I'm a CNA, not a MAID.

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · May 24, 2012

I hear ya. My first CNA job was at an assisted living facility(ALF). I had to help the residents with ADL's, set the table for meals, prepare their plates (it was served family style), serve it to them, collect & WASH the dishes, do their laundry, help with showers, and other various housekeeping tasks. All for $11/hr. :uhoh3: Being a CNA is a hard job, and sadly the pay does not compensate all that they do.

IEDave, ASN, CNA, LVN · May 24, 2012

Oh, been there - done that! And, yeah - it tends to be a bit galling when you look at it that way, but maids also don't do brief changes, toileting, peri care, transfers, bathing and all the other things that CNA's routinely do. Personally, I keep having these visions of a maid - trying to transfer a person in a Hoyer lift. :eek: Far as I'm concerned, I do the things for these people that they can't (not WON'T - CAN'T) do for themselves.

And, speaking only for myself - maids typically don't give a damn about their customers, whereas I do.

Left out one thing - I'm doing it all for $9 an hour, here in smoggy Southern California.

----- Dave (yep, card-carrying CNA)

allnurses Guide · May 24, 2012

I just figured it was a different type of CNA work with different expectations.

Not for me, no thanks.

Personally, I would rather be elbows deep in BM than cook...

And I believe my patients would be grateful for that.

Darkstar1485, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · May 24, 2012

I just figured it was a different type of CNA work with different expectations.

I guess it makes me mad when people think that's what a CNA does (in general). I mean, don't we do ENOUGH? Yes, I COULD do it, (if compensated accordingly for what I call "extras") Washing dishes and cooking are NOT things that should be expected... Especially when the person is only paying $7.50 p/h

And i agree. id rather wipe a crappy butt than wash dishes and cook. I feel like its a waste of my time and skills.

Darkstar1485, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · May 24, 2012

. All for $11/hr. Being a CNA is a hard job, and sadly the pay does not compensate all that they do.

11 bucks? I WISH. LOL i get paid 7.67 now, but i thank god my current job is pretty lax on the night shift. i used to do all that stuff when i worked at a home for special needs children. i got paid 12.00 an hour to start. i really liked it and did not mind the extra work bc the pay was decent, i love kids, and everyone worked well as a team. the time flew by.

bigboi · May 24, 2012

Its definitely not a glamorous job, thats for sure.

Bethhosek · May 24, 2012

My first CNA job was in a personal care home setting for schizophrenics and all they wanted me to do was cook, laundry, and clean. Now I work in a Skilled nursing facility and it is CNAwork. It is not glamorous but I know those elderly folks appreciate it. I always think....this could be me one day.

allnurses Guide · May 24, 2012

I guess it makes me mad when people think that's what a CNA does (in general). I mean, don't we do ENOUGH? Yes, I COULD do it, (if compensated accordingly for what I call "extras") Washing dishes and cooking are NOT things that should be expected... Especially when the person is only paying $7.50 p/h
And i agree. id rather wipe a crappy butt than wash dishes and cook. I feel like its a waste of my time and skills.

I completely agree.

I used to work for myself and always charged $15 (negotiable) an hour and that was without household chores (which I would not do).

I was once offered $6 an hour to take care of a heavy-care patient at home (along with those household chores!) and I respectfully declined and wished them good luck in finding a responsible worker that does quality care (and actually knows what they are doing) at that pay.

I find it disturbing, myself, that most folks do not know how much skill is involved in providing care (especially the more compromised patients).

After a while, I would not go to private homes and did all my work in facilities wherein families would personally pay me to be a private CNA for their loved ones.

I charged what I wanted and I never had to cook or do dishes!

The only catch was the possible liability, so I decided, after my last patient died, that I wasn't pushing my luck anymore and stopped working for myself.

It was nice while it lasted, though.

tomc5555 · May 24, 2012

I've been looking for jobs, and these places want CNA's to cook, do laundry, clean, and drive people places. Um.. maybe I got this wrong, but I dont remember learning any of these things during my CNA training. I REFUSE to clean your house, cook, or be your driver. If you want a cook, get a chef. If you want you house cleaned, get a housekeeper. If you want a driver.. well, you get where I'm going.. LOL.... just had to vent about that... i just get sick of people expecting CNA's to be servants.
What do you think?

It fulfills a need for people needing care to stay in a more residential setting. These are ADL's they can't do on their own. Home care can pay pretty good if one is paid privately. I have friends making $15 to $20 per hour to provide this type of care.

momtojosh · May 24, 2012

I am a LPN doing ALL that!!

I work in a house with 12 medically frail individuals...this is THERE home...they cannot clean,cook or do their laundry...

i came here to look for some insight as what to expect for the CNA state exam as my son is taking the course now....gonna go look at other threads

otilika · May 24, 2012

I hear you! Right now I am about to end my first job as a CNA, in home care. I realized I am not very fond of home care especially because you have to deal also with the client's family, and that's a daily thing. So I ended up also dusting, taking the garbage to the dump, filling up the bird feeder, sweeping the floors and other things that weren't on my job description. Did I think that was right? No. But I wanted a job to start with, and I was trying to get good references after my first job, so I kind of put up with it and did the work, knowing that I won't be doing this forever. Once you get some experience on your resume, it will be much easier to move on and do something you actually like. (I worked for an agency and made $11/hour.)

PS: I forgot to mention that the client's wife also used me as a therapist, when she would get overwhelmed and needed to vent (she'd start blaming me for everything that's bad). Also, I was expected to come up with games and activities to entertain her husband; so here we are- me put in the position of an occupational therapist.