PHYSICALLY....which is harder, RN or CNA?

[coltsgrl]

I am just curious because I am currently a CNA, starting nursing school in the fall. I work at a LTC facility, and after being a painter(houses, not pictures lol) for 8 years, I thought nothing could be harder labor, I WAS WRONG! Being a CNA is back-breaking work! I, on the other hand, have NO experience with nurses, so that leads me to ask....

Which is more PHYSICALLY demanding, CNA(at a LTC facility) or RN(in a hospital)?

[NursesRock!!]

Physically a good CNA will wear herself out more than an RN, emotions are another story. The stress of being an RN outweighs that of a CNA. JMHO

[beth66335, BSN, RN]

They can both be demanding physically, but long term care is definitely harder on everybody. When I worked in a hospital as a CNA I think it was harder on the CNA's, but that was because I worked with several nurses who would leave their pts room and get me to go back and help them to get on a bedpan or back to bed, OOB, etc! The Rn's never had that much trouble because if they did lift a pt they would get me to help them! Also, sometimes it was hard to get another CNA to help because their pt needed them as much as mine did me. Let's just say I only worked with one nurse who had a bad back an it was from being a CNA years before!lol! I do agree with the above poster, emotionally it is probably harder on Rn's, CNA's don't get the "hands tied" or limited ability to help feeling as often.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I've been told that the RN role is actually a quadruple whammy: it is physically, mentally, socially, and politically demanding. The woman who told me this is a stairstepper who ascended the nursing career ladder by starting out as a CNA, becoming an LPN, and is now an RN.

[shoegalRN, RN]

Physically a good CNA will wear herself out more than an RN, emotions are another story. The stress of being an RN outweighs that of a CNA. JMHO

I agree!

As a CNA, you don't have to worry about getting sued, or making a med error that could result in killing someone. As a CNA, you don't have to worry about having your license on the line, and having people work under your license that could make a mistake and not report an abnormal BP or blood sugar to you, which will fall back on your license.

I would say physically the CNA job may be harder, but the stress the RN is under is way more intense.

[MagnesiuM]

hmmm...i've been a cna in various settings on and off for years now, and i've rarely seen a nurse break a sweat like i have as a CNA.....i'm talking back-breaking work in LTCs especially. Ever read Animal Farm by George Orwell and remember the Horse? "I will work harder".... :chuckle

but as i am entering nursing school, i'm realizing what a luxury it's been not to have to worry about whether or not i'm kiling someone, etc....if s**t really hits the fan and the patient starts to crash or the family is furious over an error, the cna can just say "i'll go get his nurse" and move on down, move on down the road.....

there's a reason nurses get paid more money than some other medical professions with more schooling.... STRESS

ha! but if you're worried about years of manual labor, there are nursing jobs that don't demand it...off the floor, and in an office, or school/occupational health nurse, etc....

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

I believe that the CNA's job is more physically demanding. Having been one for 12+ yrs in hospital, LTC, and assisted living, I can say with confidence that it can be very physical. The RN scope covers so much more, and it can be physical, but not all shift every shift.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I think it depends on the area . . . I'll bet ortho is physically demanding for nurses.

However, in most cases CNA work is physically more demanding.

steph

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

CNA. Hands down.

[beth66335, BSN, RN]

I think it depends on the area . . . I'll bet ortho is physically demanding for nurses.

However, in most cases CNA work is physically more demanding.

steph

Not in my case, I was a ortho CNA and I did all of the tugging and pulling and lifting on pts. I took them out of CPM machines after they were done and helped them to the bathroom or BSC often by myself. I also often times had to put these poor elderly people in Buck's traction onto and off of the bedpan alone w/o hurting them too much! My back hurts just thinking about it!

[allthingsbright]

I pound the pavement as an RN much more than when I was a CNA, and now I have the added responsibilities of charting, assessment, critial thinking, etc!

I have to admit I did more lifting as a CNA because I was in LTC and now am in OB. So less back pain.

Best wishes!

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

I think that the answer to that question will truly depend on what sort of setting the RN/CNA is working. I worked on one med-surg unit as a PCT, and it was a physically exhausting job. Now, however, I work in PEDS (PCT now, but soon to be RN) and not nearly the same physical stressors.