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

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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?

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. :nono:

{{{Cuddles}}}

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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?

Hi:

Good luck in your career choice. I too plan on being a RN when I am thru college. I work as a CNA now while attending classes for the RN Program. It really is important to see first hand what an RN/LPN does. You as an CNA do an very important job assisting these RN/LPNs. I can only stress that I would rather start from the bottom up. That way as you progress thru the chain to RN you will really appreciate and NOT take advanantage of what the CNA or LPN does.You see alot of thing first hand and when in your classes its not only books and classes you sometimes see just what they are talking about. Its not all about" changing diapers" its about the compasison and caring and how you make these people feel. TRUST ME its very important to get this right off the bat. That way you dont forget how you felt as you work your way to the top. Ive worked along some Nurses who never had to have the CNA class first, and it really bothers me on how they act. Im not going to treat the CNA or LPN or any other person I work with in my future that way because I have started from the bottom and I can say Ive been there and done that. Respect between co-workers should be both ways not only deserving to the Nurse in charge.

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:( Wow, I can't believe you actually wrote that. I am sure you are going to be blasted. As a nurse, you are responsible for complete care, head to toe, all needs. There are no glorious nursing jobs, I agree that you need to rethink your career choice, sorry. Also, I am very curious, are your parents alive? hmmmmmmmmm
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Unlike many programs at the CC level, the RN program has a limit on the number of students that can be trained. This relates to clinicals and the number of preceptors to students. Now, understand that the number is limted. How would you like to lose a spot in acceptance to someone who loses it at the first sight of poo? I don't know about you, but I would rather have the spot. One way to find out if you are going to freak is to put you through a CNA course first. This is fair to the students applying for a limited number of spots. One more thing. Please don't get me wrong, I will carry the title RN with a lot of pride. But, I WILL NEVER forget that my job is pt care. You don't have to like it. It's not your call, but for Heaven's sake if your too good to help your pt, go do something else.

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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?

I do not want to chime in here just to offend someone but here is a basic fact you should understand. CNA's do nursing tasks to reduce a nurses workload. Is it glamorous? NO! Does every nurse involved in direct patient care do it? ABSOLUTELY! Your reservation about the basics of nursing care should tell you that nursing is not a career choice for you.

Also, one more thing, I too felt anxiety about CNA tasks and would probably have argued the need to be a CNA first before a nurse. However, I did get my CNA and worked as one. Ask me today and my response would be that no one should be allowed into nursing school without first being a CNA.

Best wishes to you, you have some tough decisions to make.

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I'm guessing the OP has long since gotten the point by now. :deadhorse

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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?

I went throught he CNA program first - and although later chose a program that had different requirements, I definitely see the advantages of going up a career ladder. I worked for a year as a CNA in a SNIF between programs. It is hard, back-breaking work, and CNA's will always have my respect!! If the CNA does not do her job, or do it well, who's responsibility is it that the client receives decent care??? THE RN!! Where ever you eventually choose to practice - you will always have unpleasant tasks as part of client care. If the rewards of caring for people who desperately need good nursing care do not out weigh the "yuckines" of unpleasant, but vital tasks - - you are heading down the wrong road!!! Maybe you should look into RT or radiology tech???

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working in the nursing home vs working in a hospital= in the hospital in our area the rn is responsible for everything for meds adl's charting and feeding, treatments etc. vs the nursing home Iwork in, I assits in others tasks like dressing, feeding all adls and tranfers. The rn does the treatments charting assesments meds and other things like that. My point I was trying to make was that you really should be a CNA so you can see these first hand,not just come off the street and olny be book smart, no offense to anyone....

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Being a CNA is a very rewarding thing! I've been a CNA for 9 years and have never looked back. If you can't get past the duties, perhaps you are not ready to be a nurse. The nurses in the hospital I work in do just as much "clean up" as the techs go.

If you are indeed serious about nursing, get your CNA and work as a CNA for a while. At least a year. You'll be better prepared to be a nurse and will not have to struggle as much to understand the terminology or understand what your duties are.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

I know that you may hate the idea of going thru CNA training first but you should if you want to be a nurse. I unfortunately did not and I found that things in Nursing School were much harder and more stressful for me than for those that had the CNA Training. The first semester in Nursing School when we all had 3 classes those with CNA training had more breathing room in Fundamentals of Nursing. As a RN I constantly have to be involved with CNA work and I don't see that changing anytime soon. In regards to speciality professions I also would like to be involved with Pediatrics but those are much sought after jobs and usually require a BSN or a BSN RN gets preference. Hope this helps.

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Specializes in Rehab.

One of my rules of managing CNAs is: "I will never ask you to do something I wouldn't do myself." That includes bedpans, briefs and buckets (emesis). Another thing my nsg school taught us was our scope of practice. This includes all the requirements of a CNA plus the specialized functions that make us nurses. I don't think it's fair that a nurse can not help out an aide by doing vitals, or toileting patients if he/she has minute or two.

Blessings.

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:nurse: Hi there - times are changing. All of the hospitals in my area require "non-nurse applicants" to be CNAs and, almost without exception, the nursing schools locally have added that to their pre-reqs. I treasure my CNA and HHA training because it gave me hands-on experience that only reinforced my commitment to become an R.N. Currently I'm half-way through my LVN clinicals and work side-by-side with RNs, LVNs and CNAs. Nothing is "above" any of us. I will use the bridge program at the hospital to go on to my RN. In my experience, nothing could have better prepared me than the CNA training; it emphasized the commitment to patient care, and weeded out the people who weren't meant for the profession. One former classmate said, "I just want to become an RN; I don't want to touch poo"! My mom's an RN, my aunt was an RN, my sister-in-law is an RN and all of them, as an earlier posting wrote, "(would) never ask you to do something (they) wouldn't do.. ." The RNs with whom I work, as well as the LVNs continually contribute to patient care, up to their elbows. It's not glamorous, it's hard work, and there is nothing in the world that feels better than hearing a patient saying, "...I feel much better now..." after a treatment. Please think about the enlightened comments written above by people who can help you look at your situation in a much more positive light. Don't fight it, acccept this as a great learning experience and, before you know it, you'll embrace it as part of your nursing career. Best wishes and God bless you!
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