Nursing student got CNA job!

ShaynaSmart · Nov 30, 2012

Congrats! I am interested in seeing some responses to your question. I am waiting to hear back from a local hospital for the med/surg floor and wonder how to balance the work load and be successful.

GHSN · Nov 30, 2012

CNA expereicne while in nursing school is great. you will be suprised how much you will learn.

Mrsladysoul83 · Dec 1, 2012

Im a nurse tech @ a hospital on the med surge floor i work evening 3-11 or nites 11p-7a & sumtimes 7p-7a. I was trained for 2 weeks by a really good cna & this is my 1st week working alone & i must say i did great! 1 nite i had 10 patients, another i had 8 & i only work 3days a week of my choosing(mondays, fridays & saturdays)while in school. Once you get into a comfortable routine, it will get easy. I luv the evening & nite shifts because we only hv 2 do vital signs @ 4p & 8p on 3-11 & 12a & 4a on 11p-7a. Bed baths are giving by the morning or day shifts on patients that they call "total asssit" bed rest & if need everyone else that is independent we dont have to worry about. We check on our patients & chart every 2 hrs, its pretty quiet on those shifts & i get a chance to study as well. It helps make me more comfortable when we are in clinicals since i work at the same place we do clinicals & thats a PLUS! Dont be afraid to ask for help either! A few of the nurses i work with are very helpful when i need help to turn, bathe or chain patients(i a little 5'4 120 girl) THANK GOD FOR DRAW SHEETS & TRENDLENBURG POSTION ON BEDS! That helps A HEAP! Good luck!

sduncan86 · Dec 1, 2012

Thanks Mrslady! That is good information. I'm nervous about starting on days but I look forward to the training- it will definitely put me more at ease. Evenings sound really nice... I also will be at the same hospital next semester during my L&D clinical.

Thanks again for the reply

FloatFNP-C, BSN, MSN, NP · Dec 1, 2012

So I applied for and got a CNA position at my dream hospital! The nurse manager who interviewed me said it was a lot of work and that he expected a lot from his med-surge floor so I should be prepared for an intense work situation. I am wondering if I can handle 10-12 patients during day shift. I'm float/pool and mainly weekends.
I want to get as much hospital experience as possible before I graduate next year.
Any tips from you awesome Med-surge CNAs?

Med surg is so hard! I am the float pool as well so I get to experience all of the floors. Med surg is my least favorite. You do vital signs q4 or q8, pass out and collect trays, bathe all of your patients, deal with discharge and admissions, all the while while answering call lights, toileting people, changing beds, emptying bags... The list goes on. It's a really busy job. Good luck!!

emcadams · Dec 27, 2012

So I applied for and got a CNA position at my dream hospital! The nurse manager who interviewed me said it was a lot of work and that he expected a lot from his med-surge floor so I should be prepared for an intense work situation. I am wondering if I can handle 10-12 patients during day shift. I'm float/pool and mainly weekends.
I want to get as much hospital experience as possible before I graduate next year.
Any tips from you awesome Med-surge CNAs?

I am also really interested to know how your job is going!!! I am not a new CNA, but I recently made the transition from LTC to a busy hospital floor. I too mostly work weekends due to my nursing school schedule. I work days. I am using all the skills I used at LTC, plus some additional like removing saline locks (didn't even know I could do that!). I received two weekends of orientation, but I don't think I was exposed to all the possible duties I am responsible for. I recently found out I can take out foleys, for example. Due to these extra tasks, I am having somewhat of a hard time managing baths, I & O's, fingersticks, safety checks, incontinent care, etc for my 10-15 patient load.

So I would like to ask experienced (preferably hospital) CNA's out there, what is your routine like on the 7a to 7p shift? How do YOU get it all done and charted???

sduncan86 · Dec 28, 2012

I've just finished all of my orientation and start my first day on the floor tomorrow! I'm REALLY getting my feet wet with three 12's this weekend...hopefully I don't die...

So I'd definitely like to keep in touch emcadams to trade some tips!

I also didn't know we could d/c foleys and IV's.

I'd like to do as much as possible to get experience for nursing school- one year left!

emcadams · Mar 21, 2013

Hey sduncan, just wanted to follow up and see how your med-surg experience is going?? After several months I definitely feel more comfortable with my responsibilities. Some days everything sails along smoothly...other days I have no time to catch my breath. The things I've learned are to CHART every little thing you do (hopefully when you did it!). I just go right to the computer and do it. Help your nurses as much as possible. Try not to say "no". If you can't be there ASAP, ask if you can do x and y before you come to assist. That way they know you want to help, but your stuck in a room too. You are one person.

leonard_huh, BSN, MSN, RN, APN · Mar 23, 2013

Like others said once you get the routine down everything will be easier, don't over work yourself, work smart. It will be good experience and later on the nurses will teach you techniques and stuff. goodluck

FutureCRNA?, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2013

I just finished with hospital orientation and start on the floor in a couple days. I'm really looking forward to learning the ropes (or getting comfortable with them to be more specific lol).

I'll be in this position for about a year before graduating, so I hope I learn a lot and make a good impression :)

kenyacka · Mar 26, 2013

I'm so glad I decided to work as a cna. I've learned so much just by being in that environment. Offer to help the nurses with procedures as much as possible during downtime (which is rare lol) and ask questions. Sometimes just holding a scared patient's hand while the nurse starts an iv, etc is a great way to at least watch. Have fun!!