pgray1229

I'm having a tough time deciding on if I want to for my LPN or my RN - what advice can you fine nurses give me

I was a CNA for years.. I worked the midnight shift for several months. I never once fell asleep. I stayed up the entire shift. When I got home is a different story. I slept all day. Midnights is rough, but if you can handle, go for it. It's usually the quietest of all the shifts.

Wow! Thank you to everyone who responded to my post. Very inspiring, every single one of you!! I'm 33, and I will be starting my pre req's very soon!

Good for you!

Thank you! I hope I'll do good, I'm very excited about it. I, too, had my children. I have 3 as well. I'm done having babies. I will anticipate working the evening shift - as I've always LOVED that shift!

Thank you all! After High School, I went and got my CNA. I haven't worked as one in 8 years.. I'm 33, and I will be attending nursing school this year. I will probably be 36 when it's all said and done.

I'm just wondering, it could be for LPN or RN, how old you were when you completed nursing school. Thank you!

I stutter.. Sometimes it's so bad. I can't say my own telephone number smoothly, oh my! I always tell the person who I'm talking to that when I get nervous I stutter. They usually tell me "Don't be nervous, take your time" and then I eventually either spit out what I'm saying or I calm down and it comes out. I was a CNA for 7 years. I wanted to go to Nursing School, but my stuttering got in the way. Can you believe I let one little thing in my life block me from doing what I've always wanted to do? I'm giving serious consideration to going to Nursing School. I need to do more research about when and how much, but I want to become an LPN to begin with. I know that I will stutter when asked to say something during class.. and I will explain to the class that I do stutter.. But it is SO embarrassing when I am trying to tell people something or how I feel and one little word prevents me from saying what I want to say. I also use fill in words.. or just stay quiet. I believe that I started stuttering in school when I was made to do oral reports. I do not do well when I have to speak in a large groups, but I really need to work past this. I like the idea of writing the word you have trouble with down and repeating it over and over. I will do that! My husband always tells me that I don't stutter that bad.. and when I do, he tells me it's ok and to calm down.. Sometimes that's easier said than done.

I forgot to add in, that there is this one company that, when you get hired on to a facility, they reimburse you the amount of the class, minus physicals, tb tests and scrubs.

Very glad to see this! People who WANT to become a CNA, not just to pay the bills, are the ones that make it. I wanted to become one. I quit because of my family. I LOVED being a CNA. It was hard, somedays, but totally worth it at the end of the day when I said good night to my residents. People like you are needed in LTC facilities that will actually show they care.

I've been back and forth with this for a while now. I was a CNA working in a LTC facility, in NorthWest Indiana when I left. I was making 10.50 an hour and this was back in 2002. It's now 2011.. and 9 years later and I'm rethinking the idea of becoming an aid again. Do I really want to become an aid again? I need some light shed on this idea. I called a nursing home in Munster, Indiana and they are paying new aids a pay rate of 8.45 an hour. That's a little under 2 bucks less than what I made when I quit. Maybe there are some of you who became a CNA again and can help me with my decision. I would most likely take the course for free again, come June or July. I could take the course right now for 800 and the hiring facility would reimburse me, over time, the amount I paid for the class, minus the physical, TB tests and scrubs. I am now a mother of 3, and 8.45 will just not cut it. There is an agency that hires aids with one year experience and the most they pay is 18 an hour.. that would be worth it, but I just can't fathom being paid so little for what we do. Now, I loved being a CNA when I did it. I quit to start a family. I am done having children, and want to earn a little bit of money for myself and my kids and the only job I ever had was a CNA, so I don't want to do anything else. We can't afford me going to school to become a nurse as of right now. So that idea is on the back burner. Should I go back to being an aid and put my foot down on how much I should get paid, based on my 6 years prior experience? Or should I just forget about the whole idea and do something else in the health care setting? Thank you to everyone who responds!!

Good for you for finding another place to learn. When I did it, there were only 8 people in the entire class. It was fun and personable. My instructors were always very nice and helped when they could. Good luck to you come May!!

There are some nursing homes that will offer the CNA course for free. That's what I did when I became a CNA for the first time back in 1996. There is a nearby nursing home that will be offering the program for free come June or July. I will be keeping my eyes open for this offer to come by again. I would definitely call around to several nursing homes and see what they are currently offering.

I used to work in Pediatrics when I worked in a nearby hospital. All the nurses were R.N.s and I was the only CNA working the evening shift. There were two CNAs for the day shift. I loved worked in a hospital setting, and when I get my CNA I will apply at whatever hospital is hiring. I often floated to Med/Surg or Post Partum - LOVED the babies!! Good luck on your job change, and I hope it goes smoothly for you!

I would check out favoritehealthcarestaffing.com. Here in Indiana, the highest pay a CNA gets is $18 an hour. From their job listings, it looks like they only place you in Hospitals. My friend, who's an RN suggested this site to me.. They are all across the US.. Some states don't have an agency, but here in Indiana, they do! You need one year experience, I've got 8, but I haven't been an aid for about 9 years. They want one year experience.

I took the class back in 1997. I'm retaking the class next month (May 2011) When I took the course, it was a week of in-classroom and the next 2 weeks were clinicals. I did mine in a nursing home, as I'm sure every class does this no matter what state you're in. I had fun, so will you!

Do you work in a hospital, LTC facility or an agency? and do you like where you are? If you don't mind me asking, what is your payrate right now too?

I've worked in hospital settings (Ped) and Nursing homes (2 different places) and I can totally understand how you feel about being overwhelmed and discouraged. I felt that way several times, but just seeing the residents and being with my friends was all I needed to keep going - This time around, I am going to either do Agency or Home Health

I LOVED being an aid! I'll take your job

And I'm excited about it, nervous.. I don't know why, because I know what to expect and all! I became an aide a month before I turned 19 - this was 14 years ago! I was an aid for 8 years. I quit to become a SAHM. My husband works from home. I want to go back to work because I miss it!! I miss being and aid.. Yes somedays were hard, somedays were easy, but all in all, I loved it! I'm so excited to get back into it again!

1997 I got my CNA - I made 6.50 an hour.. In 2002 When I quit working as a CNA I made 10.50 an hour. I'm now going back to CNA classes.. I've had children and my CNA expired, and I need work! So I'm excited to see how much I will make this time around.. I will not go any lower than 11/hour.

My DH thinks I will have a hard time with anatomy and physiology. He's kind of holding back on me going to school right now. A girl I know took the test a few times before she actually passed it, how hard is it??

You shouldn't worry when someone looks down on you. CNAs are very important in the medical field. WE are the hands, eyes and ears for the nurses.. if it weren't for us, who knows where hospitals/LCTF would be! Good luck.

Congrats on passing the exam!