Former LPN wanting to be a PCA

Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN · Oct 7, 2009

Good question. Why not contact the board? here is their website:

http://health.state.tn.us/Boards/Nursing/index.htm

Caffeinated · Oct 7, 2009

I also live in TN. When I was in LPN school I took a PRN job as a CNA that was offered to me during my clinical rotation. I was able to become certified without any classes or experience in it other than what I had done in school for nursing. I had to submit some papers to the state showing I had training equivalent to or greater than what would be obtained in a traditional CNA program and I had to take the test. It was a very easy process. I am fairly certain you wouldn't have much trouble either.

As far as how the process went the company that was recruiting me did most of the leg work. I had to obtain some documentation from my nursing school showing what I had completed but they arranged the rest. I'd say contact the board or perhaps you could inquire with some prospective employers.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Oct 7, 2009

Just remember - when you are working that what you KNOW will be more than what you are certified to DO. So do not be tempted to get in over your head.

PurpleLVN · Oct 7, 2009

Hello, all.
So glad I found this site.
I know this isn't the norm, but it's a situation I've found myself in. I became an LPN in 1991 and worked for about 10 years. I totally became burned out due to the paperwork, 12 hour shifts, and ridiculously high patient loads (16--25 patients a shift) that I was responsible for. I became a nurse to take care of patients and wasn't being allowed to do so due to paperwork and other hinderances. The CNAs were taking care of my patients and I was doing paperwork. I hated it.
As a result, I left nursing and stopped re-newing my license. Recently, after spending time with my father who was hospitalized a great deal before he passed, I have been bitten by the undeniable urge to get back in a hospital to work!
I don't want to be an LPN, so making my license active again doesn't interest me. I want to be a CNA/PCA in a hospital setting. I want to do hands-on patient care without all the rest of the stuff I hated. Since leaving nursing, I have been working in a domestic violence shelter as a victim advocate.
My question is this: Can I take the test to become a licensed CNA/PCA as I stand now? I live in Tennessee. Any suggestions on how to take this next step and be able to do what I truly love?
Thanks in advance.
Lisa

So, let me get this straight. The only thing you disliked about being an LVN was the paperwork? Because the CNA's and PCA's that I know handle a large patient load, work long, back-breaking hours and also have paperwork as well. And the pay ain't that great-not that money is everything but it helps.Why not go into another form of nursing? I'm an LVN and have worked in clinics almost all my career-lots of patient care and education, some paperwork, 8-5, no weekends, holidays, etc. Just a suggestion..... :nurse:

esthomprn · Oct 7, 2009

I agree with purpleLVN, why not work at a clinic if the only problem was the paperwork and that you had so many patients. Its sad that they treat LPN's that way. I know a LPN who said that she too has 20 patients daily while I have 4-5 (at a totally different hospital). I think you will like working in a clinic. You have a lot of patient interaction (well atleast I talk to my LPN a lot) and not that much paperwork.

CherokeeChick · Oct 7, 2009

Thanks so much for all the quick responses. No, the paperwork wasn't the only thing I disliked about being an LPN. It was just very highly rated. Actually, I hated most of it, including passing meds, responding to codes, dealing with the doctors, having my butt on the line for the entire shift. I hated having to make decisions, prioritize, and supervise people. I just wasn't cut out to be a nurse, and I think that's why I was so miserable working as one.

I just loved doing the direct patient care. And, as a nurse in the hospital in which I worked, I simply didn't have time to do it. I would watch the nurses and CNAs who took care of my father recently, and really envied the way the CNAs were able to spend a bit more time with him and didn't seem as rushed. The dynamic between the CNAs and the patients is what I always wanted....and is what is drawing me back now.

Not to slander nurses. Being an LPN is simply not for me. It's why I quit. I wanted to be a nurse when I went to LPN school. I had never worked in the medical field at that time, and had no idea what it entailed. Once I got there, I changed my mind. Perhaps I had the glamourized version in my head. Who knows? I just learned that I wasn't nurse material and spent 10 long years in a job I hated. And spent most of that time jealous of the CNAs who were taking physical care of my patients.

I guess I just finally realized I entered the wrong branch of nursing all those years ago.

CherokeeChick · Oct 7, 2009

I don't think I'd like the clinic environment. I worked in a physician's office for a short while, and didn't like it either.

CherokeeChick · Oct 7, 2009

Just remember - when you are working that what you KNOW will be more than what you are certified to DO. So do not be tempted to get in over your head.

I had thought of that.

I'm a pretty timid person and am never shy about asking for help.

I don't think that would be a problem. I always deferred to my RNs when I was an LPN.

MedSurgeMess · Oct 7, 2009

Thanks so much for all the quick responses. No, the paperwork wasn't the only thing I disliked about being an LPN. It was just very highly rated. Actually, I hated most of it, including passing meds, responding to codes, dealing with the doctors, having my butt on the line for the entire shift. I hated having to make decisions, prioritize, and supervise people. I just wasn't cut out to be a nurse, and I think that's why I was so miserable working as one.
I just loved doing the direct patient care. And, as a nurse in the hospital in which I worked, I simply didn't have time to do it. I would watch the nurses and CNAs who took care of my father recently, and really envied the way the CNAs were able to spend a bit more time with him and didn't seem as rushed. The dynamic between the CNAs and the patients is what I always wanted....and is what is drawing me back now.
Not to slander nurses. Being an LPN is simply not for me. It's why I quit. I wanted to be a nurse when I went to LPN school. I had never worked in the medical field at that time, and had no idea what it entailed. Once I got there, I changed my mind. Perhaps I had the glamourized version in my head. Who knows? I just learned that I wasn't nurse material and spent 10 long years in a job I hated. And spent most of that time jealous of the CNAs who were taking physical care of my patients.
I guess I just finally realized I entered the wrong branch of nursing all those years ago.

At least you know what you don't like.....before you totally jump out of the game, try a clinic or another setting first.....Good luck though, I know what you mean....sometimes I wish that I could do patient care without the paperwork or other trivial stuff that goes with it

PurpleLVN · Oct 7, 2009

It sounds to me you may be more interested in being a PCA. You spend the entire shift with one patient, do total patient care, brief charting every hour, no direct supervision, less stress, etc. B/C as a CNA in the hospital/LTC/home health etc.- you will have to answer to the NURSES:nurse: you regard as so highly rated!!!!

JSBoston · Oct 7, 2009

Why not hospice care? One on one pt care, little to do with doctors, work on your own.