The stressed out life of a CNA
WHY SUCH LOW PAY AS A CNA???
Someone help me to understand this... I took an economics course in high school and, granted that is not a lot of knowledge, but one thing I do remember quite clearly is the law of supply and demand. It goes something like this... The less of something there is relative to the demand for it, the more expensive that item is. On almost all the information I have read regarding the CNAcareer, they say that there is a huge and growing demand for CNA's in the coming years. There is also a huge turnover problem and quick burnout due to the stress of the job. It seems that employers spend a lot of money and time hiring and training new employees on an ongoing basis. The one complaint I have heard over and over again is that facilities are cronically understaffed. Why is it that the salaries of RN's reflect this dire need for employees in the health field but those for CNA's remain abyssmally low? Wouldn't it make sense for salaries to be even half that of nurses given the high demand? CNA's have more direct contact hours with patients in very demanding and stressful situations and patient care depends on CNA's being "on top of their game" at all times! Is it a wonder then that there are so many allegations of patient neglect and abuse in the direct care industry? Actually I think that most CNA's I have worked with go above and beyond their duty because they enter this field due to their inherent compassion and sense of duty. What does this situation say about this society where the people who work with the frailest and most vulnerable members of the society because they are compassionate (with children, the sick and the elderly) are the ones who get paid the least and have some of the worst working conditions?
Actually, most of the CNA/HHAs I know are over worked, underappreciated and most definately underpaid. They travel extensively often 50-80 mile rountrips. For less than $10 hour, without gas reimbursements. Of course, one would get Burn Out under these conditions. YOU would too!
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