Calling All CNA's!

koulett · Aug 7, 2006

I am a LPN..and sometimes I feel that it's us who are the assistants and the "CNA' is actually the nurse. Why? Because CNA's are the ones at the :balloons: forefront..doing..seeing..experiencing precious moments of caring firsthand and without them nurses jobs would be alot harder.I LOVE CNA's..when you have a good one who really cares..they are worth triple their weight in gold!:balloons:

RAD72 · Aug 7, 2006

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!

I started out as a CNA in 1993 working from home health to step down ICU. I later became an LPN and am currently finishing up my 4th semester in an RN program. I truly believe that being a CNA first has definately helped me in my career. I know the responsibilities and what is expected of each dicipline. Wheather your title is RN, LPN or CNA each position has something unique to bring to the table. I am glad I have my experience as a nursing assistant and encourage anyone who's thinking of nursing as a profession to consider becoming a CNA first. CNA's make exceptional nurses and are the backbone of nursing. Thank you:)

AngelCNA · Aug 7, 2006

Hi! I'm Carla and I have been a CNA for one year now and have been employed at a LTC Retirement Community for one year. I love where I work! The residents are terrific, my co-workers are some of the best people I have ever worked with! However, it is a physically and emotionally demanding job. At our facility we do Home Care for apartments, duplexes and condos, plus we have a Dementia Unit, and an intermediate care facility (HCC). Our facility triess to encourage "culture change" in LTC. We are currently building an "End of Life" team that I have voluteered to help with. I can't wait until we get that up and going!

I am also a student in pre-nursing doing pre-requisites. I plan to go for an LPN and then the RN down the road.

I think it's a great thing to have this site!

Thanks!

ancient one · Aug 7, 2006

Hello to all CNA's

I have just began working as a CNA while attending nursing school for the LPN. just let me say this, that each and everyone of you out there I take my hat off to you, the CNA's are an incredible person with a warm heart. it is a very taxing job on the body, and highly underpaid. there are many out there that give a great deal of themsleves but also a few that should not be out there that are rough on the elderly an lack of patience also. yet I fully believe that God sent THOSE that care. With out you on the floors the nursing staff would not be able to accomplish there goals thank you all form the nurses and the up coming nursing. I started nursing school a little late in life I am 45 and will be truly happy when finished. keep you goals high and your spirt strong.

catnip · Aug 7, 2006

Hello, ive been a aide for over 6 years and will hopefully be graduating with my ADN in May. I love my job and my co-workers but as a warning to all who will be starting school soon, the summer before you graduate will be the hardest and most frustrating to work as an aide, you will know what needs to be done for your pts and you will know how to do it, but by law you cant, and that will drive you nuts, i wish someone had warned me about this as i have been particularly stressed this summer. I blame my take charge attitude . All in all i have to say that my job has been a wonderful help in school as well as helping me grow as a person. I look forward to seeing everyones posts and I wish everyone the best of luck this fall!:penguin:

Geordi486 · Aug 7, 2006

I just started as a CNA in a LTC on the 12th of July, before that I worked as a HHA for 3 years. I just finished with my RN-BSN the 26th of June and am now waiting to take my Nclex. Once I have my liscense my CNA job will roll over into a being a wing nurse. I figured it was a good way to learn the facility and residents.

Rashandap · Aug 7, 2006

Well I am not a CNA, but there are several clinical days when if it wasn't for the CNAs helping me I would have gone nuts. Many times the CNA was more of resource than the nurses on the floor.

So to all CNAs (or care partners, or nurse aides) keep up the good work, most units would fall apart without you.

10ACGIRL · Aug 7, 2006

Sweety,welcome. I do think that you will enjoy being on this forum for CNA's, I'm a CNA buy just can't find a job opening right now cuz' no one is hiring CNA's at all where I live not hospitals,ALF's,Nursing Homes, you name it. I wanna work ata the hospital where my husband works here in Macon,Georgia so we can be close(2 keep an eye on each other) to enjoy breaks with.

cuddlesrose · Aug 8, 2006

Hey one and all Im Lorrie from MT. Been a CNA for 5.5 yrs and am starting 2nd yr of nursing school. Hope to see some helpful hints as to how to deal with certain situations. Good luck to all hope to hear from you soon. [EVIL][/EVIL]

Snow1278, RN · Aug 8, 2006

I have been a CNA for 8 years now. I graduate in March 07 with my ADN. The last 7 years I have worked with Alzheimer's patients and that has been wonderful. I think working as an aide has made nursing school easier clinically. I was not afraid to go in to a patient's room and say hi and introduce myself or give a bed bath. I think being an aide was a great tool for me going into school. GOOD LUCK to everyone!!:typing

DarciaMoonz, LPN · Aug 8, 2006

hiya all

i am a cna/spn from ct. i have been a cna since 1997 and have worked in many different settings. i enjoy my work and have decided to take it one step further and become a nurse. i am very greatful to have experienced being a cna first before going into nursing because i think it will make me a better nurse by having done the work that my peers have. the only thing i don't like about being a cna is that some people both professional and lay persons, think i am a slave or a nobody. what i love most about my job, is the conversation and appreciation i get from the people i have helped, whether it is a verbal thank you or a nod, it makes me happy:d . i am also greatful for the nurses who show empathy, and compassion for us. so i would like to shout out all of my peeps near and far who are doing, are going to become, who are understanding, and who are moving on in the medical field:w00t: :w00t:

angelbaby82 · Aug 8, 2006

hi my name is pam and i worked as a cna for 22yrs. i love the work but my health has got so bad i had to stop working and im trying to get my disabilitiy so far i have been off work for 3 yrs. i miss it so much.i have a good husband who makes my living for me thank god!!