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Nursing Students CNA/MA

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Specializes in BNAT instructor, ICU, Hospice,triage.

I am just now beginning to teach CNA classes. Please tell me what helps you learn the best and what motivates you to do great. Tell me what your instructors did that you loved. How did they teach? Did they use power points? Thank you so very much for all that you do! My favorite job was CNA and I almost wish I could go back and not be an RN because I loved CNA so very much. I love you guys, you are the best! You really are!

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I finished my CNA class in September and enjoyed it immensely. Be there for your students and go over things that they don't understand. My Teacher used a lot of Youtube videos for the skills. I also discovered on my own the great videos that are featured on 4YourCNA.com so they stay fresh in your mind. I also discovered Quizlet.com and enjoyed that as well because its a very informative site for CNA's, LVN's and RN's. Make sure they go over their skills booklet repeatedly because one small mistake on your State Exam and you receive a Fail. Please make sure that the place they are taking their exam has good examiners who pay attention. One of my examiners wasn't paying attention during my PPE and she failed me because she was too busy texting. I am appealing to the man who is in charge of testing, but more than likely because of his reputation he won't do anything but say take your skills exam over. Anyway, tell them practice practice practice!! Congrats on your teaching job.

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Specializes in Ortho.

Congrats on your teaching job! I recently had my CNA class in September as well. One thing I can say that stood out the most in my class was the fact my instructor had recruiters visit with us from long term care facilities, home health agencies, as well as hospitals which helped tremendously. After the first week of training I had 3 job offers. Also, she taught us additional information that wasn't required for the CNA license but will be beneficial for those who plan to further their career into Nursing such as medical terminology. My instructor also used power point slides and recommended Quizlet for studying. I'm sure you'll do great teaching this course. Good luck to you!

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Congratulations :) My CNA Instructor did use Power Points, we hated them & so did she. It's effective but really boring. Repetition was really the only thing that helped me. On our first day we learned KASIWAP (Kay-See-Wahp) Knock, Announce, Speak clearly making eye contact, Introduce yourself, Wash hands, Ask permission, Provide privacy. Seems like a lot but after months of having it drilled in your head & performing it in order over & over during skills practice, it's stuck with me for LIFE! Good luck :)

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My instructor taught me a lot by telling stories about experiences that she had. I learned more from the experiences she shared than I ever did from any PowerPoint presentation, lecture, or reading me assignment from a text book. Learning the practical, real-life approach to how to care for others helped me tremendously!

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Specializes in CNA, HHA, RNA,.

My instructor was honest and up front about the line of work (and you might as well do that because down the road..) you'll get students saying how this was not what they expected it to be. The line of work is very demanding not just as a nurse, but on your soul too. These people and the family included is very draining, teach them to document and speak up for themselves because once they get on the floor no one ever will tell them that.

Too often people put blinders on what it means to be a nurse and talk about the glamour, but its time to open up the blinds and let them know that

A) its hard laborious grunt work of nursing

B) you never really get to do anything fun, its just butt wiping job

C) Hospitals, LTCS, HH and SNFS are not your friends, they will fry you for being "too nice" Just scrim through the horror stories of this board. These places are designed to make money and your honesty can cost you your career. They need to remind themselves to look out for #1 which is their future, license and career, then patients, then lastly hospital.

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i have 3 semesters left till my RN is finished, but i took my CNA in 2012. The best thing i learned from my amazing instructor was proper PPE's. she was strict and followed us around like a watch dog but she drilled sterile procedures into our head and her rendition has far surpassed what i have received in any of my RN clinicals! since her class i have yet to fling my wet fingers in a sink after washing them. "flinging your fingers flings germs!!" and she would then proceed to give you the mom look!! best class ever.

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Specializes in ICU, Pre-Op, OR, PACU.

I took a 3 week CNA course in '13 summer and it was insane! Since it was a compressed course I might have different experiences than most, but one of the things I seemed to struggle with the most on our first day of clinicals is I felt like we didn't know the flow of what a real day looked like. I think a broader view of what tasks are to be completed and by what time would be a great way to help CNA's understand what's expected of them. As mintygirl mentioned I think honesty in the instructor is HUGE and will go a long way in helping the students out.

I know someone else mentioned that power points can be a bit boring and I agree, but don't forget there are fun ways to incorporate learning into a power point slide. Again my school was a bit different since it was a 3 week course (8 hrs a day) so we needed ways to break up our day to make it less boring. Games would be a great way to do just that, youtube videos, working on skills in between things helps too. Before taking pulses our instructor had us run around the parking lot so we could feel the difference in heart rates.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll do great!!! :cat:

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