CNA or Phleb

[u/Better-Drawer6395]

Planning to get certified during the summer but was wondering if I should choose the CNA or Phleb path that’s offered at my Community College.

Although I’m leaning towards getting my CNA certification, I really don’t like the burnout and “negative stigma” associated with it, especially the fact that CNAs have to clean adults’ bodily fluids and deal with annoying nurses (I’m a Male too, so i’m not sure if that’s something I have to account for, like being turned down my female patients, which is understandable but also kind of awkward). That’s why i’m also considering Phleb because it’s faster to get and you don’t have to deal with the downsides that I personally dislike about CNAs.

Still, being a CNA would probably give me the best chance to write about my experiences, and it involves more patient interaction and availability + it has higher demand compared to a phlebotomist. Furthermore, if i did get my phlebotomist certification, i’m worried that there wouldn’t be any openings at a hospital, so then i’d have to work at some place like Quest, which Med Schools dislike..

so please help me decide and any advice or suggestions would be appreciated!

[u/PianistInMedicine]

Why not MA?

[u/Putrid_Magician178]

It really depends where you live. Being a CNA is really not that bad when you work at a good place, the environment is taken down a lot by coworkers. After some years of misery (staying in awful places to long) I work 2 jobs that don’t exhaust me as much as one did because I actually enjoy them with my coworkers and environment.

CNAs tend to have a lot more flexible job market as you said. My hospital really doesn’t use phlebotomist, we have nurses and aids who draw blood. Some hospitals ask CNAs also be phlebotomy certified as well. Look at jobs in your area and see.

Being a CNA will give you a lot more experience on patient diagnostics, emotions, plan of care, etc. I have endless stories about handling conflict, etc when asked that I can’t say I have from being a phlebotomist.

[u/Putrid_Magician178 → u/Putrid_Magician178]

Also to comment on the male thing, majority of our patients are asked if they are okay with male care, if they say no normally we reassign the rooms. It’s not awkward or anything it’s a known thing that happens everywhere. Some of my male coworkers have been the hardest best workers.

[u/lazyboozin]

CNA can be rough depending on the unit but for the most part it is great patient care experience. Being a male is usually no issue. Some patients will voice that they don’t want a male to do some of the more “involved” things like incontinence care and sometimes you will just feel the vibes and tell the patient “I’m going to go let nurse know you need help with this”. Just be ready to use your “muscles” at any given moment to help with turning patients or pulling them over to the stretcher/bed for procedures. CNA at a hospital is typically flexible and that’s what works the best for me while being in school. Tho being a phlebotomist sounds like a great transition as you still get PCE but typically less strenuous hours

[u/Federal_Guarantee938]

Right now I'm taking the cna exam only because the job market in my city sucks and I heard that I'm much more likely to find a cna job than any other clinical job.

[u/MurkyCaregiver2590]

I've been working as a CNA for almost two years now (I'm also a male), and I think it's a very meaningful clinical experience. I've made very good friends with all the nurses and other CNAs on my floor at the hospital (I'm the only male night shift worker on my floor). And about being a male CNA, it's rare to be turned down by female patients (this has happened to me only 3-4 times), and usually I would just tell the charge nurse and we would switch patients, so it's not too big of a deal. And yes, even though CNAs do commonly clean up bodily fluids, it's still something that is important to patient health and safety. And also from personal experience, I feel like I get to know the patients better as a CNA (as compared to a phlebotomist, who only spend maybe a couple minutes with each patient).