First and foremost, I have a deep appreciation for everything that you do so thank you.
I'm looking to change my career into healthcare after serving in a corporate marketing space for 20 years. I'm a mom of three beautiful kids with my youngest being seven years old.
I just completed my CNA course and to be honest my clinicals scared the crap out of me. I'm rethinking everything because I'm nearly 50 years old and the shifts were LONG and I am unsure if I can do what a RN or BSN does. No wonder many have burn out.
Now I'm considering instead of applying for RN school (which btw I have all the pre-reqs for) to instead look at an LPN or even being an MA.
Wondering if anybody out there started off as an LPN or MA and what they can share about that type of role? I like the idea of being in an outpatient clinic instead and possibly 8 hours shifts with a less responsibility- but still in a healthcare role. I know they get paid less and I'm OK with this since my husband has his own family business and he will always be the primary breadwinner and I'm the primary when it comes managing our home and the kids.
Congratulations on pursuing a dream. Being a CNA or LPN will give you tremendous insight and practical experience to decide if this is for you. LPN 's have less liability and are usually not allowed to care for unstable patients. There are also tons of LPN to RN programs if you decide to continue. Many employers will offer tuition assistance as you will be a pipeline employee. I went to nursing school ( ABSN) at 51, loved it , am so glad I made the leap. Nurses also work in clinics, drugstores, think assessments and immunizations, cosmetic procedure companies/ spas, blood donor sites, schools are an obvious choice with the day work, no holidays, weekends and summers off . It does take commitment. Opportunities are endless.
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
mmc51264 said:
Oh no they aren't! my 1st job was at a nursing home/short term rehab. I had 18+ pts. I did learn time management quickly!!
Yes, in some nursing homes RNs work very hard and it can be physically strenuous. However, there are nursing homes that employ RNs that do not have RNs do physically strenuous tasks.
Yes, in some nursing homes RNs work very hard and it can be physically strenuous. However, there are nursing homes that employ RNs that do not have RNs do physically strenuous tasks.
Umm, where is this unicorn facility? Unless the RN is in a management only position I've never seen a SNF where nurses aren't full speed ahead the entire shift. Even if there is not a lot of heavy lifting or resident care there's still a lot of walking, bending, and twisting which might not be considered physically strenuous by some but my feet and legs sure felt every step after a 12-hour shift that stretched to a 14-16 shift way more than it should.
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
kbrn2002 said:
Umm, where is this unicorn facility? Unless the RN is in a management only position I've never seen a SNF where nurses aren't full speed ahead the entire shift. Even if there is not a lot of heavy lifting or resident care there's still a lot of walking, bending, and twisting which might not be considered physically strenuous by some but my feet and legs sure felt every step after a 12-hour shift that stretched to a 14-16 shift way more than it should.
I'm in Calif, and things may be different here. I trained as a CNA or "tech" in a nursing home. The CNAs did all the physically strenuous work and it was very taxing physically. There was an LVN who was part-time and I'm not sure what he did, but he sure didn't do anything physically strenuous. He ordered the CNAs around and made them do that stuff.
I'm in Calif, and things may be different here. I trained as a CNA or "tech" in a nursing home. The CNAs did all the physically strenuous work and it was very taxing physically. There was an LVN who was part-time and I'm not sure what he did, but he sure didn't do anything physically strenuous. He ordered the CNAs around and made them do that stuff.
That makes a bit more sense then, I'm half a country away from the land of legally mandated nurse-patient ratios. It would be tempting to move there if the cost of living wasn't so sky-high
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
My Experience as a an RN working LTC in CA is different. While the CNA's work very hard there are some aspects of care (passing meds, wound care and IV therapy) that have to be done by a licensed professional. Both jobs are extremely difficult but it may not be apparant to one discipline how hard the other is working.
Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
hppygr8ful said:
My Experience as a an RN working LTC in CA is different. While the CNA's work very hard there are some aspects of care (passing meds, wound care and IV therapy) that have to be done by a licensed professional. Both jobs are extremely difficult but it may not be apparant to one discipline how hard the other is working.
Hppy
I'm referring only to physically strenuous work. I'm sorry, but passing meds, wound care, and IVs are not that physically strenuous. My experience as a CNA student was running nonstop all day long, with only 2 short breaks and a short lunch. Bathing patients, which means a lot of physical moving and sometimes "heavy lifting," grooming and dressing patients, helping them get out of bed, making beds with the pt still in the bed or not, toileting, cleaning up after toileting etc., helping some of them get around a bit, transferring, feeding them, helping some pts do their stretches, and so on. It was physically the hardest thing I've ever done. Personally, I think being a CNA is physically the most taxing job. If there are nurses who have to do all that nonstop all day long, then my heart goes out to them.
robinasq
28 Posts
Congratulations on pursuing a dream. Being a CNA or LPN will give you tremendous insight and practical experience to decide if this is for you. LPN 's have less liability and are usually not allowed to care for unstable patients. There are also tons of LPN to RN programs if you decide to continue. Many employers will offer tuition assistance as you will be a pipeline employee. I went to nursing school ( ABSN) at 51, loved it , am so glad I made the leap. Nurses also work in clinics, drugstores, think assessments and immunizations, cosmetic procedure companies/ spas, blood donor sites, schools are an obvious choice with the day work, no holidays, weekends and summers off . It does take commitment. Opportunities are endless.