Hate being a CNA

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jul 30, 2013

This thread is rapidly becoming an example of nursing eating their young...

Or it can be seen as people wanting to believe they are more than they are...

If somebody says that as a CNA they are one step from being an RN that's an issue. This isn't about eating the young but the young not realizing there's a bigger difference than a single step.

i_love_patient_care · Jul 30, 2013

Or it can be seen as people wanting to believe they are more than they are...
If somebody says that as a CNA they are one step from being an RN that's an issue. This isn't about eating the young but the young not realizing there's a bigger difference than a single step.

To me, that statement is very degrading. I am a whole person, whether CNA, RN, doctor, or laundry worker. It is a problem if a CNA believes their role in healthcare is the same as a RN. I will give you that. There has to be a mutual respect in the workplace.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2013

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Our call is to be supportive, not divisive.

We can agree to disagree and understand that every member of the healthcare team in important.

This thread is about whether or not the OP should stick with their position and disliking the people they work with.

Hello all I am currently a CNA and I must say I don't like it at all. Everyone say that CNA's make great nurses I start school in September to become an LPN but I feel CNA is not for me. It's not the job it's the people I work with any suggestions on whether or not I should stick it out or go work as a customer service rep and finish school?

Lets stick to topic or the thread will be closed and points assigned.

IrishErin · Jul 31, 2013

Hello all I am currently a CNA and I must say I don't like it at all. Everyone say that CNA's make great nurses I start school in September to become an LPN but I feel CNA is not for me. It's not the job it's the people I work with any suggestions on whether or not I should stick it out or go work as a customer service rep and finish school?

I live in Canada and its a bit different here so bear with me. I worked as a PSW (Personal Support Worker) at a LTC facility while in school to finish my RPN. To me, it seems like our PSW is your CNA. I think it helped me immensely. However, nurses don't generally have aides in the hospital, we do all of our patient care as well as meds and other tasks. So for me, learning how to give someone a (thorough but quick!) Bed bath and. Am/hs care really helped me in the long run with my time management.

Guest707336 · Sep 28, 2013

LadyLeo,

This site is therapeutic...I thought I was one of the few new CNAs' who is beginning to dislike this job. Apparently I am not alone. I've been a 11-7 shift CNA for 4 months. My dislike stems from most of the rude and lazy people I work with and some of the rude and combative residents. I spent or should I say wasted $1400 at my local community college for certification as a CNA/GNA...the program mostly focused on geriatric nursing assistant duties due to the state supposedly needing GNAs'. I make close to minimum wage and to me it's just not worth it. I recently found out that I could have taken this class for free at some places. I came into it with a big heart and wanting to help people and gain experience for my future endeavors as a RN. So far, at the LTC I have learned very little. However, I have learned how to deal with combative and emotional residents. I hear that working in an acute hospital setting is much more rewarding than LTC. I thought the grass was greener on the CNA side, but I am thankful that I have my current daytime career and business management degree...to think I actually complained about my daytime job...what was I thinking!! There's something for everyone and being a CNA is definitely not for me, but I wouldn't have known this if I had not tried it. I am still interested in becoming an RN though...but I don't think you have to be a CNA to be a better nurse.

Guest707336 · Sep 28, 2013

LadyLeo,

I don't know why the majority of co-workers treat new people so rudely and try to intimidate. I experienced what you have at my LTC. I even had CNAs and RNs giving me nasty looks and rolling their eyes. Sadly, I guess it's like initiation...they test you. I find that the CNAs I work with are competitive and for what? I mean...the pay sucks and we pretty much clean up human waste most of the shift. I must say...I have fun with the mean ones I work with...I must admit I am a little cocky when they test me because I have a degree and daytime career...working here is just a way for me to gain a little perspective on the healthcare environment because I want to pursue a second career/degree as an RN. From day one I have had to let bully co-workers know that I am not intimidated by them...I basically don't hold back and keep it professionalism...but I also keep it real...so far most have backed off of me...guess I passed the initiation faze.

duskyjewel · Sep 29, 2013

And that's where you show how useless you are!

Whew! If I knew who you were, I'd make sure you were never a nurse to any of my loved ones.

You go ahead and try to do your job without doctors..... and see how long your license lasts.

If this attitude bleeds through in your workplace, you don't need to look any further for why the CNAs seem to do your tasks last. When nurses show us respect and helpfulness, we find ways to repay them. And when they don't, we also find ways to repay that.

The best nurse I ever worked with in the hospital respected us CNAs and was always ready to help us with care. And he was that way because he spent years in the trenches as an aide himself.

mclennan, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2013

The organization I work for does not hire nurses that were never CNAs. It is a requirement for hire here, even if the CNA experience was years ago. We firmly believe it makes for a better nurse. I was a CNA all through high school and nursing school, and now I've been an RN for 7 years, and utilize that experience and things I learned from being a CNA almost every day! I hated it too (because of people I worked with) but I'm so glad I stuck it out.

CNAs are, in my opinion, the #1 most valuable member of the health care team. They may not make nursing decisions or use nursing judgment, but they often carry out and implement the care ordered by the more educated members of a team, and have the most intimate contact with patients. It is tragic they are so undereducated and underpaid.

It is also tragic that LTCs and most environments that utilize CNAs are so toxic. I'm sorry you're having a hard time, but remember, it's only as toxic and difficult as you ALLOW it to be for you. You aren't in control of anyone or anything except your own reactions. Choose to react with resilience or with cowardice. It's up to you.

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Sep 29, 2013

Whew! If I knew who you were I'd make sure you were never a nurse to any of my loved ones. You go ahead and try to do your job without doctors..... and see how long your license lasts. If this attitude bleeds through in your workplace, you don't need to look any further for why the CNAs seem to do your tasks last. When nurses show us respect and helpfulness, we find ways to repay them. And when they don't, we also find ways to repay that. The best nurse I ever worked with in the hospital respected us CNAs and was always ready to help us with care. And he was that way because he spent years in the trenches as an aide himself.[/quote']
And you would be missing out.
A CNA who thinks she is one step from being a nurse is the CNA I don't want touching my patients because she's the one who will over step. She's the one who doesn't know when to not give advice.
And I've never had issues with CNAs...though we don't really use them.
And I was lower level staff in the past...

yugot2h8 · Sep 29, 2013

And you would be missing out.
A CNA who thinks she is one step from being a nurse is the CNA I don't want touching my patients because she's the one who will over step. She's the one who doesn't know when to not give advice.
And I've never had issues with CNAs...though we don't really use them.
And I was lower level staff in the past...

Who said they were one step away from being an RN? If you don't use CNAs at your job, how can you make any judgments on what a CNA does? Where have you had a CNA "overstep" if you don't even use them? I'd be grateful to "miss out" on an attitude like yours.

I see that most of these posts are a few months old, but I hope the OP stuck it out. I have worked with good nurses and bad nurses and good CNAs and bad ones and at the end of the day I just shrug it off and try again the next day. I hope you are still excited to give excellent care to your residents/patients with or without the help of others.

IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Sep 29, 2013

Who said they were one step away from being an RN? If you don't use CNAs at your job how can you make any judgments on what a CNA does? Where have you had a CNA "overstep" if you don't even use them? I'd be grateful to "miss out" on an attitude like yours. I see that most of these posts are a few months old, but I hope the OP stuck it out. I have worked with good nurses and bad nurses and good CNAs and bad ones and at the end of the day I just shrug it off and try again the next day. I hope you are still excited to give excellent care to your residents/patients with or without the help of others.[/quote']
Previous response I was told I was simply one step ahead of the CNA...that's laughable.
And I never said I never work with CNs.

allnurses Guide · Sep 29, 2013

I left nursibg for a while to be on the "mommy track". When I returned I noticed some changes and much that hadn't. From my view, probably the most disconcerting was this pronounced stratifying between what I see as a continuum of care delivery that has some nurses continually repeating that unlicensed caregivers are not nurses, can only do assigned tasks, etc and in fact should not be told the patient's diagnosis. I don't get the purpose of this at all.

Whether you are in nursing school or not all caregivers have a heart and a brain...seems to me kinda counterproductive to remind them that thinking is the purview of nurses only and bruise their hearts so that resentments will have them not communicate critical observations that could help a nurse do their job. I'm not trying to be contentious..maybe I'm not seeing an aspect of this that might justify it.