couldntbhappier

Hello, Hello: I just wanted to start off by saying "hi" & welcome to the board! I don't have any book recommendations to help you prior to starting your CNA classes, but I did want to let you know, that I took my CNA class in April, I've been out of school for 10 years, & I did just fine, as I'm sure you will as well. Admittedly, it took a couple of days to fall into a routine. After those couple of days, though, I didn't look back. If you have questions or are curious about anything - be sure to take advantage of this board. There are wonderful, smart people here that have been a God-send to me when I couldn't find a blood pressure or didn't know which scrubs to buy! They were extremely helpful & happy to help. Also, feel free to "vent" as well. I've been overwhelmed a bit, recently, & the people here have been amazing! Oh, yes. You could read: "Nobody's Home". For the life of me, I cannot remember who wrote it, I'll have to find my copy. It's written by a gentleman who was a CNA in a nursing home. Hmm... Who knows - perhaps I should read it again, as well...

Okay, Folks, I'm confused as heck. I'm a CNA. I took the classes, I passed the exams, & I am on the registry. Just like that, I was happy & excited & I landed my first job as a CNA in a nursing home, working every Saturday & Sunday. Only 16 hours a week - you'd think I could handle it. I couldn't. I hated every moment of it with every fiber of my being & I feel TERRIBLE about it. I thought I wanted to be a nurse SO BADLY. The thought of it is still hanging out in the back of my mind, I just can't seem to shake it. I thought the CNA classes were interesting (as interesting as boring classes can be, anyhow) & I really thought this was for me. Like I said - until I started working at the nursing home. Any words of wisdom anybody could spare would be greatly appreciated! TIA!

Okay, Folks: Last Monday, I started orientation at a rehab hospital that I got hired on to. Today, I am five days into training in the LTC unit I will be working on & I have to say - IT IS WAY HARDER THAN I'D EVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE!!! I admit, many a times, thus far, I've wanted to throw in the towel. To just call in & tell them that I won't be coming back but I haven't because there is something (I'm not sure what, exactly), that keeps tugging on my heartstrings, a small voice in the back of my mind, encouraging me to stick it out. I honestly believe that this voice believes that things actually might get better someday... How will I ever remember how the residents like their cares to be done? How will I ever remember to get all of the resident's cares done & in time for them to get a warm breakfast in their bellies? Will I ever stop irritating the residents? I really don't like to cry every day because somebody snapped at me because I didn't do something right. Will my charge nurse ever like me? Will I EVER be a good CNA??? My fellow CNA's & CMA's & the nurses are all being really encouraging. Letting me know that it's overwhelming for EVERYBODY at first, ESPECIALLY if you are a first-time CNA. I know that they're SAYING this but do they really MEAN it??? Help me out, Folks! Tell me it will all be okay! -Becky

:welcome: Allnurses is an awesome site & I hope you enjoy it here! We look forward to getting to know you better & wish you the very best of luck on your way to nursing school!

Thanks for all the well-wishes, Everybody! Agapita: I acutally got hired on at the facility at which I took my CNA class. They let us put in our application about a week before class was over, there was a hiring freeze, the freeze was lifted & I got a call from them about a week or two after I passed the written & clinical state exam. Now, I'm going through my health screen & next week I'll have NEO. Not quite sure when I'll be starting, starting, yet - BEST OF LUCK TO YOU! Keep us posted - I'm anxious to hear how things are going for you, as well. =)

Whew! You're head will be a-spinnin' but it will be SO worth it! GOOD LUCK! & I hope you have a GREAT first day in class!

congrats on the new job ~ here's to the very best of luck! you'll be great!

booyah! sorry, i've been mia, folks, but i have some fantabulous news - this morning, i was offered a cna position at the facility that our cna classes were held at! i'm so excited as my first cna job offer did not work out - this was the place that i was hoping to get my start at, you know, & i could not be any happier!!! how's everybody else doing???

YAY! I'm, seriously, jumping up & down for you! 4.0 ROCKS!!!

:w00t: :w00t: I passed my written test on Friday & this morning I passed my skills test ~ not to brag or anything, but ~ I'M A CNA!!! My name will appear on the state registry in 2-3 weeks ~ BOOYAH!

Jenso79 - I. Loved. Clinicals. I'm from Nebraska & my CNA classes met every day M-F for 3 weeks. The first Friday, we assisted with dining, the second Friday, we had a Spring Luncheon for the Residents, the following Tuesday, we assisted with dining, & on Wednesday & Thursday, we assisted with dining & spent all day in clinicals. We were paired up, met our resident, & were responsible for toileting, taking vitals, assisting with dining, oral care, & pericare. We did it all in the morning, again in the afternoon, in the morning again & then yesterday afternoon, we played BINGO with the Residents. Most of us had VERY GOOD experiences. We had to have an instructor with us for pericare & transfering our Residents & there were always the CNA's assigned to a particular team of Residents around, to answer any immediate questions we had. We had 3 instructors & each pair of students were assigned to one of the instructors. We could wear nice clothes (khakis & a polo), but we all wore scrubs & we could wear any color we'd like - as long as we WEREN'T wearing jeans & we WERE wearing comfortable shoes. We also had to have our hair tied back if it was long enough. I have to admit - the Residents LOVED us & the feeling was returned - they were wonderful. We told them we were student nurse assistants & they just thought it was so fantastic!

Title says it all! Was just wondering how many of you worked as CNA's before you became LPN/LVN's? Are you glad you did? Would you recommend working while you are in school? Thanks for any advice you have to offer - I'm applying for the LPN program at our CC & I'm freakin' OUT, I'm so excited! I'm contemplating whether I should keep my very flexible job in retail or if I should find a brand new job as a CNA before classes start in July - I know the exeperience I'd gain as a CNA would be incredible...

Yesterday in class, we learned that CNA's can empty & measure the contents of the colostomy bag BUT a NURSE must be the one to actually CHANGE the bag. Hope this helps! ~Becky

The story is, I am in CNA class right now & I want to get on the wait list for the nursing program at our community college. They have two programs offered - the LPN Program & the ADN Program (the RN Program). School is going to take me awhile to get through, whichever route I take. What I know for certain is that I'd like to work in Hospice and/or Oncology. Thing is - RN jobs - well they are EVERYWHERE & LPN/LVN jobs are a bit harder to come across. My very original plan was to go for my LPN degree. I think that it's still what I want to do - if I decide I'd like to go on to be an RN another time - I can, right? Another thing - what are some of the major differences between BEING an LPN/LVN & an RN? My sister-in-law told me that LPN/LVN's spend more time with the patient but she's not a nurse so I can't take her word as gold - Any advice? I'd like to know why YOU chose to go the LPN/LVN route??? My thought is that nurses are great, whichever you are - I just can't decide which to be. =)

Unfortunately, I became very upset in class today. Still no luck hearing the heart beat for my BP this morning. I heard absolutely NOTHING. Teachers thought I might have some hearing loss & that made me CRY! Ugh. I wasn't able to hear anything on any stethescope. It was frustrating & one of my instructors took me & my classmate into a different room with a stethescope with bigger earpieces & VOILA! I could find it!!! Booyah! I'm still terrified that I'll flop the BP piece if I have to perform it on the state skills test but I'm feeling MUCH better than I was. We assisted residents at lunch time today & I am ECSTATIC to be taking classes to get my NA certification! I'll be even MORE ecstatic if I can take a BP on Monday! :monkeydance: P.S. We learned how to make an occupied bed today - YIKES! No fun! :roll