What to do with CNA cert.?

LTC facilities are unique, like individuals. It's impossible to say they're all bad. Another thing to keep in mind is that people will usually share bad experiences more readily than good ones - ever notice how a group of strangers get to talking and usually end up complaining about a common thing? I could tell you a bunch of stories of all the times I wanted to puke at my last LTC job because I hated being there. I could also tell you an equal bunch of all the times I felt really satisfied and content to be there.

Even if you only get six months of experience in a LTC, it's six months of experience interacting, performing cares, organizing your day. All skills that will serve you well no matter what. LTC is kind of like Med-Surg but for nurses, it's where most people seem to start out.

Thank you for your perspective. I'm trying to keep an open mind and I really hope I get there, and love it, because I feel like there is potential for a job or volunteering there. I had the CNA instructor email me today and tell me, "hold off on your HepB because if you get a job at ________________, they will pay for it".

weeellll. i'm not really sure how to respond to this. you run the risk of being "disrespected" in any field especially as a nurse or cna. my thing is you say that you don't want anything serious because it won't offset childcare yet you are willing to volunteer. what about childcare then? also if you really want to get your foot in the door then you shouldn't be against anything. there are so many people out there looking for work and you are being picky. obviously you have no experience in the health care field so your options are not plentiful. at this point you have to take what you can get. with the mentality you have now you are better off waiting until you get your rn and then tell doctors that you are a grown woman with children who won't be talked to a certain way. when the situation arises i hope that you would utilize your communication skills so there won't be any lasting effects after someone treated you wrong. i hope this helps.

Yes, as I have said, I know that nursing is not immune to being disrespected. I know that will happen, when I am a nurse. Obviously as an adult, I have to deal with it occasionally already...people feeling like I have too many children, don't understand why we adopted children, don't understand why some of our children are a different race, people we encounter with our business, etc. I can deal because the majority of people value the situations and most importantly, I do. However, in *my area* CNAs are very disrespected. I'm sure this is in part due to low economic status of my area, and extremely low pay of this position. I also get the idea from this board, that may be common in many areas. I am not concerned about it coming from clients, it's more from professionals. As I have said in my original post, I hoped that it didn't sound bad. I mean no disrespect, or arrogance by it. I am a non-confrontational person, with not the highest self esteem. It's something that I struggle with. Disrespect really affects me. Maybe it shouldn't but it does.

I guess my thoughts were that volunteers *at least here* are usually held in positive regard. Paid CNAs are not (again in my area). Volunteers want to be somewhere, do not usually have to be there. It would not be worth it to me to be employed (obligated) at a place where I was being disrespected regularly. If the pay weren't so low, maybe it would be more enticing, but then again a better paying job, in general, tends to be more highly regarded. Yes, I would be willing to pay for childcare for a valuable volunteer experience because my children already go to a preschool program part of the week, and I would probably volunteer around that schedule. If I where looking for a job, I would probably have to fit childcare around the job, so I would at least want it to cover childcare expenses. At this point in my life, I really want to be a nurse, have for the last 15 years. However, I have to balance that with a good experience for myself and my family.

People *generally* won't look down on you for doing CNA work if you don't invite them to look down on you for it.

All you have to do is say what you said to us... that this is the first step toward being a nurse, which you have always wanted to do, and you're excited. I may be mistaken, but from reading your posts I got the idea that you're worried people might start to wonder why this hoity-toity housewife is lowering herself to such a loathsome job when she has a rich husband. If you act all embarrassed about it, then yeah, they might wonder about it, but if you act like there's nothing to be ashamed of then it probably won't faze anyone.

Thank you for your perspective. Honestly, that's not it at all. Anybody who knows us, knows we are not hoity toity and that my husband is not rich. He drives a 19 year old truck, most of my kids clothes come from Target. I would not consider ourselves high class. We make about a teachers salary and manage our bills well, that's it. I'm not worried about what anyone in my family or circle of friends would think. They are excited for me to be taking steps toward my goal. Disrespect to me, feels like disapproval. I have always been that way. I just know that in my area, which is poor compared to surrounding counties, CNAs aren't treated very well and from the posts I have read on this board from CNAs and nurses, it appears that isn't uncommon. As someone who is all about social equality, that bothers me for anyone, in any position.

I didn't mean to make this thread about my insecurities. I really just wanted to know what would be a good direction to go with the cert., that would benefit my goals as a nursing student and a nurse. I will value any experience, volunteering or a job, that will contribute to my goals and not negatively impact myself or family.

I met with the CNA instructor today and I am encouraged. The date was delayed a couple of weeks but it seems like it will be a good program. I came in on the tail end of a session and got to sit through it before our meeting. I really like her and the students seemed very happy to be there. Everything was very personal and professional and I feel much better about the whole thing now. I am very excited to start. She also told me about a couple of volunteer opportunities at a hospital, with some direct patient interaction, which what I was looking for.

That's awesome, I wish you the best of luck! :)