I want to be a CNA but I feel discouraged.

[5ummer]

I'm currently taking my pre-reqs for nursing school and I really want to work part time being a CNA.The school that I am at requires nursing students to get CNA certified. I already have a part time job at the moment working retail. I have to admit I love it. But I'm getting at the point where I want to work in the medical field right now to gain experience. I want to work as a CNA and volunteer at the same time at the hospital. But my mom keeps telling me that I won't enjoy my job being a CNA and that its not gonna be medical experience and that I would be better off just sticking to being a volunteer. I have an acquaintance who is a CNA and you can tell she does not even like her job. The only reason she says she is a CNA is because she wants to get a job in the hospital. I just keep getting negativity even when I mention being a CNA it just seems so discouraging.

[BaileyC]

I'm sorry you've been so discouraged from getting a CNA job...I just started working as a CNA this past summer, and I really like it so far! I work in a geriatric mental health unit as well as at a chemical dependency center (that one is really easy). Yes, there are the not-so-fun part of the job, but they are also really rewarding. Also, it pays better than working in retail. And you do learn more about hospitals and the environment you're working in, and you learn how to build relationships and network with co-workers. You aren't going to LOVE every single job you ever have...that being said, I think it is a great, humbling experience, and can be VERY rewarding. I would encourage you to send your resume to a few different places and maybe try to get a job on a unit that you have interest in--that helps!

[AZMOMO2]

If you can try and get a CNA job at the hospital level instead of the Nursing Home Level, it changes the job satisfaction in most people a lot.

Not going to fool you it's tough work and thankless a lot of the time, but so is nursing as a profession. But it is great experience and can build your skills if you let it. It's not always just changing diapers.

Best of luck on your decision.

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

It is not an easy job, that's for sure, but it is definitely worth the effort, if only so you know you are going in the right direction. If you can come out of work after a 12-hour shift as a CNA and still feel proud of making a difference, you can be pretty confident that you'll continue to have that feeling as you move on to becoming a nurse.

I'm not sure why your mom is saying it won't be medical experience. No, you won't be passing meds, but that's not all a nurse does. Your first class in nursing will be a lot of what you'll learn in a CNA course, and those are skills you'll be called on to use as an RN frequently - body mechanics, a few medical terms/abbreviations, how to care for different patient populations with specific needs (geriatrics, rehabilitation, mental health issues, and so on), and so many other things. It will at least get you some exposure to a patient-care environment so you know what you might be able to expect.

Also, if you become a CNA now, that will help set you up for an easier transition into nursing when you graduate. It's hard to get a job starting out, and if you have the references from a nursing home, hospital, or wherever you end up working, that means a lot. Even with good references from your retail job, it will mean even more to your future employer(s) to know that you'll been employed in a healthcare setting before and that you were successful. You might even slide into a position where you're already working after your graduate if the fit's right. You never know what will come of it.

I'm sorry you're getting so much discouragement from the people close to you. As PPs have said, it's tough and not always fun and games, but I think you will find a lot of good things about it! Nothing beats knowing that you've taken good care of someone and made them more comfortable at the end of the day. Good luck with this, and let us know where you end up!