R2ndof7

Thank you all for your input. I was coming at it from the thought that there might not be formal statements on objecting to participating in certain programs or procedures. If you can't turn down assignments (referencing a post by Athena concerning the army), I thought this might also involve responsibilities in the clinical setting. I didn't think of a recruiter as a logical source of information on this because it is often not relevant until you have had such a situation arise that involves intense ethical deliberations.

As I have the opportunity to move into nursing school and advance my training, I reflect upon what I will miss as my job responsibility expands. Frankly, I feel that the CNA work that I do is the heart of patient care. I am certainly not trying to minimize a nurse's duty, but it is when I am doing a complete bath that I have the opportunity to chat with a patient and get to know them more. I think that person-to-person contact is what draws many people into the profession. With the high level of technology, though, and intense patient loads, RNs don't have the time to have extended patient contact. I respect my nurses greatly when I see them taking advantage of the time that they do have. My hospital has some amazing nurses that initiate assisting me with my tasks. Oh my word - one nurse in particular, in her energizer bunny way, is absolutely involved and always available to take care of patients. When we work together, we get our baths done right off the bat as time permits. It truly is a partnership. So I'm partial to CNAs, but I'm also very partial to RNs. It's not hard to tell a good, hard-working one after about 2 hours into the shift, although everyone has their day. I would say that nursing student involvement largely depends on the school's initial instruction and the individual student's comfortability/availability. A nursing program from a local school has given us students that exhibit a range of intensities in involvement. When I have a nursing student working with my nurse and I, I do enjoy their help as well, but I make myself available to help with turns, BGMs, baths, toileting, etc. When I have had one or two students who did not seem to be as involved when I called upon them to help me, it quickly became evident that it was not due to laziness or an adherence to a hierarchy, but due to a lack of real-life experience. Then, of course, since the job still needed to be done no matter what, and since I have been in that place myself as new CNA, fresh from school, I jumped in and just told them what needed to be done and how to do it. I myself "hug the sidelines" when I feel very insecure about my abilities. I hope that when I am an RN, I will find the setting that allows me to still wipe a patient's bottom. Those cares are what truly can build a relationship with a patient and establish trust when it comes time to pass medications. If you aspire to make a living as a CNA, then I salute you! Mr. Jones would not have been able to eat his dinner when he did and Mrs. Grady would not have had an ear to listen to her stories for that 5 minutes you gave her, if they were solely relying on an RN who is still trying to give Mr. O'Brien his Ativan.

I do not know if anyone has encountered a situation that would enable them to answer my question, but I am wondering about a navy nurse's right to object to participate in procedures or programs that conflict with his or her own convictions. That would be my main concern with a position that is much more contractual than that of a civilian nurse. I would not want to qualify for some sort of punishment if I objected to participate in a clinical procedure or program that I did not agree with if I had less flexibility to do so. Any thoughts? Thank you! Rachel

Thanks for the laugh! The most that I have had someone remark about personal care done during a bath was an interesting older gentleman to whom I was providing much needed peri care. Having worked as a CNA at my hospital for almost a year now, I am way past the embarrassment factor, almost to a non-empathetic point (I have to put myself in their shoes often to remember that while I'm used to seeing people naked, that does not translate into every patient being comfortable like that. They certainly don't deal with it day to day unless they come from LTC.) I just replied to this older patient that while I really wasn't uncomfortable like he thought I was, I realized that it certainly could be a different matter for him. I try to impart a definite willingness to be there to provide care for the patient - a "that's what I'm here for" assurance that I hope sets aside some of that "you're in my very personal space" response. Then you start getting the amusing male patients who take my willingness to help to the extremes, just to try to make me blush. Oh, my. I certainly respect the male population who goes into nursing, though. I love the male nurses at my hospital - there is nothing that is more comforting to me than to see what excellent care they give. I can't imagine how the dear little lady who is being patted on the hand must feel. Being a female myself, I hope that no one will think I'm being sexist by recognizing the different care personalities of each gender. I think nurses in general are very special people. This is especially evident when they are able to take a few extra minutes with a patient, even when their phone is ringing and they're an hour behind on meds. Thanks for the great examples that are set by the amazing nurses out there!

That makes sense to me. Right now, WSU is just my best option and I'll move ahead with that unless something else happens. Right now, I'm also exploring the option of Navy nursing after I graduate. That's certainly not something I ever anticipated looking into, but it's at least something to research right now in this rather low-key waiting period. I've had fun chatting with you about school! Take care and don't hesitate to stay in touch.

I actually know that God had a hand in my acceptance at the hospital. It was my first ever CNA job, since I had just finished my training in August. I was sooo green and inexperienced. I needed it since I knew I couldn't be on my parents' insurance anymore without being a full-time student and thank goodness I got it! The manager hired me on the spot after a short interview (She has offered other possible hirees a shadow session, but I think that I was probably emphatic enough about the job that she didn't feel that was necessary in my case.) I had completed Foundations of Nursing, but I'm not sure what exactly influenced my manager's decision. She called my CNA instructor that day for a reference, which I assume was a positive one. So I said all of that to say that my hospital was very willing to hire me and was very much in need. I work on the Medical Unit, though I have recently oriented to CCU and to do telemetry, since we keep those monitors at our desk. I do tele once a week, watching the monitors and doing staff assignments for the next shift. No LTC for me, although I'm not opposed to the idea. We get quite a large population of geriatric patients in, so sometimes it does feel like LTC, only in a higher intensity setting. I highly recommend working as a CNA if you need more experience in health care. I've found that material and hands-on experiences stick with me much longer than textbook time. For instance, I'm pretty sure that I could insert a Foley without any problems! I hope your job search goes well! Let me know if you have any questions. When do you anticipate starting the nursing program? I've talked to techs from St. Francis and Via Christ - a lot busier than my hospital and a bit of a different set-up, where one aide works under several nurses. At mine, one aide is assigned to each nurse. It's a really nice arrangement, I find.

I am using my nurse aid certification full-time currently at my local hospital. I really enjoy it and I have such a better idea of how things work, compared to what I knew going into classes in fall of '07. How about you?

I am going to try to get all of my materials in for spring '09 (Sept. 1 deadline), though I don't have my heart set on it. I figure that it won't kill me to ease my way back into school, especially when it comes to finances. Good for you and Chemistry! I'm definitely a bigger fan of A & P (though they are complementary in many ways). Give me the acetabulum and sodium-potassium pumps any day over titrations, as contradictory as that sounds! I would love to hear how it goes for you. I am definitely excited to take Patho. I've been dying to really get into a good class for this!

I appreciate your thoughts and information. You have confirmed what I was suspecting to be true. I'm trying to work on this patience thing. I've finally gotten to the point where I don't have to finish my BSN in the next year (if it were possible), but I still like to plan and consider all of my options. Ah, I wonder how I would succeed in martial arts. At least I know that I have a pretty good chance with the sit-ups and the run. I'm not really a runner, but I get close to the lower end of the spectrum with a brisk walk/jog. I really have to leave it in God's hands, though. I might end up in a field that is the polar opposite of the armed services! I love to keep exploring, though.

I feel like my schooling is a long story at this point...lol. I have my associate of arts from my ol' faithful community college and one year of half-useful credits from a school that I opted to leave last September when I discovered how bad their NCLEX-RN scores had been. That was my first year in nursing school - lasted about two weeks. Needless to say, I was a bit scarred since I had has such a huge build-up (self-elected, of course), but I'm ready to get back into it again. I have a much more realistic perspective, as well, although I do not feel any less passionate about the beauty of the profession. I am enrolled for Pharm and Patho this fall, though I may only opt to take Patho so I can still work part-time (I'm currently full-time).This is material that I find utterly fascinating and I want to spend sufficient time with it to really have a solid base. I did Med. Term this summer and enjoyed that. Thank goodness I was quite familiar with a lot of it because I did not spend as much time with it as I would have a year ago. In my newly acquired wisdom, though (), I know that I will learn it much more effectively OTJ. I love the initial exposure, so I am much less likely to make a goof up by being too confident in the grey areas of my knowledge. How about you? I see the 2011. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I have had A & P in various forms multiple time, starting in high school, so I feel pretty comfortable with that. Are you currently employed in a health care facility?

Thanks for the quick reply! That is good to know.

I have met with a counselor at WSU, but I can't remember if they use the actual TEAS score as a factor in admissions, or if they just examine whether you were in the acceptable range. Any thoughts on this? I know that some schools actually use the test score to determine order of admissions for their applicants, rather than as a general indicator of knowledge. Does that make sense?

I can't give any different advise than what has already been offered - all good! We have automatic machines in every room at my hospital, and provided that they cooperate, my routine usually involves getting the temperature first, but after I have applied the BP cuff and pulse oximetry probe. Then, especially if it is a talkative patient, I very pointedly tell them that I am going to start their BP. Usually this will keep them quiet for the time being. That way I can check their resps and get a more accurate BP since they're not talking. I have had those patients that seem to do everything possible (not deliberately, of course) to interfere with me getting a solid idea of their RR. Oh my. I have not hesitated in some cases to stand outside their door, hoping that they will not sense me watching them, and count them from out there. If they catch me...I can't make too many apologies! :) As long as their breathing is regular, I take it for 30 seconds and double it. This changes, of course, if I need to double check an abnormal result (high or low) or if their respirations are irregular. Then I count for a full 60. I have known some to multiply the resps in 15 seconds by 4 for a really fast result, but this is a little too quick of a method for me. I know some nurses who have it ingrained in them to always count for 60. Then the pulse assessment comes in handy. My CNA instructor would do pulse for the first 30, then RR in the last 30 seconds of the minute. All of those little tricks! As for the time, I think that as long as you do not find yourself suffering extremely by the time expenditure at the beginning of the shift, you should not worry about hurrying through VS rounds. The beginning of the shift is the vital time (no pun intended) for me to make that initial bonding with my patients where I assure them that I am there for them and would like to take care of any continuing needs that often times the previous shift was not able to handle in last minute rushes. The elderly ladies, often times with UTIs, let me know as soon as I come in the room that they need to use the restroom. Better now than later, like when dinner trays have just been delivered and Mr. Jones needs to be fed, or when I am listening to another patient talk. The interruption of my phone ringing has not ceased to strike me as rude, so I can't imagine what the patient feels. With experience, though, I have become less hesitant to politely indicate that I am unable to chat at the moment (given that what they're communicating is not directy related to patient care), but will be back to check on them and see how they're doing. I do love to listen to stories, especially those from the beloved geriatric patients. The more brisk VS pace is necessary if I forsee a particularly busy night (ie. frequent bathroom calls, multiple complete baths, incontinent patients), or if I am getting a new admission shortly. Assuring the patient of my availability and willingness to help seems to temper that rapid entrance and exit as I try to get those out of the way. I've certainly mellowed in how much I stress about getting things done in a certain amount of time or right away. Focus on building a good relationship with your patients if possible and let that take care of any awkwardness you may feel! I haven't known anyone to get upset because they thought I was taking too much time with them (unless they're trying to sleep). Neglect is what leaves a negative impression of the hospital with them (if that is the setting in which you work).

After taking a year off from school (the program was doing poorly), I am ready to get back into a nursing program - of course, assuming that I will hopefully be accepted at some point for spring or fall '09. As I have started to consider my options, I have been drawn toward possibly entering the military, with my first inclination being toward the navy. I am not very concerned about wages or retirement benefits, etc. Perhaps that seems unwise to some, but I trust that God will take care of me. I am very used to living simply, as well, so cruises to the Bahamas are not in my plans! I said all of that to say that I am just really passionate about doing what nursing allows me to do - care for others, offering them my knowledge and skill to fall upon when they are not in a position to care for themselves. In my time off, I have worked full-time as a CNA at the hospital. Doing this has led me to desire a structured environment, one with a healthy level of security, as in reasonable health care and time off to refresh, in which to practice what gives me the greatest peace. I had a patient once that was telling me about his occupation. He said that it is work that if he is not doing it, something just does not feel right inside. That captured my feelings beautifully! It's not about a warm fuzzy feeling for me, but almost a compulsion! Nursing is rarely a luxury, rarely easy, but always immensely rewarding if situations and patients are put in the correct perspective. Easier said than done, I know! I just have to get that off my chest to those who will have more than an inkling of what I am talking about. (I'm not even an RN, either, so I know it is particularly challenging when it comes to med administration and precarious procedures.) As I have looked around the boards here and have examined the Navy site as well, I am left with some questions that hopefully a patient soul will be able to answer. First of all...I have little intense upper body strength. It's capable of development, I'm sure, but if I have to pass the fitness test (particularly the push-ups) to be accepted in the first place, I'd have to really go great guns. Given that I would probably qualify for additional, on-site physical training, I am totally fine with that. I would just like the initial acceptance without having to hire a personal trainer. Probably my biggest physical flaw is my eyesight. I function more than adequately with RGP contacts or my glasses, but without them, there is not even rough detail discernment here. I have astigmatism as well, though I can't say to what degree. Does this strike anyone as being an automatic rule-out? Hospital corpsman - that position truly sounds intriguing. Would anyone say that it is a mistake to enlist and go with that? Can you chose to do that, or is it an involuntarily elected position? Would it significantly decrease my ability to obtain my BSN if and when I decided to return to that path? I am honestly just ready to be in a steady, constant (though flexible and progressive) place that enables me to express my passion, to ever increase my knowledge and skill, and to have a place to lay my head at night. Any thoughts, ideas and insight would be truly appreciated! I'm sorry to make some of you reread and readdress similar issues that have been broached before. Please feel free to redirect me to the right place, rather than take time to answer similar questions. I'm just a stickler for quite up to date information! Thank you so much! Rachel

CNAs are allowed time and a half at my hospital when they work overtime. We also have the general shift differentials for evening, night and weekend! I am not familiar with LTC policy, though.