CNA's in school

Just Angi · Oct 14, 2002

No. In SC you do not have to be a CNA first. But, a lot of the people I have spoke with recommend it.

Vsummer1 · Oct 14, 2002

I am in an RN program, with no CNA experience. The CNA's are running circles around me! They know so much more than I do as far as the hands on go. I am considering applying for a job myself in order to advance my own skills, and wish that I had done so before!!

cna on her way · Oct 14, 2002

May I suggest that if you decide to take a position as a CNA that you try to find one at a hospital. Not that the job is better or worse (I've worked at nursing homes too) but the experience you receive is so much more beneficial to you. I've not even started nursing school yet but I have already been trained to insert catheders, do glucose testing, so sterile dressing changes, change IV dressing sites, pick up blood from the blood bank, and I've had the opportunity to learn about so many diseases and treatments. For a year I worked on the Oncology/Renal(dialysis) floor. So I learned all about hemodialysis, periteneal dialysis, shunt thrombectomies and the causes of renal failures and renal insufficiencies. And on the other end I have become familiar with so many different typesof cancers, the progressions, how they metastasize, and the different types of chemotherapies tha are offered. We are actually one of the few local hospitals that do in house chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Now I am on the Pediatric, GYN floor and its a whole new learning experience for me all over. I love the ped unit!!

Ortho_RN · Oct 14, 2002

I agree with CNA on her way :) Try to get at a hospital.... I am not saying anything bad about LTC, but you learn soooooo much more at a hospital... I started as a PCA (same as CNA) after I finished my first semester, and I really wish I would have been a PCA before I started nursing school... It would have made Nursing 1, so much less stressful.. I am so comfortable dealing with patients now, whereas first semester I was a nervous wreck at clinicals... Bathing someone, cleaning someone after they poop on themselves is nothing anymore... (smells still get to me occasionally), but I am so comfortable with those basic skills.... So I highly encourage anyone who can become a CNA to do so...

Good Luck to you all..

Just Angi · Oct 14, 2002

Thanks Everyone! I'm going to check my options tomorrow.

FRN24 · Oct 17, 2002

Not in any way insulting all nurses, but I've noticed in the last four years that I've worked as a nurse assistant and now a patient care tech, R.N.'s who were never nurse assistants don't understand the amount of work that assistants are asked to do! Usually, as an aide, you can get anywhere from 6-12 patients at a time. (Typically, 10-12) Night shift aides sometimes get a whole floor! Anyway, trying to assist with 12 patient's ADL's on top of making 12 beds, monitoring twelve patients I & O's, etc. is pretty hard! I know there's a shortage of nurses right now, and at some hospitals nurses are taking a dangerous work load. But, typically nurses who were aides first tend to help out when they can, and don't ask you to do EVERYTHING! Just my opinion!

Just Angi · Oct 17, 2002

Thaks for the insight!

cna on her way · Oct 17, 2002

Originally posted by FRN24
Not in any way insulting all nurses, but I've noticed in the last four years that I've worked as a nurse assistant and now a patient care tech, R.N.'s who were never nurse assistants don't understand the amount of work that assistants are asked to do! Usually, as an aide, you can get anywhere from 6-12 patients at a time. (Typically, 10-12) Night shift aides sometimes get a whole floor! Anyway, trying to assist with 12 patient's ADL's on top of making 12 beds, monitoring twelve patients I & O's, etc. is pretty hard! I know there's a shortage of nurses right now, and at some hospitals nurses are taking a dangerous work load. But, typically nurses who were aides first tend to help out when they can, and don't ask you to do EVERYTHING! Just my opinion!

Don't I know!! I have worked with some of the most exceptional nurses out there including my asst nurse mngr who woul break her back to help her cna. And I have worked with someof the lasiest nurses ever. I work third so the workload for nurses tends to be a little lighter and not so stressful, but I have had a nurse literally tell me that she went to school to be a nurse, not a cna and that wiping butts wasn't her job. Of course she went right out of high school into nursing school and never had the pleasure of being an assistant taking care of 15 patients and assisting 3 different nurses a night!! Most nurses who have been an assistant first will help you anyway they can because they have been on the bottom end of the food chain!! Christy