[lovingtheunloved]

onesmallpark, I PM'd you, but I have to add this: I've heard from some very seasoned nurses that if you can work LTC, you can work ANYWHERE. Talk about learning time management. And the money sucks, no matter where you go. But, there's nothing like having a LOL grab your hand and saying, "You're an angel sent by God to take care of me."

[L&Dnurse2Be]

Originally Posted by onesmallspark

I would guess that would mean cleaning up the body for the funeral home or for the family if they weren't present at the time of death.

I don't know for sure.

Yes, that is what death care is.

[Billiegirl]

I'm NA in the ER and it will just depend on the unit you work in. In the ER after our NA's become techs they can do EKG's, draw labs, d/c i.v's, insert caths, and a whole multitude of other things plus the other CNA duties. But it takes a looong time before they reach that point.

Basically you will get stuck with the cruddy jobs but you can get a lot out of it. It will just depend on your state and hospital.

I for one love my job.
Billie

[rdnkmom]

I will respect every single nurse aide that has my patients as an equal. I've been a nurse aide for years before becoming an LVN so I know what it's like. This will happen until they have lost my respect by not taking care of the patients properly, ignoring the basic things you need them to do, disappearing outside ever 10 min leaving rsdts that have self abuse and dangerous behaviors unattended, sitting down reading a book for an hour but complaining that they do not have time to give someone a bath that obviously needs it.

A great Nurse Aide takes pride in her work, cares about the folks she/he is taking care of and respects his/her coworkers (including the CN)

And a great CN does the same (including the NA)

hope that doesn't sound like i'm ranting or anything...thats just the way I see it. It takes special people to take care of others like babies, and then go home to take care of their own families. To me good NA's are the backbone of the nursing staff because they spend 90% more time with the rsdt and definately knows when something isn't right with them. When they say something is wrong, you better listen to them and check it out. They are advocating for THEIR pt.

[imsewperfect]

I am in Dallas area and I recently got my CNA in April of this year. I spent all summer sending in resumes through the computer with no luck. I got lucky and got a job at a specialty hospital in our area in July, I am finishing up my training this week.

The only way I got this job was because I met a nurse who worked here and she bugged her boss to call me. It took three months of her bugging her team leader to finally get an interview.

I am telling you this, so you know that you need to network in order to get a job in a hospital in Dallas/Ft. Worth area as a CNA.

I love it here so far, they trained me to take blood and remove Foleys among other things.

Good Luck

[Faeriewand]

This thread has been so informative for me. I've just registered for the first class to become a CNA and if all goes on schedule will be able to work as a CNA next summer. At first I thought this thread was depressing, maybe I didn't want to be a CNA! but as I kept reading I felt better about my decision.

And you know how competetive the nursing schools are right? Well I had to get up at 7am and get down to the school to register as quickly as I could for this first class to go on to CNA and sure enough everyone was there ahead of me. People had been waiting at the gate since 3am! I was the next to the last person to get in that class. You see for the LVN program here it is a requirement that you are a licensed CNA.

[onesmallspark]

Originally Posted by imsewperfect

I am in Dallas area and I recently got my CNA in April of this year. I spent all summer sending in resumes through the computer with no luck. I got lucky and got a job at a specialty hospital in our area in July, I am finishing up my training this week.

The only way I got this job was because I met a nurse who worked here and she bugged her boss to call me. It took three months of her bugging her team leader to finally get an interview.

I am telling you this, so you know that you need to network in order to get a job in a hospital in Dallas/Ft. Worth area as a CNA.

I love it here so far, they trained me to take blood and remove Foleys among other things.

Good Luck

Yeah - I've heard that. *sigh* It's depressing. I've been looking in the paper and on hospital websites and it seems like they all (even LTC and assisted living) want experience of at least 3 months. Where are we supposed to get experience if no one will hire us without experience??? Sheesh!

I have to echo Faeriewand's comment - this thread has been EXTREMELY informative for me (which of course was it's original intent) and I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has posted and to those who will post in the future!

[Cute_CNA]

Originally Posted by Gaylord Focker

Let me tell you a little story.

Once upon a time, I was a middle management “big-shot” that jetted to Germany, Japan, and all over the US for a large automobile manufacturer. I liked my job for the most part, and did it well. I was in charge of multi-million dollar projects. I oversaw everything from the basic design of the equipment, to setting it on the floor and getting it up and running. I did this for 15 years, and thought I was “doing my part”. I thought it was a satisfying job for the most part.

I decided to quit for several reasons, 1- I was burnt out, and 2 I had always been intrigued about nursing. So I up and quit and am in my final week of Nursing Assistant training. I’ll be a sophomore in a BSN program this fall.

My very first day in clinicals utterly negated the last 15 years of my life (in a good way).

My first resident was a frail elderly man that needed to be fed. He was on a pureed diet with thickened liquid, and I was REAL nervous because I had never done anything like this before.

When I walked in the room I could tell right away that his bed was soiled, he had slid waaay down in bed, and the air conditioner was blowing directly on his exposed skin—in short; he looked miserable (and a little neglected).

I spent the next two hours doing almost every “skill” that we had just learned in class: occupied bed change, peri-care, catheter-care, feeding, mouth-care (with dentures), shaving, and bed-bath. I found stage two decubitus ulcers on his heels and sacrum and reported it to the charge nurse.

He seemed to be somewhat confused the whole time I was helping him, but when it was all said and done, he used his good hand to grab mine, and just looked at me…

He could not verbalize much at all, but he didn’t need to. His face was utterly beaming. I knew right then and there that I had made the right decision to quit my old job and get into nursing.

Those two hours helping that man were more rewarding than the entire collective 15 years at my previous job, and I am not exaggerating one bit.

The next resident cussed at me the whole time, and tried to hit me LOL. Oh well.

I think it's wonderful that you find it so fulfilling. Good luck on your becoming a CNA. Think you might become an RN? I think you have the right attitude. Go for it!

Originally Posted by onesmallspark

Where are we supposed to get experience if no one will hire us without experience??? Sheesh!

Tell me about it! It's not just in nursing! Maybe you could do some volunteering first? Do some searches online. Call us some of your local hospitals (don't call 911 or the ER, of course, ).

These might help:

http://www.google.com/local?hl=en&lr...39186813935052

http://www.google.com/local?hl=en&lr...91085023041045

http://www.google.com/local?hl=en&lr...14624534412369

http://dallas.about.com/od/healthcare/

[Ekklesia]

Originally Posted by Cute_CNA

I think it's wonderful that you find it so fulfilling. Good luck on your becoming a CNA. Think you might become an RN? I think you have the right attitude. Go for it!

Thanks! I'll be starting my sophomore year in a BSN program, and am very interested in becoming a nurse anesthetist.

[chadash]

About getting a job as a CNA in a hospital:
I have alway wondered what it takes to get a hospital job. I have been a CNA for 10 years in LTC and home health, and have often applied at local hospitals (there are several in my area, I live in a town with three universities nearby.) I have never once been called for an interview. I thought my age might be a factor, but have never figured it out. I would love the challenge of a more medical environment! Since I have been in LTC, I DO know how to work hard!