Lost and Unexperienced soon to be CNA.

Banjoeer · Jun 27, 2008

I need help. my mom is an RN and we dont talk. sadly we live under the same roof. i live in West bend Wisconsin. Im going to be a senior and im only 16 years old. I recently work at Cedar Community in the food services, but i do somewhat of CNA's work now. i feed residents and serve them. i make 8.50 during the week and 9.50 on the weekends. i work up to 40-45hrs every two weeks. I want to become a CNA and start my career and build up to become a RN. but we wont get tooooo far into that. okay back to the CNA part. They dont make that much money so is it really worth it? and idk where to go to take classes and apply for a job. should i stay at cedar community? or should i go to a hospital. I just want to be ready so when i turn 18 i can move out and start my career and life on my own. any help? plz.
Michelle.

Sorry about the deal with your mom... I know it's tough when there's no communication like that...

Check the online state nursing department/registry for your state... They'll probably list providers that teach CNA classes and list all the requirements.

CNA pay depends on location & experience.... There are some good threads in this forum about CNA pay around the country... Where I live (Oregon) I've found jobs advertised from $11 to $20 an hour.... depending on your experience....

Generally hospitals pay better than LTC facilities... The high dollar wage was a government psychiatric CNA with experience and a degree.

Is becoming a CNA worth it? Depends on what you want to do with your life right now. If you find value in it now... And it takes you in the direction you want to go, then go for it. You can always make another decision in another direction if you change your mind.

Just my :twocents:

Good luck with what you're doing...

bethin · Jun 29, 2008

I need help. my mom is an RN and we dont talk. sadly we live under the same roof. i live in West bend Wisconsin. Im going to be a senior and im only 16 years old. I recently work at Cedar Community in the food services, but i do somewhat of CNA's work now. i feed residents and serve them. i make 8.50 during the week and 9.50 on the weekends. i work up to 40-45hrs every two weeks. I want to become a CNA and start my career and build up to become a RN. but we wont get tooooo far into that. okay back to the CNA part. They dont make that much money so is it really worth it? and idk where to go to take classes and apply for a job. should i stay at cedar community? or should i go to a hospital. I just want to be ready so when i turn 18 i can move out and start my career and life on my own. any help? plz.
Michelle.

It doesn't hurt to try. Check LTCF as some offer classes and pay you to work there while you're taking classes. Also check your local Red Cross and community colleges.

I think I made $5.50 as a student (in 2002) and when I passed my test I made $8.75. I worked LTC for 6 months before going to a hospital where I started out slightly less than what I was making but in the 5 years I've been working there I've had over $2 in raises. I currently make around $11/hr not including shift differential which is about $2/hr. This is in a very rural hospital in Indiana. I also receive bonuses.

If you want to move out, depending on where you live and if you have a car payment and such, it will be tough. It's doable, I've seen others do it. But, you will have plenty of opportunities for overtime. The downside to being a CNA is that you have no opportunities for advancement.

Good luck!