Always Smiling

I had 2 masters degrees when I decided to make the switch to nursing. I have now been a CNA in a skilled nursing home for a couple of years while going through nursing school. I'm the first one in that room when a patient's been incontinent. My nose isn't stuck up so high in the air that I can't see how uncomfortable (not to mention the skin breakdown issues) the patient is after having a BM all over themselves.

Sadly, this is true. At my facility, the nurses take turns being called off their scheduled work days if census is low. On average, it happens a couple/few times a month, but it can really eat a hole in your pay check.

Honestly, after about 4 hours of a "real" shift in my healthccare facility, I feel like my feet are going to fall off and my head is swimming taking care of 10 patients. But, I can easily do an 8 hour student nursing shift with only 2 patients to take care of and I am not so fatigued afterward. It really is a different situation. Not trying to scare you, but speaking from experience, it's a reality. I am only a CNA for now-- registered nurses have just as much if not much MORE stress and responsibility than I do for now. It really is a job you need to be alert and focused for.

Just noticed from another thread, AggieAmy, that your husband isn't yet finished with nursing school and won't be till next May. I would definitely recommend to him to try out floor/staff nursing for awhile first before making this decision to work 5 12-hr's each week. I too am in school and it's a WHOLE different world when you're actually on the floor with your license than when you're student nursing. I work in healthcare and it's very different from my "student life" which is much easier.

Here's another idea you may not have thought of Aggieamy. Since you state that you plan to try and test out the scenario you are asking about for 2 years BEFORE you have kids and your hubbie will see how well he handles working 5 12-hr shifts each week-- why don't you take these couple of years to test the waters to see if there is any other career you would like part time? I used to be an elementary teacher but when I got married and wanted to have a family I realized the hours that I used to work were not the best to have a family with. I would be gone from 7:30 in the morning until 4:30 at night, just the right hours to be home with young kids! So, I went back to school and have been working in healthcare for a couple of years now because this will allow my husband and I flexibility for starting a family. And yes, I was "older" when I decided to do this- but it's never too late and I want what is best for my kids. There are other options for careers if yours won't allow you to be part time. Healthcare is full of 2nd-career workers who made the switch for many of the same reasons. I am not saying you HAVE to work-- if you truly do not want to work at all and be a SAHM, then obviously this option would not be for you. Just thought I'd mention it since I myself went through this and have met many others who have done the same thing. There are flexible careers out there, but unfortunatly many desk jobs and teaching aren't the best for that.

In my 2 1/2 years as a CNA for a skilled nursing facility, I have never had a nurse ask me to administer meds. If asked, I would not do it. Besides the fact that it would be illegal in my area and unethical, I simply do not have the knowledge to administer medication! My training program was 4 weeks long and didn't even begin to cover anything like this. I would be putting patient safety at risk.

:yeahthat: LOL.

Thank you all - your experiences are all VERY inspirational. It is nice to hear firsthand that you can be desensitized to some of this stuff and become more comfortable with experience. I was thinking that I will go donate blood next weekend to "practice." Plus, it is a great help to those who need the blood. I think part of my fear of having my blood drawn is my fear of passing out again and causing a commotion. So if I get more comforable with it in my mind, maybe I will learn to be less queasy when having it done.

Oh wow- that makes me feel so much better so far! I guess I always thought that nurses and doctors had to be born with "iron stomachs" and steady hands and nervous systems and all that, lol. The funny thing was, the last 2 times I passed out when having my blood drawn, I never even once looked at the needle or my own blood! I just felt it being done. I was just looking straight ahead and chit-chatting with the nurses and the next thing I knew, they were waking me up. On a related note, do nursing students practice drawing blood and starting IVs on one another during nursing school? I guess that could be a good or a bad thing, lol. Either I'll HAVE to get used to it quick or I'll end up passing out every Thursday in clinicals haha. Thanks for your posts so far.

Hello everyone. I have been checking out this site for several months now and have decided to post and join the community. I will be attending a BSN program for Nursing starting in just a few months. I have completed my nursing prereqs and will be starting to take nursing classes at this time. I need advice because I think I have a problem-- the last couple of times I have had my blood drawn, I have fainted. I was sitting both times. I was also known to faint at the sight of my own blood when I was younger (so my Mother tells me). I have never fainted at the sight of anyone ELSE's blood. I see blood frequently at my job and it does not bother me the way that it bothers me to have my OWN blood drawn. I believe I may have Vasovagal Syncope Syndrome. My question for this post is-- is it okay for a future Nurse (hopefully) to have Vasovagal Syncope problems? I have to have my blood drawn for school in a few weeks and this time I am very scared because one of the nurses at my nursing school will be taking my blood and I am ashamed to faint in front of my own nursing school nurse! How will this affect my nursing if I'm scared to even have my own blood drawn? Also, does anyone know of ways to overcome Vasovagal Syncope Syndrome? I only seem to faint when having blood drawn- but sometimes other needles do bother me a little also. Thankyou for your help.