I actually like being a CNA - should I become an RN?

[HospiceCarer]

After years of volunteering at a small LTC facility, I was laid off from my job in an unrelated technical field and I started working there as a CNA. I was constantly stressed about finding another job in an area with a terribly high unemployment rate and the administrator was constantly stressed about filling aide shifts, so I decided to try it out with the understanding that I could go back to volunteering if it didn't work out.

Well, I love it. I love taking care of people and I am actually pretty good at connecting with the patients in a way that makes them less anxious about what they are going through. I've been through the emotional parts of the job as a volunteer too -- losing people who you get really attached to -- and I can handle that.

I am now thinking of going back to school to become licensed as an RN. I'm really apprehensive though. It is a huge move and I've scared that the things that I love about being a CNA at a small facility, like the personal time that I get to spend with each patient, won't be part of a nursing career. I also don't like the idea of starting my education over again, but I can get over that if I know that it is the right thing for me to do.

What I need to know from the nice people on this board is whether or not it sounds like I am living in a insulated little bubble now and if all of the things I love about being a CNA will be pushed off by the huge increase in patient loads and responsibilities that being an RN will bring. I know that nursing school will be a tremendous amount of wor, but I'm not really worried about that. What I worry about is if I will get to the other side of it and the job won't look anything like what I am doing now. Should I just keep CNAing forever or until the job market improves and I can go back into my previous fiend - which I also enjoyed quite a bit?

Also, I don't mine poo and all, but it would be nice to be able to use my brain again instead of just my wiping hand.

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

I loved being a CNA and missed some of those moments with residents and patients that I had for 4 years when I became a nurse.

The only difficulty I had was that I couldn't survive on CNA pay for the rest of my career. When I became an RN my pay more than doubled.

otessa

[NurseCard, ADN]

Unless you really need the extra RN pay, why don't you just keep doing what you love? I have heard that, as an RN in LTC, you'll be doing much less patient interaction and much more supervising and paperwork. It's why I'm staying away from LTC.

[copey5000]

Maybe you might consider becoming an LPN, the school is shorter in duration and, as the title implies, you will be doing more "practical nursing" . The role of the practical nurse is geared more to attending to the direct care needs of the patient. The down side to being an LPN in LTC is that you will spend an overwhelming amount of your time passing medications. Still though, LPN might be a nice compromise beetween CNA and RN. Around where I live, school is available at VO-Tech type schools and lasts about 10 months. Hope this helps.

John C.

[HospiceCarer]

You will unfortunately as a nurse not have as much private time with your patients. That is a very sad reality for most nurses. Nursing school is tough and can be expensive. I suggest looking into a community college program. It's much cheaper and should take about 2 years or so to complete. The money will probably be at last double. It is where I live. Look into it and gather the info and then decide.

That's great advice. I am really lucky in that my local community college has a great nursing program. We also have a university very close by that is well known for its BSN program. The university offers a RN to BSN bridge program that I've heard really good things about. I would probably earn an associates to become an RN through the local community college and then consider the RN to BSN program.

I have 13 credits that I can apply to the nursing program that I earned for an associates in my previous field. It probably won't make the program any shorter for me, but it will be VERY nice to have mostly 14 credit semesters instead of four 17 to 18 credit semesters that I would if I were starting from scratch.

[HospiceCarer]

I wanted to thank everyone for the great information. One of the things that scares me away from the idea of just staying where I am indefinitely is that I don't think the non-profit that I work for is very stable. I love what we do at our facility, but there are many things about our business model that make me think that we will not be around for more than a couple of years. We're going to run out of wings and prayers one of these days, ya know.

While I love being a CNA where I am, I don't think that I would work in a traditional nursing home. I make $8 an hour so that I can do what I love, not so that I can get my heart broken by 20 or more patients in a nursing home wing that I have to go home after every shift knowing that I didn't do everything I should have for because I didn't have time. Bless everyone who works in traditional LTC because I flat out could not do it. With my current level of education and experience (which is a moderate amount in another field and very little in healthcare), if the non-profit I work for now did not exist, I would not work in healthcare.

I think I will look into the local RN programs, but with a special eye towards the fields, like critical care, that allow for low patient loads -- though I understand that doesn't mean low wor loads, just that you get to give plenty of care to each patient. I have an aunt who works as an RN in the ED. I think my next step will be to pick her brain and maybe see if she could get the hospital to allow me to shadow her (or anyone) for a few hours.

[sistasoul]

Dear Hospice

I would also look into shadowing a med-surge nurse as this is where a lot of new grads start out. I know a lot of the hospitals want you to have some med-surge experience before you go into critical care areas like the ER or the ICU. I would shadow both the ER and the medsurge nurse as both positions are very different.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

I love being a CNA but the pay sucks. I can't live on these wages forever. I considered going to RN school but I'd like to stay in geriatrics and all the nurses (RNs and LPNs both) at my workplace just pass pills. It just seems like no fun. What I like about my job is the teamwork with coworkers, joking around with the residents, staying active and busy, and playing "mother hen" to the residents + knowing them inside and out. The nurses don't get any of that. So I'm thinking about occupational therapy. Some of the OTs at work do a lot of ADLs with people. In fact there's one that will come in and tell you who she's going to do, and we CNAs can basically cross those people off our AM care list. She does absolutely everything. As an OT I'd be working more on the rehab side and probably still wouldn't have long-term relationships with the clients but I'd be able to spend more than 2 minutes with them and I'd make comparable money to a nurse. With better hours too.

[lifeistweet]

This is the time to get your education so when the job market turns around you are ready with your RN in hand. With your CNA experience, school and getting a job afterwards should be easier. Maybe your facility will help with your education. Just a thought. Nursing needs people that love nursing. You should definately go for it. Good Luck!:heartbeat

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

I am an RN in LTC and I spend much of my time on documentation. If it is the actual hands-on care you like become a nurse but stay on the floor.

:)

And thanks for being an excellent aide. They're invaluable.

[jemommyRN]

RN is a totally different position and although it encompasses some of the things a CNA does, its so much more that takes away from your patient interaction that you may not like it. I think you should follow an RN to see exactly whats involved before you make that huge decision.