CNA really turned me off

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im currently at a tech school for my cna and lpn. unfortunately im in my cna fundamental class and i have to say that cna is turning me off of nursing. i dont know if it is working in a nursing home or dealing with all the dirty work.

i really want to become a nurse that the reason why i started at the bottom of the totem pole. im starting to wish i never chose the cna program. in the spring of 09 i planned on going to gordon college for the nursing program (skip the lpn). now im having second thoughts. im thinking of another allied health profession like respiratory therapy. i dont know what to do. any advice?

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Specializes in Home Health/Geriatrics.

Have you been in the field yet? Watch the RN's and LPN's. I've only seen one LPN work with the patients directly and that was just to move the patient in bed. RN's are big wigs at the nursing homes, and it seems like most of what they do is chart. As far as I've seen the only people that really do any grunt work with the patients are the CNA's. It's motivated me to really work on moving up the career ladder. I certainly don't want to be a nurse, but it's still really good to work fromthe bottom up. Just think, when you're an RN and you have a bunch of new CNA recruits you'll be able o really help the out!

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a cna is 95% different from what nurses do. heres my advice

skip the cna and lpn all together. find a bachelors program and go for that. dont settle for less than a bachelors degree. the lpn and associates degree is a dying starting point for nursing. dont be one of those people that only have the bare minimum for education. build your foundation of a great education then go forward for experience. that "starting at the bottom of the totem pole" talk is plain nonsense b/c its far from necessary. if you're looking to be humbled by your experience then it'll happen your first semester in nursing school.

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I would stay put if i were you. I've heard more often than not of people who were glad they started from the "bottom" and worked their way up. It gave them more experience and confidence during school and when they finally acheived their LPN/RN. I don't think you will regret your decision to stay in the program. When will you earn your certificate? I am currently in an 18 month lpn program and after our next semester (which starts mid august) we will be certified to work as cna's until we grauate. After that I plan on working at a doctor's office and bridging to RN. It's so much simpler and less stressful IMO to go through an lpn program and bridge later.You will never have to deal with the stress of getting perfect grades and praying you get accepted into clinicals.

Also, if you do decide that nursing isn't for you, I wouldn't go into respiratory therapy.I haven't heard many great things about it. I would suggest physical/occupational therapist assistant or something like that. Maybe even a lab tech or a pharmaceutical rep. You could also get into the business/management side of healthcare. GL with what you decide and I hope you start feeling like your on the right track!

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Specializes in Home Health, Nursing Home.

I've found it to be endlessly rewarding starting from the bottom up and it's helped me make the most informed decision at the least amount of expenses.

I've been a CNA for 3 years now, also FT student. I start nursing school in Fall 2009. And I intend to go beyond BSN.

CNA is what made me ultimately want to go for RN - so I'm the opposite reaction.

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