CNA Programs

Pros and Cons of Becoming a CNA

The country’s booming healthcare industry has many students interested in a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). While the job provides opportunities for you to make a difference in patients’ lives on a regular basis, taking a look at the pros and cons of becoming a certified nurse aide in Texas is important. Before enrolling in CNA program in McAllen TX, take a hard look at some of the drawbacks to becoming a CNA.

Drawbacks of Becoming a CNA

Many people are considering a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant for one primary reason: they want to help people in times of stress and illness. However, being a CNA is a demanding job and one that should not be taken lightly.

• Unpleasant regular job duties: While helping patients is fulfilling, many times the jobs include emptying bedpans, cleaning feces, or bathing patients.
• Job Challenges: Most students will see earning CNA credentials as a pathway to getting into the medical field, but there are few advancement opportunities for Nursing Assistants without additional education.
• Wages: Many health care agencies do not offer high wages for a Certified Nursing Assistant. There are open positions and there is a demand for CNAs, but the wages can be lower than people might expect.
• Physical demands: You may be required to lift heavy objects, including patients, which could take its toll on your own health. CNAs turn, reposition, and transfer patients between beds and wheelchairs which can be physically taxing. A CNA may also have to hold awkward positions for extended periods of time when helping feed, bathe, or change patients.
• Emotional demands: While helping patients can be extremely rewarding, it can also be challenging. Patients can become angry or aggressive. CNAs also frequently work in nursing homes or extended care facilities where many patients are elderly or terminally ill, and it can be emotionally difficult to lose residents on a regular basis.

Being a CNA can be a rewarding career, as long as you are not faint of heart, willing to roll up your sleeves for the job at hand, no matter how messy, and willing to provide patients with the utmost level of care. However, there are other careers in the medical field that offer an opportunity to care for others without some of the downsides experienced in a career as a CNA.

Alternative Careers

The good news is that the medical profession requires a variety of roles in order to function. If you want to help people and like working in a medical environment, you can still have a fulfilling career as:

• Medical Assistant: Medical assistants provide support to physicians through a variety of tasks such as taking patient information and vital signs, performing lab work, scheduling appointments, and more.
• Pharmacy Technician: Pharmacy techs assist a pharmacist in dispensing medication to patients and healthcare professionals. 
• Medical Office Specialist: Medical office specialists work in a variety of healthcare settings such as private practices, multi-physician offices, emergency clinics, and hospitals. You’ll work with patients by scheduling and greeting them, answering phones, filing, and more.
• Medical Billing and Coding Specialist: Learn the specific skills and knowledge necessary to bridge the gap between patients, insurance companies, and doctors. You’ll be able to help patients understand their coverage and help pay for their medical care. Billing and coding specialists also sometimes have the option to work from home with experience.

Before committing to a career as a CNA, consider all your options.