Does anyone here actually like being a CNA?

Lapishsunsmile · Aug 13, 2017

I Loved being a CNA until I starting my nursing program. Everyday at work I see things I know how to do but can't and it's frustrating. Now that I know I can, I want to do more. I can't wait to be licensed and start working.

Before all that though, I loved CNA work. I loved the hugs and thank yous and questions about my home life from innocent elderly. There are bad days at any job and I definitely have had bad days but overall I loved CNA work and I'm proud to say that I have been there and can understand how tough it can be.

Missingyou, CNA · Aug 13, 2017

The poster that mentioned going home smelling like feces:

That had to have been a pretty bad situation and is not the norm! I've done this job for about 30 yrs and have never come home smelling like feces.....maybe smelling of bad body odor from my own sweating! but not feces. Not gonna lie tho, I have gotten feces on my scrubs and I have been pee'd on. ...it's happened only a handful of times to me....I keep extra scrubs in my locker.

As far as the pay...for what we do and what we put up with...it will NEVER be enough pay! I can however, live comfortably in a nice safe apartment with a nice reliable car. I may not have a fancy phone or go on a fancy cruise every year but, I can make ends meet without being stressed out.

I agree, the worst part of the job by a long shot, is dealing with "co-workers" who don't want to work!! Who roll their eyes or disappear all together when you ask them to help with a 2 assist transfer!

Who get all bent out of shape because a resident with dementia is calling out to them for help into bed for the 5th time in 10 minutes.

Who has no patience for the confused/scared resident.

and the CNA who gets SO offended because a resident with dementia comments on their messy hair or a tattoo they have!

Seriously!!??

.....sorry, I think I slipped into a little rant there....

Veronicax · Aug 13, 2017

@MissingYou thanks for replying after paying all of your monthly expenses do you have money left over to save?

Missingyou, CNA · Aug 14, 2017

Yes, I do have money after expenses to save a little. Mind you, I have to be careful how I spend my money. I have a set budget on what I can spend on food and recreation. I don't go out to eat very often and I can't go out and buy a new outfit every week or spend $50 on drinks with my friends. I don't get my nails professionally done and all that extra stuff. But it's a choice I make and I've never been one to spend a lot of money on such things anyway.

I can still buy my family holiday gifts (there is a budget for that too). I have everything I need and I am comfortable with working the one job...and I rarely pick up extra shifts.

I happen to work at one of the places that pay on the higher side. There are facilities that pay less. Look around. Choose wisely. You can look at Indeed.com and get a feel for what the demand is in your area.

At both an assisted living facility and at several home care agencies they offered me a position and set a pay rate. I told them what I wanted to be paid.....they agreed and both times I got the job.. Again, this depends on the demand for CNA's. It happens to be pretty high in my area, especially for home care positions.

verene, MSN · Aug 14, 2017

I enjoyed being a CNA. I loved the direct patient interaction and in both positions I worked I had good teams to work with where my work was valued and appreciated. I think that made a big difference, being a CNA can be a pretty thankless job, but it feels better to know your work is recognized and that coworkers will have your back when a total mess hits the floor.

Working as a CNA was instrumental in confirming that nursing is the right field for me, and I feel that I learned a lot of valuable lessons and skills working as one. I definitely had more confidence, stronger assessment skills, and a much higher comfort level with interacting with other health care team members out the gate than many of my classmates who'd never had a patient care position before nursing school.

All_night · Aug 15, 2017

The above poster mentioned they would smell of feces going home after work. Did this happen to you as well? I would only work as a CNA in a hospital. I've heard a lot of bad things about working in nursing homes and other facilities.

No, thank goodness that doesn't happen at my facility. I know a CNA who was sprayed with feces when emptying a colostomy bag and needed to change at work. I've also accidentally spilled the contents of a bed-side commode on my shoe (just urine, thankfully). But these things rarely happen. I think you have a solid plan; working in a hospital gives you more support and involves less physical strain. Good luck to you! We're here if you have more questions

Edit: typo

rosiedove34 · Aug 15, 2017

I wish someone sponsor my CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant) studies completely and help me to become a CNA in America. I am from Kerala state in India. I am 34 years old, married for 3 years and without children. I wish I could be a nurse or an assistant nurse in USA. I have a bachelors degree in science and 8 years work experience as an office executive.

allnurses Guide · Aug 15, 2017

The poster that mentioned going home smelling like feces:
That had to have been a pretty bad situation and is not the norm! I've done this job for about 30 yrs and have never come home smelling like feces.....maybe smelling of bad body odor from my own sweating! but not feces. Not gonna lie tho, I have gotten feces on my scrubs and I have been pee'd on. ...it's happened only a handful of times to me....I keep extra scrubs in my locker.

The only time I came home smelling like feces was my very first job. It was a nasty hell-hole. The residents were neglected and their hygiene and grooming was poorly tended. The call lights and bed rails had feces dried into them. I admit that I walked out of that job. Had I not found one of the nicest, cleanest and best staffed nursing homes not long after I quit the hell-hole, I would have walked out of nursing and never come back.

No decent facility will smell like urine or feces... unless a resident had a major blow out that just occurred, and that has a different odor than a facility that never cleans the residents or their rooms properly.

I have gotten urine and feces on my uniform and shoes more times than I care to remember. If I had been smart, I would have had an extra uniform the day I stepped in a bedpan full of watery stool... I had to wear donated old lady pants from like 1979 and made of white double-knit polyester with a seam sewed down the middle. Boy, did I get razzed!

Veronicax · Aug 15, 2017

But how do you keep the feces and urine from getting on you? I mean like your arms? I know some people where long sleeved uniforms.

allnurses Guide · Aug 15, 2017

But how do you keep the feces and urine from getting on you? I mean like your arms? I know some people where long sleeved uniforms.

Well, it doesn't happen too often that you get urine and feces on your arms, but it can. You scrub your arms up to the elbow. A long sleeve top makes me cringe a bit as whatever you get on the sleeve is there until you change your top. You could wear a scrub jacket or sweater, which can be removed if it gets soiled. Again, extra clothes are a good deal.

Usually, when I had to scrub up to my elbows, it was because a patient had some dank armpits and got their sweat on me during a transfer. I may have even put towels over my arms if I knew someone was pretty ripe. You get creative after awhile.

Honestly, I just washed and scrubbed myself up super duper good and carried on. It's a hazard of the job and you just deal with it.

Missingyou, CNA · Aug 16, 2017

All this talk about getting feces on you or smelling like feces.

I think you are worrying too much about it. It happens, sure, but its not like it happens every day or even every week.

Trust me. It may seem super gross right now but, when you've done this job after a while it's true:

You can clean up a resident up to their armpits in BM then go eat your lunch without a second thought.

Veronicax · Aug 16, 2017

Was the skills test difficult?