Pie'nthesky

I did it and I loved it!!!! My certs were the same as the career guys, training exactly the same too. They cut me no slack for being a girl and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. On the scene, fire doesn't discriminate. You have to be able to do the work. You have to. If you can't you become a liability and the men will resent that. Not to mention you can kill someone or be killed yourself. There can be a "boy's club" mentality, but the guys I worked with treated me very well. They are like brothers to me. I also worked for an ambulance service, and loved it too. We had some 911 type runs, but alot of transports between facilities. All good stuff though. You really get your feet wet. I highly reccommend it!

Hello all! I'm looking for some advice. I'm currently in clinicals for my CNA cert. and already looking forward to finding a job. Can anyone recommend a place where you've had a good experience? I would like to go on to nursing school after getting through pre-req's. I think I would prefer a hospital (I'm a former EMT), but would be open to LTC. Looking forward to hearing from you! Thanks!

Hi there... I'm sorry you are feeling this way, I understand some of your frustration. But since you asked, here is my 2 cents... If nursing is your dream, then you owe it to yourself and your family to follow it. You've backed out before and regret it. If you back out again, you will regret it more. You may even subconsciously blame your dh for this one and that may undermine your marriage. I don't think your husband is a jerk (as you put it), maybe he's a little insecure. I have wanted to go to NS for almost 20 years. But because of two failed marriages and being a single mom of 3 beautiful kids for many years, and even because of my own fear of failing (I had 2 marriages fail, after all), I haven't pursued it until now. And I'm 42! (I start CNA classes this week, then I'm on to my nursing pre-req's.) I'd look into it, get all the info, get excited about it...then give up thinking I couldn't do it. It really wore down my self esteem. I have a very supportive husband now, but it will still be a challenge being a wife/mother/employee/student all at the same time, but I can do it and so can you. You can do it. You know you can. Your dh knows you can. Have faith in God and believe in yourself. That's my 2 cents! Hang in there! Karen

Hello all! I start CNA training in a couple of weeks. At this point I think I would prefer hospital over LTC for the range of experience I would receive (I plan on continuing on to nursing school). However I know I may end up in LTC, at least initially. My reason for responding to this post it that I am a former EMT who did alot of pt transports between LTC/Doc/Hosp. Sometimes I feel that working at a LTC would be so frustrating to me, I don't know if I could be happy. Not being able to make the difference I would want to make for my pts because of staffing shortages of course, but mainly because of the lack of compassion (or maybe apathy?) of any fellow cna's or nurses would drive me crazy. It can't be alot of fun living there, much less if your family doesn't even visit you... I had pts ask me if I could stay for a few minutes, thank me profusely, ask me tons of Q's, trying to stall me...etc. I know I can't save the world, but I want to at least make a difference. Has anyone ever felt like this? Were you able to overcome the frustration and just focus on being the best you could be for your pts?

I'm 42, starting CNA course at local CC next month, then on to gen. ed and pre req's for nursing school. I'm excited and overwelmed all at the same time! Also wondering if I should take any other classes while going through CNA class...? Maybe one thing at a time, not sure yet. Sometimes I feel I will be retirement age by the time I get out of school! Good luck to you!!

Thank you! That's exactly what I am going to do on Monday, take my resume over to HR myself. I don't know if they'll let me apply again for jobs I have already applied for...but what the heck, what's the worst that can happen?? I wish I could just call the managers who are hiring (even though I have no idea who to call at this point), but don't want to jeopardize things by not following the chain, you know? Thanks again!

Hello all... I am just beginning my journey to becoming a nurse and am seeking employment at a local hospital to gain experience, exposure..etc. that will help me through nursing school. There are positions available (in patient care) that do not require experience, so they state in the posting. However, I'm sure they are preferred. I previously held an EMT-B cert, working for a fire dept and an ambulance service, but I let my cert expire (dang it). Long story short... I have applied for many openings, checking application status daily, just to eventually get the "thank you for applying, however..." message. They say not to call to check your status, more or less saying "don't call us, we'll call you" My question to you guys is how do I get around this online "facelessness" without jeopardizing my chances?? Any advice is very much apprecitated! Thanks!