Jaida

I would love to become a CNA. I will be 17 next year, which is the minimum age requirement in the state of Florida, and although I'm still a High School student, I'm looking into programs that will allow me to become one. I've read a lot on CNA's, and I know that it's a very dirty job and you're kind of at the bottom of the food chain, but I believe that the experience will be very valuable to me. What is a typical work day like for a CNA? what is their work schedule like? how do CNA's interact with patients? What are their duties? what unit/speciality do they mainly work in? what do CNA's in the Emergency Department do?

I want to become a registered nurse when I graduated high school and earn my BSN. But I would like to know what program is more 'worth it' to take. As soon as I get out of High School, I don't know if I should go straight for a BSN program, or go for an ASN program and then bridge to a ASN-BSN program. I really have no problem with taking either program, but I want to know which one would be more efficient for me and my biggest desire is to jump right into the nursing field as soon as I can, which is why I'm debating the ASN program, because it's quicker. But if I have to take the BSN program and study for 4 years, I guess I don't have a choice, but I'll do whatever it takes to become an RN. While I'm in college, I'll definitely be a CNA because the experience is good, plus I gotta have a job to pay for college, so I think being a CNA would be perfect for me.