Exploring the Pros and Cons of Working as a CNA (2024)

Starting your career as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) offers unique rewards and challenges in the healthcare environment. CNAs provide basic care to patients under the supervision of a nurse and accomplish many complex and physical tasks that nurses can’t do on their own. Some of these CNA responsibilities include assisting with personal care tasks like bathing and toileting, helping patients eat and drink, and taking their vital signs when needed.

National Nursing Assistant Week is June 13-19, so now is a great time to celebrate the value of CNAs in healthcare and look at some pros and cons of a nursing assistant’s job. Hopefully, these reasons can provide career advice, if you’re deciding on what you want to do in nursing.

Pros

Enriching Work Experience: Many CNAs have described their work as a tool to help them understand the nursing field in a hands-on environment. Jose Molina, who previously worked as a CNA at Merced Behavioral Health Center in California, describes his experience.

“Working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) was a life-changing experience for me… I knew I had a purpose in healthcare when patients started treating me like family. In many cases, I was the closest thing to family that a patient had, and the sadness on their face at the end of my shifts was evident. Drawn-out, tear-filled hugs hit the hardest.”

Entry into Healthcare: According to Lynae Sorensen, a nurse practitioner at Restore Care, becoming a nursing assistant is the first step for many in nursing or other medical fields. “It’s beneficial for students interested in pursuing healthcare-related courses as it opens up many opportunities for attachments and internships concerning healthcare environments,” says Sorensen.

Flexibility is key to balancing work and life, and being a CNA can provide a schedule where you can pick what kind of shift you want. Sorensen also mentions that nursing assistants can work in a variety of areas, such as nursing homes, hospitals, and home care, which hire CNAs.

Job Growth: The demand for CNAs is projected to grow at 4% from 2022 to 2032, so there will be no shortage of jobs anytime soon.

Cons

We’ve covered some of the benefits of working as a CNA, but what are some of the job’s drawbacks?

Emotional Toll: “In most cases, CNAs form personal relationships with their patients and families, which are often not easy when dealing with end-of-life care or difficult situations,” says Sorensen. It can be hard dealing with a patient’s pain and even loss of life.

Physical Demands: As part of their duties, CNAs need to lift heavy objects or assist their patients in moving, which can become physically tiring and lead to exhaustion or tension over time. According to Sorensen, this is especially true for those who stand and bend for long periods.

Molina describes his CNA experience as one that came with many challenges. “Long shift hours and unpredictable workflows kept me on my toes at all times. Working entry-level pay to clean human waste is not exactly the most luxurious experience to boast about either,” says Molina. “Make no mistake, this job will test your commitment to nursing from the get-go.”

Low Pay: This career can be a good stepping stone, but the pay can be low compared to other jobs in the medical field. The median annual wage for nursing assistants was $38,200 in May 2023 at $18.33 an hour. However, with more experience and certifications, you can advance to higher pay.

Lack of Advancement: Demand for CNA positions will always be here, but advancing with the proper certifications can be difficult.

Takeaway

Overall, working as a CNA can be challenging; however, it can be worth it to build skills in healthcare and experience meaningful work relationships that will stay with you for your entire career.

With all that CNAs are expected to do, they show dedication to their work, which makes a difference in the lives of the patients they care for.