Welcome! I am the Moderator of the new CNA - Nursing Assistant Forum. I am also an RN who works in various health care settings. I have experience in Long Term Care, Home Health, and Hospital settings. I have been a Nurse since 1998 starting out as an ADN; I received my BSN in 2001.
I wish I had been a CNA prior to Nursing School; I know it would have helped tremendously. The jitters I encountered make me blush now. I remember not wanting to look at a wound for a new patient because I was "uncomfortable" lifting the covers and envading someones privacy! It is safe to say, "those days are over ;)"!
Please take a moment to introduce yourself. If you have time, grab your cup and tell us about yourself. Feel free to PM me if there are any concerns that are of a personal nature. Oherwise, post your conversations and questions here so we can all learn.
Hi my name is Angie, i am a NA student....just about to complete my class this month! what should i expect for my state exam? i am so nervous!
I think the best advice is to simply go through your notes. Reread and reread them until you know FOR SURE that you got it down. I remember there being vitals, positions (supine, etc.), resident care (how often do you turn a pt, incontinent care, pressure sore care, etc.), infectious process, word root (-algia means pain), medical terminology, def. of staff member responsibilities (for example "Can a CNA ever administer meds.?"). One I remember for a FACT was on the board test was "List four complications of restraint use" (answer: Numbness or tingling, change in skin color, change in body temp, swelling or complaints of pain). "List four alternatives to the use of restraints" (answer: Use special devices such as wedge cushions, place resident close to nurses station, pay close attention & address residents needs, and finally keep personal items within easy reach). These may seem odd but you must think that by addressing their needs, paying attention to them and placing things within reach lowers their risk for a fall, which is one of the main reasons for restraints.
I know there is a lot more & it all varies by state but I hope that I have been of help! GOOD LUCK!!
hi i'm sharon been cna for about 6 years. i work the noc shift. i feel i did not choose this line of work it was a calling. i am saying this because i really had no intentions of doing this. i cleaned at a college dorm for 13 years before i did this. i was going to apply for a cleaning position at a nursing home and decided on the spur of the moment to fill out an application for cna. the people i worked with were amazed how the residents with dimentia responded to me and how i responded to them. i have had co workers tell me i was gifted in the way i communicated with them. i love the satisfaction i get from this line of work. i don't think i ever want to go for rn or lpn because i like being close to the residents and don't feel i want to deal with the paperwork. there are two things i don't like about my job one is the fact i am over 50 and it is hard on my body and the other is when other cnas don't give residents or other co workers respect.
I'm new here! I'm currently finishing up my last week of clinicals in my certification program and hoping to begin work within the next two-three weeks. I got my first call back for an interview for a CNA job and hope to get that going as soon as possible. I will be taking my state boards in December, so wish me luck!
I don't plan on stopping at being a CNA; I will be beginning the RN program in fall 2007, and I'm very excited about that!
New here and about halfway through my CNA class. We've been very lucky to get a GREAT clinical site, with tons of stuff to do. After I save up enough money, I'm going to go into an LVN program
You feel like you are all alone until you start reading other replies and you realize you are not alone at all. I am a CNA student and should finish Dec 4th. This is a second career for me. I have always been in sales and I burned myself out. I realized it wasnt for me. I wanted to be a nurse since high school. Took calsses and everthing to prepare. i saw what it paid and said forget it. I stumbled on the CNA program and thought, let me see if this is what I still want to do. So far I really enjoy it. We are doing clinicals at a nursing home and some of the stuff we see there is unbelieveable.
I lucked out and I am a private duty aide part time to a woman paralized from the waist down. I do catheterize her and I just found out recently CNA's do not do that. Its not hard at all. The hardest part of the job is getting her pants on if that says anything. I use a hoyer lift to get her from the bed to the wheelchair and vice versa. There is another one built into the bathroom floor for use in the tub. I hope to start the LPN program in the fall of '07.
The only drawback and I am sure others have this problem is that you can really go into detail about your day to your partner or spouse, even friends. They all get bothered about the details LOL. So, I'm sure I'll be on here a lot more to vent about my bad days.
Hi everyone. Glad I found this great site. I have one more day of clinical on Monday then I graduate to be an CNA on Tues. After 30 days working at the Long Term Care Facility. I will take the state test to be an STNA, and after 90 days the company will pay for me to go to school and be an LPN, I only need to work there 1 day a week and go to school the rest. I'm really excited about making this career change. I love helping people, and I've been told by everyone that I will make a great nurse because I truly care about people and their feelings. I cried in the bathroom yesterday because the residents were being ignored, while food was being shoved in their mouths, but I love doing this, and I know that I can't change the world, but if I can help one person or more, then I've done a good job.
HI, I'm Staci. I was a CNA for 2 years (2000-2002), and then let my certification expire because we were being sent to Germany for 3 years. The Army changed their minds last minute and sent us to TX, then GA, then SC. I am "home" now and going to retest tomorrow. I'm actually here looking for study material to calm my nerves. Having worked 2 years as a CNA, I don't know why I am so nervous about my tests; pretty sure I know what I need to know.
I am what is called an RTW at the Glenwood Resource Center. I do the same job as a CNA, however GRC does not require a CNA to start they put you through a class called RTW class, which has been reviewed by Iowa Western and the board of nursing to meet the standards of a CNA. Anyway, I am currently going to get my RN and despite doing CNA work for the last two years I have to take a CNA course now. I also have my CMA, through an Iowa Western approved course given by GRC, however the testing is done by the Iowa State board of Nursing and Education. This CMA is only transferrable to ICF/MR facilities in Southwest Iowa. Also, a big stinker!! In case you didn'tknow that means Institutional Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded. I am looking forward to getting my RN, even though it is going to take 4 years!!
My name is Vera. I live in Shelby Township, Michigan. I am taking nursing pre req. courses, and need to earn some extra money. I would love to take a Nurse Assistant Training course, but I can not afford to pay $800.00. Do you all know of any other less expensive courses offered in Michigan? Thanks for your help!
My name is Krystle. I just finished my class in October and will take the test the end of November. I haven't had a job for 5 month so I'm looking forward to having something that gets me experience in the healthcare field. I want to be an RN one day. I'm scared about the testing day. I can do most things pretty well but I'm sure our tester knows we all get nervous. I would love to work in home health and hospice as a CNA. I'm glad I stumbled across this website. It's nice to meet all of you.
Hello all my name is Dionne I am a CNA/HHA. I have been a cna for 10 years and a hha for 4 yrs. I love working in the health field there are so many opportunites. I have worked in nursing homes , hospitals and my favorite hospice and home care. I have enrolled in school to begin my pre-reqs for the nursing program. I am considering nursing ,respiratory, or radiology. My mind will be made up by my second semester. I have recently took a position at my job as a unit secretary working on pt charts and puting in drs orders in. It is giving me a break from the floor. We all know that at times being a cna can be very very hard on you. I am glad to see a can board here.
I need help. Where I work there isn't an assignment sheet. I am working on trying to design one. What info should be put on the assignment sheet. Can anyone help me please.
TBird81
12 Posts
I think the best advice is to simply go through your notes. Reread and reread them until you know FOR SURE that you got it down. I remember there being vitals, positions (supine, etc.), resident care (how often do you turn a pt, incontinent care, pressure sore care, etc.), infectious process, word root (-algia means pain), medical terminology, def. of staff member responsibilities (for example "Can a CNA ever administer meds.?"). One I remember for a FACT was on the board test was "List four complications of restraint use" (answer: Numbness or tingling, change in skin color, change in body temp, swelling or complaints of pain). "List four alternatives to the use of restraints" (answer: Use special devices such as wedge cushions, place resident close to nurses station, pay close attention & address residents needs, and finally keep personal items within easy reach). These may seem odd but you must think that by addressing their needs, paying attention to them and placing things within reach lowers their risk for a fall, which is one of the main reasons for restraints.
I know there is a lot more & it all varies by state but I hope that I have been of help! GOOD LUCK!!