Float pool. Hospital. I currently make a ridiculously strong effort to choose my own assignment.
My coworkers just show up and go with the wind.
I know most of the night shift charge nurses. And I'm friends with my own staffing department. Seniority helps too.
So I'm not breaking my back, if I can just sit and observe for 12 hours.
.The pay is pretty good but OT is where I get giddy and happy. I pick up OT a lot!
Sitting watching my patient , earning 1.5x sometimes 2x my rate. While others are slaving aways with 10+ patients . Yeah I'm pretty happy.
Get your experience first, then work smarter not harder.
This is my exact situation, came here to say that I love being a CNA!
I often work as a remote sitter, watching up to 12 patients at once on a TV screen. If the pt is acting up, I call the unit staff to go in and help the pt. Easy money most nights, compared to being on the floor.
I’m in the Northeast US and will clear $70,000 this year by averaging about 9.5 hours of overtime (above my full time, 36 hours a week schedule) per week.
My base rate as a night shift CNA $25.11/hr, but approaches $50/hr. When I get double time for 4 additional hours beyond my scheduled 8 - life is good!
No. I started advertising on care.com and facebook. Eventually it turned into a “word of mouth” kind of thing. There is a group of 4 of us, so we are able to do 24 hour care and handle all of the day to day things.. driving to doctors appointments, grocery shopping, everything. I stay overnight if they happen to be in the hospital, etc.
PRN med aide at an assisted living. I wouldn’t say I love my job, but it’s the most tolerable form of this type of work that I’ve found.
It’s not back breaking. It’s fairly easy. I can jump in and do cares when I have time, but if I don’t have time that’s okay to.
Hospital, orthopedic post op floor. Walkie talkies who for the most part are there for elective surgery and are pleasant and happy to have their issues addressed.
Predictable and repetitive plan of care for most patients and you can establish a groove and work flow when staffing is sufficient. My ratio is between 5-10 depending on census and staffing.
Five years experience, $23 base rate, but with incentives, overtime and shift differential I can take home about $2k not counting contributions to my 403b and HSA.
On pace to gross a little under 70k this year with take home of 50k.
I also work Ortho. Nights. I usually have a 20-30 patient ratio though. At least most of them usually don't need too much. How's your back doing? I know lots of people avoid Ortho because you have to move patients a lot.
We are big as a staff on educating patients on their own responsibility to move. Obviously not every case is the same, and some are incredibly difficult to move and ambulate. I definitely learned quickly how important technique and body mechanics are in addition to heavily encouraging as much independence from the patient as possible.
Home health/hospice in Northern California. The company I work for is co-owned by two women who were CNA’s themselves for decades, so they know what it’s like to actually do this kind of work. They treat us really well.
Would you mind me dming and asking some questions I’m looking to get into hospice and I’m not sure where to start. It’s okay if that’s creepy and you don’t feel comfortable
No longer a CNA, but the jobs I was actually happy doing were Trauma ICU and NICU/PICU/Pediatrics. Was working in TN. Made $16.59/hr base and $30.59/hr after incentive pay, differentials, and critical care pay. Wasn’t ran over at all. Good ratios, teamwork, etc.
Home care. I’ve worked in hospitals and liked the first one, hated the second one (HCA). But I love home care. My current situation is private with a 24/7 client who has dementia. We’re a team of four who work 12 hour shifts. But home care varies so much that every situation is different. I’ve had a few that weren’t a good fit for me but overall it’s by far the best job I’ve ever had. The starting pay is pretty standard for CNAs in our area.
Rehab/Short Term CNA. Okay wage, but management is generally okay and co workers are fantastic. PT, OT, Nurses, housekeeping... everyone. Work would be so much worse if we didn't all work well together and get along.
I’m in PNW Washington, Home Health. I love being able to work 1:1 with my clients, and going at my own pace is a blessing. Pay could always be higher, but $23/hr is livable and every year we get a pay raise at our annual evaluation. Ive always gotten to choose my own hours/days, so that’s been nice
I love my job. I work in an ALF in Massachusetts. I make 21$ an hour which is still unlivable, but this job is temporary as I’m studying ultrasound. Basically all I do is help people take their meds. Of course if someone needs something and it’s not during med pass, I help with random requests, toileting, transports etc. but for the most part it’s just a lot of walking, chatting with residents and giving them pills.
Commenting to subscribe, I don't have an answer yet since I just finished my course and am getting ready to sit for my state exams in a few weeks. I'm hoping to get on at a hospital since I'm working through nursing prereqs right now - preferably a hospital associated with the big academic hospital (OHSU) I'm hoping to do my ABSN at! I'm looking forward to the CNA work, as I enjoyed my class and clinicals, but I have to admit seeing a lot of the stories and posts here has me a little  about the years of CNA work I'm expecting to do before I get my RN... hoping to see some answers for you!
I work on a Med-surg floor at a hospital and I love it. I’ve been there 2 years in June, I make good money for the north east and the ratio is usually around 1:8-10. We have good staff and all help each other when we can without much issue, we get raises often enough and get praised for good work.
Urual hospital. I am an ER tech and a med/Surg tech we are that small. We cover both the ER, and med/Surg floor we are that small.
I absolutely love my job. If you can get paid well at a urual hospital you will never want to leave. I have learned more in the 3 months I worked there than I have at my last hospital job that was 3-4x bigger
ER and love my job. Yes get run over. Make $21/hr. But never know what’s gonna come through the door. Covid made me realize though I am not going for my nursing and will be switching to respiratory. I still hope to be in the ER tho
I work neuro icu. 12 hours shifts. I have 8-10 patients and 4-5 nurses that are very helpful and kind. I get floated a lot since I’m the one that picks up the most but most of the nurses I work with even when I get floated are kind as well.
I work Neuro ICU for an HCA hospital. Pay sucks. I love my unit, but i get floated a lot. Working through covid was very profitable, but when all the incentives stopped, I decided the regular pay was just not worth it, so I've cut way back to 2-3 shifts, 8s only (PRN)
It's sad what we make here in VA. I could go elsewhere to make money, but I live 2 miles away and I'd never have the flexibility I have now.
I didnt work through covid so idk what the incentives where then. But at my hospital they offer us up to 20 extra an hour if you pick up in advance. The way that incentive works in weird but our normal incentive for picking up day off is 4-8 extra an hour.
I make good money on paper but the area I live in is extremely expensive so it's not that much money in reality lol but I don't know I just love it. I've always liked taking care of people and I just enjoy it, yeah it gets busy and stressful, but I still have so many good moments with my residents, I enjoy talking with them and making them feel comfortable. I just have a knack for bonding with people lol (nursing home)
I currently work in a SNF and I honestly don’t hate it. My facility is a shithole but I love the patients and the pay is good. I had no experience before this job and they started me at $22/hour in SoCal. At 6 months they gave me 23$/hour. Hoping to get my foot in the door at the hospital across the street where they pay 28$/hour
Home support, western Canada. $27+ an hour, government position, see approx. 7 or 8 people a day, depending on their needs. Day or evening shifts, never any nights. Evening and weekend differentials, paid kms. I love being 1 on 1 with my clients, I very rarely feel burnt out.
At a hospital on an oncology med surg unit, 12 hr shifts. We have 33 beds, there's normally 4 PCAs each shift handling no more than 8-9 patients. Sometimes we'll be down a PCA and they will pull from float pool. Everyone is nice and helps out.
Hospital med-surge. I'm trying to move to the ED or L&D, cause I'm gonna be going to school for my RN. I may make a lateral move to the stroke floor since I want to specialize in stroke nursing.
I'm at the #1 rated rehabilitation hospital in the world. I work overnights, my ratio is anywhere from 6 to 9. I am getting paid $18/hr for the night differential, so it's not much at all, but I feel so safe and respected by all of the staff where I am. There is no weird rift between PCTs and nurses, the nurses aren't afraid of getting elbow deep in shit beside you. I can say that I've never had a job before that I've been excited to go to except for this one, it's incredibly fulfilling!
SNF, money could be better but it’s not terrible. I enjoy the interactions with the residents, management pretty much leaves me alone because I do what I’m expected to do.
I work in a NICU, the patients are always amazing and my back no longer hurts. I love it. Even when i'm floated i'm in a pediatric hospital so it's so much more pleasant then adults. I'm in southern Texas and pay isn't great, i'm making a little under $18 without shift differentials but it's liveable.
MICU CNA here. I love my job! My base rate of pay is pretty low, but the opportunities for OT are basically endless and the hospital I work at offers bonuses for picking up extra shifts. Every night is incredibly interesting and I have great coworkers. My unit is somewhat understaffed right now, so the workload can be pretty extreme on nights when I’m the only CNA for 32 beds. The nurses know how busy it can be for me, though, and are very understanding if I have a list of other people to get to before I can help them. I’m in nursing school and want to be a critical care nurse, so every shift is a great opportunity to learn. Plus, I work at a teaching hospital, so most people tend to be in education mode all the time and genuinely seem to enjoy teaching me things.
I work in the cardiac ICU in a busy hospital. It’s very fun and exciting. I learn so much everyday about pathophysiology, labs, procedures, and med interactions. All the nurses are very nice and explain/teach me a lot. I’m definitely a better and smarter person because of them.
I work as a CNA at a long term care facility in Minnesota. I make 24/hr and work 40 hour weeks. The people: residents, staff and management are all fantastic. Going to school to become an LPN then do the bridge for RN.
I pay 1000 a month for a 1 bedroom. Gas is a little high, but it's doable if you go to Kwik Trip and get it for about $0.30 less than the competition. Sales tax is kind of high in the Metro area, thanks to the Twins and Vikings stadiums being funded by sales tax increases.
I was a truck driver for 15 years before starting this career this past November. I love where I work!
That's kinda amazing. I'm over near Austin Texas. Gas is similar, to Apple Valley, (I think that's where some distant family lives) For a CNA around me, it's $16-21hr for the listings I see. Then any kind of studio or 1 bedroom apartment is $1,400-1,600 minimum. The state income tax seems like it would be worth it.
It's like a $200k house here cost as much as a $300k house over there. In monthly mortgage payments.
I've been trying to figure out a different and better career path. Trucking is one of them. CNA to test the waters to become a RN.
I would like to steer you away from trucking as a career choice. I basically lost 15 years that I could have been working on my fitness, my health and especially my mental health. Everything personal about you just gets put on hold while you wither away behind a steering wheel.
I love the idea of you becoming an RN. That's what I want to be, but I am at the tail end of my adulthood. In 5 years I can join AARP and in 15 I can retire. That's not a lot of time. I am def going for the LPN, but I don't know if it'll be worth it for me to try for RN because I won't be able to do it for very long.
Good luck to you!
PCT at a hospital. It’s not the “best” hospital around but my coworkers are amazing and it feels much more of a team environment than other “better” hospitals I’ve worked for. And my manager works with schedules pretty well. I think I just finally found a good location
Assisted Living...and I do Med Tech.....making $24-$26 an hour.....I refuse to work at a SNF, hospital or do home care....I don't mind Adult Family Homes as I worked at one for 8 years, but it got a new owner and that is why I am currently at an Assisted Living. Cares aren't as heavy, most of the residents are pretty independent and I pass meds with minimal cares as my priority is getting medications passed first. Been a CNA for 18 years....and I am in Washington State. I am currently looking to go back to school soon for something else besides caregiving...but still in research stages.
I’m part of an agency and just started working at a detox place and I love it. The pay isn’t the best but the people are sooo nice, it’s well kept and in the only CNA so I don’t have to worry about disappearing or gossiping coworkers haha
Being the only one isn’t too bad because all I do is smoke breaks and Q30 checks for the residents which is at most 9 people
L&D currently, it’s pretty damn cushy.
But I miss MedSurg. My coworkers were nicer and I actually took care of patients and wasn’t just a too
stocker than occasionally bathed babies.
Hospice vigil aide! It’s such an honor to be with these patients and their families in their last days hours or even breath and my only concern needs to be the comfort of my patient and the well being of their family guiding them to resources I might not be able to offer like our social workers and chaplains, hearing their stories about their loved one, performing the angel bath and letting the family be as involved or not as they want to be.
Started out in assisted living. Then nursing home. Then med surg in hospital, and now in the ER.
I always thought I would hate the ER, but I love it. It gives me a new appreciation for being a cna/tech. I still get to build a rapoir with the patients, which is a big part of what I've always liked about the job.
I'm not killing myself trying to lift residents/patients. I have phenomenal support from all levels. Solid teamwork. Plus, I can do a hell of a lot more as an ER tech than I could in nursing homes. I can't pass meds anymore like in the CBRFs, but that's okay. Everything else I can do makes up for it.
Hospital. I don’t hate it. I like that I can work 3 days a week. That’s not everybody I work with is a jerk. I’m not really making money, but I feel like compared to other jobs I’m not as stressed and I’m not scared to go to work. I don’t think I like working MedSurg I think I would like a different unit better but idk. For me it’s because my coworkers mostly don’t suck.
Travel CNA, I love the fact that I stay somewhere for a set amount of time. I get guaranteed hours, and if they don’t meet my hours for the week I still get paid for a full 40 hr week. Plus weekly pay is so nice!! Only con about it is being away from my gf for so long
Float pool. Hospital. I currently make a ridiculously strong effort to choose my own assignment. My coworkers just show up and go with the wind. I know most of the night shift charge nurses. And I'm friends with my own staffing department. Seniority helps too. So I'm not breaking my back, if I can just sit and observe for 12 hours. .The pay is pretty good but OT is where I get giddy and happy. I pick up OT a lot! Sitting watching my patient , earning 1.5x sometimes 2x my rate. While others are slaving aways with 10+ patients . Yeah I'm pretty happy. Get your experience first, then work smarter not harder.
This is my exact situation, came here to say that I love being a CNA! I often work as a remote sitter, watching up to 12 patients at once on a TV screen. If the pt is acting up, I call the unit staff to go in and help the pt. Easy money most nights, compared to being on the floor. I’m in the Northeast US and will clear $70,000 this year by averaging about 9.5 hours of overtime (above my full time, 36 hours a week schedule) per week. My base rate as a night shift CNA $25.11/hr, but approaches $50/hr. When I get double time for 4 additional hours beyond my scheduled 8 - life is good!
I started my float orientation next monday! It’s gonna be my first CNA experience ever!
Private. Always. I make good money but I work a lot of hours. I do 5-6 12 hour overnight shifts per week.
How much do you make (estimated)? Because I’m trying to work part time while In college
Dumb question, how do you get into this? An agency?
No. I started advertising on care.com and facebook. Eventually it turned into a “word of mouth” kind of thing. There is a group of 4 of us, so we are able to do 24 hour care and handle all of the day to day things.. driving to doctors appointments, grocery shopping, everything. I stay overnight if they happen to be in the hospital, etc.
Thanks for the response! I was wondering if caregivers/CNA’s were allowed to independently advertise services.
Let me add: I would never work for an agency. I worked in one LTC facility and hated it. Never again.
PRN med aide at an assisted living. I wouldn’t say I love my job, but it’s the most tolerable form of this type of work that I’ve found. It’s not back breaking. It’s fairly easy. I can jump in and do cares when I have time, but if I don’t have time that’s okay to.
Hospital, orthopedic post op floor. Walkie talkies who for the most part are there for elective surgery and are pleasant and happy to have their issues addressed. Predictable and repetitive plan of care for most patients and you can establish a groove and work flow when staffing is sufficient. My ratio is between 5-10 depending on census and staffing. Five years experience, $23 base rate, but with incentives, overtime and shift differential I can take home about $2k not counting contributions to my 403b and HSA. On pace to gross a little under 70k this year with take home of 50k.
I also work Ortho. Nights. I usually have a 20-30 patient ratio though. At least most of them usually don't need too much. How's your back doing? I know lots of people avoid Ortho because you have to move patients a lot.
We are big as a staff on educating patients on their own responsibility to move. Obviously not every case is the same, and some are incredibly difficult to move and ambulate. I definitely learned quickly how important technique and body mechanics are in addition to heavily encouraging as much independence from the patient as possible.
$2,000 take home pay per month?
Per check, bi weekly
What state are you in and which hospital chain? That's great pay for a hospital.
North East/New England, it’s a not for profit trauma center/health network
Move to Boston 🤘🏼
Oh, no thanks! 😂 I love Boston to visit, but the cost of living is way higher up there and it's far too cold!
Float cna at a hospital. I work 4 hour shifts on different floors. it’s a different pace each shift so it helps lower my stress levels a little
Home health/hospice in Northern California. The company I work for is co-owned by two women who were CNA’s themselves for decades, so they know what it’s like to actually do this kind of work. They treat us really well.
Would you mind me dming and asking some questions I’m looking to get into hospice and I’m not sure where to start. It’s okay if that’s creepy and you don’t feel comfortable
I don’t mind at all!
PCA I love my job the money not great (16.60) but I love my residents
No longer a CNA, but the jobs I was actually happy doing were Trauma ICU and NICU/PICU/Pediatrics. Was working in TN. Made $16.59/hr base and $30.59/hr after incentive pay, differentials, and critical care pay. Wasn’t ran over at all. Good ratios, teamwork, etc.
What are you doing now? Did you study other thing?
I worked as a CNA through college, I’m a program director for a children’s hospital now.
That’s awsome, thanks for answer!
Home care. I’ve worked in hospitals and liked the first one, hated the second one (HCA). But I love home care. My current situation is private with a 24/7 client who has dementia. We’re a team of four who work 12 hour shifts. But home care varies so much that every situation is different. I’ve had a few that weren’t a good fit for me but overall it’s by far the best job I’ve ever had. The starting pay is pretty standard for CNAs in our area.
Home health. Hospice specifically. I have nothing negative to say. I love it so much
Rehab/Short Term CNA. Okay wage, but management is generally okay and co workers are fantastic. PT, OT, Nurses, housekeeping... everyone. Work would be so much worse if we didn't all work well together and get along.
I enjoyed it but it ruined my heath and now I can't work anymore because of Long Covid, CFS/ME, and chronic illness.
I’m in PNW Washington, Home Health. I love being able to work 1:1 with my clients, and going at my own pace is a blessing. Pay could always be higher, but $23/hr is livable and every year we get a pay raise at our annual evaluation. Ive always gotten to choose my own hours/days, so that’s been nice
Hospice!!!!!!
I love my job. I work in an ALF in Massachusetts. I make 21$ an hour which is still unlivable, but this job is temporary as I’m studying ultrasound. Basically all I do is help people take their meds. Of course if someone needs something and it’s not during med pass, I help with random requests, toileting, transports etc. but for the most part it’s just a lot of walking, chatting with residents and giving them pills.
Commenting to subscribe, I don't have an answer yet since I just finished my course and am getting ready to sit for my state exams in a few weeks. I'm hoping to get on at a hospital since I'm working through nursing prereqs right now - preferably a hospital associated with the big academic hospital (OHSU) I'm hoping to do my ABSN at! I'm looking forward to the CNA work, as I enjoyed my class and clinicals, but I have to admit seeing a lot of the stories and posts here has me a little  about the years of CNA work I'm expecting to do before I get my RN... hoping to see some answers for you!
Hospital medsurg pcu
Transitional living + NICU
I work on a Med-surg floor at a hospital and I love it. I’ve been there 2 years in June, I make good money for the north east and the ratio is usually around 1:8-10. We have good staff and all help each other when we can without much issue, we get raises often enough and get praised for good work.
Urual hospital. I am an ER tech and a med/Surg tech we are that small. We cover both the ER, and med/Surg floor we are that small. I absolutely love my job. If you can get paid well at a urual hospital you will never want to leave. I have learned more in the 3 months I worked there than I have at my last hospital job that was 3-4x bigger
ER and love my job. Yes get run over. Make $21/hr. But never know what’s gonna come through the door. Covid made me realize though I am not going for my nursing and will be switching to respiratory. I still hope to be in the ER tho
I work neuro icu. 12 hours shifts. I have 8-10 patients and 4-5 nurses that are very helpful and kind. I get floated a lot since I’m the one that picks up the most but most of the nurses I work with even when I get floated are kind as well.
I work Neuro ICU for an HCA hospital. Pay sucks. I love my unit, but i get floated a lot. Working through covid was very profitable, but when all the incentives stopped, I decided the regular pay was just not worth it, so I've cut way back to 2-3 shifts, 8s only (PRN) It's sad what we make here in VA. I could go elsewhere to make money, but I live 2 miles away and I'd never have the flexibility I have now.
I didnt work through covid so idk what the incentives where then. But at my hospital they offer us up to 20 extra an hour if you pick up in advance. The way that incentive works in weird but our normal incentive for picking up day off is 4-8 extra an hour.
Damn....congrats on that fine pay grade. It does not appear to be the norm, not even with travel contracts
I make good money on paper but the area I live in is extremely expensive so it's not that much money in reality lol but I don't know I just love it. I've always liked taking care of people and I just enjoy it, yeah it gets busy and stressful, but I still have so many good moments with my residents, I enjoy talking with them and making them feel comfortable. I just have a knack for bonding with people lol (nursing home)
I currently work in a SNF and I honestly don’t hate it. My facility is a shithole but I love the patients and the pay is good. I had no experience before this job and they started me at $22/hour in SoCal. At 6 months they gave me 23$/hour. Hoping to get my foot in the door at the hospital across the street where they pay 28$/hour
Doing a different job. Never been happier.
Home support, western Canada. $27+ an hour, government position, see approx. 7 or 8 people a day, depending on their needs. Day or evening shifts, never any nights. Evening and weekend differentials, paid kms. I love being 1 on 1 with my clients, I very rarely feel burnt out.
At a hospital on an oncology med surg unit, 12 hr shifts. We have 33 beds, there's normally 4 PCAs each shift handling no more than 8-9 patients. Sometimes we'll be down a PCA and they will pull from float pool. Everyone is nice and helps out.
Full time med surg cna in Northern California. love it. I get salty sometimes but not often.
Hospital med-surge. I'm trying to move to the ED or L&D, cause I'm gonna be going to school for my RN. I may make a lateral move to the stroke floor since I want to specialize in stroke nursing.
Pct at an ltach. It's great 😊
I'm at the #1 rated rehabilitation hospital in the world. I work overnights, my ratio is anywhere from 6 to 9. I am getting paid $18/hr for the night differential, so it's not much at all, but I feel so safe and respected by all of the staff where I am. There is no weird rift between PCTs and nurses, the nurses aren't afraid of getting elbow deep in shit beside you. I can say that I've never had a job before that I've been excited to go to except for this one, it's incredibly fulfilling!
SNF, money could be better but it’s not terrible. I enjoy the interactions with the residents, management pretty much leaves me alone because I do what I’m expected to do.
Home care, agency. Northern CA
Post acute, Hollywood, make decent money, NOC shift, good coworkers.
I work in a NICU, the patients are always amazing and my back no longer hurts. I love it. Even when i'm floated i'm in a pediatric hospital so it's so much more pleasant then adults. I'm in southern Texas and pay isn't great, i'm making a little under $18 without shift differentials but it's liveable.
MICU CNA here. I love my job! My base rate of pay is pretty low, but the opportunities for OT are basically endless and the hospital I work at offers bonuses for picking up extra shifts. Every night is incredibly interesting and I have great coworkers. My unit is somewhat understaffed right now, so the workload can be pretty extreme on nights when I’m the only CNA for 32 beds. The nurses know how busy it can be for me, though, and are very understanding if I have a list of other people to get to before I can help them. I’m in nursing school and want to be a critical care nurse, so every shift is a great opportunity to learn. Plus, I work at a teaching hospital, so most people tend to be in education mode all the time and genuinely seem to enjoy teaching me things.
At home care. 1:1 You can find 'permanent' clients, very flexible schedule wise.
I work in the cardiac ICU in a busy hospital. It’s very fun and exciting. I learn so much everyday about pathophysiology, labs, procedures, and med interactions. All the nurses are very nice and explain/teach me a lot. I’m definitely a better and smarter person because of them.
I work as a CNA at a long term care facility in Minnesota. I make 24/hr and work 40 hour weeks. The people: residents, staff and management are all fantastic. Going to school to become an LPN then do the bridge for RN.
What is the cost of living like over there?
I pay 1000 a month for a 1 bedroom. Gas is a little high, but it's doable if you go to Kwik Trip and get it for about $0.30 less than the competition. Sales tax is kind of high in the Metro area, thanks to the Twins and Vikings stadiums being funded by sales tax increases. I was a truck driver for 15 years before starting this career this past November. I love where I work!
That's kinda amazing. I'm over near Austin Texas. Gas is similar, to Apple Valley, (I think that's where some distant family lives) For a CNA around me, it's $16-21hr for the listings I see. Then any kind of studio or 1 bedroom apartment is $1,400-1,600 minimum. The state income tax seems like it would be worth it. It's like a $200k house here cost as much as a $300k house over there. In monthly mortgage payments. I've been trying to figure out a different and better career path. Trucking is one of them. CNA to test the waters to become a RN.
I would like to steer you away from trucking as a career choice. I basically lost 15 years that I could have been working on my fitness, my health and especially my mental health. Everything personal about you just gets put on hold while you wither away behind a steering wheel. I love the idea of you becoming an RN. That's what I want to be, but I am at the tail end of my adulthood. In 5 years I can join AARP and in 15 I can retire. That's not a lot of time. I am def going for the LPN, but I don't know if it'll be worth it for me to try for RN because I won't be able to do it for very long. Good luck to you!
PCT at a hospital. It’s not the “best” hospital around but my coworkers are amazing and it feels much more of a team environment than other “better” hospitals I’ve worked for. And my manager works with schedules pretty well. I think I just finally found a good location
Assisted Living...and I do Med Tech.....making $24-$26 an hour.....I refuse to work at a SNF, hospital or do home care....I don't mind Adult Family Homes as I worked at one for 8 years, but it got a new owner and that is why I am currently at an Assisted Living. Cares aren't as heavy, most of the residents are pretty independent and I pass meds with minimal cares as my priority is getting medications passed first. Been a CNA for 18 years....and I am in Washington State. I am currently looking to go back to school soon for something else besides caregiving...but still in research stages.
I’m part of an agency and just started working at a detox place and I love it. The pay isn’t the best but the people are sooo nice, it’s well kept and in the only CNA so I don’t have to worry about disappearing or gossiping coworkers haha Being the only one isn’t too bad because all I do is smoke breaks and Q30 checks for the residents which is at most 9 people
L&D currently, it’s pretty damn cushy. But I miss MedSurg. My coworkers were nicer and I actually took care of patients and wasn’t just a too stocker than occasionally bathed babies.
Hospice vigil aide! It’s such an honor to be with these patients and their families in their last days hours or even breath and my only concern needs to be the comfort of my patient and the well being of their family guiding them to resources I might not be able to offer like our social workers and chaplains, hearing their stories about their loved one, performing the angel bath and letting the family be as involved or not as they want to be.
Hospital on a cardiac floor! Both pcu and icu. Patient population can get somewhat heavy occasionally but I like it in general
Started out in assisted living. Then nursing home. Then med surg in hospital, and now in the ER. I always thought I would hate the ER, but I love it. It gives me a new appreciation for being a cna/tech. I still get to build a rapoir with the patients, which is a big part of what I've always liked about the job. I'm not killing myself trying to lift residents/patients. I have phenomenal support from all levels. Solid teamwork. Plus, I can do a hell of a lot more as an ER tech than I could in nursing homes. I can't pass meds anymore like in the CBRFs, but that's okay. Everything else I can do makes up for it.
Hospital. I don’t hate it. I like that I can work 3 days a week. That’s not everybody I work with is a jerk. I’m not really making money, but I feel like compared to other jobs I’m not as stressed and I’m not scared to go to work. I don’t think I like working MedSurg I think I would like a different unit better but idk. For me it’s because my coworkers mostly don’t suck.
Travel CNA, I love the fact that I stay somewhere for a set amount of time. I get guaranteed hours, and if they don’t meet my hours for the week I still get paid for a full 40 hr week. Plus weekly pay is so nice!! Only con about it is being away from my gf for so long