What drives you...?

[The-Wren]

Hello everyone. :)

I am currently in a CNA class, a week away from clinicals! I'm pretty excited but also have a few worries that I can't seem to get rid of and I wanted to hear from some of the seasoned CNAs; though I'd love to just hear from any of you.

Of course I'm worried about not passing my State Board exam, mostly because I'm going to be nervous for the skills portion. I'm hoping that I'll be able to breeze through it though.

I've been reading through all the threads on here (very happy I found this site) and it really has me thinking about things.

Why did you become a CNA? What drives you to do this kind of work?

From what I've seen it is a very hard job that really doesn't pay well for all that you have to do. I'm a little apprehensive about becoming a CNA, truthfully. It feels like a lot of people look down on CNAs and think that they are not important. Still, I am proud that I will soon be doing work that actually helps people.

What I really want to hear about are the good things. I've read so many negative threads. So, can anyone help me? I'm a little worried and I would like to hear some positive things (positive experiences, etc).

Thank you so much.

[yousoldtheworld]

To be perfectly honest, I became a CNA because I was in an "I don't know what else to do" situation. A free class was offered, I couldn't find a job elsewhere, and...here I am. I was happy to find, though, that I was good at it and actually really enjoyed it in the right setting.

As for what drives me to do the work, there are several things. First, obviously, financial need - that's a reality for most everyone. Second, though, is that it's IMPORTANT work. I never felt good about working retail and the like, it bothered me and I just constantly felt like my being there was meaningless. If I missed a day, no big deal. I don't mean to disrespect anyone who works in retail...it's just not for everyone.

I struggled with whether or not I wanted to remain a CNA and eventually become a nurse for the first several years I was an aide. I wasn't too fond of geriatrics in general. I decided to put nursing school on hold, because I just didn't think it was for me. Then, when I got hired at the hospital, it became even worse. I despised every minute of my job. When I moved from that town, I swore I'd never be an aide again.

When I moved to my current location, I applied everywhere with no luck. It became clear that I was going to have to work as an aide again. I wandered into my current facility, which is a children's home for the severely developmentally disabled. I turned in an app, was hired the next day, and I LOVE IT.

Don't get me wrong, the facility has the same problems as every other - bad staffing, iffy management, and absolutely horrendous pay. But the kids, omg. Amazing. So pure and innocent and full of unconditional love for you when you show them just a bit of kindness...and that's what drives me now.

When you're out in the outside world and it's full of negativity, hateful people, unappreciative people, etc...and then you walk into this facility, and meet these kids that have NOTHING, no family (many of them were abused, shaken babies, etc), and such extensive disabilities, and they light up when you walk into the room and ask for nothing more than a little affection.It truly inspires me, and it's what has caused me to reconsider going back to nursing school.

Sorry for the novel :)

[interceptinglight, CNA]

To be perfectly honest, I became a CNA because I was in an "I don't know what else to do" situation. A free class was offered, I couldn't find a job elsewhere, and...here I am. I was happy to find, though, that I was good at it and actually really enjoyed it in the right setting.

As for what drives me to do the work, there are several things. First, obviously, financial need - that's a reality for most everyone. Second, though, is that it's IMPORTANT work. I never felt good about working retail and the like, it bothered me and I just constantly felt like my being there was meaningless. If I missed a day, no big deal. I don't mean to disrespect anyone who works in retail...it's just not for everyone.

I struggled with whether or not I wanted to remain a CNA and eventually become a nurse for the first several years I was an aide. I wasn't too fond of geriatrics in general. I decided to put nursing school on hold, because I just didn't think it was for me. Then, when I got hired at the hospital, it became even worse. I despised every minute of my job. When I moved from that town, I swore I'd never be an aide again.

When I moved to my current location, I applied everywhere with no luck. It became clear that I was going to have to work as an aide again. I wandered into my current facility, which is a children's home for the severely developmentally disabled. I turned in an app, was hired the next day, and I LOVE IT.

Don't get me wrong, the facility has the same problems as every other - bad staffing, iffy management, and absolutely horrendous pay. But the kids, omg. Amazing. So pure and innocent and full of unconditional love for you when you show them just a bit of kindness...and that's what drives me now.

When you're out in the outside world and it's full of negativity, hateful people, unappreciative people, etc...and then you walk into this facility, and meet these kids that have NOTHING, no family (many of them were abused, shaken babies, etc), and such extensive disabilities, and they light up when you walk into the room and ask for nothing more than a little affection.It truly inspires me, and it's what has caused me to reconsider going back to nursing school.

Sorry for the novel :)

I envy your job, yousoldtheworld. I work in a LTC facility in the dementia unit. We don't have any total care residents here because they are not appropriate for this kind of care. When I worked on the resident halls before I came here I found that the people I seemed to enjoy taking care of the most were the ones who needed the most care.....the ones who needed hoyer lifts for transfers and could not perform any kind of self-care....similar to the ones you care for on your job. They are such special precious people they melt my heart every day. I would love to work in a facility for children but there is no such place around here where I live. Blessings to you ! :heartbeat

[Ev1987]

What drove me to become a cna was to find an affordable career that could get me out of my waitress job. I researched cna job descriptions and pay rate for my area, then decided to save up for the training program.

After doing this for close to a year, what pleases me about my job is; the fact that being a nurse assistant is a rewarding job to have. To be able to provide care for the sick or recovering is meaningful to me.

[Dorali, BSN, LPN, RN]

I decided to become a CNA because I was pretty sure that I wanted to go into nursing and this would be a good way to make sure that I would like this kind of work. I was right, and plan on going to nursing school.

Sometimes the job is hard, sometimes you feel like you're the low man on the totem pole, but I know that God gave me the gift of a kind heart and a compassion for people. I know that I am in the right place. Being a CNA is just a stepping stone for me. If I'm going to be boss one day, I want to have walked the walk. I want to be one of the awesome nurses that isn't above the dirty work.

I smiled when I was changing/toileting one of my ladies and she said, "God bless you for doing this. I know it's hard work!" Knowing that they appreciate you helps you get through the hard times.

[blessed2bfree]

Sometimes the job is hard, sometimes you feel like you're the low man on the totem pole, but I know that God gave me the gift of a kind heart and a compassion for people. I know that I am in the right place. Being a CNA is just a stepping stone for me. If I'm going to be boss one day, I want to have walked the walk. I want to be one of the awesome nurses that isn't above the dirty work.

Ditto