Feeling like CNA is not for me

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I have a BA in Social Work. Soon after graduation I found out how difficult it was to find a job in my field. Despite what some websites have state about social work being an expanding field, it was not in great demand in my area. At least, not for BSW. I was also starting to see signs of burnout in me. While I was also starting to re-question if I was cut out for social work.

Haha--I went through out my college years fighting the idea of following a nursing career path. Nurse major are notoriously famous around my social group and ethnic community. I think I could not handle the classes and what nurses do. I am also the primarily income earner in my family, supporting my parents and siblings.

After a good 6 months of internal struggle and being denied again and again for jobs I want to have, I decided to give CNA a try. I have a friend who worked at the hospital as a CNA, a place I always want to work but won't be hired with my BSW, and she said it was interesting. She was making 18 an hour. I saw potential, even if it means getting my feet in as a CNA and then move on to other position as time passes. I am more of a office girl, but I have this medical condition with my neck and shoulder. Being at the desk for a long period of time is bad for my neck and shoulder, so despite how much I love office work I can't keep at it.

I am currently in clinical practice as a CNA and would be done with the program by March. I love being on my feet. It helps regulate my achy neck and shoulder. But I hate, hate, hate the smell. I don't like some of the stuff CNA do. I understand the purpose they are done, but I just can't stand it. My plan was to work as a CNA for a while and then get into a LVN program. But I am having this internal struggle that if I can't stand being a CNA, how can I go on to be a LVN.

It is not that I don't feel comfortable wiping people's bottom or help them pull down their pant. It is that I just can't bear it. The smell. If I can't handle poop, how can I handle wounds? I am also not a strong and tall person, so I don't know how I'll handle transferring patient. By no way, am I rude. I am polite and respectful, and do everything to the best of my ability at that point of time even if that means to wipe their bottom clean. I will do it to get it done, but do I like it? No. Can I stand it to continue doing this? That's what I am internally struggling with.

What are your tips to survive being a CNA?

Do you think I should continue and find a CNA job if I hate it this much already?

I need to do some soul searching. I couldn't quite understand myself either. Why should I try to be a nurse when I don't have inspiration to be one. When I do something, I put in my full effort even if I don't like it. But the real question is, if I will be happy. I still think it is quite too early to decide if I like nursing or not. Do let me know what you think.

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No offense but this post cracked me up!

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Mind telling me what precisely crack you up?

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It's important to remember CNA work is VERY different that the work of an LPN, LVN, or RN. Its not bad work, just different. As an LVN you MAY be being doing less work with changing, bathing, toileting patients, and more with the medication and treatment side of things. It's something to consider, also think about if the medical field if right for you.

Lastly if you have a Bachelors already in a non-nursing field, I recommend an accelerated second degree nursing program. You can become an RN in less time (depending on the school) that it would take you to become an LVN. Just something to think about!

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I have heard of those accelerated programs, but I also heard they r much more expensive than the LVN program. Like way more. Plus, I'm not sure if there are those programs around my area. The nursing programs that are, are already very hard to get into.

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I can tell you I dreaded my work as a CNA. If you have no 'ratio' then that contributes to it. Slave labor with states with no ratio. Give them an inch, they take a mile. No problem with helping someone dress, put on shoes and the occasional help with toileting, but day after day with 16 residents, no thanks.

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