I thought being a Certified Nurses Aid (CNA) would be a stress free job where I could just focus on my patients and bond with one or two per assignment. When I started my first job, I quickly learned that I was in a world of hurt due to how incorrect I was. The job is often time unpleasant and stressful, but there are some benefits. Here are the best and worsts of being a CAN.

The Worst

1. Call outs. The anxiety of being put in a lottery to see if you will have to work a double is enough to make someone want to cry. Especially on holidays, weekends, or the days you actually make plans after work.
2. Saying no to a Nurse Manager. Even when nurse managers do ask you to stay late willingly, you kind of cringe and try your best to not seem week and cave, although often times you do.
3. Aggressive patients. Working on a psychiatric unit proves to be difficult since often times patients can’t control their aggressive clawing, biting, and rude comments that end up being your responsibility.
4. On word: C DIF. The worst smell, and texture, you could ever imagine.
5. The emotions. I know that this shouldn’t be a negative, but it’s hard when a patient you’re close to passes away, especially if you’re the one who stayed by their bedside until their last breath. Trying to stay strong in front of families is just as bad since you get just as attached to them as you do to their loved one.
6. The family. Although some of them adore you and appreciate your every doing, there are other families that act as though their loved ones’ detreating health is your fault, and as if you’re the one messing up while you’re actually doing everything you can.
7. The nurses. Some nurses make the shift, but others are so slow that you learn how to just do the basic treatments on your own because you can not bare to wait for them. Plus, the patients blame you when the nurses don’t come even though you called them three times.
8. Leaving. I cried on my last day of work before I left for college. I was scared I would come back to empty rooms with the familiar faces and patients I loved gone. Even though sometime the job sucks, it is the most rewarding job there is.

The BEST

1. The bond. Both patients, and families, are hard not to grow attached to when they mean the best and are appreciative of your care. They are the people you stay at work for, smile at every time you see them, and check up on even when they’re not on your assignment for a quick gossip session or hug.
2. The holidays. Families who bring in snacks, cookies, and meals are the best! They help fuel you long enough to make it through the evening. Even though you spend less time with your family, you get to spend it with the people who don’t have family around and brighten their day.
3. Overtime. You will NEVER have to worry about not getting enough hours since basically all shifts are open.
4. The scrubs. For all of the people in this world that get to wear scrubs, appreciate your job, you basically get to show up in pajamas every day!
5. Friendships, I met my favorite people working in a nursing home who understand the same struggles I myself am going through with patients, other workers, or rules.
6. Dependability. It feels gratifying knowing that someone depends on you to help them with the most basic needs of daily living.
7. Time spent with patients. Being a CNA is one of the most direct patient contact in the medical field, which is a major bonus over paper work and the liability high powers have. Often times other medical professionals complain of the lack of personal connection their job has to the patient.
8. Creating a new family. No matter how rough it gets, you have a new family who you will always love dearly. Sometimes the patients drive you up the wall, but you know that they appreciate you deep down and are excited to see you on holidays or days they miss their families. Plus, your coworkers do care about you deep down and help make work bearable or entertaining.