Biosciencegeek

I work with a few CNAs that actually bully the nurses (charge nurse included) and spend more time sitting at the nurse's station texting their boyfriends than the nurses do while doing paperwork.....right in front of the nurses. Luckily, this LTC CNA job I have is only a temporary stepping stone for a little (and I mean pathetically little...it's a shame what CNAs make...or at least the good ones like me) extra income until I graduate nursing school. Unfortunately, this seems to be the norm in my area, and it is sad.

Some areas of the country DO pay their CNAs well, but that is the exception, not the rule in my experience and in my area of the US. There are CNAs in my facility (not me, I'm in nursing school working P/T) that work 16 hour shifts on a regular basis just to make ends meet. Many just get so burned out that they quit. How is that (fatigue and high turnover) good for residents who depend on them for ADLs? Tired and unhappy employees hardly ever equal good employees. If they just paid a little more, the turnover rates would decrease exponentially. I'm not saying CNAs should get $15-$16/hr right after getting on the registry, but min. wage to $9/hr to start is ridiculous in 2015, considering the vetting process and classes/class that are required in this day and age to get certified. Not to mention the hard work once employed.

Beautifully said!

I'm a 2nd semester ADN student that's attending a community college here in NC. If you were not planning on changing states, you could get your ADN at Coastal, then find out which 4 year schools close to you are offering the 1 year ADN to BSN program. I'll be doing that with Western Carolina University since they are "co-oping" this way with my community college. And the majority of the classes are online, with me only needing to drive the 50 miles to Western once per month for a 1 day lab/seminar. I'd get with your advisor and check into that. It's a GREAT deal. Do you have to move to Texas? If you are in the eastern/coastal area of NC, I think (not 100% sure) East Carolina has a similar program and they have a WONDERFUL nursing program. I hope this helps. :) Oh, and Calculus is nowhere on the schedule. lol. I had to take an Algebra course as a prerquisite for the ADN program....and general Chemistry...but that was it as far as mathematically oriented classed went. I thought I wasn't very good in math as well, because it had been 30 years since I took a math course, (I'm 42) but I got an A. YOU CAN TOO!!!! You can do this!

Becoming a CNA helped me to learn what kind of nurse NOT TO BE. It's simply mind boggling to me how quickly some RNs and even LPNs can forget what it was like to be a CNA. I work with 3 that were previously CNAs. All 3 have extreme cases of amnesia. There are some that just can't handle being in charge of something or remotely understand what it's like to work as a team. I have vowed that once I complete nursing school next year, I will NEVER be THAT NURSE. I will NEVER forget where I came from. When team leaders behave like lazy, entitled teenagers simply because they now have "RN" after their names, it's the patients and residents in their care who ultimately suffer. After all, THEY are the reason we go to work everyday.

THIS^^^^^

Very well said!

NO....Just no. OMG..NEVER do that...I don't care who tells you to.

I did not say saying that "Fly by night" CNA crash courses don't produce great CNAs. I said that NURSING SCHOOLS in my state will not accept their (crash courses) curriculum as a prerequisite. The "good thing" being that you must be on the registry before gaining acceptance into a nursing program. I'm a graduate of a "fly by night" academy too, and had to re-take the course at a program that my nursing school deemed "accredited." Sorry if you misunderstood. I should have been more clear.

And I might add, one MUST attend an accredited CNA I course, clinical rotation, and be on the CNA registry in the state of NC before he/she can attend a nursing school...no "fly by night" 3 week crash courses allowed either..which is really a good thing, more states should do that as it would weed out some individuals who have no business in the healthcare field to start with.. But the pay...sheesh. That's why many CNAs here aim higher....at least towards an LPN diploma just to at least be able to make a living...that is if they aren't already financially stable enough to not worry about the money and can be a CNA as a career. In reality, CNA pay in my state vs workload = high CNA turnover rate. High CNA turnover rate = inexperienced, brand new CNAs filling the vacuum and less than stellar care for residents and patients.

In my state, CNAs start at around $9.00/hr. for most LTC facilities. I'm sorry, but for lack of a better phrase, that's pathetic. Nonetheless, facilities continue to analyze and wonder why turnover rates are so astronomical. When people like my ex felon/drug addict cousin can change oil in the fryers at McDonald's for the same wage, there is a problem. Just sayin'.

Both will get introduced to my friend one day. You'll see. Her name is Karma and she's on a world tour. She'll be coming to their area. Very soon.

Amen. We have new nurses that come in (from other states) and the very first question they ask is, "Like,do I need to help with changing briefs or peri-care, and if so, how often? I'd rather not if possible." First off, use your grown up voice in the workplace and don't talk like a valley girl! You are supposedly educated. Second, WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT?! From that moment on, they are a walking "bulls eye" with the CNAs. Sad it has to be this way, but we have enough work to do with our patients. I'm sorry everyone, but this subject grinds me worse than anything else. When I'm licensed, there's no question that I will get right down there with the CNAs and do what it takes. In my state, you HAVE to be on the CNA registry through an accredited program before you can even apply to nursing school. LPN, ADN, BSN, MSN, it does not matter. It should be that way everywhere. Period.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This for the win.

This is the difference you will make. And it's HUGE! Your time will come for that dream job. You'll see. Keep your chin up.

HUGE congratulations my friend. LTC is a very noble position and I think you'll really enjoy making a huge difference in those residents' lives. Believe me, you will become attached to them. Best of luck to you! I may have to "dust off" my bow tie when I go for my first interview as well. :)

It will be a daily thing.

Haha. No doubt. I'm a CNA, and my team would eat that alive and spit it out. Then fight to see who gets to eat it alive again. We can smell nurses like that from a mile away, and we feed on them. Without mercy. Like you said, those CNAs on his "planet" must be jellyfish or something. Wouldn't happen on my watch, I promise you that.

Speaking of moving, my nursing school is a consortium of 3 different colleges. Each in adjoining counties.(thank God they're joined). This means I will need to travel to 3 different counties and 3 different hospitals for clinicals.

NOADLS would last 3 mins in my facility with that "God complex." My CNA team and DON puts nurses with that attitude in the unemployment line. We just got rid of one like that last night. Brand new nurse with that attitude. She lasted 3 hours. 2 hrs and 59 mins longer than she should have had I been the DON.

I will say that I'm lucky enough to have an honest advisor/school. She/they have been really honest in our meetings in regards to the job market. Like she says, it's the area. Right now, my area of NC is okay, but that could change at the drop of a hat. I knew that moving may be a necessity when I started my journey, and I'm prepared to do so if need be. Shame on the programs that flat out lie for enrollment.

Ok gotcha. I wasn't sure about how that worked. Thanks. I didn't even think about the clinical bedside aspect of teaching. You're 100% correct. That being said, a BSN is not very far off course for a BS in Biology, maybe a couple of core Bio courses. Then get master's in Ed and teach Biology. Clinical problem solved. I'm just brainstorming. I really hope the OP finds happiness.

Can we call them briefs instead of diapers? Surely no one here calls them "diapers" when talking to the resident/patient. Unless they are actually babies of course.

I hear what you're saying, and I'm glad you got a job. I agree that new grad resumes should always be considered. I hate that it's that way in your area. Maybe things will get better there. I hope so, and I wish new nurses there the very best. :)

It's all about the area. Plain and simple. Just because a hospital in NY or RI hires BSNs only, that doesn't mean that's the "norm" for the other 48 states. ADNs in my area are hired all the time. Straight into area hospitals. Right after passing the NCLEX. Here, it's the LPNs that are restricted to nursing homes. They have been talking about "phasing out" LPNs since the 80's, but every LPN grad I talk to has job offers.