If you are considering becoming a CNA, then this blog post is for you.
The following list of things that nurses should know before they become nurses will give you the knowledge to make an informed decision about your future profession. CNA work hard and the job can be challenging at times, but it’s rewarding as well. And if you like helping people and want to make a difference in someone’s life, then read on!
1. Nursing school is expensive and requires a lot of time
If you are working while going to school, then it will be difficult to balance both.
You can expect your days and nights (and weekends) to consist of studying for tests, writing research papers or essays, taking care of projects that require hours of tedious work (such as designing a PowerPoint presentation), etc.
And if you are like most nursing students, then your work schedule will be cut back to part-time status (or even full time) while in school.
2. Don’t expect to make a lot of money
CNA starting out usually get what is called an “entry-level salary.”
If you are lucky, your next job will pay more than entry level and it won’t take long before you can begin earning around $30,000 per year.
But beware; the cost of living for a nurse can be high. A new nursing graduate in some areas of the country will have to pay around $1500 per month just on rent and bills alone!
3. Nurse abuse happens
You will have to deal with difficult patients and colleagues throughout your career.
There are some nurses out there who get rough with other people – not just the patients they work for, but also their co-workers.
If you’re a nurse or thinking of becoming one, then it would be wise to keep this in mind when choosing where to practice.
4. CNAs can get fired
If you work for a facility that cares about their license, such as a hospital or nursing home, then any kind of unsatiable behavior could get you terminated.
And if your employer is small and doesn’t have the resources to hire another nurse on staff (even temporarily), they may let you go regardless.
5. Nursing can get boring
Once you become an experienced nurse with years of experience under your belt, it is easy for the job to lose its excitement and challenge because routine becomes normal and nothing is ever new.
If you want to keep your job interesting and exciting, it doesn’t hurt to come up with creative ideas for how to stay engaged in the work at hand or even offer suggestions about changing things around a bit.
6. CNAs are underappreciated
Many nurses don’t care whether they receive appreciation from their co-workers or the patient they are caring for.
They just want to do their job and go home at the end of their shift, but this is a mistake!
Remember that nurses have families too who appreciate them and notice when you make an extra effort (even small ones) to help out other people in your workplace.
7. Being a CNA not only patient care
A lot of the work that nurses do is not necessarily hands on.
Instead, they often have to spend time doing administrative tasks such as entering patient data into a computer or filling out charts and reports. Some people complain about this aspect of nursing because it doesn’t seem “real” enough for them (i.e., more like what an office worker does).
But in reality, nursing is about so much more than just taking care of patients.
8. CNAs don’t get to choose what they do
A nurse’s job duties are typically pre-determined by their employer (such as a hospital or medical group) and how many nurses work within that particular organization also affects the scope of a nurse’s job.
In other words, the more nurses that work within an organization then the less specialized their jobs will be and vice versa (i.e., if there are fewer nurses working in a particular hospital or medical group).
9. CNAs need to be able to multitask and stay calm under pressure
Nurses need to be able to multi-task and stay calm under pressure, especially when the patient is critical. Nurses deal with a lot of stress on an everyday basis; if you can’t handle it then this job may not be for you.
10. CNAs don’t work regular office hours
When you become a nurse, unless you work in an office setting such as at a doctor’s or dentist’s office, then your hours will be irregular.
Nurses aren’t just on-call for when they’re needed; they are there 24/seven and can be called in anytime to handle emergencies both large and small.
11. CNAs have high rates of burnout
Nurses have high rates of burnout and suffer from depression. This is due to the stress that comes with the job as well as long hours and nights on call.
If you can’t handle this type of lifestyle, then it may be best not to become a nurse after all.
12. CNAs have to deal with a lot of crap from patients and their families
When you become a nurse, you will find that some people just don’t understand the medical field. And they may treat nurses as if they are lesser than them because of it.
In fact, many patients’ family members who come in think that since their loved one is “sick” that they should be treated better than other patients, even though the level of care needed for each patient may be different.
This can cause a lot of conflict between treatment and nurse-patient relationships.
13. CNAs work in stressful environments
Nurses who go into labor and delivery units deal with a high stress environment as it is, but nurses who work in other specialties such as surgery and emergency care deal with a lot of stress too.
Nurses have to be able to stay calm under pressure and also know how to prioritize their tasks so that they can still get everything done.
14. CNAs work long hours
Nurses can easily find themselves working 12 hour shifts (or more), which means that you won’t have much time for anything else.
This can be hard on relationships and may even cause you to miss out on being there when your children need you the most.
15. CNAs need a strong support system
If you are going into nursing then you need to be sure that you have a strong support system set up.
Not only will your family and friends help keep you sane, but also having some type of exercise or hobby outside of work is important too.
16. Nurses are the most trusted profession
Nurses are one of the world’s most trusted people! This means that nurses will often be put in a position where they need to stand up for their patients, even when the patient or immediate family members don’t agree.
However this is part of the job and what makes it so rewarding!
17. Nurses are well respected
Nurses are highly respected in their communities, which is why they will often times be asked to participate in community events such as health fairs or fundraisers.
However this is not the only way nurses contribute to their communities; they also donate time and money to local fundraisers or charities, as well as volunteer at churches or shelters when needed!
18. CNAs make enough money
You will not be rich doing nursing but you will be able to make a decent living!
Median salary for CNA is around $30,000 per year and can go as high as nearly $60,000 with experience. Nurses who work in the highest paying areas such as radiology or dermatology can earn even more than this each year!
19. Great career opportunities
Nurses can work in a variety of different career opportunities such as hospital, doctor’s offices, long term care facilities and more. Nurses also have the opportunity to become certified lactation consultants or doulas which will allow them to specialize even further!
20. Nurses can work anywhere in the world
Nurses are needed worldwide; they do not have to stay within the U.S. or any other country!
They may find themselves doing volunteer or missionary work overseas, as well as working for an international company to help provide medical care around the world!
21. Nurses can work in any environment
Nurses do not have to only work at hospitals!
They may find jobs working for insurance companies, medical equipment manufacturers or even as a traveling nurse which would allow them the freedom of being able to choose their own schedule and job setting.
22. Nursing is rewarding
There are many rewards that come along with being a nurse that you may not even realize.
One of the biggest rewards is knowing that you are making some ones life better just by providing them with the best possible care! Nurses also have the opportunity to become mentors, which will allow them to train and guide new nurses on their way out into this world.
Ask yourself if this career path is right for you do you have the necessary skills and resources required for success as a nurse?
If you answered yes to these questions, then a nursing career is right for you. Nurses have many roles that they will need to take on during their careers, but it is also hard work and takes a lot of time and dedication! Nurses work hard and the job can be challenging at times, but it’s rewarding as well. Are you up for the challenge?!
