--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I work at a retirement home. I'm a CNA.”…" description: "\"“I work at a retirement home. I'm a CNA.” “What's that?” “It stands for Certified Nursing Assistant.” “That sounds important,” I said. She laughed. “If..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/richard-paul-evans-1002_nursing_i-work-at-a-retirement-home-i-m-a-cna-wh_2795730.png" --- # I work at a retirement home. I'm a CNA.” “What's that?”… ![“I work at a retirement home. I'm a CNA.” “What's that?” “It stands for Certified Nursing Assistant.” “That sounds important,” I said. She laughed. “If changing old people's diapers is important.” I thought for a moment, then said, “It is for the old people.” quote by Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/richard-paul-evans-1002_nursing_i-work-at-a-retirement-home-i-m-a-cna-wh_2795730.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/richard-paul-evans-1002_nursing_i-work-at-a-retirement-home-i-m-a-cna-wh_2795730.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/richard-paul-evans-1002_nursing_i-work-at-a-retirement-home-i-m-a-cna-wh_2795730.png) > ““I work at a retirement home. I'm a CNA.” “What's that?” “It stands for Certified Nursing Assistant.” “That sounds important,” I said. She laughed. “If changing old people's diapers is important.” I thought for a moment, then said, “It is for the old people.”” [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A CNA explains her job’s importance, emphasizing care for the elderly over mundane tasks. **In simple terms:** CNA values caring for elders. Key Takeaway Respect all caregiving roles. Themes caregiving humility purpose elder care Mood empathetic warm Type inspirational humanitarian When to use this quote - healthcare - volunteering - community service Key Concepts social value professional dignity Questions to Reflect On - How can society better value caregiving? - What motivates CNA dedication? A Different Perspective May romanticize caregiving challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cna Stands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cna-stands-3411547/) [Diapers Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diapers-important-3411548/) [Home Cna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-cna-3411546/) [Important Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-said-761874/) [Nursing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nursing/) [Nursing Assistant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nursing-assistant-229484/) [Old people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-people/) ## Related quotes > [The minimum wage isn't earned only by people working at fast food restaurants and in service industry work - the average income for positions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rolf/the-minimum-wage-isn-t-earned-only-by-people-working-at-fast-food/) [David Rolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rolf/) > [My father was a psychiatrist, the medical director of a mental hospital in Scotland, and when I was a student, I took vacation jobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morag-joss/my-father-was-a-psychiatrist-the-medical-director-of-a-mental/) [Morag Joss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morag-joss/) > [Suddenly we have a baby who poops and cries, and we are trying to calm, clean up, and pin things together all at once.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-berrien-berends/suddenly-we-have-a-baby-who-poops-and-cries-and-we-are-trying-to-calm/) [Polly Berrien Berends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-berrien-berends/) > [I'm the granddaughter to Carrie, a sharecropper from Louisiana, crippled at a young age by polio. The granddaughter to Lettie Ruth, a maid who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laphonza-butler/i-m-the-granddaughter-to-carrie-a-sharecropper-from-louisiana/) [Laphonza Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laphonza-butler/) > [“Markov's not important,' she said. 'I'm not important. You're not important. Winning the war, that's the only important thing.' 'No,' I said, 'I disagree.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-benioff/markov-s-not-important-she-said-i-m-not-important-you-re-not/) [David Benioff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-benioff/) > [When mouths close, its because theres something important to be said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-mouths-close-its-because-theres-something-important-to-be-said/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Well I feel like if you can go days without talking to me, then I wasn't really all that important to you as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-marcellin/well-i-feel-like-if-you-can-go-days-without-talking-to-me-then-i-wasn/) [Sam Marcellin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-marcellin/) > [“children never forget. For this reason, it was so important what one said, and what one did, and it was a relief when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/children-never-forget-for-this-reason-it-was-so-important-what-one-2/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [What we are is more important than what we have or what is said of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/what-we-are-is-more-important-than-what-we-have-or-what-is-said-of-us/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [“I know nothing I’m doing is important,' he said. 'Sure, I’m just a waste product of history. Maybe nothing I’m doing is even real,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-penn-warren/i-know-nothing-i-m-doing-is-important-he-said-sure-i-m-just-a-waste/) [Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-penn-warren/) > [“I saw that she didn't want to answer that question and so I asked again: when mouths close it's because there's something important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-saw-that-she-didn-t-want-to-answer-that-question-and-so-i-asked/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [When mouths close, it’s because there’s something important to be said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/when-mouths-close-it-s-because-there-s-something-important-to-be-said/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There is quite an important director in Germany who I think in the early fifties over here, and then went back, and he said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-waltz/there-is-quite-an-important-director-in-germany-who-i-think-in-the/) [Christoph Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-waltz/) > [It is not important what is said, what is important is what is heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-not-important-what-is-said-what-is-important-is-what-is-heard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What isn't said is as important as what is said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/what-isn-t-said-is-as-important-as-what-is-said/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) ## More by Richard Paul Evans > [ The smells of Christmas are the smells of childhood \[p. 53\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/the-smells-of-christmas-are-the-smells-of-childhood-p-53/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [We are chained to that which we do not forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/we-are-chained-to-that-which-we-do-not-forgive/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“I've found that when someone is beautiful on the outside, but spiritually dark inside, all that outer beauty is just lipstick on a pig.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-ve-found-that-when-someone-is-beautiful-on-the-outside-but/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [There are none so impoverished as those who do not acknowledge the abundance of their lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/there-are-none-so-impoverished-as-those-who-do-not-acknowledge-the/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [It's our memories that make us who we are. Without them, we're nothing. If that means we have to hurt sometimes, it's worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/it-s-our-memories-that-make-us-who-we-are-without-them-we-re-nothing/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [At one time in my career, Barnes and Noble bookstores categorized my books as religious fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/at-one-time-in-my-career-barnes-and-noble-bookstores-categorized-my/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“I'm no one important or famous, no matter. It is better to be loved by one person who knows your soul than millions who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-m-no-one-important-or-famous-no-matter-it-is-better-to-be-loved-by/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [The first step of a journey is always the longest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/the-first-step-of-a-journey-is-always-the-longest/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“Simply stated, earth is a school-a divine educational process custom-fit to each of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/simply-stated-earth-is-a-school-a-divine-educational-process-custom/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [So much of young adult literature has turned dark, almost pathological. It's almost as if there is a race to see who can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/so-much-of-young-adult-literature-has-turned-dark-almost-pathological/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [If the errors of my life have profited me one great truth it is this: believe. Believe in your destiny and the star from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/if-the-errors-of-my-life-have-profited-me-one-great-truth-it-is-this/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [Some people in this world have stopped looking for beauty, then wonder why their lives are so ugly. Don't be like them. The ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/some-people-in-this-world-have-stopped-looking-for-beauty-then-wonder/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“There's a big difference between us. I write non-fiction, you write fiction. I write truths that tell lies. You write lies that tell truths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/there-s-a-big-difference-between-us-i-write-non-fiction-you-write/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [As a boy I heard this story in church. A man was patching a pitched roof of a tall building when he began sliding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/as-a-boy-i-heard-this-story-in-church-a-man-was-patching-a-pitched/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [I am facing the most difficult thing of my life, my own greatest failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-am-facing-the-most-difficult-thing-of-my-life-my-own-greatest/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) [Explore all 311 Richard Paul Evans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) ## More Nursing quotes > [I was raised to volunteer: nursing homes, clinics, church nurseries, school, everywhere that could use help. It's such an intrinsic part of me, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debby-ryan/i-was-raised-to-volunteer-nursing-homes-clinics-church-nurseries/) [Debby Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debby-ryan/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [We know nothing of the principle of health, the positive of which pathology is the negative, except from observation and experience. And nothing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/we-know-nothing-of-the-principle-of-health-the-positive-of-which/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [If Christian scientists had more science and doctors more Christianity, it wouldn't make any difference which you called in - if you had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finley-peter-dunne/if-christian-scientists-had-more-science-and-doctors-more/) [Finley Peter Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finley-peter-dunne/) > [Life Appears To Be Too Short To Be Spent In Nursing Animosity Or Registering Wrong...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/life-appears-to-be-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [“...For having a baby's sweet face so close to your own, for so long a time as it takes to nurse 'em, is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-eisdorfer/for-having-a-baby-s-sweet-face-so-close-to-your-own-for-so-long-a/) [Erica Eisdorfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-eisdorfer/) > [They say 'life is precious'. To who? To you, when you're young and you've got a few dollars in your pocket. Tell that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/they-say-life-is-precious-to-who-to-you-when-you-re-young-and-you-ve/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Nurses have new and expanding roles. They are case managers, helping patients navigate the maze of health care choices and develop plans of care.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-evans/nurses-have-new-and-expanding-roles-they-are-case-managers-helping/) [Judi Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-evans/) > [Does anyone really go into nursing intending to be apathetic, cold and removed from suffering? I find that very difficult to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/does-anyone-really-go-into-nursing-intending-to-be-apathetic-cold-and/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [Nursing is a progressive art such that to stand still is to go backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/nursing-is-a-progressive-art-such-that-to-stand-still-is-to-go/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [My first job was in a nursing home - a terrible place in retrospect. It was in an old house, and the residents were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-edwards/my-first-job-was-in-a-nursing-home-a-terrible-place-in-retrospect-it/) [Kim Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-edwards/) > [“It is often thought that medicine is the curative process. It is no such thing; medicine is the surgery of functions, as surgery proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/it-is-often-thought-that-medicine-is-the-curative-process-it-is-no/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [Ignore him," Heather begged. "I do. Constantly." Jean-Luc studied the coach, then turned to Heather with a wary look. "Every man in this town…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerrelyn-sparks/ignore-him-heather-begged-i-do-constantly-jean-luc-studied-the-coach/) [Kerrelyn Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerrelyn-sparks/) > [Ah, March! we know thou art Kind-hearted, spite of ugly looks and threats, And, out of sight, art nursing April's violets!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hunt-jackson/ah-march-we-know-thou-art-kind-hearted-spite-of-ugly-looks-and/) [Helen Hunt Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hunt-jackson/) > [The state is the nursing mother of human culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alexander-leighton/the-state-is-the-nursing-mother-of-human-culture/) [Joseph Alexander Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alexander-leighton/) [Browse all 321 Nursing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nursing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I work at a retirement home. I'm a CNA.” “What's that?” “It stands for Certified Nursing Assistant.” “That sounds important,” I said. She laughed. “If changing old people's diapers is important.” I thought for a moment, then said, “It is for the old people.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Paul Evans" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-work-at-a-retirement-home-i-m-a-cna-what-s-that-it-stands-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Nursing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-work-at-a-retirement-home-i-m-a-cna-what-s-that-it-stands-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/richard-paul-evans-1002_nursing_i-work-at-a-retirement-home-i-m-a-cna-wh_2795730.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/richard-paul-evans-1002_nursing_i-work-at-a-retirement-home-i-m-a-cna-wh_2795730.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/165/richard-paul-evans-1002_nursing_i-work-at-a-retirement-home-i-m-a-cna-wh_2795730.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I work at a retirement home. I'm a CNA.” “What's that?” “It stands for Certified Nursing Assistant.” “That…” — Richard Paul Evans", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Richard Paul Evans", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I work at a retirement home....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-work-at-a-retirement-home-i-m-a-cna-what-s-that-it-stands-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-work-at-a-retirement-home-i-m-a-cna-what-s-that-it-stands-for/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```