Help!!

For the down and dirty part of being an LPN or RN, consider a CNA position.

Yes, LPN's and RN's do the dirty work too, but there is so much more to it than that.

You asked, I did my best to answer.

Good luck!

Try volunteering at a local hospital! It's a great way to get your feet wet in health care and you will learn so much! I just started volunteering at two hospitals, and I love it. I've helped change patients, I've fed both infants and adults, and yesterday I shaved a couple of older men who couldn't do so themselves. I've also gotten to see IV's being started, chemo being given, etc.

I'd suggest looking around and finding a hospital or even two to volunteer at. Besides giving you some experience with patient care, it'll make your applications to nursing school more competitive.

Great advice Simba! I volunteered too and for some reason left that part out.

I agree with starting out with CNA. That way you will better understand the work of CNA and appreciate the good CNA's once you become a nurse. It also will expose you to healthcare and allow you to decide if thats what you truely want. If I had known then what I know now, I wouldnt have become a nurse. I LOVE the theory of nursing, but its just not what I thought it was going to be. I thought I would be caring for appreciative people and being able to spend some time at bedside with each patient. Instead, its long hours, less pay than I expected, patient overload, and running at full speed just to keep up. And although there are alot of patients who appreciate me, there are also those who literally abuse their priviledges and rights to my care. Sometimes I feel like a legal drug pusher and a waitress who plays in poop and puke all day long. I may sound negative but I had a LONG and HARD day at work today, staying over an hour past my shift just to do my charting (another reason I hate nursing). Maybe I need to get off here before I discourage you! lol. I do have good days and have fallen in love with some of my geriatric patients and pediatric patients. But CNA work would give you chance to see what its all about...the good and the bad, and also give you some experience with pay.

Well we are kinda in the same boat. Im taking my prerequisites for a nursing program near me. I was thinking about becoming a CNA to get some type of experience or volunteering at a local hospital. With gas prices being so high, I don't think I'll be able to volunteer any time soon. I think you should volunteer so that you can get an idea of how being a nurse would really be. :wink2:

Good Luck

MY 2 cents.. I learned ALOT being a cna (or personal care aide) at a hospital (SUNY to be exact)

I agree that you should consider CNA for eposure. My now daughter-in-law began CNA classes at the age of 16. Said she was going to learn to " wipe butts " . Told her yes she was but there was so much more to it than that. Several weeks later she came and said she did wipe butts but there WAS much more to it. Now is a CNA III and has done it while taking pre-reqs for respiratory. Gives you good insight into the job and most programs require it anyway.