HELP! I DON"T WANT TO GO THROUGH CNA first...

lookingforward · Feb 7, 2007

thank god for jelli_belli! :yeah: :yeah:as he or she hit it right on the nose! i am so glad someone was brave enough to write something "taboo" as it seems after all these responses, and many private ones (that were in favor i might add..)yes it's true i don't look forward to changing briefs as a living, but no i would not let a patient sit in poopy because of my preferences! i take jobs very seriously and if i gotta do it then so be it! i don't know where in the post i ever mentioned i would let a patient suffer.. like i was being accused of... to wrap it all up, like jelli_belli stated,"...everyone has their own path"

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Feb 8, 2007

Well either find a different dream or learn to roll up your leaves. First of all, you will do this stuff as a nurse to. They only have ONE CNA on an ENTIRE FLOOR at the last hospital I did clinical at. The NURSES did the diaper changing on adults, changing bed pans, giving baths etc. PLUS they phased out all the LVN in this area for hospital work. They all work in retirement homes and there is a lot of that "diaper Channing" there. You do not have to be like, "Gee I love to wipe butt it is soooooo much fun!!" Some of the stuff you do get use to, and for those that just can't being a CNA for a few months of training is better than $1000's of dollars and 2-4 years later to find out you can not do it. Take advantage of it.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 8, 2007

No one here ever said that anyone has to LIKE poop to be a nurse, or plays in it all the time, the general concensus was "poop happens, it cannot be 100% avoided, if it'll be a problem, perhaps nursing is the wrong route."

But now i got the impression that someone was just waiting for the answer they wanted to hear, instead of a variety of opinions.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2007

Poop is everyone's job not just the CNA's... I just don't see the big deal. If you see poop you clean it and move on. You don't have to be a CNA first but that wont save you from Poop...

still_learning_in_MI · Feb 8, 2007

i have to admit, i never wanted to change adult diapers or clean up someone else's vomit. i wanted to jump from the nursing school frying pan into the fire....

but, i decided to take a job as a pca to help with my patient skills (big change from my office job), and i clean up incontinent adults daily, with daily baths and linen changes. some days i feel like it's grunt work, but the patients make it worth it. most of them are extremely embarrassed, and apologize over and over. not only did i receive experience in patient skills, but i learned alot about humility. i wouldn't trade this experience for anything.

i do wish i could move up to the next position, a tech, but there are no openings right now where i work. so here i stay! for a few months, anyways.....graduation in may!!!!! :roll

Cattitude · Feb 8, 2007

thank god for jelli_belli!:yeah:as he or she hit it right on the nose! i am so glad someone was brave enough to write something "taboo" as it seems after all these responses, and many private ones (that were in favor i might add..)yes it's true i don't look forward to changing briefs as a living, but no i would not let a patient sit in poopy because of my preferences! i take jobs very seriously and if i gotta do it then so be it! i don't know where in the post i ever mentioned i would let a patient suffer.. like i was being accused of... to wrap it all up, like jelli_belli stated,"...everyone has their own path"

calm down, jellibelli is a student who plans on going into psych. unless you plan on going directly into psych. then there is a high probability that you will have to go in the trenches and do direct pt. care.

there are very few places that will hire a new grad that are non pt. care/contact. you will be touching,smelling all types of body fluids, not only poop as many others have already stated. my best friend does l & d. yep, all kinds of lovely,smelly stuff there too! oh, and she hates going in the nursery, having 6-7 crying babies is not always fun;) .

well, people tried to warn you and now have definitely become :madface: .

nobody here claims to "love" working in poop all day, it's just a reality we have all learned to deal with. it just doesn't appear that you are even willing to learn to deal with any unpleasant aspects of nursing. sweety, you can't come out of school and go right into admin.:trout:

good luck, i think you might need it...:monkeydance:

ptadvocate81 · Feb 8, 2007

I was a CNA during nursing school and it has made me a heck of a lot better nurse and so APPRECIATIVE of the CNAs that I work with now. If you think that butt wiping and vomit clean up ends when you are a nurse- think again. We do what we do for the Love of our patients. Heaven forbid you ever need your "old folk" diaper changed. Keep an open mind and best wishes.

goal · Feb 8, 2007

Well Ive Been A CNA for three years and it is not bad at all!! I am currently going to College to get my RN!! I work in a nursing home and I love it!! The Patients are why i love going to work every day!! I do change theme and do all the drity work!! hey but that not the point!!! Its about helping theme out!!! So maybe you should think if your are going into the right profession!! I also worked in a acute hospital and the LVN'S do help out with changeing !!!

TazziRN, RN · Feb 8, 2007

I thought o fLF today........I had a SNF pt in my ER with septic shock.....incontinent and we didn't know it until we tried to get a rectal temp. While we (my techs and I) cleaned him up I couldn't help thinking of LF........

Jellibum · Feb 8, 2007

thank god for jelli_belli!:yeah:as he or she hit it right on the nose! i am so glad someone was brave enough to write something "taboo" as it seems after all these responses, and many private ones (that were in favor i might add..)yes it's true i don't look forward to changing briefs as a living, but no i would not let a patient sit in poopy because of my preferences! i take jobs very seriously and if i gotta do it then so be it! i don't know where in the post i ever mentioned i would let a patient suffer.. like i was being accused of... to wrap it all up, like jelli_belli stated,"...everyone has their own path"

i understand what it's like to feel that your skills as an rn are potentially being wasted by changing ppl in & out of day/nite clothes, pads & other such seemly small tasks. in saying this however, it is precisely these small and seemly insignificant skills that is as fundamental to nursing as the a&p. i too have the feeling some days that i cant do this again tomorrow or the day after that!! but, the good must come with the bad. i appreciate your honesty in this thread but, it came across a little harsh initially!i hope that your compassion for this profession grows and your negativity towards to seemingly small annoying tasks diminishes with increased understanding to their importance on your patients. put yourself in their shoes/their bed and grow/advance forward to the place you want to be. but please.... turn down that torch of frustration when your in class... it's blinding your vision to see the beauty in the world around you.

gila · Feb 8, 2007

i could not agree more. i was a CNA for years before i could go to my LPN program. These are the people who do the back breaking trench work and you absolutely cannot be above helping out if need be. you should absolutely rethink your career choice if you are already planning on delegating the suppositories, enemas, vomit/ diarrhea cleanup, etc. not only that, but your nusing instructors arent going to let you out of CNA duties in school during the program and if they are paying attention they are probably going to see your attitude and give you the hardest person to deal with. good luck.

rn undisclosed name · Feb 8, 2007

Ya know when I decided I wanted to go into nursing I wasn't so hot about taking the CNA class but after going through being a CNA and nursing school I think it should be a must for everyone. I learned a lot in CNA class that they didn't cover in nursing school because they already expected us to have the basics.

Changing someone's diaper/brief isn't pleasant but after you've done a few it's not a big deal. I agree that it's much worse for the patient/resident than it is for the person doing it. Unfortunately there are nurses out there who will let someone sit in a dirty diaper and "wait" for the aide to come and change them. I hope you would never do that.

If you decide you still want to go into nursing. Go in with an open mind. You just might surprise yourself.