[madophelia]

Hi everyone! My name is Maria and I've been lurking for awhile but now that I have finally started my nursing assistant course I decided I should post and let y'all know I exist.

I'm 27 years old and my ultimate goal is to be an RN but the programs here require being CNA certified. I'm actually looking forward to being able to work as a CNA though while I'm going to school. Although I just got a job as as a residential skills trainer for developmentally disabled individuals - I start my first on the job training day tomorrow.

I am not sure of the area of nursing I want to go into. I decided that nursing is my calling after taking care of my terminally ill husband. It is almost a year since he died, but after everything we went through I will forever be grateful to the nurses at the hospital and hospicecare that took care of him and our family. Part of me is scared - but part of me thinks I might do well in hospice. I guess I won't really know until I finish school. Sometimes I feel like I'd rather be working and learning on the job but I know this time is important so I'm doing my best to be patient and learn and practice so I'm ready for the real thing. Granted I've already experienced bed bathing, emptying a NG tube bucket and NG tube flushing, PIC line flushing, making a bed with someone in it, and hooking up TPN. None of that was learned in school though - just happened because my husband needed me and I didn't know I was capable of doing it until I had to. I know I don't know much of anything but I have an idea of what a nurse does. l know I have no idea what its like to take care of a ton of different patients.

Sorry this is long but it is where I am at the moment. I wish you all the best with where you are at on your journey and I hope to learn more and connect with as many of you as possible.

Ciao,
Maria

[Tweety]

My condolences.

Welcome to Allnurses. Good luck to you in all that you do.

[Silverdragon102]

hi Maria

Good luck I hope you meet your goals