I'm currently a CNA student. Even though I've wanted to be involved in health care virtually my whole life, and I've wanted to take a course for a couple of years now, I honestly enrolled in CNA school out of necessity.
I couldn't afford college, even at the local community college, because my income went from my parent's (about $120k a year) to my wife's ($10,000 a year) after I filed a FASFA. I have a ten-year-old step son to take care of, and his bio dad is halfway across the country paying about half his child support. To add on to all that, we have a baby on the way, and this tiny two-bedroom apartment isn't going to have enough room for the four of us. So, naturally, we want to move, but do not have the money to do so, considering we have no car, and need to buy one.
I'm not exactly complaining about all this. Being "poor" has helped me mature a lot, and I think in many ways it is a valuable experience.
All that aside, the only place a CNA around here is going to find work is a nursing home, and honestly, I'm not an "old people person". I was somewhat dreading doing labs in this sort of environment. But yesterday, I fed my first resident, and I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and care for this person that I never expected. It looks like geriatrics is going to be a lot more enjoyable than I thought, and I'm actually looking forward to doing more nursing home work!
Anyway, it seems this post is much longer than I planned... But to cut to the chase, do you genuinely enjoy working with the elderly? Or did it grow on you as it is with me?
I spent 6 months on a med/surg floor and I then took a course to learn more skills and I work in an ER now. I LOOOOOOOVE it.
I'm aiming for the ER/ambulance, but I think it's good to have some experience on the other side of the spectrum. Not to derail, but don't ER's prefer emergency medical technicians?
I'm aiming for the ER/ambulance, but I think it's good to have some experience on the other side of the spectrum. Not to derail, but don't ER's prefer emergency medical technicians?
Yea our ED uses primarily Paramedics, Nurses, and Doctors. I was an internal transfer who had to learn some additional skills and beg and plead my way in for a solid 6 months :)
eveningsky339, LPN
170 Posts
I'm aiming for the ER/ambulance, but I think it's good to have some experience on the other side of the spectrum. Not to derail, but don't ER's prefer emergency medical technicians?