Seems to be quite the trend...

Published

I've been doing a LOT of reading up about the whole job description of a CNA, along w/ a lot of forums w/ people's opinions and stories. Is it just me or does it seem like when this question is asked, "Do you like being a CNA?" Everyone basically just moans and gripes about it?

For example, "Being a CNA sucks!" or "All you do is the grunt work, not enough pay, and you get hit/yelled at/pinched/kicked all day!" Of course, CNA's are going to do the grunt work... It's called starting from the bottom and working your way up. It would be like in any workplace if you're starting at the bottom. It'll usually never be what you WANT to do.

It just makes me kind of sad to hear some of the things that people say about their job and especially about what they have to do. I mean, of course no one likes to pick up feces/vomit/whatever! but from what I've read these people are making it sound like they didn't even know the job description before they started.

I've done a LOTTTT of research and I already am expecting to be overworked, stressed, changing out a lot of bedpans, and dealing with tempermental residents. All I think about is... How would I feel if I was in that position? I would be completely humiliated if I couldn't make it to the bathroom on time and had to call someone in to clean up my mess or how awkward it would be to have someone bathe ME because I can't. And yes I do know there is going to be those residents who, well, milk it out knowing there's someone who's always there to do anything for you. However then you got just the people who honestly don't even want to be helped let alone touched.

Anyway about the low pay, I live in Oregon and the average pay rate for a CNA is 12-15 dollars/hour. Which is definitely not bad over here! I just feel like I ALWAYS see people who HATE this job and have a lot to complain about. I wanna hear some positive things people! There has to be SOME people who enjoy being a CNA and those 'little things' that make their day just an itty bit better.

Please reply if you DO love being a CNA & why!

-People who don't enjoy it, don't reply.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC/Rehab.

Well, from my experience, there are many proud CNA's here on allnurses.com! I read success stories on this site everyday I've joined. Being a CNA is a noble, decent and rewarding career. It's better to focus on the positive aspect of the job, because that's what keeps you motivated to continue providing good care to those who need it. If you harp on the negative job duties that many nurse aides are assigned, then your heart won't be in it and you'll probably get burned out, and lose passion. There are many CNA'S that are pleased and satisfied with their position, and do not want to 'work their way up'. Or they are happy to walk into their job, and 'WANT to do' the necessary things that make their patient, client or resident comfortable. I use to have classmates at my training course who questioned themselves on whether or not they'd want to clean up after somebody on the daily basis. They didn't know if they wanted to get into this career or not. Yet, these were the same people that wanted to enter into the nursing field. How can you be a successful nurse, if your caring, nurturing and compassion skills are off? Those with a good conscience would see that the good in nurse assisting always outweighs the bad.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
It's called starting from the bottom and working your way up. It would be like in any workplace if you're starting at the bottom.

that's the rub, it's not a career path to better things for many cna's, being a cna is it for them and being a cna in ltc is hella tough.

i used being a cna as a career path, i sure as heck didn't want to do it for 20 yrs or so. i have mega respect for the ltc cna's that have been doing it many years.

with that said, being a cna in a hospital, clinic, doc office, etc can be a breeze.

bottomline, being a cna doesn't pay too much and there isn't a lot of room for career advancement unless you go further up the nursing ladder (lpn, rn, etc), but college isn't for everyone.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

I enjoyed a lot of things about being a CNA. It gave me invaluable insight to daily patient care, taught me how to interact with patients, allowed me to make awesome connections and friendships with coworkers, nurses, and management, allowed me to prove to myself that I DO have what it takes to be a nurse, that I enjoy a stressful, busy patient care environment, allowed me to see and assist in all sorts of awesome bedside procedures, and taught me the value of good time management. It was not "fun" very often, but it was an excellent experience, and I know I will be a better nurse for having done it.

At the same time, I feel like 1 year was enough for me. I'm very glad I work in a more autonomous and intellectually stimulating position in the hospital now. I still get to preform direct patient care, but without some of the more emotionally and physically draining aspects of a CNA job. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What I love about being a CNA:

-The residents that say the sweet things ("you're so pretty!") and the funny things ("why don't you got a man, you got tits and all?").

-The congrats from the families

-Knowing that I did the best job I was physically and emotionally capable of doing

-Talking to the residents

Yes, I go home and rant about what happened. But everyone needs an outlet. I realize this is the scut work and nursing won't be so much like this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

It's easy to preach if you haven't been there.

Day in and day out of being on the bottom of the totem pole and doing all those dirty, heavy jobs (that most people are flat out unwilling to do), along with those frustrating and emotionally fraught situations can take a toll sometimes. Any job in any field has its moments and venting about them helps you to deal. Who says we don't have a right to complain, especially on an anonymous forum, and especially coming from someone who hasn't even worked as a CNA yet?

That said, I love my job, and I have said as much on this forum several times over. There are plenty of things that aggravate me, and that's to be expected. I talk about those too. Personally I find it difficult to tell stories about the good things on here because every time I start I end up erasing it because I feel like someone might recognize it, and I'd like to remain private. For all I know someone I work with reads my posts and I don't want to mention some incredibly cute thing one of the residents said and for someone to go, "Heyyyy I know who that is." It's easier to talk about the bad things because they're more universal. I don't know if others on here have the same "problem" or not.

I also see a lot of complaining when someone who is curious about CNA work asks about it. I think people do this not to be whiny, but because they genuinely want to warn people about the negative aspects of the job. So many people have no idea what they're getting into. They spend good money on a class and then react with horror when they find out their going to be wiping butt instead of moseying around from room to room taking BPs. And I think we've all worked with people who got into the job for the right reasons, like wanting to help people, but they can't keep up with the fast pace or the assembly-line way of doing things or the hazing. So you take the time to train them, and they quit.

I do think that I "help people." Not necessarily in the ideal way, but to the best of my ability given the circumstances. I feel accomplished at the end of the day. That's what keeps me liking my job. That, and the residents that I'm really attached to, the teamwork, the lack of boredom, the way the day goes by so quickly, and the creativity (I've realized that you need to be a problem solver in this job). I've gotten stronger as a CNA, both physically and emotionally. I've always been quiet and meek so starting off and dealing with the workload and other CNAs' snotty attitudes was really tough for me, but I made it, and now I think I'm much more assertive even though I'm still really a shy person. So there you have it. I'm totally content with my job, but I'm still going to complain if I want and I think that's okay!

eep! I see that i wrote a novel there. sorry.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for all your replies :-) I know I haven't even started as a CNA yet, and I guess I was just curious and looking for more positive threads about being a CNA, but like FuzzyWuzzy said I understand where he is coming from.

Thanks all!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
What I love about being a CNA:

-The residents that say the sweet things ("you're so pretty!") and the funny things ("why don't you got a man, you got tits and all?").

.

That's not a comment that I would want someone to tell me, and it's certainly not sweet, and definately not funny. I would consider that as an insult, and we must learn to tune out things like that. I know they mean well but we have to maintain being a professional. When someone comments me on my looks, I like to turn it around and say but don't you think the day is pretty? Look outside your window, it's gorgeous. If you respond to their comments or advances if any, it can do a lot of harm as you've just opened up a whole new can of worms. Always best to protect yourself and your license.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

I think that could be funny under certain circumstances... like if it came from a confused old lady. Some of them say the raunchiest things and they have no idea.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am not a CNA, but I can tell you I value the good aides on my unit more than I could ever express. They are my eyes and ears, the closest to the residents, always the first to alert me to a critical change in status. I could not function without them.

And there is nothing that an aide does that is not a nursing duty.

Some of my aides have been doing it for decades and love their work. I treasure them.

You will definitely have more to do than you should, as do I and everyone else working in health care in this day and age. You will also have the affection of a group of folks who need you desperately, and the appreciation of any decent nurses you work with.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oops! I mean't "she" to FuzzyWuzzy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey I know what your saying AmandaS! I hear to much negative stuff myself. I think for many people, its easier to B!@%H then to rave about positive things. Im glad you posted this!

What really gets me upset is when people think all you is wipe butt, like we dont do anything else. My boyfriends side of the family came in yesterday and I was the discussion b/c Im currently in school, they ask "OH yeah? What for?" and when I say Nursing Assistant they look at me and say "Oh so you get to wipe butt all day!", and then they smile at me!

That pi$$ed me off, b/c I know thats not all I do, its a small part.

SO then When I politely say bye across the parking lot to go to my clincals they say yell out "Bye, have fun wiping a$$"

GRRRRRRRR:banghead:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion