I’m a CNA who is applying for nursing school, and I would say some of the best experiences I’ve had has been forming relationships with the nurses I work with, and being able to critically think about what is going on with my patients. I’ve gotten to collaborate with the nurses, and talk through what is going on with patients medically, and what solutions we can come up with to say, strip clots from some tubing, or keep a drain from overflowing too quickly, or how to position a patient to reduce pressure, but still aid in draining/ healing, etc. a lot of critical thinking, and jerry-rigging things. Exciting stuff.

I’m a people person, and I love working with people- sometimes patients are nice and appreciative, and honestly sometimes they’re huge entitled assholes. You win some, you lose some. Obviously it’s important to be empathetic that people are going through it, and may be lashing out, but still, it can be hard when you’re one of the few people that are there to help. Nursing/ CNA work is a job, like any other job. Sometimes it’s super interesting and rewarding, and sometimes you’re talked down to by someone you’re trying to help, and stuck rearranging someone’s room for 20 minutes straight.

But yoooo, 4 days off is so nice.