Calling All CNA's!

Published

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.

:welcome: Happy Posting!

Hi!

I am an LNA for NH and a CNA for Mass. I work on the rehab unit. I love my job! I work with a great. We have our good days just as well as our bad. I am trying to get my high school chem. and biology for nursing school.

I have never heard of a self paced LPN class. Where do you take classes and is it in CT? I would be interested in that. Thanks April

hello all~

i became a cna in 2002. i did some private duty and worked for an agency. i applied to hospitals in hopes to work in a hospital setting and go to college and get tuition rembursments. unfortunatley it didn't work out that way. i feel like the money i spent for cna course was a waste of money. the hours i had were rediculous 2 hours here and there. i was lucky if i had more than 10 hours a week. i want to go to college for nursing. i have no idea what i have to do to get there. i am 27 years old and feel like i am lost and have no clue. can anyone help with the steps of enrolling, course selections, tuition, types of nursing (maturnity, pediatric is what i am interested in). i need to go @ night.

Hi Nadeen,

Boy, can I relate to your post! At 51, I've found I want nothing more than to be in health care. It makes me cry just to think about it, I want it so much. I want to start out by getting my CNA certificate and working in a wonderful nursing home near my home (if they hire me). Then, if I can, I'd like to go further in my education and see where that might lead.

Does that sound crazy, well, this is even crazier!...I've recently had total knee replacement (TKR) on my right knee and am anticipating having my left knee done also. I'm embarrassed to have those already in health care think that I could possibly do the work that they are doing, but I have this desire...and I've got to go for it!

Big congrats! on your getting your certificate. That is magnificent!! I know you will touch many lives with your loving and caring heart that shows.

~ Cathy

I am a South Carolina CNA. I failed the Skills portion, retook it 11/01/08, and passed. This is great because I already had a hospital Tech position, and you are given 3 months to get certified, otherwise you lose your job. 11/28/08 would have been my 3 months!! I work on a med/surg floor so I feel safe in saying that I have seen just about EVERYTHING and then some. At first, I was SO scared of having to work with someone with AIDS, but I soon learned that next to MRSA and airborne viruses, AIDS is nothing! I like the job, although I do get irritated with patients who don't appreciate my services and (try) to treat me like a servant. It's too much work not to assert yourself so I do not let them boss me around, but I do provide quality care. I am supposed to be starting nursing clinicals in the spring of '09, but I have been having 2nd and 3rd thoughts about it.

My name is Shawna, I am in Utah and have been a cna for over a year, working for a home health and hospice agency. I absolutely love my job and think that the experiences gained as a CNA are very valuable. I started out as a CNA to see if I really was interested in a career in health care....well, I am hooked! I have been working on nursing pre reqs for a little over a year and am looking forward to applying to nursing programs at the end of spring semester. Wish me luck! :)

Does anyone know of any nursing homes in san diego ,ca that offer cna training ?

Specializes in interventional cardiology.

Hi, my name is Reuben.

I'm a 29-year-old husband and father in Portland, Maine. I want to become an RN, and am currently applying to a few programs.

In the meantime I am trying to get into a CNA training program at a local hospital. I interview for it next week.

I'm pleased to be here on allnurses.

Hi...my name is Anna, 53yo and I've been a CNA for all of 3 days...LOL I live in a little town in southwest MO near Joplin and have been working in a LTC facility for almost 3 months on 2nd shift, 2-10. I love my job and almost all of our 68 residents.

We just moved here about 6 months ago and I learned that the LTC would send me to CNA class so I was very excited that I would finally get to be a "nurse" even if just a CNA. Then I learned that the facility would pay my way to go further so next fall I'm headed for LPN and then later for RN.

I've wanted to be a nurse since I was about 10yo. Started NS in 1974, had to quit after 3 months. Got married, started LPN school and he made me quit. After I married my second husband I got certified as an EMT Basic for our local volunteer FD (about 15 years ago) so I thot that was a close to nursing as I was going to get. I didn't get to work much as an EMT because my back acted up and they wouldn't even let me drive the ambulance...cry,cry....they said I would get out and help...LOL

Hi. I have been a CNA/phlebotomist for 15+yrs. I currently work in an counseling and guidence (Outpatient Mental Health Clinic.). Obtiang VS and other various tasks.

I have worked LTC,Sub-accute care, Rehab, & ICU. I have also done on-site random drug testing, breath alcohol testing, PFFT's and lab draws for construction crews and truck drivers.

The role of a CNA is very diverse and there are alot of opprutunities available besides LTC and hosp. You just have to find them.

I enjoy my job and someday hope to be either and clinic nurse, industrial nurse or a public health nurse.

I got my CNA certification in high school back in '95, but let it lapse because I wasn't using it. I just renewed it last weekend because I am doing pre-req's to get into the local community college's RN program. I retook the test on Saturday and had a job offer on Tuesday. I'll be starting at an LTC working a double one day a week as soon as I schedule orientation. I'm also keeping my FT job as a secretary until I get into nursing school then I'm going to try to go FT as a CNA. I love healthcare and can't wait to get back into direct patient care!

My husband told a friend of his who was an RN but had to resign b/c of a medical issue that I was going through a CNA program and he said the RN's where he worked called all the CNA's underpaid glorified butt-wipers! I was so mad!!! I can't wait to be a CNA I start training later this month!!! and I know that I will be helping people!

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