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Congrats and best wishes for upcoming class Xentec. I was just wondering how you found a class that offers CNA, Phlebotomist, EKG tech ? I can find classes around here one at a time or Phlebotomist/EKG tech together and CNA separate. If you don't mind me asking how much would a course like this cost? I can take the CNA for about $800.00 (one month)and Phlebotomist/EKG tech (3 months) for about $1,500. I am planing on going to school next year for my LPN, but I want to get experience and work till then.Also how long is your class?Thanks, I would love to find an all in one class.

Thanks for your reply.I appreciate and understand your response. I think maybe I gave the wrong impression when I said I was Monk-ish. I am germ-phobic. I carry hand sanitizer with me where ever I go, I disinfect my kitchen when raw meat is being cooked and I wash my hands more time then I can count daily.I can get over the germs with nursing. I know I will wash my hands more often then I do now and change my scrubs and shoe before leaving work. Then put my scrubs right into the washing machine when I get home.I am more worried about protecting myself from air borne and blood blood borne diseases (contiguous diseases). Like I said I know I will be trained, but I am still human and worry a little. I don't worry about how I will treat the pt.I know I will treat them with kindness and respect(like everyone else) I worry I will miss an important step being new or tired and put myself in harms way.Is it common to have such pts like on a daily basis? Am I getting worried about nothing because once I am trained I will be ready for these kind of pts ? Does anyone know the statics of nurses/medical works who get infected with such diseases? Any info you can give me on this topic will really help me put my fears into perspective. I like to plan ahead for things so when then come I am ready to handle them the correct way.Thanks again!!

Hi everyone, I watched a CNA video today talking about how to protect yourself from contiguous pts and it kinda scared me. I myself have a germ phobia problem to start with( I am kinda Monk-ish). So the thought of catching things like TB,HIV,HBV or HCV to name a few frightens me. The precautions and risks to a newbie is a lot to take in. I understand why there are so many precautions to take. I also am happy to see what to do to protect myself and other against contiguous diseases. Do any of you have any tips or advice to ease my fears? I am more worried about starting out new right from school and getting like an HIV pt. I know I will be trained, but it takes a while before you don't make any mistakes. Does anyone know places to work that offer less exposure like maybe a doctors office or home heath care? Are there units in a hospital that might have more pts with contiguous diseases then other? I think if I can get over my fears I will make a great nurse. I really do care for others that is why I want to be a nurse in the first place. Thanks so much for taking the time to answer. I really look forward to hearing from all of you who have experience.

Welcome, I am also 26, but I am not a CNA or a Nurse yet and I don't have kids. I do however understand your worries about school. I get stressed and nervous too that it will be to much. I think this is normal and pretty much everyone goes though it at one point or another. When I decided to go back to school I was going to go for a vet tech, then I decided I wanted to work in the human medical field. I thought of going for Phlebotomy/EKG Technician,Pharmacy Technician or MA (Medical Assistants) before I decided I really wanted to become an LPN. Like you said you worked as an aide , so you know it is hard work. From what I have heard nursing school is hard.But it is defiantly possible to get though it.Around here for the LPN schools some are harder then others to get into. I am looking to go in 2008. There is a waiting list around here and I am still looking into schools.I plan on applying to all three school close to me .Whatever one excepts me then I will go there.I think prereqs alone are stressful.If possible ease in and start with taking one or two classes.I think if you want to be a nurse and you work really hard then you will do fine. I think baby steps is the best way to get where you want to be.It may take more time, but that is ok the end result is the same. That is what I am doing too. You can also work full or part time as a CNA till and maybe even during nursing school.Good luck !!!!

Thanks everyone for your replies and support. You were all very helpful. I will try to stay calm and remember the tips you told me.Along with what they taught us in class.

I can't believe all the teaching opportunities that are out there. It is nice to know there are so many different classes to teach.Thanks!!

I am sorry to hear about your troubles and I will keep you in my prayers. Hang in there and good luck!!!!

I am sorry your instructor is not helpful in teaching you.I have not taken the class yet, but I have been watching the free CNA videos offered here http://deptets.fvtc.edu/nursing/index.htm . I think Lesson 59 Transfer Techniques shows dangling and other transfer techniques .The videos are old, but for me they are helpful for me to preview the class. I hope this helps and good luck!!!

Thanks Siri, I went to the American Heart Association and looked up these courses. I was sick premature baby and my husband has heart problems,so these type of courses are near and dear to my heart.

I live in Ma and you only have to be 16 here. I am planing on going to the Red Cross for my CNA training. Check out there site maybe they offer training in your area. For my class it is about 800$.Good luck!!!

I am not a nurse, but I am pretty much going to same rout to becoming an LPN. I am going to take a CNA course, then work as a CNA.If all goes well then I will go to school for my LPN next year. I think you are making a good decision to ease into nursing. If you like it then go on.If you don't then I think it is better to know before you start nursing school. Good luck!!!

For the practical portion of the test what were you asked to do?Did you have to bring someone with you for this part of the test or did they have someone there you practiced on?I seen some examples of things they may ask you to do.For example change a bed pan,TAKING A TEMPERATURE or clean someones fingernails. Are they any other things you were asked to do. I am planing on take a CNA class with the Red Cross.Do any of you have tips to passing this portion of the test?Thanks and I look forward to hearing your responses

Thanks for your reply trollop2000x, There seems to be good opportunities for teaching.If it helpful ahead of time to know I may need to take a pay cut.

Thanks for the links JBirdAnge, I think they will be very helpful.I like having a sneak peek and being able to see things before I will do them. Thanks for the warning and support butterfly26pn, I know all to well what you are talking about. I am trying to relax and take things as they come.Overall right now I am feeling a lot more better in my decision to become an LPN.

Thanks Nursonegreat, Friends/family kid with me all the time and say I have to pee like I am pregnant because of my IC.I am happy to hear that using the bathroom frequently was not a problem for you and should not be a problem for me either. Thanks traumaRUs, I am so relived to hear that there are units I can work that will fit my needs. Besides dialysis do you know of any other areas that I could look into when I start working or does it depend on the place I work? I think I would like to work at a hospital maybe in the ICU,surgery and L&D. If there are opening. Thanks AuntieRN, I can understand how that could happen, but for me it is painful so I would not be able to forget. It is reassuring to hear that your NM (correct me if I am work but I that nurse Manager) tells you to go when you need to. One of the units I am interested in is med/surg, so it is nice to here your reply.

I was wonder if there are a lot of bathroom breaks. I Have IC (Interstitial Cystitis) I am on meds that help with the frequency, but I have to pee about every hour or so. Sometimes during a flareup( kinda like a bladder infection) even more. Do you think this will be a problem? Will I have to wait till I am not busy or till I get a break?Do you often have to hold your pee because there is no time to go?Thanks and I look forward to hearing your responses. This concerns because because it can be a real pain and uncomfortable when I need to go.

Thanks again TheCommuter, It is so exciting to see all the opportunities for LPN's.

Thanks MSLady06, I didn't even think of possibly teaching a MA class until I seen it on here. I though it would be to advanced for an LPN to teach.That is great it is a possibility. Thanks for the tip Fiona59, I have not seen an adult education Certificate/Diploma when looking into collage yet. I was helping my sister look into early childhood courses. I would think they are probably similar courses.Thanks I didn't know that could help. I am going on Thursday to a collage open house for LPN'S I will look into this class while I am there.

Thanks again Kelly, You gave me a better understanding about different types of people I could be teaching.As well as some challenges that come with teaching. I am happy you told me all you did and that you didn't sugarcoat it. Sounds like you were a great teacher. Good luck getting your masters and going back to teaching! I really appreciate your reply.

Thanks Kelly, That link is very helpful.I also like the idea or teaching a CNA or Ma course. How did you like teaching the MA course? Did you find it difficult teaching this course? What type of additional training did you have to have to teach this course?

Thanks TheCommuter and Steph, I am happy to see there is a lot of possibles for teaching in my future. I am also happy that after about three years of experience I can teach. It is also nice to hear different levels of medical professionals can find teaching jobs if they wish to do so.

I am hoping to go to collage in 2008 for my LPN. I would like to work in a hospital for a few years and then maybe teach. I do not want to teach any collage courses though. I think I might like teaching or assist in teaching a CNA class, CPR, breast feeding or a child birth class. Is this something a LPN can do with the right training? Is there any other classes you can think of I might be able to teach or assist in teaching?If any of you do teach can you please tell me how hard it is? I am also wondering are there a lot of teaching jobs out there?Thanks for your response. I am really interested in fining out my options for teaching?

Thanks for the reply Scrubz, I am really happy to see another person write that they do not lift pts alone. I am short (5 foot 3 inches and can probably only lift 50 pounds).There is an opening at a nearby hospital for CNA'S for Med-Surgery and ICU.I am interested in working on both these floors. I can not apply till after I am trained though.Could you please tell me what it is like being a CNA on the Med-surgery floor?

Thanks AuntieRN, It makes me feel better knowing I do not have to and that I am not expected to lift people alone. I am not sure why I thought I would have to, but I couldn't get it out of my head.It was my main worried about becomings a CNA.Sorry your brother had trouble with the slide boards, but thanks for sharing that with me. I will know to be weary of them now. Thanks for your reply. It made me feel a lot better.

Thanks Suesquatch, Your definitions for Hoyer lifts, Marisa lifts and gait belt were helpful.I have have a better understanding of what these items do.Thanks also for the support.I needed it.