4 answers
Emma
Student
Corbett, Oregon
2
Questions
Asked
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why'd you want to become a CNA?
is being a cna harder then being a nurse im wanting to work my way up to nursing
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4 answers
Nico Cerceo
Utility Locate Technician
18
Answers
Noblesville, Indiana
Updated
Nico’s Answer
Hi, Emma!
I am not a CNA, however, I always find myself wanting to find groups where I can be around other individuals in my career field. I would recommend heading to Facebook, if you have one, and searching for some group pages where CNAs congregate to discuss different aspects of the job. I know Reddit is also another great source to find genuine people discussing genuine things. I'll attach a link to a Reddit forum I found that is filled with personal responses from active CNAs. I hope this helps somewhat!
https://www.reddit.com/r/nursing/comments/1q3xg1/new_cna_here_what_are_some_things_i_can_do_to_get/
Search Facebook for CNA group pages
Check out Reddit for CNA group pages
Meet CNAs at you local hospice care facilities
I am not a CNA, however, I always find myself wanting to find groups where I can be around other individuals in my career field. I would recommend heading to Facebook, if you have one, and searching for some group pages where CNAs congregate to discuss different aspects of the job. I know Reddit is also another great source to find genuine people discussing genuine things. I'll attach a link to a Reddit forum I found that is filled with personal responses from active CNAs. I hope this helps somewhat!
https://www.reddit.com/r/nursing/comments/1q3xg1/new_cna_here_what_are_some_things_i_can_do_to_get/
Nico recommends the following next steps:
Hana Kim
Student Nurse
21
Answers
Southborough, Massachusetts
Updated
Hana’s Answer
Hello Emma,
I wanted to become a CNA because I wanted experience working in the field before advancing to the next year in nursing school. When you are in nursing school, you can work as a CNA to gain experience and know what nursing field you want to work in after graduating. I suggest that in order to avoid burnout and stress, it is helpful if you want to help others.
I wanted to become a CNA because I wanted experience working in the field before advancing to the next year in nursing school. When you are in nursing school, you can work as a CNA to gain experience and know what nursing field you want to work in after graduating. I suggest that in order to avoid burnout and stress, it is helpful if you want to help others.
natalie simeral
Cna
1
Answer
Shelton, Washington
Updated
natalie’s Answer
honestly becoming a Cna was the best decision I have ever made in my entire life. since I was 14 all I wanted to do was become a pediatrics nurse, this is just one step closer to having the dream job I wanted. becoming a Cna is difficult I can tell you that, but also a LPN and Rn and everything above a Cna is hard. my mother is going through Rn school right now and its gonna take her 6 years to finish these classes. all that matters though is us taking care of patients that really are going through tough times
Guy Harding
Certified Nursing Assistant
2
Answers
Bridgeville, Delaware
Updated
Guy’s Answer
Hello Emma! My name is Guy, I'm a CNA, and nursing student based out of Delaware.
In terms of why I wanted to become a CNA, it honestly was not my first choice. My high school had a CNA program that I took as a backup in addition to a secondary program in business that was my primary choice. I chose it as my backup simply out of wanting to help people and make a difference. However, as I explored the CNA program (which was designed to be a pre-nursing course) I ended up falling in love with nursing. My current goal is to finish up my second half of my RN, ADN. CNA is a great steppingstone to your RN if it's something that you would be interested in. At least in my state, you -have- to complete a semester of CNA training as part of your RN program. Though rules, vary state to state, and university to university.
As to whether or not being a CNA is harder than a nurse, from my personal perspective, I think they're both equally as challenging, in different ways. Nurses (Particularly RN's) have a lot more legal liability, and responsibility if things go wrong, in addition to their responsibility to pronounce patients, update families, look at labs, report changes in conditions to MD's, ect. They also handle medication/controlled substance. (however, in some states, you can take an extra course, and tac that ability on to your CNA, I would research pay before investing in that option) Nurses are a lot more of the mental stresses.
CNA's deal with a lot more of the physical stresses. Lifting, pulling, and tugging on patients. Even if a facility is designated a "no lift" facility. The reality is, you're going to be lifting patients. We also have some liability in terms of federal laws regarding abuse, neglect, ect. We are responsible for charting, though it's more related to ADL's (Activities of Daily living: washing up, ambulating [walking], shaving, eating ect.) We're also sometimes responsible for running transports (If you're working in a LTC setting, you may be called to "run transports" which is just a slang term to being the medical professional that goes with the patient and makes sure they get there okay/everything gets done ect.)
I think every nurse should have to be a CNA, one because it gives you an idea of the true nature of your job, and the job of the individuals working under your license (As CNA's work under the supervision of a nurse), and also because it gives you an idea if you actually want to do this work, as well as to judge if you will have a tendency to burn out quickly.
Being a CNA is personally rewarding work, but not always the best for everyone. I have found the more I have focused on Nursing school, the more difficult CNA work has become.
Hope this helps!
Best of luck
~Guy
In terms of why I wanted to become a CNA, it honestly was not my first choice. My high school had a CNA program that I took as a backup in addition to a secondary program in business that was my primary choice. I chose it as my backup simply out of wanting to help people and make a difference. However, as I explored the CNA program (which was designed to be a pre-nursing course) I ended up falling in love with nursing. My current goal is to finish up my second half of my RN, ADN. CNA is a great steppingstone to your RN if it's something that you would be interested in. At least in my state, you -have- to complete a semester of CNA training as part of your RN program. Though rules, vary state to state, and university to university.
As to whether or not being a CNA is harder than a nurse, from my personal perspective, I think they're both equally as challenging, in different ways. Nurses (Particularly RN's) have a lot more legal liability, and responsibility if things go wrong, in addition to their responsibility to pronounce patients, update families, look at labs, report changes in conditions to MD's, ect. They also handle medication/controlled substance. (however, in some states, you can take an extra course, and tac that ability on to your CNA, I would research pay before investing in that option) Nurses are a lot more of the mental stresses.
CNA's deal with a lot more of the physical stresses. Lifting, pulling, and tugging on patients. Even if a facility is designated a "no lift" facility. The reality is, you're going to be lifting patients. We also have some liability in terms of federal laws regarding abuse, neglect, ect. We are responsible for charting, though it's more related to ADL's (Activities of Daily living: washing up, ambulating [walking], shaving, eating ect.) We're also sometimes responsible for running transports (If you're working in a LTC setting, you may be called to "run transports" which is just a slang term to being the medical professional that goes with the patient and makes sure they get there okay/everything gets done ect.)
I think every nurse should have to be a CNA, one because it gives you an idea of the true nature of your job, and the job of the individuals working under your license (As CNA's work under the supervision of a nurse), and also because it gives you an idea if you actually want to do this work, as well as to judge if you will have a tendency to burn out quickly.
Being a CNA is personally rewarding work, but not always the best for everyone. I have found the more I have focused on Nursing school, the more difficult CNA work has become.
Hope this helps!
Best of luck
~Guy