CNA vs. RN

Nurses General Nursing

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i've been working as a cna for 2 months now, while attending nursing school.

i am discovering that cna work is a very stressful job, espcially with the irratic fluctuation in staff to patient ratio.

will my stress increase as an rn or decrease?

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It will increase significantly because once you are the nurse you can't say "I'm not the nurse she/he is over there" You will become the person to find in just about every scenario: patient going down the tubes...call the nurse...patient needs to go for a procedure....where is their nurse?....Doctor wants to ask questions....where is that nurse?....Angry family...where is the nurse? I could go on indefinitely. Some days I feel like my name is "nurse" and I can deal with it most of the time but sometimes I wish I could point to someone else and say go talk to them they are the ones in charge. That is what I miss about being a CNA...being able to pass the buck and move on with my day.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

i think each area of nursing has it's own stressors. cna work is hard, physical work, and so is nursing. add the mental stress and it takes it's toll on a person for sure ! good luck !

praiser :heartbeat

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How are you able to work as a CNA AND go to nursing school? I've been advised that working even part time is tough while going to school. Are you a part-time worker or PT student. I'm asking because, if possible, I think it would get great to do what you are doing.

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Specializes in Transplant.

There are several hospitals in the Denver area that have positions that are sort of nursing interns ("clinical assistant," "advanced care partner," "nurse work-study"). The responsibilities are CNA-like (VS, I's/O's, ADLs) but since these positions are filled by nursing students, they are also authorized to do things like IV and catheter starts/stops and central line dressing changes. The requirements for the positions are completing the fundamentals and M/S I courses in a BSN program. I have learned a great deal about time management and keeping track of patient data, but I would agree that the work can be very stressful. I am in the rooms as often (sometimes even more often) than the RNs and I have borne the brunt of upset family members from time to time.

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How are you able to work as a CNA AND go to nursing school? I've been advised that working even part time is tough while going to school. Are you a part-time worker or PT student. I'm asking because, if possible, I think it would get great to do what you are doing.

I'm both. I'm still working on prerequisites like A&P and Dosage Calc. These are my last 2 prerequisites before I can apply to the nursing program. And once in, the waiting list is 3 semesters. So I won't even begin clinicals for another 2 years. But while I am waiting I am taking 1 or 2 classes at a time while working 2 part time jobs. Its confusing and slow, but it's all I can do. Some people can take on way more that that, but being 41 and having 3 teenage daughters.....I know what I can handle.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg.
How are you able to work as a CNA AND go to nursing school? I've been advised that working even part time is tough while going to school. Are you a part-time worker or PT student. I'm asking because, if possible, I think it would get great to do what you are doing.

If you are in an accelerated program, then yes, it would be hard. Otherwise it is doable. I work as a PCT, but only on the weekends. I just have to organize my time for studying and completing assignments on days I have off.

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Nuturer (like that screenname)- My wife has an expression "If you want something done, give it to the busiest person." You are amazing, what an inspiration! Have you thought about going the LPN route?

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Specializes in Interventional Radiology.

nurturer..there are stressors of the cna sort...and thereare stressors of thr rn sort. they are considerably different. i worked as a nurse tech while i was in school. it is completely doable if you really have to work to keep the bills paid. yes, as the nurse, everything about the patients care comes back to you..but let me tell you, even though i am tired when i go home after my shift now...i am never as wiped out as when i was working as a tech.

...just my :twocents:

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i've been working as a cna for 2 months now, while attending nursing school.

i am discovering that cna work is a very stressful job, espcially with the irratic fluctuation in staff to patient ratio.

will my stress increase as an rn or decrease?

as an rn, the work might even more stressful! you will be "hit" by multiple demands and problems...not to mention you don't get to eat your breakfast or lunch in a med/surg unit.

i am not trying to scare you, it is a part of nursing!

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical.

Consider that everything that you do and are responsible for is only part of what the nurse does.

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Nuturer (like that screenname)- My wife has an expression "If you want something done, give it to the busiest person." You are amazing, what an inspiration! Have you thought about going the LPN route?

No LPN route. I'm going for RN and perhaps BSN after that. And as far as the quote "If you want something done, give it to the busiest person".......I don't know about that. My family would beg to differ. Ask them how long it's been since I've done ANY laundry! I refuse to do it, knowing that a husband and 3 teenagers ought to be able to swing it! If they ASKED me to it, I would only laugh! :chuckle

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