I've been mulling over this dilemma...and still unsure of what to do.

Long story short...I'm a recent college grad. My major is in Human Biology, and I've been working for the past 2.5 years as a CNA. I'm a petite person and I don't like lifting...Now I'm currently working at a local hospital, which has always been where I wanted to work (as a CNA), and finally I got it about a year ago...but now I'm starting to develop back pain. I think it is due to my previous job where I worked in an assisted living and it's probably a chronic pain issue.

Now being 23, this is freaking me out. I have NUMEROUS patients coming in with back pain, some in their 30's and some older, and it's a problem I don't think anyone would want to have. The pain hasn't gotten so bad that I have to take pain relievers, but it's been bothering me to the point where if I'm sitting playing my piano for a long period of time and that I get up it would notice the pain. Or if I'm bending certain ways I would notice the pain...It's not excruciating but it's there. I have no history of back problem prior to this and I think if I ever get pregnant it might worsen that.

NOW...I'm doing all of this CNA work so that I can accumulate patient care hours for programs I want to apply to. I'm thinking 2.5 years should be enough but it's really competitive in the first place that a lot of the applicants are people who've been nurses for years or some other health professionals. I'm not looking to go into school to get licensed in something else, work for a couple years and apply...I have time-pressing complicated stuff that I want this to be done and me in a program asap.

CNA working in a hospital is a pretty good salary for a college student, especially doing weekend differentials. Anyhow, I feel like I really need a break and I'm doing full-time with a side chemistry class that I'm currently taking. I don't know if the pain I'm getting is physical labor alone or if it's stress related as well. If I quit my job, I would lose all of my benefits, won't have the money to pay back my student loans and it's probably going to take me a while to find a job. A friend of mine just found a job after months of searching and applying at different places. I don't know if it's the best thing I can do...to not work so I get time to recover and feeling less stressed.

On the other hand, I can continue to work UNTIL I find another job -- thinking a pharm tech job, though I'm not certified, so I don't think a lot of places would want to hire me and have me go through all the paper work and getting myself certified. And even if I do find a pharm tech job in a future, 2-3 months in might worsen my back even more. I have an appointment with a doctor later this month that I'm hoping will be helpful to get some answers about my back. Chiropractics costs a lot too and a lot of people say if I go see a chiropractor it's more likely going to be a number of visits, which will be costly. Driving to school costs me at least 200 dollars a month in gas, not to mention money for food and other expenses (including my student's loans).

Should I quit AFTER my dr appointment (while my benefits will still cover the visit) OR should I continue to work and try to take it easy?

I can go part-time or per-diem but then again I would still lose my benefits and working once a week or once in two weeks...how would take help with my recovery. Full-time where I work is working 3 days a week (12-hour shifts).

Thank you for any advice. I'm sorry...I didn't intend this to be so long.