I've been a CNA (per diem) for a little over a year now. I really want to move on from this job to something else healthcare related that is not butt-wiping related. Don't get me wrong, I really like working with my residents but I feel like I can do more. Also, I should mention that I'm not trying to be an LPN or an RN, I only took up this CNA job to get some experince in healthcare while I try to figure out what I really want to study in healthcare (and not nursing). With my CNA experience, what can I progress onto? If I need to study something addition, I don't want to invest too much time (like a year). I was thinking taking a phlobotomy and EKG course to be a patient care tehnician, but I heard that it's basically the exact same thing as a CNA, so it doesn't make sense to throw my money away. How about hemodialysis technician?
ALSO, I have a Bachelor's of Arts in Biology that I got this May.
Please give me some tips...and remember NO BUTT WIPING
While I was in school I worked as a "cardiology technician" in a hospital. It's entry level just like the CNA/NA/PCT/MA so it was only like $15/hr, but no real hands-on care. I actually took it thinking I'd be similar to an aid (because I wanted practice outside of clinicals) on a cardiac unit, but was pleasantly surprised.
I ran different kinds of stress tests with cardiologists and other techs & technologists (echo, nuclear med, etc.), and did EKGs on floors where the staff wasn't trained to do them (mental health, L&D, M&Baby). It was actually a pretty good learning experience, in an office type setting within the hospital, with a lot of down time (I used it to study). And room for advancement.
Maybe something like that? I didn't even know it exsisted! They hired me because I had done clinical as a nursing student, so I'd bet that your experience as an aid would be useful. I just don't know where you'd go up from there. I never looked into it since I was planning on nursing.
Good luck! An aid is a hard but very important job. It's not for everyone. I don't think it's all that bad to say it's all "wiping ***" online, but I hope you don't say that in real life. It's so demeaning, and I really appreciate the people who do that job.
Mrs.D., BSN
132 Posts
While I was in school I worked as a "cardiology technician" in a hospital. It's entry level just like the CNA/NA/PCT/MA so it was only like $15/hr, but no real hands-on care. I actually took it thinking I'd be similar to an aid (because I wanted practice outside of clinicals) on a cardiac unit, but was pleasantly surprised.
I ran different kinds of stress tests with cardiologists and other techs & technologists (echo, nuclear med, etc.), and did EKGs on floors where the staff wasn't trained to do them (mental health, L&D, M&Baby). It was actually a pretty good learning experience, in an office type setting within the hospital, with a lot of down time (I used it to study). And room for advancement.
Maybe something like that? I didn't even know it exsisted! They hired me because I had done clinical as a nursing student, so I'd bet that your experience as an aid would be useful. I just don't know where you'd go up from there. I never looked into it since I was planning on nursing.
Good luck! An aid is a hard but very important job. It's not for everyone. I don't think it's all that bad to say it's all "wiping ***" online, but I hope you don't say that in real life. It's so demeaning, and I really appreciate the people who do that job.