New CNA Student.

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Specializes in CNA, HHA, RNA,.

Hello allnurses.com members,

Lol, minty here! I'm completely a new member, though I haven't had much of an opportunity to post here I just wanted to get myself out there, known as a CNA student.

I'm taking a class offered by an adult school near my area, the cost was about 500 dollars - which is a six month term. We have classes every Tuesday, Wednesday and Clinical just started on Saturday. Each class lasts three hours, including the clinical. And my senior teacher is an RN whose worked for the associates red cross and in between hospitals for 40+ years and is now giving back to the community.

But like most, even though I have all the class time and clinical I sometimes get real nervous and 'forget' things that are so basic. Its nothing like the washing of the hands, but in between bed-making skills because the facility we get to practice at, has their own way of doing things rather than the way the 'state' wants us to do during the test so I don't feel I get that much practice. I know we'll have two weeks of pre test before she sends us off to our clinical, but I'm just so use to knowing things that I should already know!

It's not illegal, so don't worry there, just time consuming that they cut back on.

A lot of my fellow students are really sure of themselves, but you know, I don't want to have that added confidence when I should just still be absorbing. I worry that I'll do things wrong and be called stupid, although I don't mind being corrected in a respectful way. Thankfully my teacher is extremely strong, but words things in a right way.

Between bed-baths and changing, I don't mind those. The smells don't bother me, we all have a human body in the end. That and I had six male cousins who I grew up with. Lol.

I'll be taking the CNA test sometime in June or July, I believe and am really nervous at some days, but other days I'm like "I got this!" So yeah. I'm here to meet other CNA students and keep in talk. I was really happy {in a platonic way} to find that I wasn't the only one nervous when I came to read what others have to say.

In all honesty CNA is a job I'll do part time, under the counseling of the school district that has that open field. It's hard, backbreaking, but it's not without it's merits and I respect the workers that I see who do their job whether they had a bad day or not. I don't want to just stop at CNA but go further, how far I'm not sure. RN, Doctor, but I'll know when I get there.

:wink2: I'd love to hear from everyone!

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I'm planning on starting the CNA program this fall. I am nervous about it as well. I know that I'm smart, I know that I'm a fast learner, but I still worry about messing up. I'm taking the CNA class because it's required for the RN program. I may or may not work as a CNA, I already make more than CNAs in this area AND I can study at work. Two big reasons to stay where I am but I know the experience as a CNA will help me in the RN program. Having the hospital pay for the RN program is the big reason to work as a CNA. I guess we'll see what comes my way in December.

I found this link on another forum here, I don't know if you've seen it but it might help you.

http://deptets.fvtc.edu/nursing/index.htm

It's Nursing Assistant video lessons from a college. I hope it helps.

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Specializes in CNA, HHA, RNA,.

Actually it really does help! I want to thank you so much for this video!

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:hrns&wlcm::ancong!:on you new career :)

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Specializes in LTC, Assisted Living, Surgical Clinic.

Hey Minty! Sounds like that's quite a course you're taking there....mine lasted 3 weeks with 2 days of clinical. Most people get nervous at some point when taking CNA classes I do believe. The ones that seem so confident are just good at concealing those nerves.

In this job, just like most others, confidence comes with repetition, and you're new! Take a breath, give yourself credit for your efforts thus far, and remember that if you're stressed out and nervous your recall isn't going to be at its best when you're doing a skill you're not practiced at. 2 weeks in a classroom is only intended to give you the basics, not make you able to hit the ground running with a full load of patients/residents. I was pretty shaky starting as a home health aide with zero experience who was expected to know how to do CNA duties with no supervision.

When you're at your clinicals, practice all the skills you can on all the patients you can. I don't know if you're allowed, but we answered call lights (often what they wanted was something we could take care of; if not, we told the aide or nurse). Even if you do make a mistake, consider it a learning experience. It's all about building confidence through repetition!

Good luck....you'll be fine! P. S. A lot of nursing schools are requiring CNA to get in now if you're thinking of going that route. :up:

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Specializes in Nursing Assistant.

Congrats on your new career! Being a CNA is one of the most rewarding professions there is, I feel. You are helping people at their most vulnerable time, and it's a wonderful thing to know you are helping these people in some way. Don't worry about not knowing everything. In this profession, you learn by doing, and making a mistake is a learning experience. Don't be afraid to ask for help. I know when I started, I was so afraid of looking stupid, but then I realized that I looked more stupid by not asking. Good luck! All the best!

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Specializes in med/surg, psych, public health.

:wlcmggrp: and hi, mintygirl!!

i agree with the great advice from all of the above posters!

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Everyone gets nervous about the TEST.but that's normal.That's why we have clinicals to practice.I was in my clinical the other day and one of the CNA's told us that once we are done with this program,and get out in the real world of CNA we will take alot of shortcuts to be able to get 10 residents up and dressed for breakfast by 7 and everyone wants you at the same time.The teacher told us just to do everything by the book that will be on the state test.

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I remember being a CNA student just last year! (now I am an LPN student) The college credit course is nice because you get an idea of how nursing clinicals and testing works. They really do give you a lot of good information. Good Luck!

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