Is being a CNA a really hard job?

[Veronicax]

I am thinking about taking a CNA class to see if I would like being a nurse. I do enjoy helping people including the elderly. But is this job really hard? Do you use lifts to move patients in Nursing homes and hospitals? I do have neck and back pain sometimes due to needing a breasts reduction. So I would be wearing a back and possibly a neck brace while working. Also are you allowed to wear masks and goggles to protect you from germs? I've been told that some patients will try to spit and throw feces on you. Which is why I will definitely want to wear a masks and goggles.

[Julius Seizure]

Ease of finding a job is not the only thing that matters. Try to find something that will help you get to your end goal and fit you the best. There are jobs in those other fields out there, it jut might take more work to look for them. But better that that be miserable in a CNA job that was easy to get because nobody wanted it.

[amrana]

It is hard in the sense you have to know what you are doing. At the same time it is a rewarding job that requires compassion and understanding. I work with an agency and I love the places they sent me. it is also depends on the facilities you go.

[JerseyTomatoMDCrab, BSN]

I've been a nurse at 4 hospitals in 2 states and I have never heard of or seen a patient throw feces at a staff member, CNA or otherwise.

[Veronicax]

I like helping people and I like interacting with the elderly. I know a lot of CNA's say that working at the nursing home is really bad. But that working at hospitals is better I was thinking about relocating to LA or Arizona. Also I know it depends on where you live that determines where you get to work.

[Veronicax]

My mom has a degree in nursing however she doesn't work as a nurse. But I helped her see about my grandmother and auntie when they got sick. That's when I really realized I liked helping older people.

[Veronicax]

I've been looking on Indeed and I see that some CNA's are hired at different facilities not only nursing homes. Places like St Jude I would love to work somewhere like that. So I guess it depends on where you work and what kind of patients you work with in regards to how hard the work will be.

[neurogirl03]

Don't do it. It is much more physically demanding than nursing & l'm fit.

[al3x117, RN, EMT-B]

It is very strenuous work. Be prepared to get your hands dirty! I work as one in an assisted living facility at the moment. It is hard work! You will do the things that not many other people want to deal with! Good luck! Wish you all the best!

[Veronicax]

Well what would you suggest then? With the CNA I wouldn't take me that long to get and I can easily transfer to another state.

[al3x117, RN, EMT-B]

Go for it! Best of luck! Gotta get ready for my 9 hour shift. Unless I get called for a double then it's 14 hour shift.

[DTWriter]

Is being a CNA a really hard job?

Yes.

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Side note: As others mentioned, CNA is a labor-intensive job; it is definitely not for someone with back and neck pain. Not to discourage you but nurses do tend to do their jobs on top of the CNAs' job at times. Though there are nursing jobs that involve minimal to no patient contact, those jobs usually go to nurses with 2+ years of direct patient contact.

Being a sitter might be less labor-intensive than being a CNA, plus you get to observe the nurses. Try looking into that.

[imagenthings]

It is hard work, but some places have little or no lifting or moving of patients. Nursing home? Lots of lifting, moving, bathing, feeding etc. A clinic? Mostly vital signs and blood draw. We have CNAs in our clinic, but they call them PCAs, dont know why, but there is no physical labor to aggrevate your neck and back issues.