please clarify

[momof38160]

just curious, I'm waiting to get into nursing school. In the meantime, the school suggested to take a cna course and work after certification. I don't mind doing this, but someone mentioned that I would sometimes have to get dead bodies ready for the morgue. Is this accurate information?

[Erin RN]

It is a very good way to expose yourself AND you will learn a lot of things and hear a lot of terms that you will again hear in nursing..gives you a leg up so to speak!! :) Good Luck Erin

[1 Leg Lance]

I was in law enforcement before becoming a CNA (now in a RN program)....believe me when I say it has been much easier dealing with the post-mortem care in an ICU than on the street....

Wellfare checks on seniors that hadn't been seen in church "for awhile", shootings, drug OD's and all that....

And I agree that you will feel different when you keep in mind that what are really doing in most cases is "prepared for the last image someone has of a loved one" not just dc-ing/bagging & tagging...

Good luck,

1 leg lance

[sox04]

Taking the course is a great idea. I started nursing just out of high school and halfway through needed to take a break to make sure it was what I really wanted to do (also I needed a break from school). I hadn't really had any experience in the hospital before that except for a few short clinical days, and I can't even tell you how helpful it was. Seriously, the difference in my knowledge and confidence in clinical before and after working as a CNA was huge.

With the post mortem care, you will get used to it. Also, depending on where you work as a CNA, you might not have to do it too often. I actually was lucky enough to do it all on my first day of working as an aide! I worked in the ER, and frequented the morgue, and like many other things in nursing, they just kinda stop phasing you.. And someone else had posted that you pretty much will always have someone else there with you. That's very true. I wouldn't do it by myself or go to the morgue alone! One day it was soo busy in the ER, and we finally got someone all ready to go and the nurse asked me if I was alright alone from there, and I kinda hesitated, and sure enough, even though it was one of those crazy days, he came down there with me...

You'll be fine. Good luck! :)