How to become a CNA again.

[roreyn02]

I have a very odd question to ask: How do I get back to work as a nursing assistant? As some of you may read about a month ago.. I was fired. For incompetence as well as a bit of an angry outburst. Im an LPN, just got my license in 2012, and the thought of going back to being a nurse makes me feel horrible. I was so unhappy with the job. Since the day I began working as a nurse ive slowly become more and more angry and frustrated. I absolutely hated being a nurse. I dont even want to be a medication aid. I dont want to touch pills. I went into the field of nursing to "be there" for someone in need..

I was proud as a nursing assistant. I felt great. I was always told how nice and patient I was by residents. I was often told I was their favorite. Female residents wanted me to care for them over other female staff. I didn't have to worry about giving anyone medication, or assesing or talking to an angry doctor or calling the shots. Another thing I just HATED about the job, was being the "leader" or the "boss". As a nurse I was happy to get paid more, but after awhile there was something I missed, and it was the feeling that I was competent, and capable. I missed people knowing they could count on me. I miss feeling like the best guy for the job. And im ready to take a lower salary to have those things back.

Im currently working in a warehouse putting groceries on a pallet. It pays even better than a nurse, eventually if one sticks at the job long enough and is productive enough they will get as much as an RN makes, no education or training needed. Im not getting what I want out of this job either though... Im not able to feel like the best guy for the job. I dont feel like I fit in at the warehouse. Its hurting my shoulders having to jerk those packages off the ramps all day, and having to turn the wheel so far on the forklift cart to make sharp turns strains my shoulders even more. I never had this problem lifting people out of beds. Im not meeting the minimum productivity standards for this warehouse either... nowhere near it. And I do not see myself making it, ever. Im just not that fast. I am getting so stressed that I cant sleep, which is why im here typing to get all this off my chest even though I have to be there again in just a few hours.

Family and friends are going to be so upset with me. There going to be so confused as to why I would go through all the training and then become a CNA again. I could work at wal mart or something and make almost as much... But I dont see myself stocking shelves or being a cashier very well.. I made an amazing CNA and I wish i could go back... In fact I wish that instead of going anywhere near college that I would have just gotten this certification right out of high school and stayed there. But everyone, family, friend and peers said "your too smart for that job"...

[smartnurse1982]

You can't.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Have you considered working in a different area of nursing such as home health or hospice? This way, you'd work alone, away from the politics and would probably be able to feel like you made a difference for your single client at a time?

If you're set on working as a CNA, as long as you keep your CNA cert current, I think you could work as one, In most states, anyways.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

If you look at the websites for the hospitals in your area, you may see that a number of them are asking that their "patient care techs" (or CNA's) be a certified CNA or an LPN or EMT. If it doesn't, then I would send in a resume any way. Acute care utilizes an LPN in a CNA role for the most part.

You could always contact HR and state that you would like to be considered for a CNA position, as an LPN it is not the role for you and see what happens.

I would also check with home health, as it is more along the lines of what you may be looking for, as well as hospice agencies in your area. Both of these areas of nursing are an alternate way to perhaps get what you are looking for out of your career.

Good luck!

[smartnurse1982]

Wow,you have received great advice.

From reading the old threads about this topic,i have read if you work as a nurse aide you will still be held to the higher standard,which in your case is an Lpn.

Would you be comfortable with that?

Check with your board,as some do not let nurses work "under" their licenses as nurse aides.

[andreasmom02]

Like smartnurse1982 said, you might not be able to. You should contact your Board of Nursing in your state for more information on it. I'm not sure if one can work as a CNA when you're an LPN, because you know the knowledge of an LPN, and may be held to LPN standards. If you let the LPN license lapse, or expire, then one might be able to work as a CNA... However, again, I would contact your Board of nursing. I personally, would never let my LPN license just lapse either, never know when I might need it.

I've been an LPN since 2008, and I know where you're coming from though. I haven't had much luck with finding an LPN job either where I'm "feeling the love" for the job. I wanted to be an RN for years, and actually only need two more classes at my local community college to be an RN-ADN. I just don't know if I want the responsibility anymore of being an LPN or RN. I have high BP, and nursing is just so stressful. I don't want the stress of it. I currently working as a PRN health screener nurse for a staffing company and really like it. It's a low stress job. You should Google health screener nurse jobs if you want something low stress.

I am actually really considering going back to college to become a Certified surgical tech. I have all of the pre-reqs for it. Then I would be an LPN/CST. I've always like the operating room, and wish I had become a CST over LPN. When I was in nursing school, I loved my O.R. rotations. I know CST's deal with their own stresses in the O.R., but it's a different kind of stress. I like the idea of being a CST because it's a routine job. I have a lot of friends who are RNs, & they all seem miserable. I also used to go to church with a lady who was an O.R. RN nurse manager. She was manager over the nurses in her hospital, & had been for years, and seemed to hate her job. She always seemed stressed out & grouchy. I just don't want to be that way my whole life. I know many, many nurses love their jobs.... I just know I've never loved one LPN job I've had, and don't know if I want to be a bedside care or clinic nurse anymore. I wouldn't mind being a scrub nurse or LPN/CST though. Good luck to you!

[ambiance]

Just as vintagemother stated, you will most likely find happiness working in home health. I can definitely understand the undue stress a person can have by being responsible for so many patients at one time. As a home health nurse, there is still a measure of responsibility, however many would agree with the statement that it is to a more managable degree. Home health nurses work in a case by case basis so you will still be able to get that "hero" feeling as you help individuals who cannot perform tasks on their own or without supervision. I think you should give home health nursing a try; you might be pleasently surprised :)

[systoly]

why not contact your BON

your PN license expires this year, right?

"Who says you can't go home?" (Bon Jovi, but so true)

pursue your happiness and explain to your family and friends

that you cannot prosper while you're unhappy

another thought

who is more beneficial to the pt.s, an unhappy LPN or an excellent CNA

[roreyn02]

Just as vintagemother stated, you will most likely find happiness working in home health. I can definitely understand the undue stress a person can have by being responsible for so many patients at one time. As a home health nurse, there is still a measure of responsibility, however many would agree with the statement that it is to a more managable degree. Home health nurses work in a case by case basis so you will still be able to get that "hero" feeling as you help individuals who cannot perform tasks on their own or without supervision. I think you should give home health nursing a try; you might be pleasently surprised :)

Ive always been interested in home health, but I surely do not want to do it as a nurse.. Heres the thing, I dont beleive I ever was a nurse. Im just a guy who passed the exams with the minimum score to get thru nursing. I crammed when I studied and spit the info back out on the tests.

Now, when I actually did the nursing duties, it always felt.... awkward. Like when I would talk to a doctor on the phone, they seemed to wonder if they were speaking with a nurse, or housekeeping or something. My answer to the doctor was always, "I dont know" or "uhh.... whats that mean?" Im a bumbling clueless guy and im a complete klutz. The more intense and acute a situation gets the stupider I get. And that is NOT going to change... Now, im pretty certain that im a very smart individual... I dont have the kind of intellegence that a true nurse has though, which is intellegence in an acute situation and the ability to recall all kinds of general health info...

Im perfectly ok with being a CNA or doing housekeeping, or some other low paying non-professional work for awhile till I find out where to go next. Im going to keep trying to increase productivity at this warehouse job.. But I can already feel that im going to fail, because I just hate this job too. Its extremely time intensive probably more so than nursing. Once I get away from this "rebound" job, im probably going to ask around see if theres places that will work me as a CNA, or just apply for housekeeping at a nursing home or something till my license expires. I doubt a place would check wether or not im licensed as a nurse if I apply for housekeeping.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

Well you will have to talk to your BON as some states you cannot be both an LPN & a CNA. You already are the LPN there's no changing that. Maybe try working in an outpt facility like an MD's office. There are minimal nursing skills/knowledge required in certain positions.

[Kennedi]

Did you go back to CNA work? I’m feeling the same way! I know it’s been years since you asked and was wondering if your still on here