Why do CNA's get low pay for the hard labor that they do?

[M4ri_777]

Today was the fourth day of clinicals as a CNA student, and so far I had quite an experience but I am loving every moment of it. I am just so surprised how fast the CNA's have to be to get to their residents up and going. The experience i loved so far is the time you get to be with the residents at bedside. I knew what I was going into wasn't easy and and the pay is low. I find it bizarre that all these CNA's are working so hard with the amount of workload that they have and are not getting paid like more than $10 or better yet $15 and up. I understand they may not have an education of an RN or and LVN/LPN. My instructor is a retired RN and told us the higher the education the less time you spend at beside with the resident/patient. This may or may not be true but the truth is the workload of a CNA is just wow, but that's pretty much how the health system goes. Life isn't always fair I guess and someone has to do the job.

Anyways, I just want to share my thoughts.

To all the CNA's out there who have doing this for years I give you my utmost respect. I appreciate what you guys do. Hopefully as a CNA student and soon to be a rn student I can acquire what I learn and use this experience to one day be a great nurse!

Enjoy the rest of your day or night!

[HM-8404, BSN, RN]

Why do CNA's get low pay? The short answer is because someone is willing to accept the low pay for doing the job.

It really has much to do with how much training is involved and how much responsibility goes with the job. Typically the longer it takes to train someone to do a job the higher the pay, be it CNA, LPN, RN, NP, MD.

It makes good business sense for any company to pay only what is required to get a responsible person to do a job.

[Mewsin]

Part has to be what people are willing to work for and part would be level of education I believe. Where I work it is expected you take the 10 month CCA course but some facilities you can take the weekend Red Cross course. In our facilities we get paid 19.87 starting, but in the weekend-course-is-enough facilities they get paid $13. People who were working at our facility left to work at the other one because they could get full time positions, so they are willing to work for a low pay.

[Philly_LPN_Girl, LPN]

I got paid $16 an hr then $18 an hr and I live in Pa area. I think it all depends on where you work.

[Racer15, BSN, RN]

Accountability. At the end of the day, the RN is responsible for the actions of the CNA. CNAs work hard, but if a patient gets hurt, declines, etc...it is the RNs problem. You aren't expected to have those assessment skills and judgment, the RNs are. I don't work LTC, but I make less than $19/hr with 3 years of college and a whole lot of accountability. And I am an RN working in an ER. Grass ain't always greener, the money isn't always worth the added responsibility.

[elkpark]

Because of the level of education and accountability involved. Same reason RNs get paid less than MDs. Education always trumps physical labor when it comes to wages/salaries.

[NamasteNurse, BSN, RN]

Yes, the work is very physically demanding, yes they bust their butts, And, some get much higher pay. In upstate NY they start at 12/hour and I know some who earn up to 18/hour with preceptor and longevity pay. With the minimum wage at 7.75/hr, this isn't really "low pay".

[HeatherMax]

Here in my area CNA's make $7.25 an hour, and because there are SOOOO many CNA's looking for work they take the crappy pay. $7.25 is better than nothing I guess

[Working2beRN2014]

I got my CNA so I could work in the hospital setting while going through nursing school. In the DFW area the pay for entry level CNA's is anywhere from minimum wage to upwards of 10.00 hourly. In Texas the CNA course is less than one semester and only 100 hours long. Compared to other degrees in the medical field, it is substantially less. Also CNA's generally earn more as they gain experience. If this is a deliberate career choice, you should be aware of the earning potential in advance, but like most people use it as a stepping stone while working on an advanced degree.

[Mr.FutureDNP23]

Mewsin -19.87 hr? CNA? That's better than what some RN's make in my area. Are you in California?

[1crnaqt2b]

I just wanted to congratulate you on your decision to become a CNA. I am in the Metro Atlanta area. I just received a scholarship for a CNA course with the American Red Cross. I so excited. I start April 1. Any suggestions on what to expect?

[Code3Nursing]

I have been an EMT for YEARS and I get paid less than CNA's... That is why I am in Nursing School. I have worked in the worst conditions ie: 120 degree heat traffic collisions on the HWY, raining & snowing... I got paid less than 14.00/hr for the last 10 years... why because that is the going rate for the dime a dozen EMT's out there. It only took me 6 months to get certified, no prereq's required...