Which is strenuous, CNA, RN, or CRNA? Please help

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Hi all,

I know that some of you who read this post will just look at it and move on to the next post.. I truly would like to get your help on this though.

I'm just starting out as a CNA and I will be going to school to get my BSN RN. MY particular question is, ... Is CNA work much more strenuous work then CRNA or RN? The reason I ask is because I have really weak Back muscles and I will have to wear a back brace because I really don't want to mess up my back. The weird thing is that I was coming out of clinicals(CNA) today and was thoughtful about really persueing the RN and CRNA path. I know that I can mentally do the work in school and the job but I really hope that a weak back wont stop me or make it impossible for me to get through school and clinicals(we currently do a lot of bed baths and transfers). Im sure my classmates that are at an LTF probably do more then I at the hospital.

That would suck(not being able to go RN or CRNA because of my back issue( which I think I can narrow down to being more of a foot problem because I'm almost flatfooted))! I'm not bad bad, but for instance, doing the bed baths and doing some of the transfers can leave my back feeling a bit strained. I take all measures to insure that I'm doing it all the right way.

If anything, can some of the CRNA's come on to this post and let me know how CRNA differs, in terms of job Strain, from RN and CNA?

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

As a CNA you certainly do have to spend a lot of your day transferring adjusting patient's. However as a BSN graduate you could become a nurse manager (no lifting!), a case manager (discharge planner--again, no lifting!) or an infection control nurse (no lifting) or a information specialist RN working with computer programs etc (no lifting)...so there you have it. I'm sure there are many more non lifting careers in the nursing field.

I do not know how much lifting is required daily for CRNAs...surely there would be ancillary staff to lift a patient to the desired position.

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Some hospitals and other healthcare facilities have become much more "back-friendly" with the implementation of lifting devices that will help you or totally lift the patient for you. You might ask about such devices when you interview at hospitals.

Adonai

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Moved to the Pre-CRNA Inquiry Forum.

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