Did being a CNA make you NOT want to be a nurse anymore?

Students CNA/MA

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chorkle

228 Posts

HQ--

You come across to me as pretty darn smart!

Keep at it.

DarkBluePhoenix

1,867 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg/DOU/Ortho/Onc/Rehab/ER/.

God,I like being a CNA but then again I know I could not do this forever!

I am a go-getter type person and I hate being on the bottom of the medical-profession-food-chain. So I know I want to move up.

I want to become an RN, then eventually an NP.

Its all about what you really wanna do, in your heart... you will make the right choice!

afromom

17 Posts

I decided to take my CNA class when i was pregnant with my 3rd child because i always wanted to be in the medical field ,but kept letting myself get distracted. I've been working as a CNA for 2months now and have decided that I'm not going to go further into nursing. I've had alot of jobs and this one is the most stressful. I enjoy working with the patients , but the overal job is too much. I'm thinking of going into occupational therapy.

Thirdwatch

157 Posts

I decided to take my CNA class when i was pregnant with my 3rd child because i always wanted to be in the medical field ,but kept letting myself get distracted. I've been working as a CNA for 2months now and have decided that I'm not going to go further into nursing. I've had alot of jobs and this one is the most stressful. I enjoy working with the patients , but the overal job is too much. I'm thinking of going into occupational therapy.

My sister is an OT...and LOVES her job. She works with the preschoolers with developemental disabilities in a school district. They work on art projects, motor activities...learning how to use school supplies such as cuting paper. The pay is great and there're plenty of jobs.

Sart45

149 Posts

Interesting topic. I've been a CNA since April; 12 hours shifts in a hospital. I started out full-time and switched to part-time as my body couldn't take it!!! No breaks..10 minutes for lunch..etc. I love the patients but the amount of work to be done and give good patient care is impossible in my eyes. I'm finishing my last prereq. for nursing school (Chemistry :eek:)...I'm applying for an accelerated BSN (already have a BA and MA in an unrelated field). What I have learned is that I DO NOT WANT TO BE A FLOOR NURSE! Our nurses spend 70% charting and 30% with patients...yes, this has been verified. I think I'm more interesting in Research. So, no, I'm not turned off to nursing while working as a CNA; I almost think every nursing student should be a CNA first...you really see a lot!

Thirdwatch

157 Posts

Interesting topic. I've been a CNA since April; 12 hours shifts in a hospital. I started out full-time and switched to part-time as my body couldn't take it!!! No breaks..10 minutes for lunch..etc. I love the patients but the amount of work to be done and give good patient care is impossible in my eyes. I'm finishing my last prereq. for nursing school (Chemistry :eek:)...I'm applying for an accelerated BSN (already have a BA and MA in an unrelated field). What I have learned is that I DO NOT WANT TO BE A FLOOR NURSE! Our nurses spend 70% charting and 30% with patients...yes, this has been verified. I think I'm more interesting in Research. So, no, I'm not turned off to nursing while working as a CNA; I almost think every nursing student should be a CNA first...you really see a lot!

I absolutely agree with you. I'm a CNA and the poor RN I work with is ALWAYS charting. I also have a BA and will be applying to something other than nursing. I help them as much as I can...but really feel for them.:idea:

knottygirl

100 Posts

Specializes in nurses assistant way back when....

Before I went through a private class, I started a CNA class/training at a local nursing home where you can work at the nursing home as a nurse aide while you take the course. You know, one of those where they basically get cheap CNA labor. They paid 7 and hour (in 01). I had 14 residents nightly, the 3-11 shift. I hated it and I hated the nurses lol. It really made me not want to be a nurse because it didn't seem like they did much and they were always so bah humbug all the time. And don't ask them for help, you wont get any. Well that was me when I was 20 21 and I quit there but eventually went to a private class, passed the boards, worked for a while at another LTC and the care given wasn't much better. I moved out of state and I said I'd never do that again. Well, needless to say my cert lapsed and here I am again trying to do the same thing, and this time around I'm going for LPN, go figure.:rolleyes:

Quick answer, YES!!!!!!

Specializes in CNA.
The nurses and CNAs get yelled at for everything but therapy is like the star of the nursing home.

Do you plan on being a Physical Therapist Assistant a Physical Therapist? Hoo boy is there a difference in the education.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA

1,816 Posts

Specializes in LTC.

Therapist. I've had my fill of working for low pay.

I have been a cna for about 10 years since I finished high school. I think cna's make better nurses becauses of some of the things you experience as a cna.

liketheairport

97 Posts

I'm not a CNA yet. But, there's a few reasons why I want to be a CNA and hopefully go to nursing school. One, I always swore up and down to my amazing mom (who's been an RN for 40ish years and has been in the OR the past 30 at least) that there was no way I would be in anything to do with patient care. I swore up and down I'd never be a nurse or anything related even indirectly to it. Her response always was a small smile and "Yes, dear, whatever you say." Turns out, she knew better than I did (as she has an uncanny ability to do!).

Two, I've been customer service/retail for years. Yeah, it seems easy, but if you work a big box store on Black Friday and are able to stay somewhat sane after being in cashier/sales floor/operator/service desk in one day...I think I'll be good at the multitasking part. Customers usually don't have a particularly good reason for being cranky. Patients at least sometimes do. I've had people scream at me for things like "YOU DIDN'T SCAN MY DOLLAR OFF COUPON!" Yes, ma'am I did. It's on the screen, right here. But, I'll check the number again, just in case.

Three, I've always been caregiver. "I have this funny itchy spot on my arm," is said to me in passing. I appear with hydrocortisone and saying, "Try this. If it's still itchy after a day or two and gets bumps or anything, go to the urgent care." or "If you're blowing out that much green snot, you probably should go see someone." Behold...bronchitis. That's not to say I'm always right, but I'd rather you go see someone and it not be serious than it be really serious and you end up in the ER on a vent or something.

Four, I've cleaned up vomit, poop trails, blood, and enough baby spit up to phase anyone but a CNA or nurse. I had six younger siblings, went to daycare nearly all my life, and lord, it's a fun day when your little brother has acute diarrhea and decides he's going to take off his diaper and paint everything with it.

Five, I want to have a career I can love. I want to help people, and nursing is when you see people at their most vulnerable, scared, worried, etc. I want them to have the best possible experience they can while being in a flurry of doctors, drugs they may not know, a condition they may not have heard of ever. I want to help the families know that I will make sure their loved one is cared for as well as humanly possible.

Sure, it sounds idealistic, but for someone who somehow wandered far off the beaten path from nursing...it seems like the right fit. I know there will be those days where everyone's cranky or running around like chickens sans head, but I love those situations, because I fit well in them.

ComeTogether, LPN

1 Article; 2,178 Posts

Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

Being a CNA makes me know what KIND of nurse I do and don't want to be. ;-)

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