From now on the only bed I make will be my own

interceptinglight, CNA · Nov 10, 2011

Wow. I'm amazed to read someone's post on this forum whose perspective is the same as my own. This discussion taught me a lot -- mostly that being a CNA is probably the most complained about, back-breaking, humorless, slave-like, thankless, and low-paying job most anyone can ever do.....yet people stay in their jobs because they can't afford to leave. The desperate feeling of being trapped is made worse by the fear that you don't even have a choice in the matter.....the working world is not kind to the unemployed. I'm quite like you, I found the only reward I got from working in the field of nursing was the good feeling I got from giving comfort.....a reward that wore thin when I had to work weekends and holidays away from my family only to be rewarded with the lowest pay I had ever earned in 30 years. I was lucky to be forced out of my position by being so severely humiliated by an incident that happened one day, I braved the fear of being jobless and quit....then struggled for a few months on per diem jobs until I got hired by my state's University doing an administrative job that I love. Today, I still struggle with finances a bit, however I get paid holidays and weekends off.....and the reward of looking forward to going to work every day. Thank you for this post!!

parumph · Nov 10, 2011

I learned in my last job, that 'JOBS' aren't worth spending much time on. I spent 10 years at the same company only to get furlough'd. Was a dead end job but again, i couldn't afford to leave as I was getting paid way to well in a very narrow field. So once I was canned I looked around and decided to go into nursing...... and actual CAREER (being a nurse that is... not an aide)! And no more will I sit and stagnate at a company. One year, and if I have been held back by the company or not allowed to advance (as a CNA, i guess that means extra training such as ekg/phlembotomy/etc) then on I go to the next place. Guess it comes down to who I work with. But I am the grand provider for my family and if I'm gonna stagnate at your company cause you can't afford to move me up or train me or just won't, i can't afford to work there. Been there, done that, got screwed and the trophy.

Place #1 is running out of time (8 months), but thats OK. It is my first place, and they have more nurses there than they need so I dont expect to be taught anything extra. But there are some great nurses that will teach if you are willing. Foley insertion and a central like blood draw last night. w00t! And I have over 20 app's out and once a good offer comes in, I'm gone. And once I get into nursing school, god willing, things only get better.

Tho switching to a PharmD program has been in the back of my mind.

allnurses Guide · Nov 10, 2011

I respect the OP's post (even though I loved being a CNA).

I wish more folks could be brave enough to switch tracks like that.

Nothing worse than a miserable CNA.

Kudos and cheers, OP.

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2011

Ditto to what Hygiene Queen said. It's quite alright if you decide that being a CNA , LPN, or RN isn't for you. You gave it a shot, and that's all that matters. Life's too short to spend it being miserable & working in a field you absolutely hate. Not only are you hurting yourself, your hurting innocent people too. Good luck at your new job OP!!

jrgcna · Jul 29, 2012

The OP really touches my heart. I've been a CNA for over 8 years, and I've struggled for the past 2 1/2 years or so desperately trying to break into another line of work. I have pretty much no other kind of work experience, so it's brutal. Even retail and fast food won't give me the time of day!

I go to work and try to have a positive attitude. I've had to tell myself how blessed I am to have a job, how nice my residents and co-workers are, etc. All very true things, and I work for a nice facility as well.

The company doesn't make me miserable, it's the occupation itself. Thanks OP for spurring hope in me. Maybe I'm closer to my dream of toasting marshmallows over my burning certification? :-)

Abigail612 · Jul 30, 2012

My feelings towards being a CNA is a love hate. I love what it is that I do but the facility I work for really dose not care about its staff. They do not give much regard to our work or our safety and they treat us like we are a dime a dozen which can be true for some who work there but there are some of us who are worth our salt and work hard with only our patients in mind and it seems that we are the most taken advantage of and worst treated and so many of "the good ones" leave. I had thoughts for a while of leaving the nursing field but I could not give up the field that I loved some much which was the moment of realization for me that I could easily change that but becoming an RN and to chose another field to go into.

serenitylove14 · Jul 30, 2012

This is a total late post to this thread but I am going to post it anyways. I have worked as a CNA at a hospital for the past 3 years. I can truly say that I have learned alot during the 3 years but would NEVER EVER EVER EVER go back to the job. The nurses are cut throat and dont like to see certain people doing better for themselves. I feel like they hold people back from reaching their full potential and its really sad but true that the nurses eat their young. I have wanted to quit sooooo many times in the past that I have worried myself sick about it. I actually considered stripping as a possible outlet to working as a CNA, now thats sad... but atleast your not treated like the scum of the earth lol. I applaud anyone who has worked in the field longer than I have and suggest advancing their careers to get out of the CNA game!

Moriah02 · Jul 30, 2012

Wow! I've worked in customer service for the last ten years. My current employer I have been with for the last 7 years. I've worked every holiday & have had to work at least one weekend night (unless I take a vacation day) for the last 7 years. I just passed my state test for my CNA & have gotten accepted in the Nursing program at my local community college. Working every 3rd Holiday & every other weekend sounds like a dream to me. I guess it's what perspective that your looking at it from. I feel exactly the same way you do about customer service.

serenitylove14 · Jul 30, 2012

Melodiereshon. During nursing school I worked almost every Friday Saturday and Sunday 12 hour shifts and almost every "paid" holiday, plus went to school on my days off from work... thats a long 3 years of having no life lol. It definately gets slightly better when you graduate.

ctmed · Jul 30, 2012

I was a on call banquet waiter in a major convention city before I was a CNA. It was cutthroat, brutal, and was feast or famine. There were times in the day I had to catch a cab from my function because I had several hundred cash and was afraid to catch the bus because I looked like a waiter and would be knocked upside the head. There were times where offseason i was counting pennies to get ramen noodles or a cheap cigar to avoid nicotine withdrawal.

But, a CNA takes far more stomach even dealing with rich pricks out of town on some banquet or fighting with others that want the good functions. Nurses can many times be evil. Coworkers can give you stress merely for the fact they do not want to do "anyone elses" work. Or... famlies that have the DoN's number on speed dial. Of course, the DoN is concerned only that "she had to work".

However, please take with you this:

As silly as all this gets, please remember the one or four patients that actually appreciated what you did. For all the petty drama and BS, some folks you helped were good folks in bad situations and you helped. This is regardless of a culture that sometimes views patients as "work" not people -or - as a former union steward once said, the front side, backside, and the bed.

Do not discount medical all together. Medical is more than nursing.