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 :)
4 years ago I quit my job of $12 an hour with benefits to work as a CNA no benefits for $9 per hour to get experience so I could get into nursing school. A year after I became a CNA I got a job in the hospital in the ER and got a nice little raise have been there 2.5 years and now at $17 an hour as a CNA 2 and I graduate nursing school in 10 weeks.
I do home care for my own reasons, tons of money not being one of them. I just do not agree with the practices employed by some employers that are unfair to one nurse over another. That is an employer distinction though that can not be blamed on the reimbursement source. Lack of integrity is never called-for and erodes the respect an employee should have toward their employer. When I hear others complain about the pay rate, I remind them that they could be working in LTC facilities responsible for 30 to 80 people for about the same wage. That puts things into proper perspective for most.
Great points. Far lower stress & lots more autonomy with home care. Many people do it because they love it.
Re: Pay- employers can't pay you more than they get from the people that pay them, or they wouldn't be in business very long.
I'd say skip the CNA and LVN, take your prerequisites online (South University offers an Allied Health Science program with prerequs) and put your money and valuable time to good use toward the end result you're looking for. This way you can continue to work your well-paying job (those are so hard to come by now) and you're getting classes under your belt towards your RN program.
I work for South and I am in this degree program because after working with nurses and people who want to be nurses for a year, I've discovered that I really have a calling. I love that I am able to work full time and knock my gen eds and many other classes out online at a rate of one class every 5 1/2 weeks plus I can take my Anatomy & Physiology, Micro, Patho, Med Term, etc. online. I love that my job affords me the opportunity to GENUINELY help people answer their calling and it has afforded me the opportunity to hear mine as well.
If any of you want to talk, you can email me. My email address is: [email protected]
Thank you all for the wealth of information on your board. When I started my position a year ago, I knew very little about the Nursing field as I came from a Dental Assistant background. You all have given me a great appreciation for the passion, dedication, hard work and PATIENCE it takes to enter this field. :)
I decided to become a CNA as well. While getting certified, I still kept my job and juggled 5 different pre-reqs courses that I took during that summer. It was hard, but it was possible. I still work at my job and I work part time in assisted living. I still get as much experience as I want, but I don't have to leave my job completely to do so. I don't want to lose the benefits I already have to start over. When I start nursing school, I'm going to have to choose between the two jobs or get a new different job altogether but I still have some time before I decide on that.
you dont have to give up your well paying job to be a CNA. The schooling is only 6 weeks? That is nothing compared to LPN, RN, or BSN programs. You may not want a full time server position, but you could definitely keep it part time while in school and while a CNA. I have been a server for 10 years. I worked full time for 5 years and was a server part time. The cash you make as a server is tough to match. I am in nursing school now, and am still working as a server. There is no need to give up a position where you make so much money for a position where you will be making half of that. For a lot of people working in a restaurant is a part time position and for me is the perfect way to supplement my income. If I were you I would think about keeping a server position while in school and while a CNA.
Yea, I used to work with a nurse who worked at Waffle House on the side!!!....scattered, smothered, and covered....:pThat's the way I felt as a nurse on a daily basis....
Specializes in ICU, Trauma, ER, Peds, Family Practice.
In this economy, it is NOT a good time to quit a hopefully stable good paying position.
I would first try to volunteer in a hospital or a nursing home to see if this is really what you want. It also sounds like there is alot of family that would not benefit from this change in position. You cannot always get a job as a CNA or as a nurse. Things are changing people are not quitting their medical positions. Stay were you are at and be wise dont quit as of yet. Too much at stake.
Specializes in Med/Surge, Geriatrics(LTC), Pediatricts,.
Pay isn't always the reason any of us do any aspect of nursing. Why did we get into the field in the first place? Rhetoricaly asking. I remember one of my instructors in my Practical Nursing class telling us: "You will have the best of both worlds, you will have money, since this field of work has job security, there are always sick people to take care of, may not be the most money, but enough to pay the bills with. Yet, the other world you will have is a sense of accomplishment for doing a job well done." Remember back in the days of Florence Nightingale, and Sari Gamp? Nursing was considered the worst ever occupation, it was dirty, and left for the women prisoners to do. Proper ladies didn't go into nursing. We've come a long way baby! And we've got a long way to go too!
I was making $28/hr as a substitute teacher, but was starting to get burnt out and I was having to compete with other subs to get assignments because of the teacher laid-offs.
I took a 4-week CNA training during the Summer and was hire back to my first CNA position 14 years ago.
I quit my job in November and will be taking a CNA course in May (I decided to go to school full time this semester to finish prereqs). If I am lucky, I will make a little over a third of what I was making before. But, I wasn't happy doing what I was doing, and we didn't need the money--so I decided to quit. So far I'm happy with my decision.
For me CNA is just a quick/relatively cheap way to get a healthcare cert to get in the door. I already volunteer but it would be nice to get paid, even if it's not much. I'll just do it while I'm waiting to get into my program. It's not forever and even wiping butts is better than sitting in front of a computer all day, imo.
I quit my job in November and will be taking a CNA course in May (I decided to go to school full time this semester to finish prereqs). If I am lucky, I will make a little over a third of what I was making before. But, I wasn't happy doing what I was doing, and we didn't need the money--so I decided to quit. So far I'm happy with my decision.
For me CNA is just a quick/relatively cheap way to get a healthcare cert to get in the door. I already volunteer but it would be nice to get paid, even if it's not much. I'll just do it while I'm waiting to get into my program. It's not forever and even wiping butts is better than sitting in front of a computer all day, imo.
I couldn't agree more with this. Especially the last statement.
I know some people can't fathom why someone would quit their high paying job to do grunt work for barely anything, but sometimes you have to take the entire case, rather than just the money, into consideration.
I feel extremely lucky as I mentioned earlier. I left a good paying job that I hated, but I was able to get a CNA position making 2,279.00/month which was not a big paycut as in other cases.
I love the CNA position I got. I only help the gynocologist during pap smears. I don't do the butt wiping, but I do get to smell lady partsl secretions. I never thought a CNA would get a job like this, but I was required to provide my state certificate.
LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN
1,316 Posts
4 years ago I quit my job of $12 an hour with benefits to work as a CNA no benefits for $9 per hour to get experience so I could get into nursing school. A year after I became a CNA I got a job in the hospital in the ER and got a nice little raise have been there 2.5 years and now at $17 an hour as a CNA 2 and I graduate nursing school in 10 weeks.