CNA blunder!?...should have thought ahead!

[RKRobbins]

OK, I am due to graduate as an RN this December 16th (136 days away!) Well I had been a cna 1 for like 8yrs before I entered school here in NC.

So after I decided to stop working when I got into nursing school I let my cna 1 lapse.....which in hind sight would have been very helpful when going to work as an extern..but anyway I called NC registry.... was told since I had worked in the year that it lapsed ( almost a year in November) that I just get the RN to sign it off and send it in.

BUT...inside my nursing program we are given a chance to register as a cna 2 so I kept that paper work and my question is......since my cna 1 lapsed but I am eligible because of the skills received in school to be a cna 2 can I just submit that paper work? or do I have to re-instate the cna 1 first?

I tried to call the lady over the cna 2's but just got a voice mail so I didn't know if anyone had any experience or insight in to this.

My goal now is to go ahead and try to get on to the local hospital on the floor that I would eventually like to be an RN with an agreement to work as a cna until I graduate. I think that this would give me an excellent idea of the way the floor flows and the patients to expect. And yes I know I should have planned and foreseen the future error in my ways...but i was just trying to survive my first year in nursing school and working 40+ hrs/week, with a husband, daughter and a teacher who hated me!

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

Isn't that the pitts when a professor hates you ... I had one in my senior year. It came out of no where when this women was hired as an assist professor. She immediately took a real dislike to me and wasn't shy about showing it. She would embarrass me on numerous occasions; anyway, I just wanted to let you know that you're not the only one. Perhaps someone with knowledge about the CNA 2 will chime in. Good luck to you.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Good grief- how many "cna' labels are there in NC???? That's not a national thing !

[RKRobbins]

Too many titles!!!

It's silly I think but it's what we do here in crazy nc.

I hope someone has some insight about this, bc lord knows when I'll get a call back.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

You should be able to send in your paperwork for CNA II without worrying about your CNA I. That's what I did.

[nowim clean]

You have to keep your CNA 1 current to do CNA 2. I know cause mine cna 1 laspe so my cna 2 was no good an I had to drive to raliegh to renew my cna 1 so i could work that night. Its simple enough get your paper signed off by rn once cna 1 is updated then you can do the 2

[Thujone]

yep, it is state law to be obtain a state certification for CNA I other wise your CNA II certification means nothing because there is no state test for it.

[ObtundedRN, BSN, RN]

Good grief- how many "cna' labels are there in NC???? That's not a national thing !

There is just 2. The CNA2 can do a few more skills that a CNA1 can't. But, the board allows facilities to pick 4 CNA2 skills to train to their CNA1's. If you're going to work in a hospital, its almost pointless to get your CNA2. They pick whatever CNA2 skills that will actually get used, but even then you don't use those skills as often. At least not in my hospital/unit.

CNA2 Skills:

O2 setup/monitoring

Suctioning: oropharyngeal/nasopharngeal

Fecal disimpaction

Trach care

Sterile dressing change on wounds over 48 hours old

Wound irrigation

Ostomy care

IV fluid setup, monitoring flow rate, site care, dressing change, and discontinuation

Feeding through NG/OG tubes, PEG, PEJ, and removal of NG/OG tubes

And Insertion/irrigation of urinary catheters.

[RKRobbins]

I talked to the lady at ncbon......I have to have my CNA lisc. Signed off for the time I worked last yr, once they get that in the system then I can get my instructor to send in my CNA 2 lisc. Just thought I'd give an update incase anyone may need to know for future reference. :)