now that it was mentioned..

Look in the mirror and you will find the person with that answer.

very true..i guess i have doubts anyway..im just not sure. on one hand, im happy with my job, but on the other hand..i wonder if i should try harder?

No one can tell you if you're settling or need to aim higher. If you enjoy where you're at in life and don't yearn for anything more, why put yourself through more?

and i know ive posted about this before, but ill ask again..is there anything wrong with being a "career" cna? the post below this one has me thinking about that. i really enjoy my job.. hated it when i worked in the nursing home setting, but i truly love working at the hospital. i am making a decent amount, and my coworkers are really great. am i lacking in ambition, or settling?

Some CNAs make a good living. About 40k/yr. if you can survive on the wage, and enjoy the work, it's a great job.

I enjoyed working as a CNA. I enjoy pt care, brief changes and talking with my pts.

As for me, though, I earned $9-11/hr which was insufficient to provide for me and my kids.

I've never heard of cnas getting anything even close to that. I guess it would have to depend on the area. Where I am in ltc cnas make 7.50 to 10 on the high end. In hospitals 9-11ish on the high end. This is without shift diff of course. Nurses are about triple that with the diff added in. Mysteriously neither hospitals or ltc facilities know why they keep losing cnas all the time. Well..when one leaves to go work at Taco Bell ( this actually happened) because it's a better paying job, things need to be re evaluated.

It has to do with more than just the pay. I left public education because it is slowly swirling the drain, and I still owe $10,000 in student loans on an education I don't necessarily use. However, I love what I do and most of the people I work with, so despite the loss of income, I have to say it has been worth it. I have done more spiritual and personal growth since changing careers that I could never go back.

I've never heard of cnas getting anything even close to that. I guess it would have to depend on the area. Where I am in ltc cnas make 7.50 to 10 on the high end. In hospitals 9-11ish on the high end. This is without shift diff of course. Nurses are about triple that with the diff added in. Mysteriously neither hospitals or ltc facilities know why they keep losing cnas all the time. Well..when one leaves to go work at Taco Bell ( this actually happened) because it's a better paying job, things need to be re evaluated.

I made $16/hr as a CNA in a nursing home. Plus $1 night shift differential [emoji14]

I work in a hospital in a different state than where I worked in the nursing home and I make $13/hr not including differentials.

I'm curious where that is. Here that's more then an Lpn makes. I'm pro aid and I don't even think they merit 16.00 without extensive additional training.

I'm curious where that is. Here that's more then an Lpn makes. I'm pro aid and I don't even think they merit 16.00 without extensive additional training.

Minnesota!

It's hard to find a job that you actually like. If you are truly happy and able to make ends meet then stick with it. You can always change career paths down the road if you find yourself getting bored. I know a lot of career cna's that love what they do, do it well, and seem pretty happy.

I'll be honest it was the pay that just burned me out on it. When you're forced to work 60+ hours at two different jobs just to barely make ends meet, something has to give. 9.00 is appalling for that job. Thankfully I'm dont have to do it anymore but really, Cnas should be making more then what they do. We shouldn't lose cnas because taking a fast food job has more earning potential. It will always fall on deaf ears because they are viewed as expendable.

When it's 21:00, and the only residents who aren't in bed are sitting with me at the nurse's station having an impromptu ice cream party, I'm really glad I'm not the nurse.

I am on my way to nursing school, but I like being an EMT and CNA. I get to participate in patient care without the crushing responsibility of having a license.