Tell me the truth about being a CNA

LauraLou · Jul 19, 2004

WARNING- I have had a very, very bad week as a CNA, so this is a major vent. Thanks!

I am working as a CNA this summer in a hopsital. I did clinicals there during spring semester and thought it would be great experience. Instead, it has been the most wretched, demeaning and demoralizing job I have ever had.

After two months, I am finally able to handle the work on my regular floor. The work is incredibly hard yet incredibly boring and my feet always ache but the nurses have started to warm up to me and I no longer get nauesous on the drive to work. My biggest nightmare is when they float me.

My most recent experience was Saturday. They floated me a floor I had never been to before and gave me 20 very ill oncology patients to care for. The nurses were mean and b-tchy. No one explain where anything was or who anyone was. At 5:30, I finally finished doing vitals, which I had started at 3:00. Everyone was ticked off because I was so far behind. Yet instead of giving me ten minutes to enter the vs into the computer, they were annoyed that I didn't answer the call lights fast enough. I went into the bathroom and cried. I was so overwhelmed and everyone was so nasty. I spend the last hour and half of my shift with red, swollen eyes and could barely speak to anyone without crying.

I really want to quit, but we need the money and I wouldn't be able to get any type of reference. Once I start back to school, I will only be working one day a week, which shouldn't be as bad. This whole experience has really made me question whether I am doing the right thing by going into nursing, but I have to believe that things will be better when I am a nurse.

michelle95 · Jul 19, 2004

I enjoyed working with the residents as a CNA. I loved being able to spend so much time with them. What I didn't like was the way that I was treated by upper management. I was at one nursing home for a year...the DON and ADON still couldn't tell you my name. Whatever! And, it was so rough on my body. I started having problems with my wrists from pulling pads/sheets from under folks. And, of course, the pay.

It is a really cushy job compared to being a CNA, especially in nursing homes.

That's how the place that I work at now is. It's a home (well 4 different buildings) for the mentally retarded and most of the time the techs (they don't have to be CNAs...just trained) only have about 4 clients apiece. Man, where was this place when I was a CNA! I would have loved that. Needless to say...the chair bound folks have no bedsores...and, there is usually no smell of pee anywhere. The clients are taken care of really well. :)

TO the OP, I believe that nurses SHOULD work as a CNA before they become nurses. It gives you an idea of what CNAs have to go through. If I were you, I would try to get on at the hospital. From what I've seen, it's not as hard as nursing homes...and, you get introduced to all kinds of things. I know when I worked at the hosp, I would call CNAs in when I was doing something...if I knew they were interested and/or going to school.

Harmony213 · Jul 19, 2004

I work as a Nurse Tech (They made CNA's become Techs) at a medium-large hospital on the orthopedic floor. I was told by everyone DONT GO INTO ORTHOPEDICS, but I did because it was the only opening but I like it! I stay busy but it makes the day go by quicker. At first I was grossed out but I got used to it (of course I was only 17 when i started). At my hospital, the patients do appreciate the care. Sometimes the nurses dont but there are many Techs on the floor and we all help each other getting patients up and turning them and all that. I would not like to do this my entire life by any means, but it is definently a good learning experience. I would recomend it.

Berta · Jul 19, 2004

Wow!! It makes me so glad that I refused to do CNA work in a LTC.

Having said that....I am an RN student, currently employed as a CNA at a large hospital. I am working on a med/surg floor and truly love it.

Yes, I am tired and a sweaty stinking mess at the end of the day, but I have learned so much. My nurses and staff are great! They don't always have the opportunity to show me stuff, but when they do, they take the time to involve me.

Certainly, there have been days when I've wiped more puke and poop than a tester at a toilet paper factory. Yes, some days are less pleasant than others, but I try to keep it all in perspective.

One thing I can promise is that once I am an RN I will remember what it was like being a CNA.

PennyLane, RN · Jul 19, 2004

I work as a student nurse/tech in an ICU and love it. I'm technically a student nurse intern, but I do the same job as the techs. The nurses are wonderful (for the most part). I'm responsible for finger sticks, delivering and setting up meal trays, running down to the blood bank, lab, helping transport patients to CT, and helping to turn patients or get them out of bed. Since most of them are total care, if a patient needs cleaning up, both the nurse and I do it. One person usually isn't enough. And they're in the rooms so much that they know when someone needs cleaning up and will call me to help them. It is back-breaking work, though, esp. turning the bariatric patients.

raysbigboo · Jul 19, 2004

The truth about CNAwork is that it is not a "cute" job nor is it supposed to be. Sick people are just that--sick. I am a CNA and former RN student. Although I do not work as a CNA now, I will always be one. When I first started as a CNA, I seriously thought about quitting. I was working in a nursing home at the time, and felt that it was too much; however, after giving it a real try, I found that I liked it. I love taking care of the patients I had. True, it wasn't the cleanest job in the world, but I got used to it. Some days were better than others; hence, I realized that if those people in the homes had any other choice, they wouldn't have been there in the first place. Furthermore, I felt blessed to be the one offering the care rather than being the one needing the care. If you are planning on becoming an LPN or RN, becoming a CNA is a good start. The same "nastiness' exists no matter what level of nursing you pursue. At the school I attended, both the LPN and RN programs trained you in the first semester on a CNA level. The best advice in the end is to pray and see where God leads your heart. A good nurse is a nurse who first of all, doesn't mind getting his or her hands dirty, and one who has a HEART. Without those two qualities, chances are you shouldn't be anything dealing with nursing and patient care.

Mrs. L

RN 2005 · Jul 19, 2004

I am a RN student graduating in May 05. I am currently a "tech" at a hospital. I have to tell you that I absolutely love my job. :) I am not sure if I would want to do it for a long term career though. But right now, being a student it is an awesome experience for me. The job is backbreaking for sure.....I go home after a 12 hour shift and my feet ache - But I am so gratified because I know I made a difference to my patients. I also know that I am definitely on the right career path. My floor has an awesome team and overall I am treated like gold.

Typical day:

Clock in at 6:45

Vitals on my patients (usually 4-7 pts overall)

Get report from nurse

Do AC accuchecks

Get linens ready and set up ambulatory pts for baths

Pass breakfast trays and assist in feedings as needed

Grab a coffee of my own!

Clear trays and begin baths and linen changes

More accuchecks before lunch

Pass lunch trays and assist as necessary

Lunch for me!

Afternoons are a bit slower....

At 3:00 shift change get report. Will usually pick up a few patients.

Get report on new patients

Vitals

Accuchecks

Pass dinner trays and assist

Grab a break

Throughout the day you are always answering call lights, assisting others with turning on heavier patients etc. There are diaper changes, blood draws etc. all day as well. Also, I do my charting every 2 hours. I spend alot of time checking on my patients. I chat with them and family, follow up on info for them, etc. The day goes quickly.

Overall.....I guess it depends on where you work. It is hard work but I find it tremendously gratifying. I do not know if I could handle the job though if I did not work on such a nice floor. The nurses treat me well - the other techs do also. Many of the techs are also students so there is a built in support system and we bounce ideas and learning experiences off of eachother. Hope this helps!!!

moonbunnie · Jul 20, 2004

i work as a CNA in a nursing home, and although i dont really enjoy the getting up at 5 am part, the rest of the job is alright. its not an easy job like when i worked for an insurance company, but it pays very well. i like it because i make weekend premiums, i have my whole week free, and there are no administration people there on the weekends to harass me. i definitely wouldnt want to be a CNA forever, but it is good experience and good money during school. when i first started last year, i hated it. i felt overwhelmed by having to care for so many residents (about 7 or 8, usually). but i got used to it and learned to use my time wisely, and i think i will be better prepared when i start my clinicals because of it.

luvbug9956 · Jul 20, 2004

I do agree with some of the posts that being a CNA/tech/nursing student in a hospital kinda sucks. BUT there is invaluable experience involved. Think of it this way...working takes time away from studying while you're in school. But if you work in the hospital setting, you are learning while making money. I have found that hospitals that employ nursing students under the title "Nursing Student" rather than CNA or tech make the experience easier to deal with.

My typical day was filled with vital signs, blood glucose checks, passing out and collecting meal trays, turning patients, cleaning patients, bedpans, baths, linen changes, etc. It's hard...but you would not believe during medsurg clincial how many of my fellow students didnt even know how to place a bedpan, make an occupied bed, or check a blood sugar. It gives you an edge. And will make you not become the RN or LPN who is "too good" to put the patient on the bedpan.

I was able, on my unit, to do many procedures. I have become an expert cathether inserter (both foley and straight), got practice at giving enemas, and learned the skill that so few nursing schools teach...starting an IV. Plus, I got used to the routine...charting, contacting docs, taking off MD orders, etc. Many of my friends who graduated with me dont even know how to chart properly. It is a great experience, but make sure you find a unit where you will be supported and even encouraged to learn. Luckily, many of the RNs I worked with would grab me if there was soemthing cool for me to learn. I observed a chest tube insertion, a central line placement, and a thoracentesis before my fellow students even knew how to make a bed. Look for a good unit...when you interview, ask about your role (like how much time you will have for learning opportunities).

Another advantage was that units are usually pretty understanding when they know you are going through such rigorous schooling. It is easier to get an unexpected day of to study or an hour break to study than with other jobs.

Brickman · Jul 20, 2004

My nursing program required everyone to be a CNA before starting. All of us in the program started out with the idea that we would work as CNA's while we were in school for our RN. Not one person would even consider this by the end of the CNA course.(clinicals were at a not so nice nursing home) I think the experience helped me in nursing school because I was already comfortable with patients and I also have alot of respect for the CNA's at the hospital since I know how difficult their jobs are.

Purple Princess · Jul 20, 2004

I've been a cna for almost two months now. I work the 3 to 11 shift at the local nursing home. I usually have between 10 to 12 sometimes 13 residents to care for. Sometimes it can get very hectic. Like having 4 of your residents all needing you at the exact same time. or get mad cause they wanted to go to bed at a certain time... I float so I get to meet all the residents in the facility. It's rewarding to help someone that would ordinarily be able to care for themselves. We get people recovering from surgery and one lady was in a real bad car accident. So they get better and rehabilitate at the nursing home. And yes you will get residents that no matter how nice you are they will not be nice to you. It's hard to work with alzheimer's patients. They can be very difficult, exhausting, and just aggravating to take care of. But they get their care and that is why you are there. But so far I'm not giving up. This will be good for me when I go to nursing school in march. I get 11 dollars an hour so that's really not that bad. Good luck with being an aide, I think you'll enjoy it.