This thread is for those of us who are enrolled in a CNA course right now, and/OR will be certified between March and April. Here is where we rant, network, and/or brag about the way our course (s) are going, our experiences finding a job after our course/internship is completed, and what our plans are for the future (Nursing school, etc.).
We started this topic in another thread, lets keep this going! :heartbeat
Here is a little YouTube humor for all of us potential CNA's. A typical day in the life of a Certified Nursing Assistant:
I am from new york. Where is your program located. Im looking for a cna program in New York.
Jade - where in NY? SerendipityWomYn and I are both in Queens but different schools -
I went to New York Medical Career Training Center in Flushing -
I am finished with my classes and internship, and just took my state exam there last week (still waiting for results)
I would give it an overall grade of B/B- I thought the instructor was very good, harsh but in a good way, you know?! (and then very nice after class! I think she gives you tough love to get you to study hard! it works!)
I did run into some frustrations though - for one I waited a long time for a state exam date (I was told that the state kept cancelling the exams?! not sure if this is the whole story) I put in my application the first week in January, and just had my exam last week 2/20. We were also told there would be a review session every Wed. afternoon, but, then when I finally got my exam date there were no review sessions anymore since the state was also giving exams on Weds. I was able to make it to two review sessions that I kinda had to sneak into, originally they told me I could go to 1 review session the day before my exam!
On the positive side, the price is good from what I hear, and I did look around before signing up. It was also helpful to have class in the same room as we had the exam, and practice on the same supplies that we then used for the exam. One plus for me was that it was very easy to get to, and had several times for classes, eve. weekends, nights. I took the night class. We also did 30 hours of internship at a local NH for people with MS, having the hands on experience was a big help, I think I won't be as intimidated now applying for jobs, and I found out that I can handle it!
Hi everyone! Day 2 was a lot easier :) The bad part: When we arrived to do AM care (which was around 9:15) all the towels were gone So hunting down one took a lot of time. Plus the resident was very weak & kept coughing up mucus & getting short of breath so that slowed us down even more. Then we went to another resident's room. She has dementia & is very combative. One of the CNA's came in to help us & she gave us some great advice: when dealing with difficult & time consuming patients, save them until the end. Get the less complicated ones out of the way & then deal with the difficult ones. Then we got to see how the hoya lift works(because the 2nd patient we dealt with is sort of heavy so the lift her into her chair with the lift) & that was really good experience too. Its one thing to see it on the video, but to see it in real life is a totally different thing. Then we helped them with their lunch. The lady I talked about yesterday didn't want to feed herself today I wasn't assigned to help her but someone else did . The lady I was supposed to help eat refused so we just brought her tray back. The director of nursing & some other people went to her room because they say she is now refusing to leave her room, be dressed, not taking meds,etc. After lunch we looked at charts & entered info on the residents we assisted today :) Tomorrow we are doing vital signs at the clinic on site so I think that will go well too. Also we're going to fill out our application for the Md.Board of Nursing!!! :balloons::w00t:
Specializes in 6 yrs LTC, 1 yr MedSurg, Wound Care.
I missed out on a couple of days and come back with twice as many pages of posts! Sounds like everyone is doing well!
My class starts this coming Monday. FINALLY! I'm a little anxious because I was able to get a grant through my tribe (I'm Native American) and I haven't gotten the ok yet-therefore my class isn't paid for. I should find something out in a day or two though. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
I'm so excited I went and bought a new backpack/messenger bag, new pens, a notebook, etc. I'm all set with nowhere to go. Counting down the days...
I saw my first dead patient today It was sort of eerie but I guess it won't be so bad once I see another one. The body was cleaned & the window was opened so that he'd be preserved until his family came to see him. He was a hospice patient & the family was with him the whole night before .
Anyways we also worked on our licensing information, so now I gotta go up to the BON & present it along with my background check & fingerprint info. I'll probably do that next week :) Anyways we're having a little graduation party on Friday & tomorrow will be our last full day at the nursing home :) Its been a great four weeks!
I had my first clinical today and i have to admit - it was shocking! It was only a tour of the facility - we did not do anything except the tour and informally meet some of the residents - but it was just such a sad place. The residents seemed so lost and displaced. I am sure I will get used to it, but it was much different than I expected. I think that I had expected a more "clinical" hospital-like enviorment, and this seemed more along the lines of hospice like care. I hope that once we get into the swing of things and actually preform skills, I will acclimate - so we will see!
Anyone else experience a similar sentiment on their first clinical?
Well I'm done with clinicals. I had an excellent experience. The CNAs I worked with were great. I worked on the skilled floor of the nursing home and got to know most of the residents on that floor over the 3 days I was there. I'm going to miss them.
I really enjoyed working in the nursing home so much more than I thought I would.
We gave lots of bed baths every day, dressed the residents, did their hair. I got to feed one patient. Passed out ice and food trays. I did one bedpan, it wasn't that bad. I helped clean up several residents when we didn't get them the bedpan soon enough. I gave one shower. Observed a catheter change. Ambulated patients. Made occupied and unoccupied beds. Overall it was a well rounded clinical experience.
For the most part, the patients were all good. There was one that was mean to everyone but I had her smiling so I'm going to say that I won her over. She may have turned on me the next time I saw her but my last memory was her smiling.
So I'm done with my class. I take my state exam on Monday. I'm most worried about respiration. I'm still having a hard time seeing it. So I'm going to practice watching my kids breathe this weekend.
I guess I can officially join this thread now because I just got approved to register for my Multi-Skilled Medical Technician course. YAY!! I'm soooo excited! I'm definitely going to celebrate this weekend. LOL It was a long process to get approved but it was definitely worth it. The course starts on March 24th (a few days b4 my bday on the 27th) and what a nice present that will be. For awhile I felt like I wasn't going anywhere with my life, like I wasn't progressing and now my plan is finally coming together. I'm just ready to work and work as much as I can (40hr +). Anyway, I just wanted to share the good news with everyone.
Oh and goodluck on your exam next week Dee! :wink2:
Today was our last day at clinicals I'm going to miss that place. Now its on to deciding what I'm going to do. In Maryland a CNA can work in most places but if you want to work in a LTC facility you have to be licensed as a Geriatric Nursing Assistant & take a written & skills test. But if I decided to not go that route, all I have to do is pay for a background check,fingerprints & a fee to the BON & I'll be a CNA. I wanna work in a hospital but idk if I could walk into one with absolutely no experience & expect to be hired on the spot. So I might take the GNA test, but we probably wont be able to take it until March 21. The good thing is is that our program instructor will practice with us for 4 days before the test so we will have no problems with passing. So idk what I'm going to do right now lol.
Welcome - what is a Multi-Skilled Medical Technician course?
Thanks. The Multi-Skilled Medical Technician course is offered here in Baltimore at the local CC. It seemed like a better course to take because it doesn't just cover CNA. It includes the following modules: Nursing Assistant, Medical Terminology, Venipuncture and Specimen Collection, and EKG Essentials. I figured having the additional skills would help me land a job in a hospital sooner although I do want to work at an LTC or assisted living facility first.
:
So hunting down one took a lot of time. Plus the resident was very weak & kept coughing up mucus & getting short of breath so that slowed us down even more. Then we went to another resident's room. She has dementia & is very combative. One of the CNA's came in to help us & she gave us some great advice: when dealing with difficult & time consuming patients, save them until the end. Get the less complicated ones out of the way & then deal with the difficult ones. Then we got to see how the hoya lift works(because the 2nd patient we dealt with is sort of heavy so the lift her into her chair with the lift) & that was really good experience too. Its one thing to see it on the video, but to see it in real life is a totally different thing. Then we helped them with their lunch. The lady I talked about yesterday didn't want to feed herself today 
I wasn't assigned to help her but someone else did . The lady I was supposed to help eat refused so we just brought her tray back. The director of nursing & some other people went to her room because they say she is now refusing to leave her room, be dressed, not taking meds,etc. After lunch we looked at charts & entered info on the residents we assisted today :) Tomorrow we are doing vital signs at the clinic on site so I think that will go well too. Also we're going to fill out our application for the Md.Board of Nursing!!! :balloons::w00t:
KatyCar
25 Posts
Jade - where in NY? SerendipityWomYn and I are both in Queens but different schools -
I went to New York Medical Career Training Center in Flushing -
I am finished with my classes and internship, and just took my state exam there last week (still waiting for results)
I would give it an overall grade of B/B- I thought the instructor was very good, harsh but in a good way, you know?! (and then very nice after class! I think she gives you tough love to get you to study hard! it works!)
I did run into some frustrations though - for one I waited a long time for a state exam date (I was told that the state kept cancelling the exams?! not sure if this is the whole story) I put in my application the first week in January, and just had my exam last week 2/20. We were also told there would be a review session every Wed. afternoon, but, then when I finally got my exam date there were no review sessions anymore since the state was also giving exams on Weds. I was able to make it to two review sessions that I kinda had to sneak into, originally they told me I could go to 1 review session the day before my exam!
On the positive side, the price is good from what I hear, and I did look around before signing up. It was also helpful to have class in the same room as we had the exam, and practice on the same supplies that we then used for the exam. One plus for me was that it was very easy to get to, and had several times for classes, eve. weekends, nights. I took the night class. We also did 30 hours of internship at a local NH for people with MS, having the hands on experience was a big help, I think I won't be as intimidated now applying for jobs, and I found out that I can handle it!
hope that helps!!