought about furthering your career? For example, going back to school to become an LPN or RN?
What made you decide to work in the medical field?
What type of facility would you rather work at and why? (For example: Long Term Care Facility, Hospice, Hospital, Assisted Living, etc...)
Do you deal with combative patients a lot? If so, how do you usually deal with them?
Do you ever feel unappreciated by nurses or patients and/or underpaid?
What is your least favorite task and favorite task and why? Or, what tasks do you think you are most skilled at or least skilled at? (such as feeding, bathing, vital signs, pericare & catheter care etc...)
Have you ever sustained an injury at work (such as back injury or needle-stick injury)? If so, were you injured because of a mistake you made or a mistake that someone else such as a nurse made or was it just an accident?
Have you ever been in a dangerous situation or have you ever made a mistake while on the job? If so, please explain what happened and how it was handled.
What kind of training did you receive to become a CNA?
What is one of your favorite and worst memories of being a CNA?
Were you nervous or scared when you started your first job as a CNA? If so, please explain why.

1) You are grossly unappreciated as a CNA and highly underpaid. It's also easy to injure yourself if you don't use proper body mechanics.

2) Getting to take care of patients! I love my Alzheimer's patients dearly. Also, gaining invaluable experience if you wish to go on and become a nurse.

3) No, I'm very happy I became a CNA. I'm starting LPN school in the fall and I have learned sooo much from my training and my job.

4) I've been a CNA for 1 year and 4 months. I started my job in an Alzheimer's unit of an assisted living facility 2 weeks before I passed my state test and I'm still employed there.

5) Yes. I'm starting LPN school in September then later doing a LPN-RN bridge program.

6) My Mom was a CNA for a long time. After growing up and seeing what she did for a living, I couldn't see myself doing anything else.

7) I work in assisted living facility but I wouldn't recommend it. If you read any of my other posts you'll see why. But I think if you want to go on and become a nurse your best bet is try to get employment at a hospital. You'll learn many more skills that'll help you further down the line (like phlebotomy and EKG).

8) Lord, yes. I've been bit, kicked, slapped, punched, spit on, etc. I've learned to get away from the patient if possible. Give them (and you) time to cool off and come back and try it again. If they're still combative, you may need some help.

9) I work with Alzheimer's residents so I know if they were in their right mind, they'd appreciate it. The nurses are wonderful where I work and they agree we're underpaid. Family members have belittled me more than anyone.

10) I have low tolerance for vomit. When I see it, it tests my gag reflex. But that's the only thing that bothers me. I don't necessarily have a favorite task, I just love knowing my residents are dry and content.

11) No, but sometimes after my three 12 hour shifts I almost have to crawl out of bed because my back is in such a bind.

12) Not yet, fortunately.

13) I took a 6 week program at a technical school.

14) There's too many too count! You gather a bunch of memories while being an aide.

15) No, not really. I felt like my training got me pretty well prepared.

Hope this helped! Good luck!

Sarahejones91 · Jun 29, 2012

Thank you so much! This was very helpful and insightful!

Abigail612 · Jun 29, 2012

1. Cons: definatly not enough respect from well anybody, we also tend to be wwwaayyy under paid for the amount of responsibilities we have, we also have high turn over and burn out rates.

2. Pros: Its a job that can give you a sense of purpose and meaning. It is also a great steping stone for other careers, especially in health care. It is also good to have had prior experience as a CNA befor you become a nurse because it can give you a close look at the nurses responabilities so you aren't to surprised when you start school at what is expected of you.

3. I am very happy with my decision, had I not I would have never decided to become a nurse.

4. I have been a CNA for 4 going on 5 years, so far I have only worked at nursing homes (LTC).

5. I am currently in a BSN program.

6. I think my mother was the one who encouraged me, she always thought that I would make a great nurse. I didn't think I could do it so she talked me into being a CNA. I am so glad she did!

7. I would like to work in a hospital, I have been working in LTC for a while, need a little diversity.

8. Lets see how about everyday! I get pinched, slapped, bitten, punched, kicked, sit on, obects thrown at me, verbal abuse, you name it, I even had one attempt to through a TV at me. How I deal with it all depends on the situation, if I am able to leave I try but more often than not I can't because the patient is not safe left alone so I have to seek help usually.

9. Yes, Yes and YES! Many nurses don't respect my judgment or concerns about my patients, many of the patients walk on us and abuse us, even the ones who do not have dementia just because they know they can get away with it.

10.There really isn't any task that I would place as my least favorite, I dont mind getting my hands dirty and I am not squeemish, my favorite task is probably post mortem, I know it sounds wierd but I feel that it is one of the best ways I can pay my respects to one who has passed, its a job that many would never do.

11. I have recieved may scratches and bruises from combative patients ironically because was giving them care such as changing them or bathing them. The worst was from when I caught someone who was falling, they gave me two big scratches down my arm after I had placed them back in their chair.

12. I haven't had a situation like that yet, hope to never have one.

13. A 15 week course through Adult Ed when I was 17.

14. Their are so many bad and good memories that its to hard to pick.

15. I was very neverous because as a CNA we have a lot of responibilities. Most of my patient are completly dependant on me and it was hard to devide my time between all 10-12 of the especially when they are so dependant.

shay&lynn, ASN, RN · Jun 29, 2012

Let me know if you need another person...

I would be interested in helping you out :)

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · Jun 30, 2012

What are the cons of being a CNA? Grossly underpaid, disrespected by nurses and fellow CNA's. It's very easy to get injured on the job, even if you are using proper body mechanics.
What are the pros of being a CNA? I love working with the elderly population for the most part, and when I do companion work I feel like I've made a difference to some lonely elderly patients. Once you have some experience it's fairly easy to find a job.
Are you happy with your career decision or do you regret it? I don't really consider being a CNA a "career", it's a definite J-O-B. I don't regret it at all. It has solidified my decision to become a nurse and I think it will help with my patient interactions in the future.
How long have you been a CNA and where have you worked? I've been licensed for 3 years and worked for 2 of those. I've mostly worked in home health with some staffing. I love home health.
Have you ever thought about furthering your career? For example, going back to school to become an LPN or RN? I'm currently in school to become an RN
What made you decide to work in the medical field? Lack of jobs in every other field.
What type of facility would you rather work at and why? (For example: Long Term Care Facility, Hospice, Hospital, Assisted Living, etc...) I've seen the hospices and I love them! If a job ever opened up in a hospice I would work there in a heart beat, but nobody wants to quit their hospice jobs! I am currently trying to get a job in a hospital so I can easily transition into a job out of nursing school.
Do you deal with combative patients a lot? If so, how do you usually deal with them? I've only had a few combative patients, and it's usually when I work staffing at LTC facilities. I try to calm them by getting their minds off of what they are upset about and if I cannot, I call in back up. That's the good thin about working in facilities, there's always another CNA around somewhere if you really really need help.
Do you ever feel unappreciated by nurses or patients and/or underpaid? Yes! The company I'm currently at works to make sure that we are sufficiently paid and the Clinical Manager if very respectful, but I can't say the same for my last home health agency.
What is your least favorite task and favorite task and why? Or, what tasks do you think you are most skilled at or least skilled at? (such as feeding, bathing, vital signs, pericare & catheter care etc...) What I dislike the most are difficult transfers. Transfers are the times when there is the biggest risk of injury to yourself and the patient, so if you're working with a new patient it can be uncomfortable and dangerous.
Have you ever sustained an injury at work (such as back injury or needle-stick injury)? If so, were you injured because of a mistake you made or a mistake that someone else such as a nurse made or was it just an accident? I have sustained a few back injuries at work. It is sometimes difficult to use proper body mechanics in the home environment, when you can't move the bed up and down or you don't have room to squat so you have to bend from the waist. I once threw my back out so badly that I had to teach my brother how to properly pick me up so I could use the bathroom because I literally couldn't move after a shift.
Have you ever been in a dangerous situation or have you ever made a mistake while on the job? If so, please explain what happened and how it was handled. The most dangerous situation I have ever encountered was not while I was at work. I was helping a friend with their grandmother, and she was numb and could not help get herself off of the toilet to transfer. The toilet was ridiculously low. She was entirely dead weight and half asleep. Every time I tried to pick her up, I had to figure out a way to get her safely back on the toilet or at least safely down to the floor until her son came in and had to pick her up. Her previous caretaker had obviously given her too much of a sedative. I had them take her to the doctor the next day. It was a very scary situation.
What kind of training did you receive to become a CNA? I was trained in a nursing home for free.
What is one of your favorite and worst memories of being a CNA? The worst memory I have is of being yelled at by a patient after a very difficult night shift. The best memory I have is of pacifying a patient who was being ignored and yelled at by other CNA's at a facility I was staffing at. I held her hand and spoke to her calmly and she told me how wonderfully warm my hands were. It was so sweet :heartbeat
Were you nervous or scared when you started your first job as a CNA? If so, please explain why. Yes, I was very nervous when starting my job. I was trained in and expected that I would work in a nursing home, home health was very strange. I thought I would be able to ask for help from another CNA if I didn't know what to do or needed help and I felt very uncomfortable entering somebody's home...all alone! It takes awhile to get used to any patient. And I feel it takes a while to get used to anybody's home, much less a stranger's home.

Sarahejones91 · Jul 1, 2012

Thank you so much to all of you for these replies. I really appreciate it and they are all very helpful!!!

Also, Jenniferasch, your help would also be much appreciated!

shay&lynn, ASN, RN · Jul 1, 2012

Thank you so much to all of you for these replies. I really appreciate it and they are all very helpful!!!
Also, Jenniferasch, your help would also be much appreciated!

I have answered briefly some of your questions below :)

What are the cons of being a CNA?

What are the pros of being a CNA?

Are you happy with your career decision or do you regret it?

-i am very happy with my decision!

How long have you been a CNA and where have you worked?

-1.5 years in an ECF and most recently at a hospital in the ortho unit

Have you ever thought about furthering your career? For example, going back to school to become an LPN or RN?

-currently a 2nd semester RN student

What made you decide to work in the medical field?

-I love caring for others

What type of facility would you rather work at and why? (For example: Long Term Care Facility, Hospice, Hospital, Assisted Living, etc...)

-hospital

Do you deal with combative patients a lot? If so, how do you usually deal with them?

-no

Do you ever feel unappreciated by nurses or patients and/or underpaid?

-no, my facility is awesome!

What is your least favorite task and favorite task and why? Or, what tasks do you think you are most skilled at or least skilled at? (such as feeding, bathing, vital signs, pericare & catheter care etc...)

-blood pressures are something that I could work more on

Have you ever sustained an injury at work (such as back injury or needle-stick injury)? If so, were you injured because of a mistake you made or a mistake that someone else such as a nurse made or was it just an accident?

-no accidents!

Have you ever been in a dangerous situation or have you ever made a mistake while on the job? If so, please explain what happened and how it was handled.

-no

What kind of training did you receive to become a CNA?

-STNA class, state tested and certified!

What is one of your favorite and worst memories of being a CNA?

-favorite memory is anytime a pt thanks me for caring for them. Worst is a resident dying.

Were you nervous or scared when you started your first job as a CNA? If so, please explain why.

-yes! It's scary not knowing the residents and their daily schedules.

mstearns09 · Jul 2, 2012

Cons: As others have said, there are times that no matter how well you use your body mechanics, you'll still get hurt. The pay isn't that great in some areas.
Pros: It's a great spring-board into a professional health care career. You get to meet some of the neatest people out there.
It depends on the day. There are days that I hate what I do but those are far out-weighted by the days that make me glad I chose to do this.
I've been a CNA for a year and I've only worked in long-term care.
Barring any hindrance, I should start on my LPN next spring. I'm 3 pre-reqs short of applying.
I worked in public education for 10 years and I burned out. I was working 12 hours days and only getting paid for 8 of them and the local politics of where I was working forced me out. I actually became a CNA out of desperation for a job but found that this is my niche.
I love working in LTC. I get to know my residents on a very personal level and they've become like family to me.
I deal with combative residents on a daily basis. Often, talking to them in a calm voice and explaining what you're trying to do for them will work; other times, it won't. Sometimes walking away and trying a different face works. Going to the nurse is always my last line of defense, not because I don't think the nurse won't do anything but because I can usually find a way to solve the problem.
Underpaid? Yes, definitely. Unappreciated? Never. The nurses on my shift and in my facility greatly appreciate us.
My least favorite task is changing a colostomy bag. I have a strong tag reflex and really questioned whether I could do peri-care on someone, but I eventually mastered it. Changing a colostomy bag is fairly easy for me but I still struggle with the odor. I'm pretty good at getting vitals. I enjoying helping in the dining room; it's a great time to talk with residents.
I've been injured but not to the point I had to be pulled from the floor. It was a situation where I was using the best body mechanics possible but I could not avoid straining my back. I've had a fellow CNA roll an occupied bed over my toes and that was quite painful.
One of the biggest mistakes I've made was putting a woman on a sit-to-stand lift. While I knew that we were supposed to use two people to do it, I had to do it alone because we were short and the agency CNA on my hall wasn't any help at all. I had to lower the resident to the floor because she started sliding off the bed while I was putting the sling on her. I quickly learned that it's imperative that residents have non-skid shoes or non-skid socks on when transferring.
I took a 6-week training course online.
Worst memory: Finding my first resident deceased. It also happened to be one of my favorite residents. Favorite memory: Taking a resident down to the Alzheimer's Unit to visit his wife on a daily basis.
I wasn't overly nervous; I work in the same facility where I did clinicals so I knew many of the routines already. It was the first day on a section I had not trained that made me nervous.