Does. Anyone like their CNA job??

Red Kryptonite · Mar 23, 2015

I worked in the hospital and it was awful, but that was because many of the nurses were bad apples and combined with poor leaders they made for a toxic unit.

I work hospice now and like my job. Some days I love it. Every job comes with crap, the key is to find the one with the minimum.

fairdinkum · Mar 25, 2015

I feel bad telling you, but I really dislike being a CNA and desperately wish I could move on. It's got to be one of the worst jobs in the hospital. But reading over some of the other responses you got, it seems that CNAs in home health and hospice are happy. I'm strictly acute care and float to pretty much every type of unit, and some are definitely better than others.

In acute care, CNAs are treated like crap by so many people, that being a hospital CNA can be a very demoralizing job. I even had an EMT comment once that she didn't think she could ever do my job because of the way she sees us getting treated. I enjoy patients and care a lot about the quality of my work, but try to imagine what it's like to go to work every single day and have no one feel you do anything right, and leave every day having been treated like an incompetent moron. The problem is that you have huge responsibility and no decision-making power. You're also the last person everyone can dump on when they get overwhelmed, and when you get overwhelmed everyone who did the dumping is upset because their work didn't get done. At this point, I do the job the best I can for my patients, hide from the mean RNs and hope I'll someday have the means to move on.

Also, please listen to the other posters who are telling you how hard this job is on your body. I've hurt my back, hips, shoulders, etc. having to lift and change 400-lb patients alone, because it's so hard to get someone to help (they're all too busy too). I work 12-hour night shifts, sometimes 3 nights in a row, and have to be able to stay awake and alert. I've been punched, kicked, hit, shoved, and even had a commode thrown at me! You cannot get angry and you can't get tired or you won't be able to keep up the pace, which is extremely fast in an acute care scene, even in the middle of the night.

All this being said, I can't regret the range of humanity I've experienced, and what I've learned about people - how to talk to them, how to handle emergencies, how to calm people in their worst moments, etc. I don't know if there's another job outside of the nursing field where you experience so much of what people are, just keep in mind that a lot of it isn't good. If you aren't willing put your whole heart into resuscitating a rapist or providing care to a drug dealer, this isn't for you.

If you are interested in acute care anyway:

great floors: oncology, ICU and post-partum are where I have my best experiences

watch-out floors: med-surg, especially post-op/GI and units with shared rooms

hit-and-miss: ortho (it can be horrible or excellent, totally depends on the staff)

valliloves · Mar 25, 2015

I love working as a CNA (I am brand new since January--I'm 30 yo). I work at a hospital on a med surg tele floor. I am crazy busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Taking care of other people who are already feeling so down because they are in the hospital and making their stay as pleasant as possible . . . there are just no words.

I feel fulfilled every single day and there are new challenges to face every single day. I am learning constantly, which is one of my greatest passions.

The greatest part of my job is putting a smile on someone's face and watching them go from being in a bad mood to a better mood because you provided them with quality care with compassion and dignity. The hours are long and the labor is highly physical so make sure you take care of yourself.

The only part I don't like are the moments where frustration/stress levels peak as I feel it reduces the quality of care I am able to provide to my pts, but I am learning that time management and preparation are key. As I get better at those, I can provide even better care. It's so worth it. Also, there are just going to be those days, no matter what, where things get so hectic that you will just have to deal with not being able to do everything perfectly! I am slowly learning that I can't be super at everything all of the time. That has been a tough one for me.

The hospital I work at, the team work is incredible! It's a Christian hospital and we don't have to hide our faith. We get to pray with each other and with our pts if they want. We even have lift teams who can be called to come in and reposition pts or transfer them for me. When they aren't available, we are mandated to have another CNA to assist. If a pt is too heavy for us to handle, we are required to use mechanical devices to lift for us. We are told never ever lift by ourselves, ever. Also, CNAs work together on baths. We round together and do our pts together. Seek out this type of environment.

With your background in teaching, try to find employment at teaching facilities because you will be a very effective leader for those who thrive in a teaching environment.

Best wishes to you!!! You won't regret this decision.

Glycerine82, LPN · Mar 27, 2015

Absolutely, completely loved it. Would do it forever, if I could.

My favorite kind of work was acute rehab, in a hospital. My favorite kind of patients are the elderly.

OMG i could just squeeze them all.

As for what I do (well, did...I can't do it anymore).... read below if you can get through it all ;-)

https://allnurses.com/cna-ma-nursing/a-day-in-965336.html

Ramcharger310, ASN, CNA, RN, EMT-B · May 7, 2015

That's too funny. I feel the same way. Before being a CNA I was like old people are scary creepy. NOW, I feel that each one is pretty special and have a whole new respect for them.

caseyuptonurse · May 7, 2015

When I was a CNA I loved it!!! ... Well most of it. ðŸ˜‰ I loved being able to have more time with my patients and create that bond that only happens during patient care. I decided to pursue nursing to have a better income and to have to do less physical work. The major negative about my CNA job was the back pain I would have after each shift. Now that I'm a nurse I miss spending more time with my patients, I feel like a med pusher now, lol. Even though I'm not just that. I do miss it, but my back does not.

guest769224 · May 7, 2015

I love my CNA jobs. I work as a ICU tech and a NICU tech.

I get to see the most astounding things each day at work, and it helps me so much while I'm in RN school.

Definitely a big perk.

kwood1989 · May 7, 2015

All of you whom are CNA's just to be CNA's are amazing people. I really respect your choice. As a CNA I know how physically involved it is as I will soon being doing this work as I will be certified in 2 weeks. I really respect those whom are CNA's also whom are not cutting corners I really feel my personal ethics will not allow me to cut corners. You must be a special person to deal with what is put in front of you. God bless you guys.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · May 7, 2015

I really enjoyed working as a Cna because I truly enjoyed providing pt care.

I did not enjoy the pay. However, I really do think the experience was valuable, and made me a better person as well as a better nurse.

If you can get hired at an acute hospital, the pay is fairly good!!

mariafromcali · May 7, 2015

I've been a CNA for almost 12 yrs now and I do enjoy my job. I work in a prison setting and I've been there 8yrs. The pay n benefits are good. I'm getting ready to take my LVN boards and most likely get a job in at the prison. I guess it depends on where u work as a cna for u to enjoy ur job.

Bbett, MSN, NP · May 7, 2015

I loved my job as a CNA because it allowed me to have a very well paying position while going through nursing school. I often said if I didn't know there was a light at the end of the tunnel, I would quit lol.

michelleicu · Jun 11, 2015

I work in the alzheimers unit best residents I'm a part of their lives and wouldn't have it any other way they make me laugh and sometimes even cry that's life right were all humans.