Published Jun 14, 2011
twinieten
42 Posts
So, um.... if I really don't like being a CNA, I'm not going to like being an nurse, am I?
The only thing is, I work in a nursing home, right now. I wonder if I'd feel different in a hospital setting. I'm still a few years out on nursing school, and thinking maybe I should consider a different career path.
AgentBeast, MSN, RN
1,974 Posts
LTC sucks. I'd try and get a hospital CNA job and see how that goes before throwing in the towel on nursing completely.
Turd Ferguson
455 Posts
Providing RN care is much different than providing CNA care, try to see if you can shadow an RN in a hospital environment to get a good idea of what it's about.
If hospitals aren't your thing, there are a million different ways you can go with an RN.
NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN
3,959 Posts
I HATED, HATED, HATED, being a CNA in LTC. I love being a nurse period. LTC is not my desired specialty but I liked being a nurse more than a CNA. CNA in nursing home is back breaking work. When I worked in LTC as a nurse I was not immune to providing ADL care but definitely less of it.
loriangel14, RN
6,931 Posts
What is it about being a CNA that you dislike?
tokmom, BSN, RN
4,568 Posts
Being a CNA in a LTC is slave labor. I was a CNA in a LTC and med/surg floor. I liked the hospital a lot more than the LTC.
Why do you want to become a nurse in the first place?
birdie22
231 Posts
sometimes, cna=clean up poop and rn=med dispenser. take it with a grain of salt.
both have pros and cons. the big difference that i have personally noticed is that when you are the cna, you can always say "i'm not sure, let me ask your nurse..." so as the nurse, you really do a ton of critical thinking, often without even realizing it.
i also have found that the patients show more respect....but maybe that is bc we are sometimes viewed as a med dispenser...but hopefully thats not the only reason!
DinatravelerRN
24 Posts
Long Term Care isn't for everyone .....but it does make you appreciate working in a Hospital!! Stay with it, I'm sure you will be an amazing nurse!!
Mandy LVN
LTC sucks! Been there done that as a CNA and a nurse. I used to love working in the hospital. Give hospital work a shot as a cna before nursing school and see how you like it. If you don't there are still many other ways you can practice as a nurse.
kool-aide, RN
594 Posts
I agree with everyone else. I did CNA training in LTC and then immediately landed a job at my hospital and have never looked back! Try to find a hospital job before you give up on nursing all together.
Also, it depends on where you want to work in hospitals… For me I would want critical care, cardiology, ER, etc. Med/surg is not that interesting to me anymore because I've "been there, done that…"
Good luck!
hoytbruce
6 Posts
I love being a CNA in long term care yes its back breaking work but I also worked in a hospital as a cna also I hated that you were more like a tech than an aide also starting school in Jan for RN I would love to work in a nursing there too or maybe home health
ArtClassRN, ADN, RN
630 Posts
So, um.... if I really don't like being a CNA, I'm not going to like being an nurse, am I? The only thing is, I work in a nursing home, right now. I wonder if I'd feel different in a hospital setting. I'm still a few years out on nursing school, and thinking maybe I should consider a different career path.
Do REALLY well in your current job while you are working on finding another one. Your satisfaction comes from inside, not out.