Cna student w/ learning disability

[gypsysoul847]

I am 28 years old and I will be starting CNA school in two weeks. I am so nervous its not even funny. I just want to know whst to expect and is it possible for someone like myself who is shy and who has trouble with math. Is there alot of things i have to do in front of everyone? What if i dont know how to do math on the spot for the pulses? I am just very nervous about getting made fun of or being so scared ill quit. Please help.

[dixieyid305]

I have a learning disability and I'm learning what works for me !! We live and learn ! I count pulses on and use I use my fingers to count if possible or count for one min..

[Missingyou, CNA]

There will be mostly reading and paying attention in class.

You will eventually be learning skills and will have to practice them on probably dummies or maybe on each other. By then, you will have been able to get to know your class mates and will be more comfortable with them.

When I took my class, we didn't have to do anything in front of the class. No presentations, etc. The instructor may call on you to answer a question or to give an opinion, in which case, if you pay attention and only look at the instructor and not your classmates it will be less intimidating.

The last week or so of classes, you will be going into "clinical" where you will practice the skills you learned in class on actual patients. You will probably be paired up with another student and the instructor will be nearby to answer any questions. You will not be allowed to transfer a patient without the instructor present to watch you.

The class is fairly easy (in my opinion) and other than taking a pulse or blood pressure, there isn't any math. Depending on the state you live in, it is likely that you will be using a digital blood pressure cuff that does the counting for you!...including the pulse...all you need to know is how to apply it properly..

Relax and don't worry about being made fun of. You will all be adults in this class! It's not going to be high school all over again. If you are made fun of for anything, you can believe that person laughing at you is being very juvenile. Feel free to view them as such, they won't succeed in the adult world, feel sorry for them rather than letting them get the best of you. (really tho, I seriously doubt there will be anyone making fun of you, so relax).

If there is anything that you don't know how to do when called upon by the instructor, not a big deal, you are there to learn! Simply say you aren't sure, you will be given instruction.

Focus on getting everything you can out of the class and learning and spend less time worrying how you will appear to others because in the end, they aren't looking at you! They are nervous too and are trying to learn.

You got this!!!!