Healthcare-Bad economy

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Hello All,

I am a nursing student, having only one semester left before graduation. I write because of my brother, who works in retail. I am encouraging him to leave retail to work as a CNA. He will have to pay to take the class. Here is my question. In this bad economy, is one wise to leave retail (very unstable-his job will be laying off) and seek employment as a CNA? Or, is the healthcare industry suffering as all other aspects of American workforce now?

Thank you so much for your time and wisdom.

dny

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

He will probably make more in retail---I dont know of any one who is a CNA for the money!!. It is the hardest work you will do for least amount of pay!!

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Specializes in Adult Cardiac surgical.

I am going to beg the differ here. Although he may earn more--if there is a high probability he will be out of work then it may be wise to pursue other avenues. There is always a job for CNA's as there will always be sick people--in good times and bad times in the economy.

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Specializes in ICU/ER.
I am going to beg the differ here. Although he may earn more--if there is a high probability he will be out of work then it may be wise to pursue other avenues. There is always a job for CNA's as there will always be sick people--in good times and bad times in the economy.

Maybe he is a seasonal retail employee and will in fact be laid off after the Holidays, but there are plenty of other jobs out there that will pay more than CNA pay if he is only looking for a pay check.

McDonalds is always hiring and I am pretty sure they pay more than CNA wages!! If he wants to pursue health care than being a CNA is a great way to earn money while furthering your education. But if health care is not in his future he should be looking for an entry level job in the career field of his choice.

Just another thought--the hospital I work at has cut thier CNAs down to just 2 during 7a to 7pm and 0 from 7p to 7a on the MS floor. ICU/OB and ER no longer have any at all. We let go 6 CNAs. The ones we kept are now part time vs full time. Nursing has picked up some of the CNA duties.

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Hmmm... This might be a topic for a new thread, but I don't think McDonalds necessarily pays more than LTC for CNAs. Not in my area, anyway. I worked at McDonalds many years ago, and also as an aide, and I can truthfully say that I'd rather work as a CNA.

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How much does he earn doing retail work?

CNA's are not well paid.

Does he show any interest in becoming a CNA? Does he even know what they do every day?

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When it comes to pay, it seems to be very regional. It sounds like security is the issue of the poster.

Anybody can look at the numbers regarding retail right now and figure out what's going on in that industry. As for health care, jobs seem to be moving out of hospitals and into other settings. While hospitals aren't going to go out of business, they are cutting expenses every way they can. Nurses sound to be doing the jobs of what 5 different people would have been doing a couple of years ago. So, no surprise they are doing the work of CNAs, and CNAs getting axed.

Home health care and nursing home jobs are pretty secure and continuing to need help in most areas. The pay can be so wide-ranged, though.

I can't imagine anyone having security working as a CNA who doesn't somehow like at least part of what they do. I mean, even if the job is there, the individual disliking it will shine through, and will find a way out or be asked to leave eventually. So, number one, since affecting people in a potentially great way, the question shouldn't be economics (as can get a job elsewhere), but rather, but question of DESIRE to work in health care.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept.

We are hiring CNA's and have OT for them too if they want it. (KC area)

The hospital has had to let some CNA's go for reasons relating to their job performance, but in 6 1/2 years I have never known them to have to do layoffs.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, PACU, Travel nursing.

I can relate to this. My husband has a history degree and has been unable to find stable good paying employment with benefits (no he doesnt want to teach).

He is now a CNA thinking of going back for nursing. In our area he makes 12$/hr as a CNA (night shift in a hospital) and he is able to have blue cross blue shield health insurance and dental insurance for our family.

He has looked into retail, and I worked retail in high school. In our area you start at 6.50$/hr and they only hire part time so they dont have to give you benefits. Managers and ass managers and 3rd keys do better though. So CNA has actually been much more stable and more pay in our case.

However, not an easy job and its not something he wants to do forever. I am hoping he goes back to school for nursing myself.

Good Luck,

Susannah

p.s. to the posters saying you make more in fast food, not true in our area. Mcdonalds pays 6.00-7.00$/hr and again, they wont guarantee full time only part time and you get terrible benefits. I think CNA may not be such a bad option in these economic times.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, PACU, Travel nursing.
Maybe he is a seasonal retail employee and will in fact be laid off after the Holidays, but there are plenty of other jobs out there that will pay more than CNA pay if he is only looking for a pay check.

McDonalds is always hiring and I am pretty sure they pay more than CNA wages!! If he wants to pursue health care than being a CNA is a great way to earn money while furthering your education. But if health care is not in his future he should be looking for an entry level job in the career field of his choice.

Just another thought--the hospital I work at has cut thier CNAs down to just 2 during 7a to 7pm and 0 from 7p to 7a on the MS floor. ICU/OB and ER no longer have any at all. We let go 6 CNAs. The ones we kept are now part time vs full time. Nursing has picked up some of the CNA duties.

McDonald's definitely doesn't pay more in the south, and no benefits to boot. Also, I have worked both fastfood and as a CNA (while in RN school) and CNA is a much better job believe me. I have never been treated so poorly as a person as when I worked fastfood.

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At my hospital, most of the CNAs are in it as a stepping stone position. They get benefits including tuition reimbursement, so unless they have a particular reason for remaining a CNA, they are all gunning for lpn or rn status eventually.

McDonalds has nothing compared to that, even if they paid more, which I don't think they do.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.

CNA position pays much more than McDonalds. I'd take a CNA position any day over working in a grease factory.

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