Male CNA

[sjlamb77]

So I'm looking at what full time job to get while taking my pre-reqs for med school. I'm considering EMT, but I know that CNA is a two week course here, and $300. But I'm going to have this job for 2-3 years, so I want to enjoy it.

I know it's been a classic CNA vs EMT vs phleb debate, but CNA does concern me being a male. I've heard males are very limited in what they can do because older women are often very modest and won't allow the male CNA to help them. Would it be worth it to go EMT or phleb? Also, is there anyone out there who has comments on the hours/pay between these? Money is a big concern as I'm on my own and my bank account is currently scraping the bottom.

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[FCMike11]

So I'm looking at what full time job to get while taking my pre-reqs for med school. I'm considering EMT, but I know that CNA is a two week course here, and $300. But I'm going to have this job for 2-3 years, so I want to enjoy it.

I know it's been a classic CNA vs EMT vs phleb debate, but CNA does concern me being a male. I've heard males are very limited in what they can do because older women are often very modest and won't allow the male CNA to help them. Would it be worth it to go EMT or phleb? Also, is there anyone out there who has comments on the hours/pay between these? Money is a big concern as I'm on my own and my bank account is currently scraping the bottom.

Sounds like out of the 3 you are leaning towards CNA, I am an ICU RN and we have male CNA's and majority of patients of no issues.

If you got your CNA and went to work in an ER you would still clean patients up but a lot of your time could be procedural (blood draws, tube gauze splinting, debriding etc) which may interest you more.

 

[La Presse]

I am a CNA and a guy and I know quite a few.

 

[sjlamb77]

Sounds like out of the 3 you are leaning towards CNA, I am an ICU RN and we have male CNA's and majority of patients of no issues.

If you got your CNA and went to work in an ER you would still clean patients up but a lot of your time could be procedural (blood draws, tube gauze splinting, debriding etc) which may interest you more.

I've been leaning towards EMT, but obviously it's much longer/more expensive, and upon reading other threads, people have said that CNA is way more relevant and looks great on an app. It's hard to know which one I'd like better without kinda jumping in!

 

[DoctorLacrosse]

I am currently a male CNA and can only think of one instance where a female didn't want me to care for her. the experience has been AMAZING and my pay is pretty up there too (especially for a broke college kid 😀). overall I'd definitely recommend it, it's been really great and I've seen a lot, along with having developed a great bedside manner.

 

[lobo.solo]

Talk to people in the field. It depends on your personality if you would enjoy either of those jobs. I wouldn't like EMT as you don't have the chance to build a bond with patients you're taking care of. When you spend time with patients you learn so much from them and how sickness is much more than a cluster of signs and symptoms- In my opinion at least.

 

[MDforMee]

I'm a male that was a CNA for 2 years, and I'm not sure if it was just my experience, or not, but the old ladies liked me.

 

[Skull Pell]

I did both - became a CNA first, just to see what its like. Then I went to do an EMT program. In a nursing home, you'll be used and abused by all the other older female cna's (at least in my exp) when they need help boosting etc. Some patients do have preferences but you can just switch assignments with the other cna. EMT's look mad cool when they would get a patient from our facility, so I went to a school for it but never did really use it (although I thought of volunteering for the local fd but i was already a fulltime student with lots of student club involvement) . Plus with my cna experience, i got a job as a PCA/tech at the medical icu in some big hospital. same old **** (literally, but not as much grunt work as it was in a nursing home) but you learn so much with nurses and doctors esp when you tell them your're pre-med.

When it comes to pay, CNA does get paid more (in the hospital). What I get now is almost 3 times on what an entry level EMT-B would get. Its just a matter of sucking it up a lot of times.

 

[Geebeejay]

I'm a male that was a CNA for 2 years, and I'm not sure if it was just my experience, or not, but the old ladies liked me.

I'm also a male "CNA" and have the same experience. I would definitely recommend it over EMT-B for the pre-med experience. As an EMT, unless you land a good job doing 911 calls, you'll probably just be transporting patients between hospitals. I have an EMT-B certification, and I think the certification is more rigorous than a CNA cert, but I used it to become an ED "CNA".

 

[sjlamb77]

That's encouraging to hear a lot of guys loving it. Also it's encouraging about the pay, cause I've got to get something steady going (I'm tutoring right now but it's very inconsistent) to survive. So when you say 3 times as much as an EMT, here EMTs start off at $10-12 an hour. Can a CNA really make upwards of $30? I'd be very happy making at least $15 an hour. Is that really reasonable?

 

[sjlamb77]

I am currently a male CNA and can only think of one instance where a female didn't want me to care for her. the experience has been AMAZING and my pay is pretty up there too (especially for a broke college kid 😀). overall I'd definitely recommend it, it's been really great and I've seen a lot, along with having developed a great bedside manner.

What setting are you in? Are some much better than others?

 

[circulus vitios]

That's encouraging to hear a lot of guys loving it. Also it's encouraging about the pay, cause I've got to get something steady going (I'm tutoring right now but it's very inconsistent) to survive. So when you say 3 times as much as an EMT, here EMTs start off at $10-12 an hour. Can a CNA really make upwards of $30? I'd be very happy making at least $15 an hour. Is that really reasonable?

It depends on where you work. My sister is a CNA in a nursing home. She makes $10 an hour.

 

[ChartaBona]

Pay: I make $12.50/hr at a nursing home, and I know some agency CNA's make $15-16/hr. At the place I work, there's plenty of opportunity for overtime, if that's your thing. Then you're making ~$19/hr after 40 hrs. We also get paid holidays, vacation time, and personal days.

Being Male: As a male CNA, you may get different types of residents than female CNA's. You might get men & women that are combative/inappropriate toward women, but fine with men taking care of them.

My best suggestion is to keep fit, and lift weights. Some people that would be 2-person transfers for female CNA's are easier to transfer by myself. I'm not trying to be macho, it's just a fact that men (on average) are physically stronger than women. But whatever you do, don't hurt your back.

 

[sjlamb77]

Pay: I make $12.50/hr at a nursing home, and I know some agency CNA's make $15-16/hr. At the place I work, there's plenty of opportunity for overtime, if that's your thing. Then you're making ~$19/hr after 40 hrs. We also get paid holidays, vacation time, and personal days.

Being Male: As a male CNA, you may get different types of residents than female CNA's. You might get men & women that are combative/inappropriate toward women, but fine with men taking care of them.

My best suggestion is to keep fit, and lift weights. Some people that would be 2-person transfers for female CNA's are easier to transfer by myself. I'm not trying to be macho, it's just a fact that men (on average) are physically stronger than women. But whatever you do, don't hurt your back.

I could survive off of $12.50. What do CNAs do for the majority of the day? My mental image is lots of poop and bathing, which is not going to keep me from doing it, but there's more to it, right? I know for one, you at least get to develop relationships?

 

[WileECoyote]

I work for for a hospital in a large healthcare system in Utah. I will just give you a rundown of my training followed by a usual day on my unit as a CNA (aka PCT - Patient Care Tech, which on my unit is a certification beyond CNA).

PCT Training on my unit (and it is different from unit to unit, hospital to hospital) goes as follows:

I check blood sugar levels.
I remove (d/c) IVs.
I do simple (non-packed) dressing changes.
I am trained in aseptic (sterile) technique and can change PICC dressings (but not centrals).
I am responsible for enteral feeding (feeding tubes). I change the bags/tubing and record I/Os at end of shift.
I remove foley catheters. (Some of the senior CNAs were trained to insert them in the past and still can, but this is no longer the practice.)

My sample day:

Arrive at work and clock in no earlier than 0653, no later than 0700.
On my floor, we do not get aid-to-aid report; we sit with the nurses in report and take information directly from the patient's Kardex.
0730 - out on the floor beginning to check vitals.
While in the rooms I like to get patients ordering breakfast, toileted, offer showers, etc.
0900 - daily weights / hourly rounding, record I/Os of urine/stool, change all bed linens. Make sure everyone has ordered breakfast.
1100 - Blood sugars on AC/HS people, second set of vitals, hourly rounding I/Os, etc.
1300 - Hourly rounding, check urines, showers should be done by now (ALL patients have to shower unless they are ad lib and refuse.)
1330 - usually 1/2 hr lunch happens but not always. and I never actually get the whole 1/2 hour break.
1500 - Begin to get 1600 vitals on all patients again. Hourly rounding again. I/O's again. Usually begin accepting admits at this time.
1700 - Hourly rounding, change PICC dressings if Thursday, gather linens on unit and dispose of properly, go over charting, make sure EVERYTHING is charted throughout the day, all meals charted, all trays out of room, all admits and discharges are taken care of and charted.
1800 - SUGARS. LINENS. ETC. Make sure everyone has ordered dinner. All dinner trays charted if applicable. Trays cleaned up.
1900 - Final rounds with patients, make sure water is filled, patients have no further needs, say goodbye, answer call lights until next shift is out on floor.
1930 - LOG OUT OF VOCERA! BEST FEELING EVER! Clock out, drive home!

 

[AsianPersuasion]

I'm a CNA and no, you're not limited in anything, TRUST ME! They will use you as a human forklift when time needed. And hey, if those residents don't you to provide care, look at it as one patient less on your assignment 🙂

 

[AsianPersuasion]

That's encouraging to hear a lot of guys loving it. Also it's encouraging about the pay, cause I've got to get something steady going (I'm tutoring right now but it's very inconsistent) to survive. So when you say 3 times as much as an EMT, here EMTs start off at $10-12 an hour. Can a CNA really make upwards of $30? I'd be very happy making at least $15 an hour. Is that really reasonable?

Um, I work in the nursing home per diem so I make 14/hr that's it.

 

[Imperiex]

How did you guys get your jobs (PCT etc)? Most of the positions I'm looking at want at least 6 months of experience, but I need a job to get that experience (catch 22)...

 

[Doctor246853]

So I'm looking at what full time job to get while taking my pre-reqs for med school. I'm considering EMT, but I know that CNA is a two week course here, and $300. But I'm going to have this job for 2-3 years, so I want to enjoy it.

I know it's been a classic CNA vs EMT vs phleb debate, but CNA does concern me being a male. I've heard males are very limited in what they can do because older women are often very modest and won't allow the male CNA to help them. Would it be worth it to go EMT or phleb? Also, is there anyone out there who has comments on the hours/pay between these? Money is a big concern as I'm on my own and my bank account is currently scraping the bottom.

Being a male CNA will give you great clinical experience but....I doubt you will like it. There will be a lot of poop in your future. As far as female patients not wanting you; this is rare. You may have that 18yo or 88yo old school woman that kindly asks for a female but this is a good thing..not a bad thing. I always smile when that 99 yo woman says she wants a female to clean her. You can easily ( and I cant stress this enough) find a job as a male cna because of how rare men are in the nursing field but they may try to overuse you sometimes. Moral of story: I would go for the CNA personally for the money and experience but overall you will not "love" your job.

 

[Doctor246853]

How did you guys get your jobs (PCT etc)? Most of the positions I'm looking at want at least 6 months of experience, but I need a job to get that experience (catch 22)...

To get a pct job you will need experience. The most common route is to work in a nursing home for a year and then apply to a hospital. They are NOTHING alike. The nursing homes suck but you have to go through it to get into a hospital...unless you're a pct nursing student.

 

[Doctor246853]

I'm a CNA and no, you're not limited in anything, TRUST ME! They will use you as a human forklift when time needed. And hey, if those residents don't you to provide care, look at it as one patient less on your assignment 🙂

This....Oh he'll learn

 

[Doctor246853]

I work for for a hospital in a large healthcare system in Utah. I will just give you a rundown of my training followed by a usual day on my unit as a CNA (aka PCT - Patient Care Tech, which on my unit is a certification beyond CNA).

PCT Training on my unit (and it is different from unit to unit, hospital to hospital) goes as follows:

I check blood sugar levels.
I remove (d/c) IVs.
I do simple (non-packed) dressing changes.
I am trained in aseptic (sterile) technique and can change PICC dressings (but not centrals).
I am responsible for enteral feeding (feeding tubes). I change the bags/tubing and record I/Os at end of shift.
I remove foley catheters. (Some of the senior CNAs were trained to insert them in the past and still can, but this is no longer the practice.)

My sample day:

Arrive at work and clock in no earlier than 0653, no later than 0700.
On my floor, we do not get aid-to-aid report; we sit with the nurses in report and take information directly from the patient's Kardex.
0730 - out on the floor beginning to check vitals.
While in the rooms I like to get patients ordering breakfast, toileted, offer showers, etc.
0900 - daily weights / hourly rounding, record I/Os of urine/stool, change all bed linens. Make sure everyone has ordered breakfast.
1100 - Blood sugars on AC/HS people, second set of vitals, hourly rounding I/Os, etc.
1300 - Hourly rounding, check urines, showers should be done by now (ALL patients have to shower unless they are ad lib and refuse.)
1330 - usually 1/2 hr lunch happens but not always. and I never actually get the whole 1/2 hour break.
1500 - Begin to get 1600 vitals on all patients again. Hourly rounding again. I/O's again. Usually begin accepting admits at this time.
1700 - Hourly rounding, change PICC dressings if Thursday, gather linens on unit and dispose of properly, go over charting, make sure EVERYTHING is charted throughout the day, all meals charted, all trays out of room, all admits and discharges are taken care of and charted.
1800 - SUGARS. LINENS. ETC. Make sure everyone has ordered dinner. All dinner trays charted if applicable. Trays cleaned up.
1900 - Final rounds with patients, make sure water is filled, patients have no further needs, say goodbye, answer call lights until next shift is out on floor.
1930 - LOG OUT OF VOCERA! BEST FEELING EVER! Clock out, drive home!

Perfect and extremely accurate 👍

 

[WileECoyote]

How did you guys get your jobs (PCT etc)? Most of the positions I'm looking at want at least 6 months of experience, but I need a job to get that experience (catch 22)...

I had some experience as an uncertified nursing assistant when I was a teenager and last year I quit truck driving and decided to pursue my dream of being in the medical field. The first job I got after getting certified was in a SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility, used to be known as LTC or Long Term Care... random unrelated fact which I find funny, at the hospital, we pronounce it "Sniff"). I worked in the SNF for about 4 months before I got a job at the hospital I work at now. At first, I thought volunteering for the hospital system I currently work for would get my foot in the door, but really this wasn't the case... It did look good on my resume, though. I think what got me my job was having a GREAT looking resume (not quantity but quality) which made me stand out among the other 200 applicants for my position. I applied for every single job listed at every hospital in the system until I got some interviews. Most of the hiring managers blew me off after interviewing because I had no hospital experience, but there was this ONE. She didn't care about my experience. In fact, she preferred NO experience because CNAs in SNFs pick up TERRIBLE habits and worse attitudes. After being hired, the manager told me that she hired me mostly because of my personality and passion.

Moral of the story? I am blessed to work where I work and I think I was just in the right place at the right time with the right attitude! Bottom line, DON'T. GIVE. UP. Be persistent, keep applying, and you will get a good hospital job.

By the way, whoever said that CNAs make good money should recheck their facts. CNAs make anywhere from $9/hr to $11/hr starting out. The ones who make more per hour are the ones who are PRN who only work 15 hours a week, or the really old ones who have worked there for 74 years.

AND...

CNAs in the hospital (at least where I live) get paid slightly LESS than CNAs in the SNF simply because of supply and demand.

 

[Skull Pell]

I had some experience as an uncertified nursing assistant when I was a teenager and last year I quit truck driving and decided to pursue my dream of being in the medical field. The first job I got after getting certified was in a SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility, used to be known as LTC or Long Term Care... random unrelated fact which I find funny, at the hospital, we pronounce it "Sniff"). I worked in the SNF for about 4 months before I got a job at the hospital I work at now. At first, I thought volunteering for the hospital system I currently work for would get my foot in the door, but really this wasn't the case... It did look good on my resume, though. I think what got me my job was having a GREAT looking resume (not quantity but quality) which made me stand out among the other 200 applicants for my position. I applied for every single job listed at every hospital in the system until I got some interviews. Most of the hiring managers blew me off after interviewing because I had no hospital experience, but there was this ONE. She didn't care about my experience. In fact, she preferred NO experience because CNAs in SNFs pick up TERRIBLE habits and worse attitudes. After being hired, the manager told me that she hired me mostly because of my personality and passion.

Moral of the story? I am blessed to work where I work and I think I was just in the right place at the right time with the right attitude! Bottom line, DON'T. GIVE. UP. Be persistent, keep applying, and you will get a good hospital job.

By the way, whoever said that CNAs make good money should recheck their facts. CNAs make anywhere from $9/hr to $11/hr starting out. The ones who make more per hour are the ones who are PRN who only work 15 hours a week, or the really old ones who have worked there for 74 years.

AND...

CNAs in the hospital (at least where I live) get paid slightly LESS than CNAs in the SNF simply because of supply and demand.

I always thought PCTs get paid more than in nursing homes because of the scope of practice. But then again it probably varies from state to state.

CNAs at long term facilities don't check blood sugars, draw blood/cultures, assist md's in certain bedside procedures etc. advancement opportunities at nursing homes suck because you would only get a couple dimes raise every year of service and then when your pay gets too "high" they kick you off the boat no matter how "experienced" you are and hire per diems over you cause of budgeting. It's all mostly grunt work at the nursing home. Whereas if you work at a hospital (esp if it's a large healthcare company), there are a lot of incentives at work as far as clinical performance on top of night shift and weekend differentials. Biggest plus side is to getting know doctors to shadow - extremely invaluable esp for us premeds.

 

[WileECoyote]

I always thought PCTs get paid more than in nursing homes because of the scope of practice. But then again it probably varies from state to state.

CNAs at long term facilities don't check blood sugars, draw blood/cultures, assist md's in certain bedside procedures etc. advancement opportunities at nursing homes suck because you would only get a couple dimes raise every year of service and then when your pay gets too "high" they kick you off the boat no matter how "experienced" you are and hire per diems over you cause of budgeting. It's all mostly grunt work at the nursing home. Whereas if you work at a hospital (esp if it's a large healthcare company), there are a lot of incentives at work as far as clinical performance on top of night shift and weekend differentials. Biggest plus side is to getting know doctors to shadow - extremely invaluable esp for us premeds.

I definitely agree that increased scope of practice should = more pay, but I think CNAs are viewed as a dime a dozen and easily replaced, so why should they pay more? Although, I was willing to take the pay cut because the pros totally outweigh the cons... What you give up in pay (which was really only ~$0.25/hr) is made up for by the benefits, such as sick days, paid time off (which accrues fairly quickly), great health insurance, and as you mentioned, differentials, and the ability to be in contact with doctors more often. I have already been shadowing docs on my floor. So much easier when you see them every day.

I think the biggest benefit of working at the hospital, though, is being treated as a skilled member of the team. At the SNF, nurses do nurse tasks and CNAs do CNA tasks, and the only time you speak to the nurse is when someone wants pain meds or has an abnormal bp. At the hospital, however, you collaborate with nurses all day. Usually, I am assigned the patients of two nurses, and they are OUR patients. I will never forget the shock of my first week at the hospital and seeing my nurse do peri care on a patient because I was busy. I just think the level of respect is so much higher at the hospital.

 

[Doctor246853]

I always thought PCTs get paid more than in nursing homes because of the scope of practice. But then again it probably varies from state to state.

CNAs at long term facilities don't check blood sugars, draw blood/cultures, assist md's in certain bedside procedures etc. advancement opportunities at nursing homes suck because you would only get a couple dimes raise every year of service and then when your pay gets too "high" they kick you off the boat no matter how "experienced" you are and hire per diems over you cause of budgeting. It's all mostly grunt work at the nursing home. Whereas if you work at a hospital (esp if it's a large healthcare company), there are a lot of incentives at work as far as clinical performance on top of night shift and weekend differentials. Biggest plus side is to getting know doctors to shadow - extremely invaluable esp for us premeds.

It must be a state by state thing. The cna's in LTC get paid around $9-10 while pct's get paid $12-14+... Im in Texas.

 

[WileECoyote]

It must be a state by state thing. The cna's in LTC get paid around $9-10 while pct's get paid $12-14+... Im in Texas.

Cost of living?

 

[Doctor246853]

Cost of living?

Extemely low....

 

[Fivo]

Scooping up scat? Not even once...

 

[Doctor246853]

Scooping up scat? Not even once...

This made me lol..literally. I have gotten to the point that when I hear " We need a pct to room 421, the patient has pulled out her iv and pooped all over the floor"...I wonder is this really worth it. If working as a pct for 4 years have taught me anything it is that I will never be a nurse.

 

[Skull Pell]

this made me lol..literally. I have gotten to the point that when i hear " we need a pct to room 421, the patient has pulled out her iv and pooped all over the floor"...i wonder is this really worth it. If working as a pct for 4 years have taught me anything it is that i will never be a nurse.

+1

 

[WileECoyote]

This made me lol..literally. I have gotten to the point that when I hear " We need a pct to room 421, the patient has pulled out her iv and pooped all over the floor"...I wonder is this really worth it. If working as a pct for 4 years have taught me anything it is that I will never be a nurse.

I agree 100% with this statement. I love helping people, don't get me wrong. I want to make a difference in the world, but I don't want to clean up poo for the rest of my life. Who knows? Could you imagine after becoming a doctor (if you happened to be an internist) the look on a cna or nurse's face if they walked into the room and you, the md, were providing peri care for your patient? haha. Although, come to think of it, I think most people would feel really awkward if their doctor wiped their butt.

 

[WileECoyote]

Extemely low....

Interesting... I have family in San Antonio.. maybe I should move haha

 

[Doctor246853]

I agree 100% with this statement. I love helping people, don't get me wrong. I want to make a difference in the world, but I don't want to clean up poo for the rest of my life. Who knows? Could you imagine after becoming a doctor (if you happened to be an internist) the look on a cna or nurse's face if they walked into the room and you, the md, were providing peri care for your patient? haha. Although, come to think of it, I think most people would feel really awkward if their doctor wiped their butt.

These patients dont know the difference most of the time between a nurse or doctor (If its a man usually). I have been called nurse and doctor....although I do blush when people ask if Im the doctor when I walk in the room. (Dont judge me😳) I pause....let it sink in for a few seconds, then correct them. "No Im the nurses bitc.. I mean tech today"....

 

[Geebeejay]

I agree 100% with this statement. I love helping people, don't get me wrong. I want to make a difference in the world, but I don't want to clean up poo for the rest of my life. Who knows? Could you imagine after becoming a doctor (if you happened to be an internist) the look on a cna or nurse's face if they walked into the room and you, the md, were providing peri care for your patient? haha. Although, come to think of it, I think most people would feel really awkward if their doctor wiped their butt.

I don't think patients would think twice about it, and they definitely wouldn't care, and I think nurses or cnas would be PUMPED if you were cleaning a patient after removing them from a bedpan, or anything of the sort. You'd probably be nursing's new favorite med student/doctor!

 

[WileECoyote]

I don't think patients would think twice about it, and they definitely wouldn't care, and I think nurses or cnas would be PUMPED if you were cleaning a patient after removing them from a bedpan, or anything of the sort. You'd probably be nursing's new favorite med student/doctor!

Honestly, I really wouldn't mind at all, since I started as a CNA. And the brownie points wouldn't hurt either, haha. Gotta earn that rapport!

 

[WileECoyote]

These patients dont know the difference most of the time between a nurse or doctor (If its a man usually). I have been called nurse and doctor....although I do blush when people ask if Im the doctor when I walk in the room. (Dont judge me😳) I pause....let it sink in for a few seconds, then correct them. "No Im the nurses bitc.. I mean tech today"....

I can totally relate to that! e.g., Patient: "Are you the doctor?" Me: "....." (Ahhhh feeeeeel the powwwa) Me a few moments later: "No, I'm your tech today. Can I wipe your butt now?"

😀

 

[Series 208]

" We need a pct to room 421, the patient has pulled out her iv and pooped all over the floor".

I don't really anything to contribute, I would just like to point out that this ^ was hilarious. Also, some good information, as I was considering CNA as well (also male).