warmweathergal

I think I just need some reassurance. I am a CNA and I do want to continue my education and become a nurse. I have put in multiple applications online at Mary Washington Hospital. I have had one interview. I thought it went well. I went back about 10 days later and the charge nurse said she hasn't made up her mind yet. When I check online, a couple other depts are considering my application as well. I came to a point in my life to make a career change. I wanted to be a nurse in high school but as I found out more, the money and the advancement wasn't what it is today. I didn't even know there was such a thing as a CNA until a year ago. I decided to try that to see if I still wanted to nurse and I do. I am currently doing private duty part time for a wonderful couple. She is paralyzed from the waist down. I wanted to get into a hospital setting part time as well. Plus I wouldnt have to pay for my benefits like I am now. So, does or can it take a while to get accepted into a hospital. My backround is fine. I did take CPR thru the Red Cross pro but they said they are using CPR from the American Heart Assoc. I don't mean to ramble I am just a little frustrated and need some assurance I guess. I look forward to your replies !! Thanks for your time

You feel like you are all alone until you start reading other replies and you realize you are not alone at all. I am a CNA student and should finish Dec 4th. This is a second career for me. I have always been in sales and I burned myself out. I realized it wasnt for me. I wanted to be a nurse since high school. Took calsses and everthing to prepare. i saw what it paid and said forget it. I stumbled on the CNA program and thought, let me see if this is what I still want to do. So far I really enjoy it. We are doing clinicals at a nursing home and some of the stuff we see there is unbelieveable. I lucked out and I am a private duty aide part time to a woman paralized from the waist down. I do catheterize her and I just found out recently CNA's do not do that. Its not hard at all. The hardest part of the job is getting her pants on if that says anything. I use a hoyer lift to get her from the bed to the wheelchair and vice versa. There is another one built into the bathroom floor for use in the tub. I hope to start the LPN program in the fall of '07. The only drawback and I am sure others have this problem is that you can really go into detail about your day to your partner or spouse, even friends. They all get bothered about the details LOL. So, I'm sure I'll be on here a lot more to vent about my bad days. Take Care

You may want to check into the community colleges like J. Sargeant Reynolds. Like the others said you get out of it what you put into it. I am starting at the bottom in the CNA class. I am 44. I am doing this in Fredericksburg. this is a second career for me. There in an LPN course that is 18 months and it is just $2000. thats it. Sign ups start in the spring and class starts next fall. I 'll graduate the first week of December. I just wanted to get my foot in the door to see how I like it. So far so good. At least there is the internet to do research. You can go to the Va board of nursing and they'll give you a list of schools. I did so much poking around that somewhere it also shows the cost. Our teacher told us the schools like that are expensive because you are paying for their advertising. I hope that helps you out.