CNA - worries

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I am about to start my CNA course here in a couple of weeks and honestly don't know what to actually expect while in it. I eventually want to be an RN, and hope that this will give me a bit of the experiences that I will need.

Does anywone have some tips? Any would be helpful. To add to my worries I am a guy, and for some reason that adds to my fears of success in this field.

Also I just started working for a non-medical at home care agency, and was wondering if this actually helps my cause in the medical field. I know that most hosptals will not take a CNA directly after the courses (they require some experience), and I'm not sure if my employment with the agency would count as such.

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Well, first of all, I'll tell you that being male will not in any way hinder you. In fact, you'll find that places LOVE having male CNAs - they aren't as common as female, and many patients will respond better to a male (some men are more comfortable being cared for by men, some little old ladies like having young men around to flirt with, haha).

As for tips, I will tell you that much of the CNA class is common sense. It's not difficult, but the biggest challenge is just memorizing each step for each procedure. These steps are really second nature when you start working, but for the sake of the class and test, you have to do things in a certain order and in a certain way.

I would advise you to make flashcards - one index card for each skill. On the back of each card, list each step. This will make it easy to study.

And, that agency experience can only help. It is usually easier to get hired as a new CNA in a nursing home than it is a hospital.

If you think of any specific questions, feel free to post them. People are very helpful here. :)

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I would say as a guy who is a CNA that being a guy doesn't necessarily hinder you, however (especially in a LTC or home health setting) you will have female patients who might be uncomfortable with a male CNA doing personal care. The important thing is to always remain professional and empathetic with your patients, you are less likely to have a problem with patients being uncomfortable with you due to your gender if you remain professional in your interactions with them but respect their wishes if they ask to have another CNA assist them. I will say that in general you will have fewer problems with patients being unruly or giving you trouble because you are a guy (and almost certainly you will have fewer male patients trying to hit on you then your average female CNA.) I can't stress how important it is to always remain professional when your in a patient care setting, you have to remember that your patients are entrusting you to assist them in activities that at one point they could do themselves, it is their most vulnerable times in their lives and they need you. If you are always giving your very best to your patients, then the will respect you for it. Good luck!

!Chris :specs:

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I would say as a guy who is a CNA that being a guy doesn't necessarily hinder you, however (especially in a LTC or home health setting) you will have female patients who might be uncomfortable with a male CNA doing personal care....

Thanks Chris,

I intend to keep a professional attitude with this career, I have kept it in everything I have done. Plus, I never want to hinder the care of any person that I tend to.

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Well, first of all, I'll tell you that being male will not in any way hinder you. In fact, you'll find that places LOVE having male CNAs -...

Thank you, thank you. I will indeed keep all of your advise in mind as I journey through this process. Don't worry either.. I am sure I will have many questions as I progress along.

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I think there is a high demand for male cnas. I know at the place I did clinicals many of the men would have preferred having another guy. Esp the married ones. They're laying there,their wife is visiting and here I come having to do some personal care. I felt so bad for them. And we had a few of the overly flirty ones, but there are days you want to deal with them and days you don't.

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You'll be fine. LTC is usually always hiring without experience. As a matter of fact, you'll most likely do clinicals in a LTC facility and you'll get a look-see.

Welcome and good luck!

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I think there is a high demand for male cnas. I know at the place I did clinicals many of the men would have preferred having another guy. Esp the married ones. They're laying there,their wife is visiting and here I come having to do some personal care. I felt so bad for them. And we had a few of the overly flirty ones, but there are days you want to deal with them and days you don't.

Thank you for your help. I was worried since it is said that I will be a minority (my school says they haven't had a male in the CNA course for quite some years now). But it sounds easier than some tasks I have undertaken.

thank you again

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You'll be fine. LTC is usually always hiring without experience. As a matter of fact, you'll most likely do clinicals in a LTC facility and you'll get a look-see.

Welcome and good luck!

Thanks. Listening to places tell me that I would need to have experience before I could be hired had me rather worried about where i could get that experience.. Thank you, for your greetings and confidence.

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ITS MORE MEMORIZING THEN ANYTHING....KNW YOUR STEPS AND HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE PATIENT..AND YOU'LL BE FINE....hands on experience is way better than lecture/theory....you'll be fine, just keep in mind that some older ladies dont like having a male cna, preference wise, their not comfortable with it....so its good to ask before dealing with your patient. good luck.

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ITS MORE MEMORIZING THEN ANYTHING....KNW YOUR STEPS AND HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE PATIENT..AND YOU'LL BE FINE....hands on experience is way better than lecture/theory....you'll be fine, just keep in mind that some older ladies dont like having a male cna, preference wise, their not comfortable with it....so its good to ask before dealing with your patient. good luck.

Thank you. I understand that the comfort of the patient is paramount, and i would hate to be a negative factor in that area. As far as memorization, that shouldn't be much of a problem. My mind has a habit of doing that, even when I had no intention of doing such. Again I thank you for the help.

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most people pass up being a cna and go onto bigger things (which is fine). But its always good to know where you came from, cna's are the core essential to LTC facilities, and being a male is definiteley a plus. Good luck

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