Waiting to get the on the Waiting list

sweetbeenie · Dec 11, 2007

I am still waiting as well, i have thought about getting into cna work but have decided not to so i can stay at home with my two children for a while longer. My husband is in the medical field and thinks it would be a waste of my time . Im not sure if thats the case , all i know is it sucks to just wait and wait! hang in there dude.

baldee · Dec 11, 2007

So I am doing pre nursing at a loca community college, and I can only take so many classes before I can go any further. While waiting to get added to the waiting list what are some classes to take after I finish my pre nursing certificate? I was considering going for my surgical tech dimploma, or maybe taking an EMT course but I just don't want to go wrong. I heard that next semester when I finish medical terminology that I could probably get some kind of nursing assistant job, but I dont know how much truth there is to that.
Any help would be excellent
Keith

Keith,

You are way ahead of me, and I plan to get CNA job before starting school. All you need to know is State test prep questions (here in FL any way) and how to wipe hineys (there is an art to it as pointed out from kind member on this site). I know that's an oversimplification of duties, but its a big one for CNA's to master quickly.

Once certified, look for your own opportunity rather than be 'handed' a profitable job for the school (and you are a secondary participant in contract). Keep up the good work!!

Music in My Heart · Jan 3, 2008

-----

love-d-OR · Jan 4, 2008

Baldee,

Why do I find your comments about CNA duties a bit insulting? CNA's dont only need to know how to "wipe henys." I think you might want to review the duties and functions of a CNA, because yours is not accurate. Performing incontinent and perineal care is not an art. I bet you could do it without training. Whats important, is the ability to recognise when the color or consistency of a bowel movement needs to be reported to the RN or LPN. There is much more to CNA's than what you think, trust me.

To the OP, I think you will benefit from getting into a CNA class and if you plan on getting into the ER as an RN, EMT will be invaluable. Its gonna give you an edge as an applicant and as a nursing student. Also, when you graduate it will help in finding a job.

Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2008

love-d-OR you are right working as a CNA is not as simple as it looks. Since you are the person who will be in and out of the patients room most of the day you must notice changes in the patients physical and mental state. You must also do vital signs and blood glucose and phlebotomy as well.

I would say be a CNA it will help you with people skills, body mechanics, how to turn and change a patient but it greatly helps in the understanding of hospital dynamics

baldee · Jan 5, 2008

But are you talking about an understanding 'after' you are an RN? If you don't yet have the course-work to understand the predominant-bottom-pecking-order duties, then how does that add to your understanding other than tangental trial-and-error observation effects: which may be 'student theorems' and not valid at all.

For example, I learned physical work effects of using a shovel for hours on a range of anthroprometric variable subjects. Having done that younger, all it did was permanently 'break' my back needlessly. The engineering education was too little (for my body, but not others), because it was too late.

Although not exactly a direct comparable observation, CNA is harder duties than most might expect in a hospital environment assembly lining unnatural postures routinely: where the weight of your limbs leveraged in unnatural skeletal stressed positions, become disabling tasks in the long run, down the line.

I'll do it, because I'm extremely durable (considering and so far, lol). But in some ways, the wiping hineys is the better jobs compared to washing overweight bedridden people unassisted, and or just reaching for objects constantly stretched AND bent over the patient.

But like nursing, there's a wide range of CNA job settings. I for one, and going to use feedback from experts on this site to help guide me to my initial position. WORK SMART, NOT HARD! :bugeyes:

love-d-OR · Jan 6, 2008

Where you educated or trained in shoveling? I doubt it. Is shoveling part of an engineers job? I doubt it. Your example does not apply.

I see you are on your way of becoming a CNA. So, I want to assume that you know what that training is all about. You dont get to know why a patient needs to void spontaneously after 8hrs of a foley catheter removal, but you know to report it to the nurse. You may learn the what but not the why. But this is when you as a future nurse ( pre - or nursing student) have to show assertiveness and willingness to learn. Ask why? ask how? Even some non-nursing CNA's are interested in knowing why the RN wants an orthostatic BP. The CNA knows how to do it, but may not know why its needed.

So my point, to you and other pre-nursing students is if you are able to go the CNA route at a HOSPITAL, go for it. But YOU have to make the job more than just wiping henys. Working as a CNA is not guaranteed to make you a perfect nurse, but it will definetly give you a bust.

Good luck guys!

geocachingRN · Sep 29, 2008

Phlebotomy is a good way into a hospital. Also, one of the best nurses in my nursing class is a CNA. She can so get through those ADLS like nobodies business, this really gave her a leg up in our first term. Also, it meant she didnt have to learn as many skills, she focused on learning meds.