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I just want to apologize if I was being a little offensive and impertinent with some things said in my post. The one where I mention discouraging was being sarcastic. I haven't really posted much since 2013. I found out how to look at my old posts. It was actually a post made about wanting to become a CNA. Wasn't in nursing school. What I mention about care is how some professions eat their young, like in healthcare and I suppose nursing is known for the reputation. I mean by being in a profession to care for others we could care about our colleagues sometimes. I think I was jumping a little ahead, mentioning about being an LPN and then thinking of further down the road with RN. I find information on here valuable to read at times and just thought of making a post. Of course I can find things on the search too but just thought I'd post and join in since I haven't been on here in awhile. I do appreciate the posts and the stresses of mentioning certain things as well. Sometimes on the internet things are taken out of place and I know it can happen on here sometimes too. :) Thanks again.

I am grateful for the responses even though they're a bit not what I thought. I thought on a forum for nurses would be praising the field. I don't remember that post that in 2013. . My posts were about becoming a CNA because my uncle who had down syndrome had inspired. But then again...I was only and am still idealistic. I appreciate your time in posting. I understand the field and the industry is going through changes.

From all walks of life people will be what we have on our butts. No matter what profession, job. Especially these days. I won't let anyone talk me out of doing something I want to do just because it may be boring or hard to them and they wished they've done something else. Just because they're miserable doesn't mean I have to be. Just because I like a certain field doesn't mean they have to either. And isn't that the nice thing about our options? To have options. There are jobs. And there are jobs here. There may be a lot of competition for these jobs, but there are jobs. I search these forums and there are varying posts and as well as opinions. And me posting and getting these replies is totally different from what other threads and posts I've read on here that were more uplifting. Very disconcerting. To probably delve more into this field and have to deal with this would probably raise my blood pressure even more. The world is full of that already and aren't we supposed to be in the healthcare: C A R E. . And none of those fields interest me. What's funny about talking people out of certain professions, is that in other professions people are talking to be out of them. Yes, I posted and got answers. So thanks anyway.

Thanks for the discouraging words. :)

Hey there. Forgive me, as this may be long. I'm thinking of attending a local school to become an LPN, preferably Brewster in Tampa, and then eventually transferring to LPN-RN to either SPC or HCC. I'd really like to go to SPC because I've had an interest in the school for so long just because it's a really good school. I live in Hillsborough though and I learned awhile ago certain counties only take those who live in their counties first. LPN just seems to work best for me in my situation, where I can also get my RN and BSN later on. I think eventually, I'd also like to become a nurse practitioner. I guess it's just the fierce competition which throws me off... My main and important concern is the competitiveness and saturation of nursing. Most notably the competitiveness these days. The BLS lists there are over 2M nurses. Yet in some areas, there are jobs (and experience definitely plays a role; get experience and it seems like you're okay for the most part; on the other hand, it seems like how can you get experience in a certain field if no one hires you for the experience?) The graduation programs also list certain fields to be in; where a certain job post has that, it wants another. For example, StaRN programs. And even luckily, they're offered in my area. There are many options to becoming a nurse and LPNs have yet not been phased out, as much as that has been talked about for years, and I don't think nurses will be replaced with technology anytime soon. I'm just concerned about the competitive nature of nursing these days, with the GPAs (getting rejected, wait-listed, school admins telling you you're not going to make it and they have other applicants with more grades) and a lot of people going into nursing, feeling like I'm not good enough (silly to think that). My plan was to become a licensed optician (Florida is a licensed state for opticians), but I just think soon ... like optometry and pharmacy ... there's a form of replacement in technology taking over especially in eye care, which seems to already be happening. Becoming an optician also is restricted in certain states.... there are only so many states that recognizes the education and licenses. And it seems that the education + the licenses = higher pay in certain states. I also want to care for people/patients in a less "superficial" way if that makes any sense. And an LPN can get equal pay with less school and even more opportunity to advance. I've also learned that nurses (RN) can work in ophthalmology. Even still, the jobs require or prefer experience. There are limited programs in that. I'm not sure how the StaRN programs work. There is telemetry and critical care mostly. My most interest is in psychiatry, pain management and surgery; all which seem to require or prefer at least 2 years experience. I'm sorry if this has been a very long post and may be overlooked. I've looked into nursing for several years and think I've should've done it sooner. I've also been reading this forum for awhile and searching to bring up posts that I'm interested in reading. And lo and behold, this forum has it. I try to avoid the Indeed forum. Another concern is for hours. I've only really worked up to 8 hours (retail). Most nurses work at least 12. I wonder how they manage it...especially with certain pets like parrots who require a lot of time. Being gone for 12 hours during the day I'm not sure how they'd be able to live with being apart from their human companion. I guess another concern was being gay. This is indeed the 21st century, 2016; butI'm a little insecure about working in a "conservative" environment; or having a few gay male co-workers that I've really never worked with besides lesbians in retail; the stereotype of gay men going into nursing, etc. Granted, again, it'd also be nice to work with fellow LGBT. It's almost like having a community; just like in nursing. Thank you for reading this far! And responding. I appreciate any feedback...

anyone?

I just wanted to confirm and get "inside" insight on the current field for CNAs. I have spoken to one who is actually going to school for CNA and says sometimes nursing homes have openings. I'm looking into programs and have found some to be cheaper than others; I can also challenge the exam, but I'd rather get schooling, so why not try to the cheaper one (non-private). I've looked on here and searched for awhile on the CNA field but wanted direct. My questions are, is, or has it been hard finding a CNA job in the Tampa, specifically Tampa? Would I be able to start out in assisted living, LTC, or just nursing homes until I get experience to work in the other two? I currently am a caregiver for an elderly couple and they are my neighbors. Does this count has experience? Is overtime available or are facilities cutting back on hours/OT? Is there any hard math in the program? I'm not too concerned about what the pay will be like. I'm also interested in working second shift once I get out of a program. I've been having my eyes set on CNA for awhile, but have heard the market is really saturated recently. I do plan on continuing my education and support myself as a CNA throughout school. It just seems like a viable option right now and I just don't think of it as just a paycheck because I've cared for my uncle before who had down syndrome, and my grandmother really spunky and a hoot, plus I care for my two neighbors and love their stories and their company as much as they love mine. Of course, working in the actual field would be different with the stories I've heard being yelled at, combative residents, etc. Thanks!!

I don't know if this counts but I've been taking care of two elderly couples in a caregiver position that are my neighbors. I wonder if I could branch off as a rehab/restorative aid in an OT/PT department because there is also a program for that in the area, once I can try and get experience as a CNA. Thanks for your response.

The saturation concerns me. I'd imagine it is saturated with people needing a job, etc. However, it does concern me. I found a good program locally. I'm just worried about being able to find a job. The training is obviously short, and there is burnout, people move onto other jobs, school. In an already saturated market, would it still be possible, even if having to wait several months, to obtain employment as a CNA?