Job: Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) (United States)

CNA's do all the heavy physical work and receive the least in compensation. CNA's are the number one occupation for personal injury, more than construction workers. However, in construction the pay scale reflects the effort. I would NEVER recommend to anyone a career as a CNA. There is tremendous disrespect from all the other types of healthcare personnel, from nurses to administration. I worked on a cardiac unit for 7 years as a CNA. By far, the toughest job I ever had and the lowest pay I ever received. I made more money in less time as a waitress! What's really sad is nursing has always been a woman's occupation, underpaid and overworked. To be treated as "less than" by other women is even sadder.

I have been a CNA for 6 years now. I have had some jobs that pay extremely well and then I've had some thatpaid terribly bad. I love being a CNA. I have a passion for what I do. I enjoy helping people and the personal gratitude I get from performing to the best of my ability. This is the blessing you get from being a CNA, and the relationships you get to build. On the other hand being a CNA can get stressful and burn you out. I think that this is what a lot of healthcare facilities tend to ignore. While the residents we take care of, have rights, the employees have rights too. And while facilities go over and beyond to protect the residents rights, I think mine as a caregiver should be protected too. I don't deserve to be cursed or verbally abused while I am doing things for you that you can't do for yourself. I deserve to be treated with respect. And while job duties are supposed to be everyones responsibility all the real work ends up falling on the aides. Not only is all this distrubing, I also find it CRAZY that someone who is just checking medicines and pushing a cart is making double of what I make. There are real nurses out there who do assist their aides but there are very few, and aides often go unappreciated. Recognition of the work you do often goes unnoticed, by anyone other than the other CNAs and some good nurses. You could be the talk of the residents town for going over and above, but you will go un-noticed.

So while I genuinely like helping my seniors and treating them with love and respect, THE WORK CONDITIONS & ENVIRONMENT SUCK!!!!!