Help Please!!!!!!!!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 16, 2006

i see you've been a member of allnurses for awhile, but have only posted twice. that's ok. i'm sure you've been reading a lot. well, the big day is almost here! i don't know what i can say to allay your fears. please don't think of nursing school as walking into the fire. it's not that at all. believe me, you will be given guidance, help, and a chance to practice procedures. we all had to go through this. try to put all the horrible things you might have read on the forums out of your mind. remember that people use the forums to vent. there are a lot more of very satisfied and happy students out there that are having wonderful learning experiences. go to your classes with positive thoughts and feelings. after all, this is what you have been waiting for, isn't it? as far as clinicals go, in your own words, "shut up and follow instructions"! and i mean that in the nicest way. keep in mind that your clinical instructors have been nurses for a lot longer and have seen a great deal in the clinical areas and have that experience to draw upon when they are giving out instructions.

i have information for you regarding becoming a cna in your state. my, but pennsylvania is expensive:

http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?a=188&q=200721 - link to the pa nurse aide registry

i took a look at the pennsylvania nurse aide candidate booklet which you can also download from this site if you have an acrobat reader:

http://www.asisvcs.com/publications/pdf/063900.pdf

it states on page 2 that you are eligible for testing to become a cna if "you are a student nurse with an approved application of eligibility from the pennsylvania department of education". you will have to submit a pennsylvania department of education approved application with a registration form to take the pa cna test (when you are ready, of course!) there are contact telephone numbers at the registry site for you to call if you cannot find all the answers to your questions about becoming a cna.

you have my very best wishes as you enter school. i'm sure it will be as much and more than you thought it would be. here's to embarking on a new career! :smiley_aa

batwood73 · Aug 16, 2006

Wow, congrats on even getting into nursing school! In my state, after your first semester you can get your CNA license. I just graduated and am scheduled to take state boards next Thursday. If I could give you one piece of advice, I would say, study hard and read the material. You will do fine in clinicals if you go in with at least a basic knowledge...that's all they ask. You are not expected to go in knowing how to do everything. Just have a basic understanding of what you are doing...and if you don't know...look it up. As the last reply stated, your instructors have much more experience...and in nursing experience counts double!! Always know where they nurse with the ten year pin is!! And love your CNA's...they can make or break your clinicals. If you put your mind to it you can do this. It will not always be easy, but you will make great friends and wonderful memories...as a class you will grow to love each other. I have had a wonderful nursing school experience. I loved clinicals...loved my patients...I was called to be a nurse and I went to nursing school with three kids. Of course, I did have support in the form of my husband, which I couldn't have done without him. Good luck to you!

tm64 · Aug 16, 2006

As an LPN instructor I wanted to wish you the best of luck. Nursing school can be what you make of it. You will have to study alot and remember that this is the foundation of your career so do the best you can and try to retain as much as possible. Instructors don't expect you to be perfect but we do expect you to be prepared whether in theory or clinicals.

Good Luck.

tm

runn40 · Aug 16, 2006

This is my second semester in nursing school. I also quite my job as a teacher to pursue nursing. It is very scary but it was the best decision I have ever made. My only advice is, if it has been awhile since you have been in school, it would be a good idea to brush up on your biology, anatomy and microbiology. I have not had a problem so far but it has been a struggle for some students that I am in class with who have not had a science class in awhile. Good Luck! It's not going to be as bad as you think.

brandyl123 · Aug 17, 2006

Daytonite, that was such a reasurring post that you made. I too start nursing school VIDASH on the 24th. I am very nervous too. I have two children and I feel it's going to be hard also, which I know it is, but there has to be no failing. I can't I came too far. I know how u feel though, it is scary going in and especially after hearing from other students how tough it is!! But I thought the reply that Daytonite gave was very helpful and encouraging. So I wish you good luck and stay strong, WE CAN DO THIS!!!:welcome:

VIDASH1 · Aug 17, 2006

Thank all of you soooo much, I do really appreciate your input, encouragement and advice. Once I start my clinicals and know what I am talking about, I will post more and try to help other students on the same journey seeking for help. A special thanks to you Daytonite, for taking the time out to do a search about my inquiry about CNA certification, God bless. Thanks once again for all the input, they have been greatefully noted, have a wonderful weekend everyone!!!!

Dabuggy · Aug 17, 2006

Hello,

Here are some tips I found helpful with school. Since I had a long drive to school I put notes on tape and listened to them while driving to school. Since you have children that take up much of your time, use the time watching them to put notes on flash cards. Since it is hard to keep one eye on the children and the other trying to concentrate, this will let you make the best of that time. Once the children are in bed you can do the serious studying.

As mentioned above, be kind to the CNA's and ask them if they need help you are in room #,,,,, Then if you need help I have never had a problem with one of them helping me. They are great.

Pay attention to how to do bed baths, assessments, vitals etc. You will be fine. Everyone is nervous, but you will get over it. I went from working as a carpenter to nursing, and it is working for me.

Good luck

Dabuggy

VIDASH1 · Aug 17, 2006

Thanks Dabuggy, unfortunately, my school does not allow taping lectures due to HIPPA. I think that is very unfair since taping lectures really help some of us. What I plan doing is taking a Laptop and recording the lectures after class and see if that helps. Thanks for the idea though. Have a wonderful weekend.

Dabuggy · Aug 17, 2006

Wow, what a difference in schools. My instructors like us using recorders so that they don't have to repeat themselves. I have not heard that we could not use recorders in the classroom. I can see it violating HIPPA at clinicals.

Dabuggy

jov · Aug 18, 2006

You will succeed becuz you have to. Just get on the escalator and don't get off.

sweetiehrt7985 · Aug 20, 2006

I'm just as scared of starting, but this site has been a great reassurance. Knowing that once you finish school and all the ick factors, confusion, etc will be just everyday normal things that are nothing to fret over, is great. :)