I HATE Working as a CNA in a Nursing Home (RN student)

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Specializes in Psychiatric RN & Retired Psychiatric CNA.

I tried to find the appropriate place to put this and thought this section was right because I want advice from nurses who has been in my situation.

Have any of you RNs that worked as a CNA in a nursing home experienced belittling by the older CNAs/and SOME LPNs because of being an RN student.

Its almost as if every conversation they(LPNs) start with me, it ends up being why they had to clean up an RNs mess once upon a time. I even had one that said RNs are only better at documentation and charting and LPNs are better bedside. I'm honestly sick of it. I never told them I was in RN school. My supervisor did because I told her for obvious reasons.

Then there's the CNAs who project their feelings upon me for not going to school to further their education so now they're stuck at a dead end job.

I'm honestly thinking about quitting and finding a job in the hospital as a tech. I only have one year left.

Any words would be kindly appreciated.

p.s. I work 10-6 night shift and I'm prn. I have slowly dwindled my days down from working 3-4 days a week to one day a week.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hang in there and don't let them dampen your spirit. You have a year left and before you know if, a year will be here. Keep up the good Work!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric RN & Retired Psychiatric CNA.
Hang in there and don't let them dampen your spirit. You have a year left and before you know if, a year will be here. Keep up the good Work!

Thank you for your kind words! My spirit can't be broken but it has opened my eyes. I'm going to stick it out until the end of the year and then look for a hospital job. I think it'll be good on a resume as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you secure a position as a hospital tech, go ahead and give your notice then. If you are relying on this job to support you, then yes maybe you should just keep your head down and carry on. I have experienced the same kind of comments in long term care as a student. "Why do they even bother sending us RN students! It's not like they will be doing any of this stuff when they are RNs". I do believe that there's a few out there that hope RN students will fail at these types of jobs so they can say "they could never do what we do". That's not to say that there aren't great CNAs in long term care, I have a tonne of respect for what they do. There are just unfortunately a surplus of bad apples in this setting. Can't really complain because if I was working in long term care I'd probably be a big grump as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric RN & Retired Psychiatric CNA.
If you secure a position as a hospital tech, go ahead and give your notice then. If you are relying on this job to support you, then yes maybe you should just keep your head down and carry on. I have experienced the same kind of comments in long term care as a student. "Why do they even bother sending us RN students! It's not like they will be doing any of this stuff when they are RNs". I do believe that there's a few out there that hope RN students will fail at these types of jobs so they can say "they could never do what we do". That's not to say that there aren't great CNAs in long term care, I have a tonne of respect for what they do. There are just unfortunately a surplus of bad apples in this setting. Can't really complain because if I was working in long term care I'd probably be a big grump as well.

So glad that someone has been there before! I'm going to start applications now. Thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I tried to find the appropriate place to put this and thought this section was right because I want advice from nurses who has been in my situation.

Have any of you RNs that worked as a CNA in a nursing home experienced belittling by the older CNAs/and SOME LPNs because of being an RN student.

Its almost as if every conversation they(LPNs) start with me, it ends up being why they had to clean up an RNs mess once upon a time. I even had one that said RNs are only better at documentation and charting and LPNs are better bedside. I'm honestly sick of it. I never told them I was in RN school. My supervisor did because I told her for obvious reasons.

Then there's the CNAs who project their feelings upon me for not going to school to further their education so now they're stuck at a dead end job.

I'm honestly thinking about quitting and finding a job in the hospital as a tech. I only have one year left.

Any words would be kindly appreciated.

p.s. I work 10-6 night shift and I'm prn. I have slowly dwindled my days down from working 3-4 days a week to one day a week.

I've seen lots of CNAs turn to nurses and most of them have no problem with their co-workers. The ones who do all have something in common, though ...they think of themselves as "nursing students" more than CNAs. At work, leave your "studentness" at the door. It shouldn't be a topic of discussion as your work duties should keep you plenty busy enough. If someone else brings it up, change the subject.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric RN & Retired Psychiatric CNA.
I've seen lots of CNAs turn to nurses and most of them have no problem with their co-workers. The ones who do all have something in common, though ...they think of themselves as "nursing students" more than CNAs. At work, leave your "studentness" at the door. It shouldn't be a topic of discussion as your work duties should keep you plenty busy enough. If someone else brings it up, change the subject.

I'm a CNA. I work as a CNA. I am well aware of my duties and scope as a CNA.

The nurses are the ones who starts the conversations when there's actually downtime or whenever I have to go in the station to ask for supplies.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm a CNA. I work as a CNA. I am well aware of my duties and scope as a CNA.

The nurses are the ones who starts the conversations when there's actually downtime or whenever I have to go in the station to ask for supplies.

Like I said, change the subject.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am not an RN student but an LPN student, and they may be unhappy as a CNA or wanting greener pastures.. Something that is really difficult to obtain.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I knew that I did not want to work in a facility so I worked as a home health aide while I went to school. I probably would have made more money if I worked in a facility, but the hours were flexible, I could pick up extra if I wanted and I adored the families that I worked with (one was an older gentlemen and one was a pediatric client).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric RN & Retired Psychiatric CNA.
I knew that I did not want to work in a facility so I worked as a home health aide while I went to school. I probably would have made more money if I worked in a facility, but the hours were flexible, I could pick up extra if I wanted and I adored the families that I worked with (one was an older gentlemen and one was a pediatric client).

That is one BIG possibility. I am currently looking at the local home health places. I worked for one but the hours were horrible (3 hrs a day) and pay was even worse. (7.50)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am an LPN who has also worked in a nursing home alongside CNA's and RN's. The CNA's and nurses said the negative things that you mentioned. If you leave your current job, you will get that attitude where ever you go.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment