*Shift is over!! Time to go home!!* Working as a CNA in the..

*Shift is over!! Time to go home!!* Working as a CNA in the beginning was ok. I had orientation the first couple of weeks and I was getting to know the staff and residents, I was getting paid pretty well (I still didn't know it was basically minimum wage), and I had time for school and friends, etc. Life was going well finally and I felt like I was starting to get my shit together. I was aware that the facility I worked at had residents with physical disabilities and mental issues. I didn't mind that. I was prepared for it. What I didn't know was how the culture there worked. I was told the CNAs rotated rounds and had partners so that no one felt like they were always with one set of residents. EXCEPT!! Some of them would go to the charge nurse to complain to get the rounds they preferred and gave their original rounds to someone else without their knowledge. I was new, so they kind of eased me into it and rotated me at first. Until, I wasn't new anymore and they started giving me the same rounds either because other CNAs complained about it or because residents preferred me (because I didn't talk back and was pretty easy to take advantage of). I started getting the harder rounds where I was just always busy and sometimes wouldn't have help from my partner or anyone because we were normally short-staffed. It was really tough, and I started to dread going to work, hoping something would happen to me on the way there so I didn't have to go. I wouldn't eat, I got really stressed and anxious, and I was having negative thoughts. I stayed there for 6 months, the minimum requirement to get into a nursing program (I was still doing prerequisites at the time). I eventually finished my nursing pre-reqs and had my work experience. I applied to the university several times to get rejected every time lolz. My first couple of years at my first university didn't go that well and this new one was really competitive but was supposedly the easiest one to get into. I took it as a sign, or several, and dropped nursing altogether. I didn't like it, I never did. I just pushed myself to because everyone said it was a more stable job compared to art. Years later and here's what I've realized: - Don't fucking listen to anyone trying to influence your decision for their ideals - Don't get into debt going to a university when you can probably go to a community college for most of the classes - Don't try to go to school full-time if you also have other priorities - Do your research when job hunting or have job offers - Jobs, any jobs, are not stable; anything can happen that results in you being unemployed. So go with whatever feels right, and don't put all your eggs in one basket. - Take your time! There's no rush in trying to figure out what you want to do! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sorry for making today's posts really long lolz. But I thought I'd share the gist of my nursing school/work experience. It wasn't the best, but it was what I could do at the time. And having that job was worth it to figure out if I truly wanted it. It was also better income back then and for that I am grateful, regardless of how shitty I felt towards the end of it. Anyways, now this is going to feel awkward, but I originally didn't plan to write out my life's story and I wanted to end this last post with ***I have some extra pics and a clip of me having fun while undressing completely! You can tip $3 under this post and I'll send them to you*** Lolz you can still do it, but completely optional. Have a good night, everyone!~