Going out on a limb noob cna

[bednar275]

I am going to cna classes this fall, but am leaving behind an ok paying state job with good benefits. Am I crazy? School is paid for, the only thing I have to pay out is a new pair of shoes. I will probably be working at a convenience store until i get my cna license in janurary 2011, please someone tell me I am making the right move! I am also planning on getting my lvn during the course of next year.... Need some hard nose advice....

[NM nurse to be]

Welcome :) Look around a bit here, there's lots of threads for newbies. We don't (usually) bite, hard anyway. There is a lot of info here without me retyping it all again.

If you are debating a career in the medical field, CNA work is an excellent start. If you hate this, it's not going to get any better elsewhere. I can't tell you if it's the right move for YOU to make or not, but it's A move at least. And if it turns out to be the wrong thing for you, you will know that and can make another move at that point. I'm guessing there are reasons for wanting to make a total career change, so doing something, anything really, is a good way to start that process.

Good luck to you!

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

No way! I would hold onto that good job and just go for the LPN. CNA pay/benfits suck compared to a state job. You can do just fine as an LPN without ever being a CNA. Yes, the experience could be helpful, but not at that price.

Do some volunteer work at a nursing home on the wekend if you want to see what it is like.......

[blue cna]

Turn back now. That's all I'll say.

[Kyla.ann]

First of all, why are you quitting your job? Is it because you hate it? Need a change and need one fast? Because you can't take the CNA course while still working? Because you feel being a CNA will help you become an LVN?

If you are quitting because you think being a CNA will help you, then it might be worth rethinking. Yes, from everything I have heard, it will help, but does not neccessarily give you that much more of an advantage. Then again, if you have no financial worries when quitting, then maybe it would be the right move for you.

If you are quitting because you absolutely hate your job and want to get out fast, I can absolutely empathize with you. Although I have no CNA experience yet, I feel that while it will be a struggle, it will be well worth it.

So many people can give you all kinds of advice but only you really know your situation. I have had so many people think I have gone off the deep end because I quit my high paying job to work as a CNA through Nursing School. No one knows the whole situtaion though and no one can really decide for me. Make sure you have everything all planned out before you quit and you should be fine.

Good luck!!

[cnaccsu]

Heres my two cents: I became a CNA last july in order to gain health care hours for P.A school. The facility I did clinicals was horrible, the lack of infection control, supplies, and staff was only surpassed by the lack of compassion. I was very lucky to be hired by one of the best facilities in my state at a very good rate ($15/hour). Being a CNA is very, very hard work and you can still be a great nurse without being a CNA first. If you are a new CNA, the only places you will probably get hired are facilities like where I did my clinicals, and you might get burned out, and not want to do nursing at all. I have no children, live at home and basically have no financial responsibilites, so if I didn't like being a CNA I could easily quit and be unemployed while finding a different job. However, if your family is dependent on your income I would do alot more research before jumping in. I got hired at my facility because my sister worked there for several years, and I started working in the kitchen first. Perhaps you can start volunteering at a good facility or hospital in your area, you might have a better chance of being hired there as a new CNA then.

I absolutely love being a CNA, my residents honestly do mean the world to me, and having an excellent management and nursing supporting the CNA staff makes it enjoyable to come to work. Working there has solidified me pursing higher education in the health care field. However, for every one of the facilities I work at, theres probably 10 ones that arent so good.

Good luck! :)

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

I think being a CNA before becoming a nurse is great. It allows you to become comfortable around patients and competent in doing their basic care. Starting off on the other side also usually makes you a better team player as a nurse, and it definitely helps you to learn time management.

That said, if you have a good paying job I would keep it. Do CNA work PRN if you want to try it. But the money is crap. And it's stressful. Having to do it full time while juggling with full-time nursing school, which is also stressful, and not being able to save money or pay your bills is just not worth it if you have the option to skip all that.

[bednar275]

Thank you all for your input, I have considered all replies thoroughly. I have been blessed by God and it worked out fine, I am able to keep my job while I go to school for my CNA classes!!!!! Praise God!!!! This way I can really check it out, and if I like it, I can work prn as a CNA and if I don't like it, no harm no foul. Best of luck to all of you, and all I can say, is if you never try it, you will never know. Don't ever get old and wonder to yourself, Why didn't I even try??????