3 answers
Victoria
Student
El Monte, California
3
Questions
Updated
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Why is becoming a registered nurse better than becoming a CNA ?
I am currently a junior is highschool
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3 answers
Michele Hendrix
Certified Medical Coder and Auditor
14
Answers
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Updated
Michele’s Answer
Good evening,
Being an RN gives you more responsibility and autonomy for the care of your patient. CNA's work under RN's and are not allowed to make any decisions. They typically are assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) and minor medical tasks. RNs are truly the backbone of the healthcare industry. I would encourage you to become a CNA first and work in the field prior to committing to an RN program.
It truly is a noble profession because you are that patient's advocate and caregiver. You are a special person if you can do that job.
Good luck
Being an RN gives you more responsibility and autonomy for the care of your patient. CNA's work under RN's and are not allowed to make any decisions. They typically are assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) and minor medical tasks. RNs are truly the backbone of the healthcare industry. I would encourage you to become a CNA first and work in the field prior to committing to an RN program.
It truly is a noble profession because you are that patient's advocate and caregiver. You are a special person if you can do that job.
Good luck
Jing Wang
Business Support
49
Answers
Dalian, Liaoning, China
Updated
Jing’s Answer
Hi Victoria,
Many people say RN is better because RNs have higher pay, more clinical independence, wider career choices/growth and less heavy physical workload, which brings greater job satisfaction in the long run.
However CNA has advantage as well, such as faster to start, lower cost education, great entry point to healthcare and also hand-on patient interaction every day. So there are lots of people start as CNAs and later become RNs.
Good luck.
Many people say RN is better because RNs have higher pay, more clinical independence, wider career choices/growth and less heavy physical workload, which brings greater job satisfaction in the long run.
However CNA has advantage as well, such as faster to start, lower cost education, great entry point to healthcare and also hand-on patient interaction every day. So there are lots of people start as CNAs and later become RNs.
Good luck.
Tess Zabele
Certified Nursing Assistant, Nursing Student, EMT-B Student
6
Answers
Salt Lake City, Utah
Updated
Tess’s Answer
Hi Victoria, I'm a CNA and a nursing student, and I want to share some thoughts on the benefits of being a CNA. It's a great way to start in healthcare because the schooling is affordable, and you get to enter the field early. This means you gain valuable hands-on experience and learn a lot about patient care. Many nurses start as CNAs, and I think every nursing student should try it. It really shows you how hard healthcare workers work.
However, there are challenges too. Many places are understaffed, and CNAs often work hard for low pay. While there might be pay increases over time, promotions are less common. As a PRN CNA, I've found a good balance with school and life, but it's easy to feel burnt out if you're not careful. Your career path depends on your goals. Becoming an RN offers more growth opportunities and still involves patient care, but in a different way. Nurses I've spoken to say it comes with higher pay and more career growth, though it's demanding both physically and mentally.
However, there are challenges too. Many places are understaffed, and CNAs often work hard for low pay. While there might be pay increases over time, promotions are less common. As a PRN CNA, I've found a good balance with school and life, but it's easy to feel burnt out if you're not careful. Your career path depends on your goals. Becoming an RN offers more growth opportunities and still involves patient care, but in a different way. Nurses I've spoken to say it comes with higher pay and more career growth, though it's demanding both physically and mentally.