Myths About Certified Nursing Assistants
It’s no surprise the medical field is very broad. There are many types of occupations included
in the career path. There are doctors, surgeons, nurse practioners, nurses, etc. but on the bottom
of the totem pole, there are certified nursing assistants. The job of a CNA, also known as SRNA
(state registered nurse aide), is quite an important one as well. Yes, they do the dirty work, but
they are the backbone of nursing facilities, some hospitals and other environments. If it were not
for state registered nurse aides, all registered nurses, license practical nurses and even doctor
would be running around chaotically. What society doesn’t see is the truth behind every nurse
aide’s intentions and emotions while one the job. Five common myths nurse aides get labeled
with are having dead end jobs, only doing the dirty work, strictly work in nursing homes, their
work isn’t worth their troubles, and it’s easy for any certified or licensed person including CNAs
to get jobs.
Myth #1:
In the medical field, there are separate areas of study and endless opportunities to explore. If a nurse were to get tired of geriatrics, they can leave a job and move on to something else like pediatrics or cardiovascular work. As a certified nursing assistant, they have the same options. They are not stuck “wiping bottoms” the rest of their lives as everyone assumes. These people become LPNs, RNs, and even get their Bachelor of Science in Nursing. So many options are open to these hardworking individuals but no one outside of the field gives credit, to which stops their education. If more encouragement was given, the shortage of nurses in the United States would decrease.
Myth #2:
When someone mentions certified nursing assistant’s society either questions what they are or assumes they person is talking about the people who bathed and fed your granddad on his death bed. What they do not realize is there is a lot more to the job than getting someone to take a bite of food or to stay still during a bath. Everyone has a bad day, so do residents in nursing homes. There are days whenever they don’t remember their name, they miss their late spouse, or their family didn’t come when they said they would. The charge nurses are too busy passing medications and treating medical problems to care about emotional ones, which is when the CNAs step up. Whenever a resident is in need of a friend or shoulder to cry on. There is one saying a lot of nurse aides use as a support system which goes something like “I make the bed and give them care, hold their hand when they are scared, I give them a friend when they are alone, treat them like family, one of my own, and when it’s time to save a life, I’ll wait until it’s over, when everything is done, when the room has gone quiet, the emptiness comes, so please don’t judge me when you think I don’t care, I look after your family when you are not there”. This saying doesn’t only apply to nurse aides working in long term care facilities but all other settings, as well.
Myth #3:
State Registered Nurse Aides have more options in where they work than just nursing homes. According to cnalicense.org, only 42% of SRNA work in nursing homes. The other 58% work in places such as hospitals, adult day centers, and even home healthcare (7 Common Work Environments). They can even go a few steps further in their education to get a phlebotomy license and have even more options to pick from jobwise. As stated earlier the job possibilities are almost as endless for SRNAs as it is for LPNs or RNs. Even in hospitals CNAs are not limited to just one unit. They can be pediatric, geriatric, psychiatric, surgical, emergency room, the list goes on and on. With medicine the sky is the limit. Not only is the work emotionally worth it, for starting out it can be considered good money.
Myth #4:
Many high school students become CNAs to get a jumpstart on their nursing career. Majority of today’s teens work fast food or as waitresses slaving for tips and barely getting by, but the select few students who decide to take a CNA course while still in high school get ahead. For a sixteen to eighteen-year-old who is just starting to learn the value of money, roughly twelve dollars an hour is pretty good. This is when the education wheels in an individual’s brain begin turning and they think “if I make this much now, what will I make when I get my registered nurse license?” Besides the money they also get the reward by being there for a person who needs a friend or just someone to listen. In nursing homes, residents tend to get very lonely and all they want is someone to sit and listen to their stories. Many CNAs who are in the job for the heart and not their wallet make the time to sit with residents during spare time. If there were a book which listed how many times this genuinely helped a resident, there would be a series of books that never ended and it would have a new chapter added daily. Even though once on the job nurse aides thrive, it’s the “finding one” which can be tricky.
Myth #5:
Yes, there are many jobs for nurses, nursing students, nurse aides, etc. but if they don’t have the preferred experience, it can be challenging to actually get hired. When putting in applications in they usually read “one year or more experience preferred/required” depending where the applicant is looking. There are usually six requirements for obtaining a position according to cnalicense.org. “One: Have a high school diploma. 2: Complete a training program. 3: Complete reading and math competency tests. 4: Earn your CPR certification. 5: Complete your training health requirements. 6: Apply for your state CNA license.” (Top 6 Requirements). Very seldom does a facility want someone with zero experience, and when they do look for people to train it’s most likely an assisted living home. A human resource assistant could get a job much easier than any form of nurse because experience isn’t as big of a demand. With more experience in the field, the more likely they can be trusted with a life. The biggest part of health care is being able to care for those who cannot care for themselves, being said, a company is more likely to hire an applicant who has five years or more of experience versus someone who is “fresh” out of college. The medical field is not the only likely occupation to choose experience over education, such as financial organizations, educational, and many others.
The five myths of CNAs having dead end jobs, only doing the dirty work, strictly working in nursing homes, their work not being worth the trouble, and it being easy for nurse aides to get jobs are irrelevant to those in this specialty. Society assumes so many things about the medical field and its workers but don’t actually do the research or ask someone who has firsthand experience to “debunk” the myths. If more time was taken to learn than believe common accusations, aides would strive to be more confident in their work. One of the biggest struggles of being an SRNA is the judgement of the family members of those they provide care. Families do not realize many nurse aides treat residents as their family because they would want the same care for their own. Assumptions as these are why the nursing profession isn’t as satisfactory as society would prefer. This is why any time a question is posed and the answer is just assumed, there are many misunderstandings for numerous subjects.
Works Cited:
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“7 Common Work Environments for Certified Nursing Assistants” 03-March-2016
Accessed 15-September-2017
http://www.cnalicense.org/blog/7-common-work-environments-for-cnas.html
“Top 6 Requirements for Becoming a CNA” 01-March-2016
Accessed 22-Sept-2017
http://www.cnalicense.org/blog/top-6-requirements-for-becoming-a-cna.html
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Four Myths About People with Tattoos
Many assumptions are made when a person allows their tattoos to be visible. Walking past
someone with a full sleeve tattoo, one could assume the individual could be a biker, or in some sort
of gang. A person with tattoos on their neck, face or hands were more than likely in prison. A woman
with a tattoo very visible on her wrist or forearm will never get married. Each one of these is a very
valid example of discrimination against those with artwork permanently on their bodies. In very
Christian communities, those with some “ink” are looked down upon. They have ruined their chance
to get into heaven in a Christian’s eyes. So many myths and rumors about people with tattoos are
spread daily. Common myths include these people are rebellious and irresponsible, poor parents,
uneducated, and unemployable.
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Myth #1: People with Tattoos are Rebellious and Irresponsible.
Many teenagers get excited when they turn eighteen and can do want they want. To celebrate their
adulthood, some get tattoos. A common argument is when you get your first tattoo you’ll end up
regretting it. In numerous cases, a tattoo is well thought out and pondered on before being added to
the skin. Waiting to make sure the chosen design is what is wanted is a responsible choice, busting
this aspect of the myth. If you step foot on a college campus, walk around a mall or just a regular
evening stroll, you’re bound to pass numerous people with at least one tattoo, visible or not. If majority of the population has a minimum of one tattoo, what makes a single person a rebel for having one? The only circumstance where receiving a tattoo could be considered remotely rebellious is if a parent disapproves of the action. Most teens who receive tattoos are exposed to them by parents to begin with.
Myth #2: Tattooed Parents are Bad Parents.
It has been known for someone to lose custody of a child due to the fact they have multiple tattoos which are visible. Even if someone is the best parent in the world and has no serious criminal record, a judge could victimize them because they have their child’s name tattooed on a place like their neck or wrist. According to The Economist’s article titled “A Statistical Analysis of the Art on Convict’s Bodies”, in Florida, 85% of prisoners under the age 35 have tattoos, 43% of prisoners over 55 do and 23% of the general population is also included. Even though majority of the numbers are from prisoners, the tattoos are often from before conviction. How does a piece of art on someone’s body impact their ability to raise a child? A tattooed parent is no different from someone with a “fresh canvas”. The myth of tattooed parents is all a sick illusion to give another reason for people to judge someone’s life choices. Just like judging an inked human being as uneducated because they wanted a symbol on them permanently.
Myth #3: People with Tattoos are Uneducated.
If you set foot onto a college campus, the likelihood that majority of students have some form of tattoo or body modification is very high. CBS News states in their article, “Tattoos Become More Accepted at the Workplace”, 23% of today’s college students have anywhere from one to three tattoos, while 36% of people between the ages of 18 and 29 have tattoos. With many college students having tattoos, what is the probability all tattooed people are undereducated? In any occupation, it’s highly likely you can find at least one person with a tattoo or body modification. While it’s not uncommon to find a few bad apples in the bunch, more credit needs to be given than just assuming there’s no hope for these people. This goes with the assumption it’s impossible to get a job with visible ink.
Myth #4: Inked Individuals Cannot Get Jobs.
Stated by stapaw.com’s article, “Tattoos in the Workplace Statistics”, 42% of American adults have tattoos, 73% of regular individuals say they would hire someone with a visible tattoo. With a number as high as 73% of people who may or may not have tattoos themselves, the myth of unemployment is practically debunked with just one sentence. While many with tattoos who are already employed more than likely don’t have visible ink, it’s not a rare sighting to notice a pretty flower on a waitress’s arm, or a wedding ring tattooed onto a teacher’s finger. Without notice, passing someone with a permanent mark is no stranger, either. A tattoo is a tattoo, a person is a person. Even though the outside may look different and decorated, what’s under the flesh it all the same.
As a whole, the world should recognize tattoos are more than just a pretty heart or a cool tribal band. The stories behind a tattoo can be prettier than the artwork itself. As a society of judgmental creatures, we should consider more before assuming. Not just whenever it comes to a tattoo, but in all aspects of this roller coaster called life. One person’s “that’s an ugly lily” could be another person’s “this was my mother’s favorite flower”. The saying “a picture’s worth a thousand words” has a deep meaning, but sometimes it pays to know the words behind the picture.
Works Cited:
“Tattoos in the Workplace Statistics” Support Tattoos and Piercings at Work (No written date)
Accessed on 09 October 2017
http://www.stapaw.com/tattoos-in-the-workplace-statistics
“Tattoos Becoming More Accepted at Work” CBS News 30 January 2007
Accessed on 09 October 2017
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tattoos-becoming-more-accepted-at-work/
“A Statistical Analysis of the Art on Convicts’ Bodies” The Economist 24 December 2016
Accessed on 08 October 2017
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