Nervous about becoming a nurse because I don't like being a cna

[Louise Henaut, BSN, CNA, RN]

I just became a cna my junior year in high school and I'm gonna try to make this short but I got a job at a nursing home and while I love brining happiness to the faces of these people the work is hard haha. I usually take night shifts because it allows me to get homework and reading done and I only do it a couple nights a week mostly like one shift cause it's just so hard to do it with school. My thing is, before shifts I'm so drained already I'm just like not into going to work I want to help people I'm going on a service trip to Cambodia in feb to work with children and stuff like I want to work with children but will being a nurse be this like idk haha exhausting or will the work of helping people fuel me to get up everyday. I guess what I'm asking is, is the work as satisfying as it seems. I was to wake up every morning happy to go in for work, I don't want to be like "ugh I don't feel like working". That's why I went into this field because I wanted to help people and I felt like it would be the perfect job that doesn't just keep me sitting on my butt all day and I'm doing something productive during my shift. Thanks

[RunBabyRN]

Welcome to AllNurses!

Have you thought about shadowing a nurse? One thing that's nice in nursing is there are a zillion avenues you can explore. I do health fairs, home infusions, and attend births at a birth center. Little of my job is similar to CNA work (most of the poo I clean up is on tiny butts!). Nursing homes are SOOO draining. I worked at one for a couple of months as a RN, and I cried probably 5 times per shift. It was NOT for me. Not all nursing is like SNF work, and I don't think anyone on here would debate that CNAs work their butts off at SNFs. What kind of nursing appeals to you? The more open you can be, the better, but check out some of the various options available. It does get better. :)

[Louise Henaut, BSN, CNA, RN]

Thank you! This made me feel tons better, I really want to work with children, but I'm totally open to other fields. I originally went into this because of pediatrics but then as I got my cna and everything I started to think about an Anesthetist nurse, emergency nurse, neonatal (of course), psychiatric, and for sure wanted to look into oncology (the other reason I got into nursing).

[iPink, BSN, RN]

I never worked as a CNA in my life, so my first exposure to the world of nursing was at my nursing school during clincals. It was a piece of cake compared to my first job on a critical care floor as a new grad. Nursing is hard work and rightfully so because we are providing care to people who depend on our knowledge and skills. Healthcare continues to evolve, therefore we will always have much to learn.

As a CNA, you are already exposing yourself to the hard work that will help you in nursing school and as a nurse working in whatever capacity you choose. If becoming a future pediatric nurse is your desire, go for it. The work will be hard, but it's up to you to make it rewarding.

I applaud you for going on a service trip to help where needed. I have done missions trips to Antigua and participated in health fairs there before I was a nurse. Now that I'm a nurse, this is something I should make sure I do some point in my life. Thank you for the reminder.

[LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN]

I'm a CNA on evening shift and about to graduate in May 2015 with my RN. Early on in clinicals the work we did was very CNA-like. But there is no comparison anymore. Now we focus much more on assessment and medications. CNA work is very hard physically......

[llg, PhD, RN]

As others have said, there are lots of different types of nursing. Just because you don't like working as a Nursing Assistant in Long Term Care doesn't mean that there aren't other types of nursing jobs that you will like more.

However ... be realistic. Nursing is hard work and few nurses wake up with an "Oh, boy! I get to go to work today! Isn't that great!" type of feeling. Most of us prefer our days off over the days when we have to work. It's a job -- not a holiday. Very few people in any career wake up all happy and excited to go to work for very long. That "enthusiasm for the job" generally fades even in the best of jobs. That's why employers pay us to work: we don't pay them for the chance to come to work and have fun.