HELP! I DON"T WANT TO GO THROUGH CNA first...

TrudyRN · Feb 7, 2007

I am sorry that you feel that way. With out cna's where would you be? Wiping back sides and giving showers. I am a cna and in a health core program right now. I am so tired of hearing "its not my job, I did not go to school for that, or they don't pay me enough money to clean those people up." How sad that you feel this way, just remember that what you dish out you will recieve. I wish that all states required you to be a cna before you applied to a health core program. I pity you, your attitude is not a compasionate one at all.

She's just being honest, cuddles. Also, do you really think that, once you get licensed, you are going to still want to do what you are doing now?

No one is putting aides down, it's just that a lot of people aspire to cleaner work, work that is physically easier. I personally have a physical condition that does not permit me to do much lifting, tugging, pulling, pushing. If I had to work as an aide, my family and I would probably starve. That doesn't mean that I don't appreciate my aides.

Do remember that nurses have tasks that only they are permitted by law to perform. If they are constantly out doing aide work, who will do theirs? No one.

Good luck in school. :smilecoffeecup:

Ann RN · Feb 7, 2007

To the OP - I have read this entire thread. And I sincerely hope you find your dream job. But I doubt it will be in nursing. Over the past 30 years I have seen so many nurses enter the profession for all the wrong reasons. I wish you the best.

2bNurseguru · Feb 7, 2007

What can one do to prevent from puking or gagging when cleaning poop or puke? I have a very sensitive stomach and gag when changing my child.

Please give me tips.

deleern · Feb 7, 2007

Vicks menthol vapor rub..... I keep a tiny one in my pocket. it helps. I share it with my NA's. We have 2 clinical groups in our LTC this semester. one group has never been CNA's and the Other has .... there is a hight and day Difference in thier approch to the residents.

diogol · Feb 7, 2007

This is really not to put any profession down but I've dreamed of being a nurse for soooo long, now only to discover that before entering my LVN program, I have to get the CNA title first! I am horrified of having to do some of the tasks described! This is not whaat I dreamed of all these years, I was thinking more along the lines of changing newborn diapers, not old folk diapers! CAN ANYONE BRING ANY CONSOLATION?

Please give up, try another thing to do please, nursing is not easy for the ones who likes this job, but will be the darkess side of your life if you chouse to made it.

sorry, i don't want you to care of me if you dont like nurturing.

be honest whit you, life is only one, do what you love to do.

malka · Feb 7, 2007

I agree with the other writers on this subject. If you love to help people you will love nursing. I work Long Term Care as an LPN. That is how I returned to nursing after a long absence away from the profession that in my younger days and going through geratrics for rotation, I could tell that at that time old people were not my cup of tea. But as an older person now, I love the people I care for and we will ALL one day be an older person who will need someone to take care of us. Would you want someone like yourself and your thinking want to have someone with a bad attitude taking care of you as an older person when the day comes? It will come when you get ooollllldddd and you may not be able to take care of yourself. Nursing, in general does not need people with bad attitudes, bellieve me, bad attitude CNAs and nurses alike are not needed in the work place. It drags everyone down and for the charge nurse it makes the entire shift feel as though you are running a babysitting services for the CNAs who don't care

Babies are fine. I hope you find a nice man, get married and have some. They are alot of work too. They are the smaller, younger version of older people.

Dolce, RN · Feb 7, 2007

I have been cruising this website for a long time but have finally signed up and wanted to share my perspective on this issue. I started nursing school when I had just barely turned nineteen. The first semester was the hardest learning experience of my life--so much learning to do in just the basic care of human beings. The CNAs in my class were easily absorbing the material because it was all simply review for them. They already were a mile ahead of me in their understanding and were quick to share their own experiences and knowledge. I really felt like I was missing some huge piece of the nursing puzzle because I had never worked as a CNA myself. During clinicals, they always knew exactly what to do to help out and were quick to learn new skills since they already had mastered the basics of vital signs, bed baths, ADLs, etc. It wasn't until the middle of my second semester of nursing school that I finally felt like I had started to "catch on" to what it might be like to be a nurse.

Looking back, it would have been very advantageous to have had the CNA experience prior to entering nursing school. Not only does it give a person a better feel for what a nurse does, but it gives a person the opportunity to fully know the CNA role. Nurses who have been CNAs are often much better "helpers" than those who have skipped that step. All that said, I graduated with my RN degree just like the CNAs in my class. But, if I were to do it all over again it would have been a smart idea to become a CNA first.

aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Feb 7, 2007

This is really not to put any profession down but I've dreamed of being a nurse for soooo long, now only to discover that before entering my LVN program, I have to get the CNA title first! I am horrified of having to do some of the tasks described! This is not whaat I dreamed of all these years, I was thinking more along the lines of changing newborn diapers, not old folk diapers! CAN ANYONE BRING ANY CONSOLATION?

Give it time. I thought this same thing when they changed the RN requirements at my school. I'm now in the CNA class which is really easy. My mind has been changed though because I am learning VALUABLE skills right now that I will use for the REST OF MY CARREER. This class has been very beneficial to me.

Plus, nobody said you HAVE to WORK as a CNA either. You just have to take the class. I do suggest also working as one.

Like I said earlier, I too was not happy that I had to do the CNA class but now that I'm in it, I appreciate it much much more.

:smilecoffeecup:

serousanguineous · Feb 7, 2007

*irritated by this thread*

I agree with most of the responses on this- don't become of nurse if you don't like "dirty" jobs...

And thank God for the CNAs who help nurses do those dirty jobs.

This reminds me of the little old people I've had as patients who have been so embarrassed at their "Accidents" and have even cried when having to ask for my help. I think caring for people in their most vulnerable times is what nursing is about, and I've recieved heartfelt thank yous as well as increased trust from patient's as a result of that aspect of my career.

lookingforward · Feb 7, 2007

all this is fine and dandy serousanguineous, but the reality is that you don't have to enjoy poop to be a good nurse! it is a rewarding profession but that's why there's a ladder to climb after cna! originally i was asking for consolation and let me tell you i have had as many "private" messages of consolation as these harsh ones you have read on this thread! i will emphasize private. why because ppl are afraid to be honest. just because you don't dream of cleaning poop all day doesn't mean you don't want to care for the elderly! i can handle blood and other body fluids but just don't dream of making a living out of changing briefs all day. it is true that going through cna school will allow me a heads-up on what it takes to be an rn, but i do feel that rns never intended to hold a nursing position working wih poop all day long, just my opinion! thanks for reading!

ILWannabeRN · Feb 7, 2007

Nursing is a really bad idea for you I think....I am a student, and had to go through the CNA class, which I actually enjoyed quite a bit. I got to work at a nursing home where I gained TONS of knowledge about patient care, and EVERY SINGLE NURSE (RN or LPN) had to clean up the poo, the puke, and help bathe patients from time to time. Add to that paperwork, and time constraints, and that's what an RN or LPN does.

If you can't handle being a CNA, there's no way you'll make it as an LPN or RN. Perhaps try working in a office or something...no bathing, poo or puke there!

I hope it doesn't sound mean, but RN's do EVERYTHING a CNA does, and more.

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Feb 7, 2007

Lookingforward:

If you really want to become a nurse then suck it up and take the class. Just remember YOU WILL CLEAN POO AS A NURSE. We aren't immune to doing those "dirty" tasks. What kind of response did you expect, especially from those on the board that are CNA's? Did you expect to hear that nurses never clean up poo,puke,vomit,etc. Did you think nursing was all sitting at the nurses station and maybe passing out pills and assessment and thats all? We have many other yucky tasks like ostomy care? These people really are already embarrassed as it is that they don't have normal bowels, and sometimes they leak, explode. Would you clean up or let them sit like that and look for the CNA? I don't like to clean up poo, but I knew going into nursing that it was part of the job. Helping the CNA clean up poo or give a bath is a great time to do your skin assessment. If you work ICU you give the baths with the assist of a CNA. If you don't want to clean up poo then don't be a nurse. These people don't want to be incontinent or unable to get out of bed becuase they are too sick and intubated or weak, etc.

You can do as some posters have suggested using a mint or vicks. I don't recommend a mask because you could offend the patient. If you truly want to be a nurse you will be able to move beyond this. Just remember you and the CNA are a team! You should help each other. Also I think this class will help. As many others have said, you will have already gotten down the basics of bed baths and VS. I just remember those who worked in healthcare were ahead in the basic skills. Like I said take the class. You might find it a good idea to work as a CNA while in nursing school. I was a nurse extern the last semester before I graduated and it REALLY helped me make that student to nurse transition.

If you really want to be a nurse go for it, but remember no nurse is immune to cleaning poo. So good luck to you as to what you decide to do.