When you become a CNA do you have to get a job at a nursing home?
Asked by Kimberly
I am going to school next month to become a CNA. However I really don't want to clean all them nasty things a CNA has to clean in a nursing home. Could I get a job in an assistant living or some where else? I dont mind helping out people! I am a people person.

Best Answer:
CNA's (Certified Nursing Assistants) work in home health, assisted living, hospitals, and long term care for the most part. The duties involve direct patient care such as bathing patients, taking vital signs, helping with walking, personal hygiene, dressing, feeding, changing bedding, and other aspects of care such as cleaning up after bed wetting or bowel movements. If you want to "help out people" but don't care to come into contact with "nasty things", you really need a different sort of job. There are plenty of health care jobs that don't involve direct patient care, and perhaps you would be better suited for one of them. Some examples include unit secretary, medical records clerk, medical coding, medical billing, or a job in dietary if cooking and nutrition interests you. Medical Informatics is a great health career to consider since the Obama administration is obligating a lot of money to help digitalize medical records, so if you like the idea of being on the cutting edge of a new career field that's poised for huge growth that mixes information technology with health care then informatics might be appealing for you. (more about what health informatic is: http://rndegrees.net/online-health-informatics-degree-programs.html) In other words, there are many health care occupations that do not involve direct patient care, and you may find your niche in one of them since they don't involve dealing with "nasty things". You can get a good idea about some of the exciting careers in allied health care here: http://rndegrees.net/articles/exciting-careers-in-allied-health-care.html Best wishes with your career decisions!

If you don't want to "clean all them nasty things" why are you becoming a CNA? You could get a job at an assisted living or home care company but you will find it difficult to find a job where you don't have to do any personal care. Good luck!
Answered by Janda