Just gave up a decent income to be a CNA

gobux90 · Mar 31, 2010

I took the plunge about 6 1/2 months ago. It hasn't been easy financially - I took a 50% pay cut - but it was part of the big plan. I took the job as a tech after my 4th quarter (of 7) in nursing school. The experience has been invaluable & getting my foot in the door of the organization (one of the biggest in Columbus, OH) was priceless...my nurse manager has offered me a job upon graduation in June!!! :nurse:

Nothing in life that is worth it is ever easy....but if you have a dream, go for it. It will all work out!!

Good Luck!

slmmarsh · Mar 31, 2010

GOBUX90 - What system did you get in with? Is it one of the hospitals where you also have clinicals? What school are you going through?

My family and I are wrestling with staying in Columbus area or moving to a more Rural area where my Fiance's family is from so we can live better on less...(wont have to pay for daycare and such)

baliling, BSN · Mar 31, 2010

how about giving up a UN job to become a nurse? I have enjoyed such a highly well recognised job but I was looking for satisfaction. So, whatever our motivation to become a nurse I hope we put our patient first and demonstrate more empathy, care and compassion. I am now doing my nursing training programme in first year and I am loving it and no regret giving up my UN job!

nrcnurse · Mar 31, 2010

I blame it on a mid-life crisis, but seven years ago I quit my job as a corporate CFO, had absolutely no idea what I would do, and a few months later ended up being a CNA. It was the most bizarre, and amazing, thing I have ever done. (If anyone had told me I'd be a nurse oneday, I would have wondered what they were smoking.) There are not words to explain what happened to me after my first CNA clinical (when I went home wanting to shower in Clorox and burn my scrubs), but it was transformational. I did the steps, CNA, LPN, RN and am working on my NP. That CNA "pay cut" I took was the best career move I've ever made.

gobux90 · Mar 31, 2010

slmmarsh -

I am a 7th quarter student at Columbus State - in the on-line program.

I did have a couple of clinicals at Riverside and loved the hospital, so it worked out when I was able to get a position as a PSA. I started out full-time thinking I could handle that & going to school (I had worked 32 hours at my previous job)...but the PSA position is extremely physically demanding & I have ended up working 24 hours a week (3 days). This quarter, I also have clinical 2 days a week.

I have heard from fellow students that being in one of the hospital systems is the only way to get hired right now - no one seems to be hiring new grads from outside.

My husband & I looked at it this way...we had to take a small step back in order to take a giant step forward...and it's all working out & falling into place!! :yeah:

My best advice is have a plan, stick to it & all the hard work/turmoil will be worth it in the end.

Erikadawn RN · Mar 31, 2010

Why would you quit a good paying job to become a Cna? I went to lpn school without any cna experience. Yes alot of my classmates were cna's, but you generally learn all of the cna duties in your first semester of nursing school.I worked as a server while in nursing school,worked Fri n Sat nights and made enough money.plus if your going to nursing achiol you can pay off bills or save cash to get through school.

nursedora · Mar 31, 2010

Sometimes it's not the money, but the job that's important. Before you make that leap, and change from a job that pays $100+/shift, to go to a job that pays not even half that, make sure what your priorities are. For myself, going into Nursing in the 80's was a financial leap up. Back then professions were paid better than blue collar jobs. Health care work is steady, always have work no matter where you go. Remember you aren't going to have that money in your pocket when you go home at the end of that shift, you'll have to waite for your paycheck, some facilities pay weekly, but most pay biweekly or longer, and then there is a lag pay at some facilities, and then taxes and other fees taken out. So, do you want the money, or do you want a career?

gobux90 · Apr 1, 2010

slmarsh - apparently I do not have the ability to reply to private messages yet....ugh! :uhoh3:

If you send another message with an alternate way to contact you, I'd be glad to answer your questions.

AZ_LPN_8_26_13 · Apr 1, 2010

So I just put in my two week notice at my job as a server at a restaurant. I just made $110 in tips + minimum wage in 8 hours tonight ,which is pretty decent. My job is flexible, fast-paced, and had great people, and was stable.
I'm giving all this up to take a six week course, to look for a CNA job that probably pays $10/hr and is about the same stress level and hard work as a waitress if not more.
I think I'm crazy but I had to make a choice, and nursing experience seemed like the way to go, especially when my husband can help out.
BUT Goodness, it is hard to give up a good job that fit with my school schedule!!! Wish me luck :)

Like you, I had to take a cut in pay to become a nurse's aide. But I'm doing it for the hospital patient care experience, while I'm waiting to be placed in a cohort for nursing school (been on the wait list for over a year now :crying2: ) But I believe that the experience that I'm getting will help me later on. I'm all finished with my prereqs and coreqs and am just taking an allied health class to stay enrolled in the local community college system while I'm waiting. I believe you made the right choice - you won't learn too much about nursing or patient care waiting tables. Same with my former job - made more money and the hours were a bit better, but no chance to learn anything about healthcare....

Intern67 · Apr 1, 2010

SBUT Goodness, it is hard to give up a good job that fit with my school schedule!!! Wish me luck :)

Good luck! I gave up a $200+/day job to work as a CNA in a LTC facility. Being a CNA is the hardest job I ever had and I worked my butt off.

But boy did I learn a lot about nursing and healthcare there! So glad I did it and even more glad I got a job at a hospital.

johnnybravo8802 · Apr 1, 2010

I am considering doing what you have just done. I currently make about $21/hour and I would be giving up that salary, my 7:30-4 M-F shift, to work in a hospital (likely 3rd shift) to make $12-14/hr if i am lucky. I know if I am able to finanically able to make it work, the experience would be SO valuable, and also help me potentially get hired on as an RN after I am finished with my schooling.
If I were to do this, we would sell our house, move about an hour south of where we currently live (so we can be closer to my fiance's family who could help us with the kiddos). He currently does not work and is a FT dad, so it would require him to find a job that was opposite of my schedule so we could minimize the burden on his family.
I am beginning to worry that the CNA experience may not be worth it. To the OP, Please keep us updated as to how things are going for you.
Has anyone else given up a somewhat comfortable situation or a good paying job to work as a CNA? How was your experience?

Man, I wouldn't have quit a job making $21/hr in this economy. I'm not sure where you live but a CNA in Ga. makes $8.50/hr!!!!:eek:That's a long ways from $21/hr, especially when you see what the job entails.

caliotter3 · Apr 1, 2010

my advice to people is not to quit a good job (sounds like you were make $20+ hr), if you don't have to, just go part time and be a cna pt.

I agree with this advice. Keep your good job and do CNA part time. The advantages you will get from being a CNA will not make up for the loss of income. I did not find being a CNA to be all that helpful. Anything positive I got out of it could have been just as possible doing CNA work for one shift a week if not less.