CNA Question's.

I can't help you with your question, but good luck! :)

Are/were any of you CNA's?

I start my CNA program on Valentines day. I won't be able to apply for the RN program until this fall and if I get in on the first shot it wont be until fall of 2007. It is not required at my school to be a CNA in order to be accepted for the nursing program, I just want the extra clinical experience.

So, for those of you that are/were CNA's, what is/was your job description and what type of a facility do/did you work in?

Also, I am taking A&P 1 and English this semester, plus I have to work 25-30 hours a week. Am I going to be overloaded? I mean I know it will be challenging but it can be done right?

A CNA usually does the personal patient care, like giving baths, combing hair, brushing teeth, toileting, dressing patients, making beds, ambulating patients, taking vitals, feeding patients, filling water , handing out snacks, observing and recording intake & out puts, and being the eyes and ears of the nurses and doctors. Many CNA's are employed in nursing homes , hospitals, and private homes.

I don't know if you will be overloaded taking A&P, English and working. If you think you can, you probably can.

Last quarter I took organic chemistry while working as a CNA about 24 hours a week and had no trouble juggling everything. The only problem I really had was that due to the fast pace of the job and the amount of physical activity, I'd often come home completely exhausted without any motivation to study. So... I would recommend you schedule time for yourself to study on your days off and not guarantee that you'll study when you get home, because I know I had trouble doing that.

Good luck to you! CNA can be a rewarding, if difficult, job. :)

I had to get my CNA before starting the nursing program, but I work as a CMA so my duties are different.

What I really would love to do is work in the ER. Are CNA's allowed to draw blood and insert folleys etc.... I'm pretty sure that Techs do them so I would assume the a CNA would be allowed to do them also??

I had to get my CNA before starting the nursing program, but I work as a CMA so my duties are different.

What is a CMA? A Medical Asst?

What I really would love to do is work in the ER. Are CNA's allowed to draw blood and insert folleys etc.... I'm pretty sure that Techs do them so I would assume the a CNA would be allowed to do them also??

CNA's aren't allowed in the state of Iowa (d/t out of the scope of practice) I'm curious now, if other states allow non licensed personel to do foley's & blood draws?

To All Future Nurses:

:) Welcome to the All Nurses Forums

and wishing you the best in all of your Nursing career :)

A Returning Student :Melody:

Angels’

"Footsteps In The Sand"

I work in assisted living, the job duties are simular to that of a nursing home, but quite a bit different in quite a few aspects. This is my job description according to my resume:

Help to provide residents a safe, home-like environment

Assist residents with personal care, while promoting independence

Observe and report changes to licensed nurses

Check resident’s vital signs

Assist with medication administration and treatments as delegated by an RN

Light housekeeping

I work under the title of home health aide, and so with extra training I am allowed to do certian things. In my state there is a bit of a clause for home health aides that they can do extra things as trained.

What a CNA can do depends on the state and the facility. In some hospitals CNAs are trained to draw blood of insert catheters. One of my instructors for my CNA course said that sometimes in home care CNA/HHAs will be taught to instert clean catheters.

Just want to wish you the best!

What is a CMA? A Medical Asst?

Yes, certified medical assistant :)

CNA's aren't allowed in the state of Iowa (d/t out of the scope of practice) I'm curious now, if other states allow non licensed personel to do foley's & blood draws?

Some hospitals train CNA's here to do those types of things. They must be a " specialized CNA" or something.