I mentioned in the topic, why nurses decided to become nurses. I decided to become a CNA because I was doing home care for 2 years. I loved CNA school because I completed my CNA at a community college.
The course was intense, because in order to enter the program, you had to take a RN entry test to decide do you have the brains to become a RN, LVN, CNA , Etc. The CNA's were taught overly then just learning to be a CNA, we were taught how to become a nurse, the fundamentals of nursing.I thought that was great, because It made good CNA out of us, and we were prepared for the work force, and we understood what it was to be a good care provider. My teacher was a CNA too, she too, and the Rn students and Lvn students would encourage us to continue our education. It was programmed in us to always continue are education. Like I said, I didn't like nursing at first, that was because I worked at a convalesent home for 14 months, and I thought that the nurses there were overworked, and going out of there minds. I wanted to keep my level of stress level down, so I decided to go to computer school, to become a Computer Operator. I finished my course, and I got hire at UCLA Medical Center as a Administrated Care Partner, which is a Hospital Technician , and a Unit Secretary. I think working at a acute hospital change my way of thinking towards nursing.

CNA school in Florida was exciting and challenging. It was the testing center that brought on the heat. The nurses testing us were silent stones watching, leaning over my shoulder with clipboards. One bumped my shoulder during a demonstration of catheter care, the other one was breathing on me. Finally I said "Gentlemen, you are breaking the sterile barrier here" and waved them to step a little away from me. The school kept reminding us that we can always take the test again at no charge. When I got my folded slip of paper in my hand, I tore it open and screamed "I passed"!
Too intense!

I am sorry that I got off topic. My first CNA job was in a nursing home. I worked in nursing homes for 2 yrs. I did home health for about 6 yrs when my girls were little so I could be home when they got home from school. I worked in a group home for about 2 yrs with clients with health and mental health issues. I have worked in the prison system for about 7 yrs now. I worked in a prison hospital, mental health unit and clinic setting. My CNA clinicals were both in the nursing home and hospital.

I took the course at a local Vo-tech in '88. I don't remember it being very difficult. It was a far cry from nursing school. I can't remember how long it was or really anything else...just visions mostly. This was the first step in the world of Nursing. I worked on an orthopedic inpatient unit at the hospital I am currently employed. Didn't really care for the inpatient world at all. Routine this, routine that. Bored the hell out of me. Bed baths and the lot. Almost turned me away from nursing altogether. Thought I may go the physical therapist route until I got a taste of emergency medicine in the military. I discovered the ER and the rest is history.

If you have any friends or connections to a local hosp.,LTC,or home health they can give you the number to the state lic. boarb for cna's.sometimes you can just pay a fee and have your lic.reenstated.Or they can at least tell you what your state requires.Good Luck.

im about to start the CNA classes i cant wait! im so excited i have wanted to be an RN now for at least 5 yrs so i am planning on starting with CNA then while working i plan to stay in school and go through prerequisites then on to all the other classes required im excited i hope i still have energy for it all once it happens or at least still want to be a nurse after i start working in a hospital... any pointers??? thanks!

I did my CNA in high school. My clinical experience was okay, I wish there was more that we could have learned. We went to a nursing home for a couple weeks. then we went to our local hospital. That is where i wish we could have went to another hospital b/c we live in a small town and there was nothing going on. NOW dont get me wrong that is a good thing that no one was coming into the hospital but bad on our part b/c we sat there and talked about nothing for three hours. Anyways, when i took my test i studied for about a week straight and I passed. I was so happy that i cried. But then came the part when I had to get a job. well needless to say i got my cna in october and here it is april and i still have no job. I think i just am scared of the field of work. And a change in everyday things. I just need to get eight hours under a rn supervision. But that makes no sense to work only eight hours. SO no not goin to do that. I wish someone could give me a little encourgement to help me get out there and find me a job. I know they are highering but cant seem to get my self out there to go pick up an application. Sorry kinda vented on u a little.

Well for me I love people and always have. My grandfather was very sick and at 13 I took care of him until he passed. That night I knew what I wanted to do and that was care for people. I love it. My CNA school was o.k. I enjoyed it but was working fulltime and had just gone through a sepration so I was so tired all the time. I had a yound son. i had to work 3rd shift and go to school fulltime on 1st.(thank God it was only4 months) I fell asleep one day driving to class but God watched over me and I wasn't hurt. I slept through most of my classes and study when I was at work on 3rd when I could. my teacher told me there was noway I would pass her course. i did with flying colors. My final I had a 96. I learned through that(17years old) you can do anything you put your mind too. Cna school is a great start and I believe everyone should be a CNA before becoming a Nurse. It helps to have healthcare expericence when in Nursing school..at least for me:)

Hey, I'm really happy someone posted this topic... I'm going the same route (starting CNA in May so I can work and get some hospital or patient care experience while I go to school), and some people have kind of acted like it's a path I shouldn't be taken, that I should just work hard at RN and start there. I disagree, and I'm happy to have a good resource like this with so many experienced and helpful nurses/nurse assistants. Cheers!

I took the CNT cource at a nursing home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. I became a CNA (CNT as it is called in Tennessee where I did it) because I first worked as a caregiver in private homes of elderly and/developmentally disabled people.  I liked working as a caregiver but when it came time for me to work in a nursing home I hated it because it was very little pay ($6.50/hour) and back-breaking work!  The patient load was ridculous too!  In Tennessee the training was only 3 weeks.  When I moved back to California, they wanted me to go back to school since the training was not equivalent. I said forget that and went to Medical Assistant school and I liked that much better and the pay tends to be better out her for CMA than for CNA.  I do like working as a caregiver  though which is why I am going to get a second job as a caregiver to work weekends while I am in LVN school (Im giving up the MA job so that my week days will be free for school only). Ultimately I plan to become an RN though.

We are required to pass the CNA course before applying for the nursing program. I considered it a good way to see if nursing was something I was really interested in. I would not say I fell in love with the work, its hard work and there is not much for compensation, but I have stuck with it for six months now and can say that as I have learned more the work has become easier and I find myself missing the nursing home during the week when I am not there. Anyone who is interested in helping people should try working as a CNA.There is a big demand for caring people and you will allways have back up employment.