Is being a CNA a really hard job?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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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.

PCA is Patient Care Associate where I am they are Patient Care Technicians. I was told that they are a step above CNA's they have a license in Phlebotomy and EKG. I'm going to see a chiropractor about my back and neck so hopefully that will help.

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.
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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.

Go into Social Work, or volunteer in the Activities/Recreational Therapy Department.

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Specializes in critical care ICU.

You could work in an outpatient setting like taking vital signs/doing EKGs/etc. EKGs by the way don't require a separate license. All of our CNAs in our unit can do EKGs. They just had to demonstrate competency and be signed off on it. And it is easy. In an outpatient setting you probably wouldn't experience much EKG or phlebotomy.

I'm a nurse on a busy tele floor with a lot of dependent patients. I can handle a lot of transfers especially if I get help from a CNA. With 2 people it's easier. And if you learn the proper technique you can make something that looks difficult pretty simple. I had a severe back injury in 2011 and it flares up now and then. My coworkers understand and don't hesitate to help if it's just one of those days. You kind of have to be the judge. I don't know the extent of your pain or functioning. Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in New Grad 2020.

Did it for 3 1/2 years and soon going back (got a job just going through the drug test and stuff)

It's hard work. If you can't lift or need some kind of brace you should reconsider CNA and nursing.

If you do work as one pray you get supportive RNs to work with. I worked with ones that would help with the dirty work when time allowed. They make it doable. If you work with ones that think it's below them it can make it harder.

Where I worked you could only wear goggles and masks for certain situations (drop precautions for example) wearing that when dealing with a self conscious patient that just got a brand new ostomy bag is not gonna cut it. Even if it is the stinkest thing in the world you gotta be tough

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Specializes in ICU, ER, NURSING EDUCATION.

Being a CNA is a very hard job.

But a great CNA is worth their weight in gold!✨✨✨

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Specializes in ICU, ER, NURSING EDUCATION.

Being a CNA is a hard job. A great CNA is worth their weight in gold!

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Specializes in ICU; Telephone Triage Nurse.

Why not consider working in a veterinarians office instead? You may get bit or scratched - but you run the same risks as a CNA/PCT. Plus, the heavy lifting is less of an issue.

A CNA or nursing job is physically back breaking, exhausting work - and agree for very little play.

In a vet's office you are still helping those in need - and I believe it would also be psychologically satisfying.

Another option is to become a certified dental assistant, and if you like it then consider possibly dental hygiene. They make as much as a CNA/PCT does, and hygienists make the same, if not more than an RN does (all without cleaning any poop) especially if you become anesthesia certified to numb up the gums to do root planning in a periodontal office.

You have many health care options if that is the field you have you heart set on. Good luck! Whatever you chose - best of luck to you my friend! You CAN do it!

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My mom and two of my aunts used to work together as CNAs. One of my aunts hurt her back a few weeks into the job, and she quit. My other aunt left because she didn't want to do the actual work, and all she wanted to do was eat bagels during orientation. My mom was left and figured she'd just go into nursing. So she went for her LPN then RN. Besides that, a few of my classmates worked as CNAs during LPN school, and they will attest to the back-breaking work CNAs do. In a sense it made them aware of what not to do as nurses. I was going to suggest working as a DSP (Direct Support Professional) at a group home setting. The pay isn't the best, but you could always move up in the agency. It wouldn't necessarily be back-breaking but you will deal with people with disabilities.

Through LPN school I worked at a group home. The residents were high functioning, and the aim was for them to be as independent as possible. In the end, they would live either by themselves or with a roommate. We would supervise them taking their medications, make sure they go to their programs, make sure they reach their goals, and we would pretty much be a support system for them. The difficult portion of the job was that it was all learning as you worked. I also worked overnight, so my supervisor was on-call. Sometimes an emergency happens such as disputes among residents that escalate or a resident relapsing. So it definitely kept me on my toes a bunch of times. All of the residents also had some sort of mental health issue, so there's another thing to add to the equation. In the end, it was sometimes a tough job. It wasn't physically demanding, but it sure was mentally demanding. Good luck in whatever your pursue!

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The neck and back pain comes from me having large breasts I hope going to see a Chiropractor will help with that. I talked to someone who works as a PCT and she said she has worked in a hospice center and with postpartum patients and babies. I thought other CNA's help with the heavy lifting or that you use lifts. And that you are taught in training how to lift patients without injuring yourself. These are things that I've been told but I don't know if this is actually the case. I picked CNA because the training doesn't take long and if I decide to relocate I can transfer my license. Dental Assisting was my first choice but then I see so many people complaining about how they can't get a job because they have no experience.

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I worked as an aid in the hospital for 4 yrs and loved it. To me it wasn't bad on the back and neck. unless you don't use proper body mechanics you should be fine. I worked in med surge so thats all i know about. NOW, nursing home is a different story. I'm nurse at a nursing home, I wouldn't be a cna at a nursing home if they paid 50.00 an hour. That is some back breaking work. Those poor aids have far to many residents to care for. I'm there to help them when ever they need though.

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I agree with you 100% iluvernsg

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Specializes in CVICU, CCRN.

If you can help it, try to get another job. I was able to get a job straight out of school (an ICU position at that) without any medical experience (not even work experience lol). And considering your injuries, it'd be best not to chance anything. It's a physically taxing job and many cnas I know doesn't seem all that happy.

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