Is a CNA's job a good reflection of what an RN does?

[natd9]

I'm currently taking a CNA course through Red Cross, just finished my second week of class yesterday. I do not like the class. I took the class so I can start working in the health field while waiting to get into nursing school to become an RN, but I'm reconsidering it. Any help is appreciated.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

There is nothing that a CNA does that is not a nursing duty, albeit those for which a license is not required. If a hospital doesn't employ aides, and many don't, you will being doing all of the care. In addition you will be administering drugs, monitoring vital signs, and documenting. And dealing with families, physicians, yada yada yada.

[elkpark]

A CNA job is certainly not a good reflection of the RN role (the CNA scope of practice and responsibilities are only a small part of the RN scope of practice and responsibilities), but working as a CNA will put you in an environment to observe and work with RNs and that will give you a better idea of what an RN does.

[daimere]

I think it is. When my mom would tell me stories about having to clean up poop or being vomited on, I was like, "yep, not for me." Most people thinking of nursing as a glorious profession where you just give drugs and stick IVs but it's not. There's vomit, poop, families and death. I think CNA is a good way to see if you can handle those essential tasks that you will do as a nurse. Yes, there are some nurses that refuse to do those tasks but the best ones always do the CNA tasks when they can. At the same time, you can watch the nurses do their job. I love watching the nurses put in dressing changes.

[natd9]

Thanks to everyone for the help. I'm in a dilemma because I'm in my final semester of nursing pre-reqs, and I was going to apply to nursing schools in April/May. Now, I'm not sure... If I don't like the CNA course, I can just imagine how much I'm going to hate nursing school. It would be unfair for me to continue on with something that I dislike, but yet, I'm stuck with all these nursing pre-reqs I have taken over the years.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

You could always put those pre-reqs into a science degree and teach. There's a desperate need for HS and jr high science teachers.

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

You can become a radiology technician, or a respiratory therapist..or even a dental hygenist. There's a lot of allied health careers that have similar pre-req's.