Is it true, that if you don't like being a CNA, you won't like being a nurse?

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I'm just curious as to what everyone else thinks! :)

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No. Those are two completely separate jobs.

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I was curious. I'm a CNA and the Director of Nursing, who has a BSN, told me when I started the job that if you don't like being a CNA, you won't like nursing. I was just curious to how true that was and who agreed or disagreed. Thank you for your feedback!

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No way. I've been a CNA and I've been an LPN for over a decade.

Not gonna lie, I hated being a CNA, and I've loved most of my time as an LPN.

Im about to start my career as an RN based on how I felt being an LPN.

You do still do CNA work as a nurse, but it's only a small portion of what you actually will be doing.

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Well that's awesome!

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Specializes in NICU, Postpartum.

I certainly didn't love being a CNA (we called them PCTs), but I learned a lot of valuable information and reinforced a lot of skills I learned in nursing school! I worked as a float pool PCT and covered so many different floors - med/surg, MICU, cardiac surgery, cardiac med, transplant, bariatric, IR... and then I ended up being a mother/baby nurse and I loved it!

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I disagree. Being a nurse entails doing a lot of what CNAs do but there is a whole lot more critical thinking involved. I did not enjoy being a tech, but do love nursing profession.

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Specializes in Cardiac-ICU-IV-M/S, Anticoag Clinic-MH.

It would depend why you don't like being a CNA. If it's because you're not challenged then nursing should work. If it's because you don't like people then nursing is not a fit.

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I think it depends on what type of facility that you work as a CNA at..If you like LTC but just hate the CNA/Patient ratio, well then I think you will like Nursing, but IF you work at a hospital and like being a CNA there, you will really like Nursing..But if you hate being a CNA in a hospital you may not like Nursing...and Yes we still get our hands dirty..lol, so I guess it depends on what part of the CNA job description that you do not like..

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Well, I know I'm a weirdo because I loved being a CNA... being a nurse... not so much.

The responsibilities are way different. Just because you dislike being a CNA doesn't mean you'll dislike being a nurse.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Many people who hated working as CNAs actually enjoy the licensed nursing role.

With regards to the invisible healthcare hierarchical structure, CNAs and patient care techs have mountains of backbreaking work and responsibilities for low pay, but no authority. It is a tough predicament that few would envy.

As a nurse, at least you have a small semblance of authority and earn higher pay for the sheer number of duties for which you are responsible.

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When I was still working on a Med-Surg floor, I loved to be assigned as a circulator nurse for a shift. Being a circulator is basically doing CNA's tasks when CNA is short on the floor. I loved it because critical thinking or long charting for assessment was not required. On the other hand, I hated working as a Med-Surg nurse.

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