CNA Hours

[memeskook]

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Hi, I currently work as a CNA. I was originally planning to only work as a CNA for a year and then quit, but I've grown to enjoy the job somewhat and know that commitment is viewed very heavily with medical schools. On this question of commitment though, as I go on in my university life and pick up other activities (volunteering, tutoring, shadowing, etc), working as a CNA on weekends is both causing me additional stress and leaving me with little time to study on the weekends that I work. I currently work two weekends a month, and I am thinking about reducing it to one weekend a month, though I am not sure about this yet (I don't even know if the facility I work for will accept this). But I wanted to know, will reducing my hours look bad (in interviews, on paper, does it sound like I'm just doing the bare minimum to get clinical experience, etc)? This means I will be working only 16 hours as a CNA in an entire month, but I plan to keep my job for at least another two years.

 

[jarednogeek]

don't worry about it, reduce time, or quit, do what's best for you, your sanity, and your grades.

 

[Catalystik]

Hi, I currently work as a CNA. I was originally planning to only work as a CNA for a year and then quit, but I've grown to enjoy the job somewhat and know that commitment is viewed very heavily with medical schools. On this question of commitment though, as I go on in my university life and pick up other activities (volunteering, tutoring, shadowing, etc), working as a CNA on weekends is both causing me additional stress and leaving me with little time to study on the weekends that I work. I currently work two weekends a month, and I am thinking about reducing it to one weekend a month, though I am not sure about this yet (I don't even know if the facility I work for will accept this). But I wanted to know, will reducing my hours look bad (in interviews, on paper, does it sound like I'm just doing the bare minimum to get clinical experience, etc)? This means I will be working only 16 hours as a CNA in an entire month, but I plan to keep my job for at least another two years.

Reducing the hours won't look bad, especially considering everything else you need to fit in.

 

[RNtoMD87]

Bless you. I couldn't work as a CNA while doing premed. I advised my RN student buddy who works as a CNA on my unit to quit, because of the way they work him like a mule. We have 30 beds on a step-down unit, and they will have him working alone. And on nights assigned up to 15 baths, its totally ridiculous.

 

[Skeletorr]

Bless you. I couldn't work as a CNA while doing premed. I advised my RN student buddy who works as a CNA on my unit to quit, because of the way they work him like a mule. We have 30 beds on a step-down unit, and they will have him working alone. And on nights assigned up to 15 baths, its totally ridiculous.

CNA work is too heavy to do during the school year imo. I did it during my summers and after I graduated. I can’t even begin to imagine 15 baths by myself. Nightmare 😱

 

[RNtoMD87]

Yep. And our nurse manager treats nurses well I think. (He and I are buddies and go drinking together). Even from day one he's always been super nice to me, even if I needed further instruction etc. I mean yeah he would say "Look man. You F'ed up. This is what you should do in so and so situation." But he was just straight forward and respectful. But poor old M, every week he has another story for me about going to see the manager and getting his ass chewed out. I told him the manager is like a different person to him than me.

 

[RNthenDoc]

I worked full time as an RN during premed, and it was a GRIND.

My advice is, *only* do it if it will not worsen your grades. A GPA >3.5 is worth a lot more in admissions than 1 year (vs. 2) of CNA experience. It’s easy to fill out volunteering and shadowing hours, not easy to fix a GPA.

 

[RNtoMD87]

Yeah, once I get further in premed I plan on dropping my hours back, and going to float pool or something for higher pay. I'm taking easy classes right now, Gchem etc. Once I get to organic, I doubt I'll work fulltime.