First day of CNA class......

Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN · May 14, 2012

Best of luck to you on your first day and beyond! I can't think of anything to say other than to keep on top of your studies and don't let yourself get behind. You're going to do great. :)

Jessicainsantafe · May 15, 2012

The best advice I have is to be very attentive in your clinicals. You have to apply yourself to the 'textbook' part of your classes, too, and study and don't be afraid to ask questions in your classes...someone else in your class is probably thinking the very same question you are asking.

Watch the CNA's and nurses in your clinicals....be cheerful and helpful; that will help you get through some of the bad&sad things you will see and learn. I haven't taken my CNA certs yet; still waiting on the date, but I am hopeful and will study even more before I go take that test. Your class should have prepared you for the written part of the exam; the skills you will review in clinicals and you can use the 4YourCNA site to get some visual reminders on how to do things.

Do you plan to go further with your medical education? I am hoping to keep on to get my RN but it is going to take some time.

I wish you nothing but the best, DreamChaser81. We have a long way to go and lots of people to care for!

badwolf · May 15, 2012

I started Monday too! I feel like a deer in the headlights from all of the information. My class is on a rotating schedule so some of the students have been there for up to four weeks. That's the most intimidating part. But they have a good pass rate, so I think I'm in good hands.

How are the CNA jobs in everyone's area? My instructor is talking like the pickings are slim here in Nashville.

ixchel · May 15, 2012

Im in my 4th week of CNA classes and I promise you the deer in the headlights feeling will be gone soon. The steps for each skill will become much easier as you realize the beginning and end of each one is almost exactly the same. Don't be afraid to practice on friends/family! The lecture exams are filled with a lot of common sense stuff. You'll be fine! Just remember to breathe!

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · May 16, 2012

On the first day, I found out that I would need to spend more money on scrubs in a specific color, a physical exam and maybe a few other things. We also had to bring in original social security cards and drivers licenses - to sign up for the state test. These were *my* surprises on the first day.

For me, because I was also in the process of completing prereqs to get into the RN program, I tried to apply everything we learned to anatomy, physiology, microbiology, medical terminology. If the teacher said we need to turn the patient every so often, I'd think about the "why" which is because the skin could break down and then I'd think about the layers of the skin as they related to the stages of severity for decubitus ulcers. I made each concept more difficult than it had to be, but this helped me to be the top scorer on each of the exams in CNA class and has served me well since returning to regular school to take more prereqs.

I tried to make friends with the people in my class and paired up with another older student (most of the people were in their 20's, and I am in my thirties.) During clinicals we had a student partner and this alliance served me well. I'd recommend everyone to chose a good student partner so that the CNA's who train you during clinicals want to train you.

If the CNA's think you are stupid or afraid of hard work, they will ask you to stand there while they do all the patient care tasks because they can't afford to have you slow them down.

My student partner and I worked so hard that the CNA's loved having us, they said we made their day go super fast. The fact that they felt this way enabled me to get more experiences and learn more. It is important to establish the CNA's trust and respect. (Oh, and try to earn the LVN's trust and respect, as well)

I would tell myself, "look for a need and meet the need" and just try to keep busy during clinicals.

I'm not sure what else you want to know....the facility did smell, I think it's par for the course. You will do peri care and wipe lots of bottoms. Grow to love it, if you can.

I'm a new CNA (6 months) and really enjoyed clinicals.

HTH!

DreamChaser81 · May 16, 2012

Thank you so much to everyone with all of the great advice and remarks. Three days down and I am enjoying my class and classmates so much. My Instructor is great, he has a HUGE sense of humor that makes the class interesting. I ordered my stethescope, BP cuff and watch from Amazon.com this past monday and they should be here by the morning so that I can practice at home on my husband and kids on my downtime :)

DreamChaser81 · May 16, 2012

Thanks so much Jessicainsantafe for your kind words,

The class is great so far and I just recently discovered the 4yourcna site and it is great. Youtube has a great selection as well :)

I do plan to continue in Nursing as well. I am currently in my second year of pre-reqs toward the RN program and plan to go straight into the LPN program after my CNA course with the same school. I took phlebotomy and Med-Terms last summer as well. I am just so happy in being able to learn all that I am learning in the steps that I am tking toward a career in Nursing. I was born a nurse at heart and now it is time to combine a career to that. You are so right, we do have lots of people to care for. Keep me posted on your progress and best wishes to you! :)

KelseyAdams · May 17, 2012

Good luck in your classes! I completed mine last year and successfully passed the state exams! I start my first CNA job in about a week and I am very nervous. My CNA class was very fun and my teacher was nice, but I wish she would've forced me to learn more and experience more in my clinicals. This reason explains why I am nervous to start my job as a CNA. I feel as if im not completely prepared for my job so I am glad I get three days of training. I dont know exactly how your classes go, but I had to take an online class and clinicals twice a week for a month. My personal advice is to not just memorize the material but to learn it. I am having to go back and relearn how to properly make the beds, use the gait belt, review the apropiate vitals and more. Make sure and try and be as active during clinicals as possible. There is always something you could be doing. Good luck and keep everyone updated!

maddiem · May 17, 2012

I'm starting my CNA class on June 12th! Its 8 weeks long. Lecture/Lab 2 days a week for 6 hours and then clinical 1 day a week from 7am-3:30pm...I'm excited to start my nursing education though! Planning on attending Chamberlain College of Nursing next May for my BSN! Good luck everyone!

Twinkle007, LVN, RN · May 18, 2012

Maddiem----- how cool , I am planning to start on June 14th , let's keep update

Juniper248 · May 18, 2012

I'm starting June 4th =D! good luck to everyone!