CNA

Glycerine82, LPN · Nov 5, 2014

The same could be said of housekeeping. I think most would also consider housekeeping also to be dead end jobs with minimal mobility and minimum wage upside. I think that is why most of the readers here are either nurses or want to be.
No, the same can not be said of housekeeping. Housekeeping isn't a "field", you don't become a housekeeper to gain experience to later use that experience to help you. You don't have to pass a state exam to be a housekeeper, nor do you have to pay for classes.
I think it bears mentioning here that minimum wage purchasing power is considerably less than it has been in the past. It was $1.60 when I got out of high school in 1973, which is about $10 an hour in 2014 dollars when corrected for inflation. If minimum wage had been inflation indexed since 1973, then fast food workers nationwide would be making a minimum entry wage of $10 and hospital aides around $12 now.
While I don't know what the 20 year difference in CNA pay at the same hospital might be, I'm not impressed with a 25% gain in income over four years ($9.50 to $12) to just what should be fair based on historical minimum wages. Typical career gains for an RN over entry level pay is 100% without additional education or super specialty required.

I was replying to the comment that wages as a CNA are close to minimum wage, which isn't true. Certainly it doesn't pay a lot, but it's certainly more than 7.50/hr, which is what minimum wage is. I am not comparing being a CNA to a nurse, I was replying to the comment that it is dead end, there is a big difference. This conversation was not about being an RN vs being a CNA.
I certainly don't think there is anything wrong with any job, and anyone who does their job with pride deserves respect. I will take umbrage with your belief that many nurses cannot do the job of a CNA - could you please list exactly what a CNA does that is not also in the nurse job description? My duties go all the way down to mopping floors and if my employer wants to pay my hourly for mopping floors rather than a lower paid environmental services professional, I'm happy to do it.
Many nurses could not do the type of work that a CNA does day in and day out. Yes, everything that a CNA does, a nurse does also, but that is not all nurses do and certainly isn't solely what they do, as you know. "CNA work", if you will, is physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting. To spend 12 hours lifting people into and out of bed, onto and off of toilets, into and out of showers, dressing, undressing, collecting specimens, changing briefs, wiping tears, re-orienting, convincing someone that their kids are safe at home, they didn't miss the train, etc. takes a huge toll on your body and mind. Many people, including nurses, wouldn't/couldn't do it.

NedRN · Nov 6, 2014

I think environmental services managers would disagree strongly with your characterization. The one I know at my current assignment is heavily involved with infection and traffic control. Degreed professional in his field. I certainly could not do his job.

I do have enough education and experience to do an aide's job though.

I'm sorry you have formed poor opinions of nurses presimably your work experiences I'm guessing. I've had a variety of jobs in my life and it has been my experience that there are many unhappy people who do not enjoy their work and there are probably just as many nurses in that category as any other vocation or profession.

NedRN · Nov 13, 2014

Speaking of CNAs, here is another kind of work: would you believe a one day strike in Washington state? $1,000 for one 12 hour shift plus flight, hotel, and $30 an hour for orientation (probably in the hotel). A strike company called me for some reason. Perhaps no CNAs in their database.

aprilc08cna2lpn · May 29, 2017

prime time staffing send CNAs all across the country. I was making 800 dollars a week. I know this is late, but if any CNAs come across this post feel free to ask me anything i can give you my recruiters info. Don't let anyone talk down to you we are important.

NurseJackie.R.N. · Sep 15, 2017

Things would be so much better if we respected each other as teams. Not be concerned about titles. I worked my way up from home health aid, nurse aid, CNA, LPN,RN. each level didn't like the others this is so sad.we have to work together as a team it's not about money and status.i remember as a cna,i thought the nurses didn't do much work they were sitting down all the time, boy was I wrong come to find out the ones that weren't working were lazy.I sure worked when I got licensed including helping my cnas which some nurses refuse to do. I've heard them say they didn't go to school for that, therefore they let the aides work short smh. We all need each other. some of myR.N. co workers feel they are above cna,lpn. please get off the high horse we all work together. The health care field should all be one family working together to help all. That's in our creed (In other words)

Whitleya · Jan 10, 2018

There are CNA travel assignments available in certain states but it's best to research information for yourself to be better informed before posting replies for those who may be interested in traveling as a CNA.

RN2022 · Oct 20, 2019

I know about travel CNA jobs that are domestic. Some people go through National Staffing Solutions and there are other agencies to work through locally. They pay you to go over the country and give you housing while you are in your new location. I have had the awesome opportunity to work with some travel aides and they were the kindest people. My facility was short staffed locally so they had to get CNAs from travel agencies, they come from all over the country so I know travel CNAs exist locally because I have friends who are travel aides. As for international travel that information is new to me and I am going to do further research to verify.