What would you be if you weren't a CNA?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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Specializes in none as of yet.

This is just meant to be a thread that shows the various kinds of folks that come upon the CNA forum. Answers can include what you used to do before being a CNA.

To start this off: I considered becoming a high school English teacher until I thought of the various scenarios that could come up as an educator that cares about the quality of education that my students receive. I didn't think I could deal with the parents that don't care about their childrens' future. I know nursing has its' own pitfalls, but I realize there is only so much I can do.

The floor is yours...

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Specializes in LTC.

I was going to go to school for criminal justice before I became a CNA. I had a change in my living situation and could no longer go, so i took a CNA course at the junior college. It was a good thing, looking back on it. I enjoyed being a CNA and I finish LVN school in a month. :)

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Specializes in geriatrics, dementia, ortho.

I used to work as a nanny, and then as a residential counselor for teen boys in foster care with severe behavioral issues. I decided to take a break from all the troubled kids and fell in love with working in geriatrics, especially dementia. If I weren't a CNA now I'd probably still work with kids in some way.

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Specializes in LTC.

I always wanted to study art history, and if I could afford college in the traditional sense, that's what i would have done... and then I'd still probably be a CNA because what can be done with an art history degree? lol. Sometimes I still think I should do it anyway.

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I am only two semesters away from degrees in English and History. What I thought I'd do with them, I don't know...

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I wanted to do medical billing and coding. I took some online classes but with 2 kids to care for I couldnt do it. Atleast when I go to class to be CNA I won't be disrupted! I now want to be a CNA so that's what I am doing my community college has a respiratory care it offers I forget how long it is. I wanna do that in 2013. Middle of next year I want to be a med aide (you have to work consistently for a year) who knows I might go on to a LPN.

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Specializes in CNA: LTC & DD.

If I'd stayed in college the first time around, probably would've been finishing my BSN by now and be a RN. Now I'm coming at it from the other direction, and that's just fine with me!

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Specializes in LTC.
I am only two semesters away from degrees in English and History. What I thought I'd do with them, I don't know...

At least you're 2 semesters away from *something.* I probably have as many credits as you do and they're so scattered I can't use half of them for any one degree.

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I graduated from a business college in 1984 as a medical secretary/transcriptionist. I got 15 years' experience working in the field (and loving it).....eventually the train wreck that was my life prevented me from continuing to work (an abusive relationship --- long story, that :crying2:) so I was out of the work force for over 10 years. After losing the pathologic partner in 2008, I tried to re-enter the healthcare field and found literally NO JOBS in medical transcription/billing that were willing to hire me without current references. So I did the next best thing -- I accepted a job offer at a LTC facility that scholarshiped me for the CNA program. Culture shock !!! Disgracefully low pay compared to what I'd been making before, backbreaking labor, heartbreaking job. Now I'm working in the Alzheimer's Unit and enjoying dementia very much.........however I still long for a nice neat tidy little transcription job as that is my first love (I also prefer the pay scale). Being a CNA is a very worthwhile and wonderful (sometimes) job......nevertheless the minute I'm offered an administrative position in a hospital or medical office, I'm giving notice. I love the healthcare field, I love it!! But I prefer administrative work to being a beast of burden for a 'not-for-profit' LTC that has some serious problems with the way it treats its employees. :banghead:

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