fire_fly

Some more thanks are due, really appreciate everyone's input. wrobelchic, I've not heard of mandation before. That seems a heavy burden to put on those who are only making 8.00/hr (the CNA I rate around here in LTC). kstec you sound like the kind of nurse a CNA would be glad to have around. The facility has about 1 nurse to 30 residents on the 3-11 shift, don't know if that is good or bad. I think I will look into other facilities as the staffing situation is not improving, they are trying to hire new people but people don't want to work there because of the short staffing reputation.

Hi nightmare: These are disposable covers that eject off the digital thermometer once you are finished, probably like your aural thermometer.

Thanks. Everyone seems to think I'm weird for using the alcohol but I had a close relative who died of MRSA so I'm worried about infection.

The LTC facility where I'm working uses an axillary thermometer. They 'ran out of covers' and don't clean the thermometer between patients. Stupid question I know - but doesn't this spread disease? Is there something I don't understand?,this seems very wrong. I brought in some of my own alcohol packets to clean it. I'm just a student but no one there seems concerned about this topic so asking you.

Thanks everybody for the feedback! Well so far I have worked 5 nights. But I don't want to continue there. There are some new admits - a husband and a wife. They both have dementia. They put them in rooms next to each other because they don't have a room for them that isn't covered by Medicare - apparently the only room available is a non-Medicare room. So naturally they are upset at not being in the same room - they were also committed by the court/DSS against their will. The husband was verbally belligerent and kept coming up to the nurses station and yelling about stuff and was rude. The staff made fun of him right to his face and he could tell what was going on. I can understand people being frustrated with him but not to his face! The CNAs and nurses also went on a couple long smoking breaks - I asked who is watching the halls - they said "Oh the patients will be ok". Believe me I know how hard the CNAs work, they do esp. for the low pay! And they are good about doing their rounds and making sure the people are dry. But you can't even find a higher paid nurse and a person needed medication as they were in pain and there was no nurse out of 7 to be found - it seems at least 1 should be available. This place is chronically short-staffed, there are never enough people to make their goal of 2 people on a hall. As others have said, this isn't good for the workers and definitely not good for the patients.

Hi Casi: Yes just the trainer and me.

I've only worked in home care. Last night I started at a nursing home, the 3-11pm shift. Most of the staff are agency not employees. Everyone commented on what a lousy place it was to work and how understaffed it was. Regular staff didn't show up. The hall I worked on had at least 20 people and almost all incontinent. Most people cannot stand by themselves and have trouble even with support. The person training me kept breaking down and crying, saying she was stressed (she was a great CNA however). I felt uncomfortable being left alone on the hall my first day when she took her dinner break - I don't know the patients at all. The nurse yelled at me to answer the call lights faster. Is this typical to be left alone the first night? We had no time to take even a 5 minute break. Of course, being new I am slow and the trainer was very short with me - I had just been sprung on her with no warning. 2 people fell during the shift and one had to be taken to the hospital. Yikes! Should I stick it out? Sorry to be so long. I enjoy taking care of people and don't mind the details of the job - I really just hate being left alone the 1st night when I don't know the patients.

I got accepted into the RN program at the local CC! Congratulations to all who have received yr. letters and hang in there to those who are waiting. The waiting is so hard.....

Good luck. I only used the study guide and got in the 99th percentile. The main advice can give - do not stop and get stuck on any one question...put in your best answer & then move on. You can go back to it if you have time. Better to get 10 questions right and 1 wrong than 1 right and not answer 10!

Thanks everyone for answering my question. I really appreciate hearing from those who are working in the field.

Hi, when we were doing clinicals at a LTC they lifted patients in a different way from the way we were taught - taught to either use a gait belt or mech. lift when transferring from wheelchair to bed if they needed assistance. The staff members put their arms under the resident's underarms and sort of swung them onto the bed from the wheelchair. Is this the way your facility lifts? I don't think I'm strong enough to lift someone that way.

Hi in our class we either had to have the Hep B vaccine series completed (3 in series thus #3) OR sign a waiver. On Reseola I wonder if they mean Rubeola? We had to have positive titers (or vaccination records) on Rubella, Rubeola, Mumps, Varicella; Tetorifice tests & the Hep B vaccine or waiver. Our due date for the above was 2 weeks after the start of class.

Letters are supposed to be sent out this month (March). Last week they said they would sent out the last day of the month. Wonder if they will meet that deadline. The administration has lost records, given different answers to different people about the admissions process - i.e. points given for certain items, etc.. Don't have a lot of faith in the administration although the teachers are great and the program has a reputation for turning out good nurses. At least 150 applicants for 35 places. If we don't get in, my classmates and I will certainly ask for our point breakdown to make sure we were awarded what we should have been to double-check on the administration part.

Joining up also. Taking a different instructor this semester, the A&P I teacher was very intelligent & lots of medical experience but did not have teaching among her talents - most of the class dropped out or failed. I only got an A by studying constantly and lots of stress. The A&P II teacher has a better reputation as a teacher.

17 hours is a pretty heavy load & you've got 3 science classes there - do you need to take them all at once? If not, I would eliminate at least one, to bring up your GPA - retake the Chemistry to bring up the GPA. I also wouldn't take anything I didn't need for nursing school, unless you have an interest in it - to lessen the load. Don't feel too bad about the D+ - I had one classmate who got a D+ with one teacher and an A the next semester - the first teacher took pride in the fact that he flunked people and made everything as clear as mud, luckily he retired. The 2nd teacher was great and wanted the class to succeed.