CNA work

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Hello all. Just reading posts on here and thinking of what people have been telling me when I tell them I am going to become a CNA. I want to be a CNA then go and become an LPN and maybe even an RN. But it irritates me how people will try to "push" you away from the field and tell you how nasty the job is. I am sure people who start thinking of becoming a CNA know what they are getting into as far as the "nasty work" I'm sure they don't think they will be just cleaning up the room and helping people get dressed. And the more I think about it, who cares about the dirty work? These are PEOPLE. They are someone's son/daughter/uncle/aunt/sister/brother/mther/father/grandpa/grandma/niece/nephew, and they deserve to be treated with respect. I have an Aunt who has down syndrome and I help clean her up and give her baths and help her eat. She needs someone to help her. And I care for her so why wouldn't I? It just irritates me when people say "You wouldn't catch me doing that job" or "You won't see me wiping butts" well guess what honey? Aging is part of life! People should be more appreciative of CNA's after all who do you think will take care of you when you become old and frail? Yes, it may not be the most glorious job to have, but I am sure you learn soooo much!

I am inspired by all of your comments. I had my CNA in the 90s and did not retain it after not completing CEUs.

In 2009, got my RN license and I cannot penetrate any acute care jobs at all w/o the 1 year recent clinical experience. I got into SNF for a month and did not work out---perhaps I was too slow to adapt to the medication pass and treatments redundant routine or I just did not come across interested.

Now, I plan on doing the CNA, acquire the clinical exposure and work in a hospital as a CNA and I hope I can penetrate the acute care setting this time.

Wish me luck! Nursing here I come......

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Thanks everyone for your comments and inspiration! I look forward to becoming a CNA and working (hopefully) with people like yourselves!

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That's the one thing that drives me crazy about this job. A lot of people I work with are constantly saying "I get paid to wipe butts", no, that's not what this job is. It can be if you let it, but for me it's so much more. And all of my friends think I'm crazy for doing it. They don't understand that if you spend two seconds with these people you recognize it's not about that, and that doesn't even factor into my job description when I'm explaining what I do to people. I am a CNA and I don't work for the money, I keep coming every day because I love my job. I think there are too many people who are working 40+ hours a week as a CNA and all it has become to them is "wiping butts for a bit above minimum wage".

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Specializes in LTAC, wounds, vents, TBI, Spinal Cord.

Love the positive work etiquette you have! It will take you very far in life. And you are absolutely correct everything you said. I bet you are a great CNA and will make a great nurse one day if that is what you chose to do. Keep up the hard work!

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Oh I know! You are so right! People are so discouraging when you tell them you are a CNA or are going to be one. I consider myself a medical professional, I used to be ashamed when I told people I'm a CNA. I'm not anymore, especially in this economy! I'm make more than minimum wage. The pay is how I contribute to my household, to feed my son, put gas in our cars, food on the table, etc.

ALL nursing is kinda gross, if you ask me! I think it's funny how a lot of people hear "CNA" and say "EWW!" but when they hear "RN" they say "WOW! You're a hero! What a great job!!" (which they are! and it is!). But us CNA's are vital to the whole nursing team as well! Our job is important, we can't say one is more important than the other. They are just important in different ways.

I stopped caring a while ago when I tell people I'm a CNA and get flack. I just don't care. I'm proud I don't sell drugs, have a job, all that good stuff.. Plus, like I said in this economy, having any job is commendable, I used to get flack about it. But honestly, the responses I get now are more like "That's great! You don't have to worry about losing your job!".

And I do agree, these are people's loved ones. These used to be moms and dads with children and families. Now they are just old and sick.

Any time I start to lose patience with people I just remind myself that if my mom were in here, I would hope that they would treat her so lovingly. I just think of them as my mom and it moves my heart enough to change my feelings at the moment. We are all there for the paycheck but these are human lives we are dealing with.

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I've said the same thing, I'd be happy to stay a CNA if it paid more, too.

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Specializes in LTC.

I don't care if people think of me as a butt-wiper or a caring medical professional. It makes no difference in my OWN perception of my job and it doesn't affect my performance either. I actually think it's kinda fun when people get grossed out after finding out what my job title is. Then I can gross them out even more with detailed stories about diarrhea explosions and snotty trach dressings.

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