Certified nursing assistants, better known as CNAs, are some of the most important members of the health care industry. More and more people are going to school to become CNAs and often they are not really aware of what they are getting into. There are levels to being a CNA. There is CNA I and CNA II levels that you can work towards. Coming out of graduation, you will likely be a CNA I. This article will inform you about what it really is like to work as a CNA.
The first thing you need to know about being a CNA is that it is not really like being a nurse with a nursing degree. You will do some of the same things, but there are a number of things that you can not do until you get your nursing degree. A CNA is more like a nursing assistant than a nurse. Many people think that they are one and the same, but they are not at all.
This difference means that the CNAs of the world end up with most of the undesirable duties. These duties are not easy at all, as they often include dealing with the dirtier parts of the nursing field. Some examples of these duties include sponge baths, changing bedpans, changing patients who have soiled themselves, and basic cleaning of rooms, tools, and nursing stations. While these jobs are done by nurses sometimes as well, they are a large part of the duties of a CNA.
CNAs work largely in the nursing home industry, and this can be a difficult job. The work is often tiresome and redundant, and the depression level among CNAs is high. You have to be a special type of personality to enjoy this line of work. Given this, one should work as a volunteer before pursuing schooling in the CNA field to be sure they are of the right mind for the job. Because you are working with older, often very sick people, death is a regular companion to the CNA. You become close with these patients in a profound way, and find yourself saying goodbye all too often.
Being a CNA is a very difficult but rewarding job. If you are able to overcome the things mentioned above, you can make a very rewarding living from working as a CNA and working towards a full nursing degree. The health care industry is desperate for help all the time, so job security in the CNA field is rather strong. Also, the pay is getting better for CNAs and other support personnel.
If you feel you are not cut out to be a CNA, then you could look into other health care areas. These can include phlebotomy, x-ray technicians, and even physical therapy. Each of these areas offer lots of opportunities to grow and learn, and you generally do not have the exposure to death and dying that a CNA faces often.
