CNA class while 6-7 months pregnant?

[Lauren0106]

I have no idea what to expect out of my CNA class so I'm wondering if any ladies who've been through a CNA class would be able to tell me what to expect, and if you think while being 6 months going on 7 months pregnant I will be able to handle a CNA class. I talked with the instructor at my particular school in the Detroit area, via telephone and she said as long as my dr. said it was okay, then fine. But, I know the Red Cross says absolutely no. I don't want to risk hurting myself, but I would love to get my training over with. Help or advice anyone?

[Lauren0106]

Thank you ladies. I'm not too sure what I'll do because I have a few more weeks to decide, but I may just wait until after I have my daughter since it's not like I can start working as a CNA anyhow. I just wish I had taken this at the start of the year and had it over with :)

[Joyfull77]

There will always be a CNA class to take so waiting wouldn't be a bad idea...on the flip side however, there were pregnant girls in my CNA class that worked harder than most of the other people in my class during our clinicals!

[pfongk]

I was working full time up untill I was 8 months pregnant as an AIN which I'm pretty sure is the same as a CNA and the only restrictions I had were put on my by management due to a resident with a history of violence towards pregnant women.

[happy2learn]

There was a girl who was 6 months pregnant in my CNA class. Sweet as can be, but after the 2nd day, she started having contractions from walking around too much and attempting lifting. She had to go to the doc and get on some meds.

Also, one of the classes had dementia residents for their clinical. They had bruises from the resident hitting them.

Here's the issue, think about the partner you would be with. I would have been furious if I were paired with her in clinical. We were paired for a reason, so we could help each other out, especially in moving the residents. We never truly lifted because they mechanical lifts were used, But turning a 200lb immobile woman on her side is not easy and there needs to be 2 people. I would have been po'd if I had to do all the work by myself, or had to constantly run down to find the instructor or bug the aide to help. I know it sounds harsh, but she wasn't forced into the class.

She was lucky that she was paired with a stronger person who didn't mind doing all the work. And she was lucky our teacher was nice.

[casi, ASN, RN]

Just because a person is pregnant doesn't mean they'll leave all the work to someone else. I have worked with plenty of nurses and aides that are pregnant and do their jobs right up until their due date.

Please don't make broad generalizations that just because someone is pregnant they can't help lift 200lb patients.

I say if the OP wants to take the class and her doctor says it's okay with no restrictions that she should go for it.

[happy2learn]

Just because a person is pregnant doesn't mean they'll leave all the work to someone else. I have worked with plenty of nurses and aides that are pregnant and do their jobs right up until their due date.

Please don't make broad generalizations that just because someone is pregnant they can't help lift 200lb patients.

I say if the OP wants to take the class and her doctor says it's okay with no restrictions that she should go for it.

I'm not making a broad generalization. I used an example. Since when is an example a broad generalization? I said if I were paired with her, as in the girl in my class. I didn't say if I were paired with any pregnant person. Sure I wouldn't have a problem if the girl did attempt, but she didn't after that 2nd day.

The pregnant girl in my classes doc also had her on no restrictions. There are other factors that should be considered besides being on no restrictions.

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

In most cases, you should be absolutely fine. use precautions when lifting/transferring (of course, even non pregnant people should take precautions to protect their back).

Pregnancy is not an illness. Tons and tons of women work while pregnant. I was in nursing school while pregnant-class on my due date, clinicals hte day after. i worked as a labor and delivery nurse until I was 40.5 weeks pregnant, night shifts. both times, i never asked for (and gosh, never needed) special accomodations.

drink plenty of water. pee when you need to.

[Sally Lou]

We had a girl in my CNA class (at the red cross) who was 6 months pregnant. The Instructor told her that if she didn't feel comfortable doing any of the transfers or lifting to let her know.