i dont know if CNA is right for me. help!

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Hi everyone! Ok so I'm really really frustrated. I work at an assisted living facility where my licence is not being used and I'm not using any of the cna skills we learned in class. My stethoscope is just sitting around collecting dust! The people there are really unprofessional, rude, don't want to help, and I have problems with a particular resident, I get frustrated and sometimes bored Because its always the same routine, just cleaning!. I'm miserble there and I just feel like quitting because I feel like my cna class was all a waste since I'm not using my liscence. Im trying to get into nursing school but this job is not helping at all in terms of experience. I'm really contemplating on taking classes for MA instead but I don't know. Is there other jobs in the health care that I can try. I'm really frustrated I feel like crying. This is taking me nowhere! Also its really hard to find a job.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I'm sorry you are having a hard time :( Ive been a cna/phlebotomist for 1.5 yrs. My first job was a cna at a local ltc. Let me tell you...the nursing staff makes a difference. I hated my ltc job because the other cnas and nurses were so mean to both me and the residents. The experience left me questioning weither or not I wanted to continue nursing. I got a job a few months later as a tech at a hospital that I LOVE. The hospitals are very different to a cna experience in a ltc. Please don't give up...try to get a job at a hospital...you'll love it :3

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If you wanna be a nurse, why not go to nursing school instead of getting random health care certificates....

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Im sorry to hear that... I also work at a private paied assisted living facility and i love it cuz its not as stressful for me... Im also a cna n work under my certificate but other co-workers r not certified....

I did work at another alf n hated it cuz it was hard to.get a routine going the went to a ltc n hated it... It was way to stressful for me... So.i went to another alf n just love it....

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Specializes in Long term care.

If you feel like you aren't using your skills and all you do is clean, try working in a nursing home! You will most certainly use your skills there!!! You will take vitals! Yes, you will spend most of the time changing briefs and feeding, but you will learn patience and organizational skills!!! You will be transferring and repositioning residents, dealing with dementia and confused residents and a whole bunch of other things all at once.

There is never a dull moment when working in a nursing home, it's very different than an assisted living and home care.

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Specializes in None.
I'm sorry you are having a hard time :( Ive been a cna/phlebotomist for 1.5 yrs. My first job was a cna at a local ltc. Let me tell you...the nursing staff makes a difference. I hated my ltc job because the other cnas and nurses were so mean to both me and the residents. The experience left me questioning weither or not I wanted to continue nursing. I got a job a few months later as a tech at a hospital that I LOVE. The hospitals are very different to a cna experience in a ltc. Please don't give up...try to get a job at a hospital...you'll love it :3

This was my exact same experience. I love the hospital and nursing staff really does make a difference. Especially, if everyone participates in teamwork. OP, why aren't you using your skills? You say you are at an assisted living facility so…you should be doing vitals, assisting in baths, etc.

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Thanks for your comment, it really made me feel better. And yes, I already applied to a hospital (where I also volunteer) and got all the way to the interview. At the interview, they asked me a clinical question which I couldn't answer because like I said, I'm not using my certification and not using those skills. Well, I didn't get the job, and I was really upset because this place is not taking me anywhere. Doesn't even count as CNAexperience

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If you wanna be a nurse, why not go to nursing school instead of getting random health care certificates....

I'm done with all my prereqs, I've applied to nursing programs and got accepted to one (with 3-5year waitlist) and still applying to more. I just want to get some hands on experience while I wait and get a head start on my career.

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If you feel like you aren't using your skills and all you do is clean, try working in a nursing home! You will most certainly use your skills there!!! You will take vitals! Yes, you will spend most of the time changing briefs and feeding, but you will learn patience and organizational skills!!! You will be transferring and repositioning residents, dealing with dementia and confused residents and a whole bunch of other things all at once.

There is never a dull moment when working in a nursing home, it's very different than an assisted living and home care.

I will look into nursing homes. I was trying to avoid them at first because I wanted a job at the hospital, but I understand I can't be too picky. I want some cna experience! Is it stressful working at a nursing home?

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Try a different assisted living company. Working in a nursing home is bad. I have done both and do assisted living now.

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Sounds like someone needs a new job! Just keep looking, you WILL find something!

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