Advice for new CNA student?

mamabear1 · May 11, 2016

Good luck Melissa! I was brand new to the health care field last summer when I took CNA classes. I would suggest looking on youtube. They have videos for just about every skill you will learn!

TheNurseStudentMom · May 12, 2016

I took classes part time from October to February. There wasn't much to study. I didn't study between classes, for exams or for the state test. I did, between the written and the skills portions of the test, review my state's candidate handbook. I would day just wait until class starts. The hardest part is learning the skills and even that wasn't too difficult. Good luck!

steelydan · May 13, 2016

The clinical side will get better with time. Try not to get confused or frustrated with the book/school side with how to do things. It's easier and faster to watch other people do a skill on youtube or in class or clinical and copy them. Monkey see, monkey do. Have the mindset that you'll learn how to do things you're uncomfortable with, and fake it 'til you make it. Good luck!

EbonyWaltonEl · May 16, 2016

Research the job. Go to bls.gov and type in nursing assistant. Know what you are expected to do and know the pay rate. You can do the same for your future nursing positions too for motivation to keep going. I feel like a lot of my classmates didn't know what we were signing up for and was surprised by the poop, urine, lifting and transferring of patients when we got to clinicals. Read your book!! Having the book in your head during clinicals helps you out when you may need to figure out how to most effectively handle a position. It's not a difficult course, but actually study to make yourself the best CNA you can be! Maintain yourself and don't get caught up in the gossip and cliques.... good advice for whatever industry you go into and for future nursing school. I never expected so much drama in the nursing field especially a CNA course, but the pettiness goes there. ESPECIALLY if someone else thinks their classmate isn't pulling their weight. Have an extra pair of scrubs in your car... you never know what will land on your (white) uniforms. Don't be afraid to ask questions! This is the time to ask all of your questions. BODY MECHANICS AND TEAMWORK!! Be professional, but don't be afraid to join drama free classmates when going out to lunch. Those people might end up being your nursing family for the rest of the course. I have a love of scrubs with pockets galore! T-shirt needs pockets on the bottom and a pocket on the chest. Pants need pockets all down my leg lol. Stay in uniform and remove acrylic nails. Go polish free for your hands if you're being really smart or keep the manicure updated. I can't imagine having chipped polish and the germs harbored there. Invest in hand sanitizer and place it everywhere!! lol BE COMPASSIONATE, SMART AND AWARE at all times. I haven't had a combative patient, but my classmates have. I haven't had poop or urine on my face, but my classmates have. If you were contacts keep your glasses in the car! One girl had urine splash on her and her contact flipped and idk, but she now wears her classes everywhere. I'd start exercising more. Strengthen core and upper body cuz turning patients is no joke. Payless has good non skid black and white options for shoes if you need them for about $30. It really is a common sense class at the basic level, but you want be more than average so, just study, be punctual and keep my tips in mind. Best wishes!!

funtimes · May 17, 2016

CNA school is easy, working as a CNA is hard. I know icu nurses that admit they didn't last a month as a CNA in a nursing home.

I still consider it the hardest job in Healthcare I've done, and I work as a Respiratory Therapist now.

I think it should be a pre req for ALL nursing programs. Nursing school doesn't take CNA skills seriously, some of the instructors arent even proficient in those skills and you wind up with substandard nurses that think they are too good to do a lot of the patient care.