Going to take Cna classes...question...

Yes most of what you do as a cna is the "dirty work" but if you enjoy working with people, have a lot of patience and can handle certain situations you should be fine.

If working at a long term care facility...YES!! We as CNAs are the professional Buttwiper so to speak...there is a lot of dirty work but soon you will just not even think about it. It comes as second nature to you. Then eventually while your in lunch with your coworkers y'all can sit andntalk about and it not even phase you. Yes it's the dirty work but I think it helps someone who is going into the medical field get a feel of how a hospital works and/or nursing home and plus knowing that your doing all you can do to help these people makes it all feel worth it. Good luck!!

If you're squeamish being a RT might not be for you, nevermind being a CNA. Suctioning a tracheostomy or performing endotracheal suctioning on someone are things an RTs does that isnt exactly for the squeamish.

If youre in the medical field and involved in patient care, having a strong stomache is probably important, so starting out as a CNA is probably a good way to get broken in.

Thanks so much for the responses.

First, congratulations on getting into the RT program! RT is second only to RN in terms of respect and pay where I am :). Yes, CNA does involve the dirty work. Esp in an LTC. But after about a week, you really won't notice the smells. Honestly, you get used to it. Good luck!

Thanks for that and i cant wait to start the program. Im not the typical person on outside that dont want to do the so called dirty work, but i hope i can control my gag reflex. hopefully in training , (the CNA program is all LTC) ill get all of it out my system (not literally)

Back in the day the main question you'd get to work as a CNA is, "Have you ever cleaned up a child?" Just picture that with older folks for LTC. Now a'days your required to say that each and everyone is an individual etc, but your pretty much assisting people with stuff we do for ourselves. Shower, feed and change, look presentable.

Considering the higher you get in nursing, people say, CNA is the dirty work and it kind of is. Once you graduate from CNA to LVN, your no longer really doing the blunt of the workload.