Anubis

Hey Kate: I've also been having this same thought process. When I got out of nursing school, I had to take the first job I could find, which was analyzing clinical data for QC. I got a kick out of it at first, but find that I spend most of my time finding ways to extrapolate and manipulate patient data (legally, of course) to benefit the doctors, but I don't have direct patient contact at all. After only a year and a half on the job, I'm unhappy and bored. A dear NP friend of mine is trying to get me on at the hospice agency he works for, because hospice was what I originally intended on doing when I started school. I've seen far too many friends die to not feel like there's something I could do, and I think hospice will allow me that opportunity.

My thoughts too...if they're that narrow-minded, I probably wouldn't enjoy being around them anyway.

I agree, your husband should be more supportive of what makes YOU happy. As far as the job goes, get somewhere that you are happy and you enjoy. Many years ago, a pharmacist I knew told me "we spend too many waking hours at work to not enjoy what we do." This goes for everybody...if you don't like it, change it.

I've actually been having great luck with the New Balance MW575WT all white walking shoes. They're comfortable, easy to clean, and didn't cost a fortune. I have high arches, so I'm very particular about what I put on my feet.

My fingers and thumbs were getting in horrible shape because of constant hand washing and gloving. I finally started to carry a small tube of Eucerin w/me and would re-lotion as often as I could between pts, to help retain moisture at work, and then at night, just before I roll over to go to sleep, I put a big glob of Neutrogena Norwegian Formula (the thick stuff) on and rub it in really well...works great for me. But after reading through this thread, I think I may try to add the olive oil sugar scrub once in a while. I'm diabetic, so it's very important for me to keep my fingers from cracking and getting in bad shape in the first place.

I've only been on the job as a CNA for a little over a month, and work 2nd shift (2-10). It's okay, get the residents after they've had lunch, before dinner, and then afterward just have to put them to bed. Third shift seems like they have the best deal, the residents are in bed already and they leave just before they get up, so they don't have to get them dressed. They just have to answer the occasional call light for a snack, toileting or a briefs change. It would sure be nice if they could take the initiative to restock briefs and stuff, but even if they don't, they still make the same money. But if you can't adjust to it, no harm in that, nursing needs all shifts!

I passed my CNA exam on 1/4/2009. I had passed the written test on the first try back in December, but the evaluator started talking to me during the practicals and asked me to perform one of them differently, and then she failed me for it, so I did a retake (at another facility) and passed. My skills (on the retake) were; Handwashing (of course) Radial Pulse Ambulation w/a Gait Belt Range of Motion (knee and ankle) Making an Occupied Bed The bed was the one skill I probably practiced the most...took me 4 minutes from start to finish. Five days after passing, I landed an interview at a local nursing home and just started my new job last night! I'm on my way to a new career in healthcare! Thanks, and congrats to all the other CNAs out there. It is a critical service that we perform, so be proud to toot your own horn now and then! :thankya:

I can't speak for the other campuses, but at the Denver campus, we have some very competent instructors. The director of our nursing program is one of the advisors to the council that writes the NCLEX exam (so I was told, anyway), so maybe it's something local to the KC campus. I am sorry you had such a horrible experience; there ARE some schools out there only interested in getting money from their students, but our nursing staff seems to be genuinely interested in producing good students.

Don't give in, just walk away. This kind of "fake" crying is almost always a ploy, because she knows she screwed up and she's hoping that by crying, you'll feel sorry for her, not report her and she'll be off the hook -- you've heard the expression about the power of a woman's tears...it's like kryptonite to Superman (usually only works on straight guys, though...gay men are largely immune...LOL). She knew perfectly well she dropped the ball and she's scared...and she should be; accountability and professionalism are NOT gender-specific. Fake crying sure as heck wouldn't work in the other direction!

For those of us who are not familiar with advanced sound technology, I take it this is a good thing? LOL

Well, I won't be eligible until probably next June, as I am taking A&P I this qtr, A&P II + Algebra 2nd qtr, Micro and Nutrition 3rd qtr (they took Eng Comp as a transfer, so I'm taking Nutrition to get enough points). I've already had all my immunizations, and will take TEAS, drug test and background in March-ish, to try and qualify for clinicals in June. I'm hoping to get in on the first try.

When I enrolled at NAU, I was told by my counselor that the NLNAC was tentatively coming in this fall to evaluate them for accreditation, and they felt optimistic that they were going to get it. According to her, there are currently only two other nursing schools in Colorado that are NLNAC-accredited. I don't know how true any of this is, just what I was told, because I specifically asked about accreditation.

Hey there, Kenaldo and MomOf6WannaBeRN....I'm enrolled at the NAU Denver campus too! Are either of you interested in getting a study group together (assuming we're taking the same course)? I'm taking A&P I, Mon & Wed. Let me know!

Don't waste your money on a tape recorder, get a digital voice recorder. Microcassettes have to be flipped over, which can disrupt the class, and you can only record a short amount at a time before it fills up. Go to Best Buy or Office Max (or similar) and buy one of these new tape-less wonders. I bought a Sony IC Recorder, it records up to 260 hours continuously with NO TAPE, and it's totally silent, so the instructor won't frown at you for unnecessary noise. As a bonus, I can hook it up to my laptop and upload all of my lectures right to the hard drive and save them as voice files. It comes with voice editor software, so I can edit out the sidebar conversations (and keep only the pertinent lecture material) and even burn them to a CD or IPOD/MP3 if I want. Also, if I had the right version of the voice recognition software, it would even automatically transcribe the lecture recordings into written notes! This thing is AMAZING!!! I can record an entire quarter's worth of lectures before the thing fills up. I plan on using this little gizmo a LOT.

By the way, many thanks for the website info, I'll use that too. I absolutely need every advantage so I can make sure I get into clinicals without having to wait. Much appreciated from all of us that still have it in front of us.