Would anyone like to share their thoughts on being a CNA while getting their RN????

[JessicaP4588]

I would love to hear anyone's insight on their experiences, struggles, and strenths. The good, the bad, and the positive parts of doing this! This is my plan, and I hope to stick to it no matter what life brings my way. Thank you so much for your thoughts and replies =)

Jess

[tokidoki7, ASN, RN]

I've been working on a med surg unit for almost a couple years now. I worked as a nursing assistant 9 months before I started nursing school. It was intimidating at first because I didn't have a lot of patient care experience, but as time went on I became more confident in my abilities. I see and learn something new each time I go to work, whether it's about a particular illness or something about my self.

When I started nursing school, I was pretty much at ease approaching patients; however, I also went in with a blank mind and did what was required of me by my clinical instructor. Unlike some of my classmates, I didn't tell anyone at first that I worked at a hospital, but at the end of the semester my instructor said she could tell by the way I interacted with patients and staff that I had hospital experience.

Truth is, is that being a nursing assistant is a lot of work, especially on a large unit with very ill patients. The work load is heavy (there is no NA to patient ratio), the pay is low, and most of the time the job can be extremely frustrating and exhausting. Plus you're dealing with all kind of people, some of them are easy to work with and others are more difficult. You need to have a tough skin!

Good luck!

[JessicaP4588]

Thank you so much for all your input. I am going to be starting a CNA program soon, and think I want to do that for a bit then get into and RN program, so that I can have a good feel for it all. Thanks again, you helped a lot!!!!!