Brand New....and Nervous

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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Hey everybody, so im about to start a cna course on monday and i have no idea what im getting myself into. im kinda nervous. My boyfriend works in a hospital and his position is a CA Sitter, but basically i think he does the jobs of a cna. He feed and cleans the patient, gets him ready for bed. I dont really have experience with taking care of people. But i really think this would be a good job for me, I am very caring, and i do like a challenge. So does anyone have any advice for me getting staring, warnings...thanks .

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Specializes in Derm/Wound Care/OP Surgery/LTC.

It's been a LONG time since I was a CNA...but I can tell you this. You seem to have the right idea. You need to be a caring and supportive person to do your job. You also need a lot of patience. Somedays are going to seem overwhelming and you wonder how you are going to get through them. You will. There will be some not so nice nurses that you think are out to get you. They aren't. They are just as stressed as you are.

Go take that course knowing you are going to make a patient very happy and at ease. The course is not easy but the job can be very fulfilling.

Hope that helps...and good luck!

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thanks! one problem i do have is that i cry very easily. Im just a sensitive person. And I dont want to cry on the job and have people not take me seriously. I do know that dealing with elderly people can be frustrating because they can come off so mean sometimes but i guess all I can do is take one day at a time.

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Specializes in Derm/Wound Care/OP Surgery/LTC.

Sensitivity is a wonderful quality! Don't worry about the patients making you cry...most of the elderly are just very misunderstood. They are set in their ways and like things done a certain way. Most just want to hold a hand or have someone to listen to them.

You're going to be okay. (You have the same name as my grandaughter...so it caught my eye!)

Keep us posted!

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Congrats on getting in! Don't let the class scare you. It is a lot of information in a short amount of time, but I found the class was only touching on the basics. You are going to do fine.

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I start on Monday too! Where are you taking your class?

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Specializes in LTC.

It's not the elderly you have to worry about. When they say mean things your coworkers will be there to sympathize or joke about it with you. Speaking as another sensitive person, certain CNAs and nurses who act like jerks bother me way more than any of the residents.

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Im doing it in New York...A boces program.

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab, CCU, Alzheimers, Med-Surg.

My CNA instructor told us that anybody can be a CNA, but it takes a special person to be a good CNA. That is really really true. You will work with lazy people, and you will work with amazing hard working people. If you can learn to laugh you will be fine. You will get yelled at, hit, peed on, etc., so you need to be able to keep a clear head.

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My boyfriend told me the same thing, keep a sense of humor and everything will be ok.

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