Cuety83

That is CRAZY!!!!! NO WAY!!!!! That is the sickest thing i have ever heard, I would never have gone through with it if I knew that was involved! Most states require that you do clinicals, and then you assist in patient care and learn peri-care there. I highly doubt that is true, and if it is, i would find another class, I would never let another person touch my private area, unless I was a patient in a hospital and couldn't do it myself.

I would def. call.....

Wow! I can't believe that that is tolerated, in my state, you can not actively work until you do the first 4 weeks of CNA classes and then on the last two weeks your whole class does clinicals and we get 1 patient. I do the orienting on new people. I am very friendly and I would never give a new person, especially a person in training too much to do. The whole thing about people calling in and being short all the time, that is how you can describe the nursing field, you never have enough help. Stick in there and just pace yourself, thats what I do. You can only do so much. Don't try to rush if you can't handle it, because that will just end up in someone getting hurt. One time, I was working the 7-3 shift and wasn't used to the routine and I was just rushing everything, I forgot to do something simple, like putting an alarm on someone. When I remembered 10 min later, I ran to his room and he was on the floor with his head split open!!! We are all human and make mistakes, but only if I took my time and went over a checklist in my head. I know as a CNA there feels like there is never enough time! But just relax, you'll get it done. When you start your shift, make sure everyone is tolieted and changed; and everyone has a drink, their call light, and linens in their room, it will save a lot of time. Make sure you know where everything is and that you have everything to start your shift, that saves a lot of time too. You don't know how many times I have seen aides running around looking for stuff in the middle of the shift. Hang in there, nursing can be fun. I quit tht first time around because of other rude people. When I started again and had control of things I loved it. The patients that make you laugh and smile, Just remember, we are there for them. I hope it gets better.....good luck.....

Well, I passed the test!! I did really well too, I guess I am smarter than I thought. Now I have to have an interview and write an essay.

OMG!!! great ones!!! You know your a CNA after you have just cleaned up a person who is incontinent and you immediatly go on break and can eat your lunch. You know your a CNA when someone asks you "What is that smell?" and you respond "What smell?"

Well, in the manual it says that this test can only be taken once a year so if I fail it, then I have to wait to take it. I don't know even why you need a test like this. You need a 40 on the math and science and a 70 on the reading and english. I don't know if that means like 40% out of 100%, I don't know how they are going to figure it. Maybe I am just being hard on myself, my other friend is like obsessing over it, she keeps checking the ATI site, still no answer though. The thing that sucks id that the school is in MASS. and they take priority over MASS residents, we are from RI so there is a chance that we could pass the test and still not get in.

I don't know if any of you are familiar with the TEAS test. Some nursing schools make you take this exam before being accepted into their school. I went to the official TEAS websight and ordered the official TEAS study manual and studied that book word for word for THREE MONTHS!!! Then I get the test and most of it has nothing to do with the book!! I think I did good on everything but the science. Most of it was chemistry on the test and the questions they were asking were not in the study manual or online. And the MATH!! I understood all of the questions, even though the questions were asked different than those on the study manual and online, but they only give you 60 min to answer 50 questions!!! That was not enough time to write and figure out all of the questions, so I just guessed the most logical ones. I am so discouraged right now, I feel like that damn book was a ripoff!!!! I'll find out my score on Thursday......

I know how it feels to just want a break sometimes. I am on vacation right now and it's going by so fast. Im only a CNA, and there is no time in the day to take a lunch break, so I just have a snack here and there. I have to take residents out for smokes twice in the shift, and this includes dressing them, getting them out of bed, and putting their coats, gloves, hat and scarves on. Then I take them outside in the freezing cold and light their cigarettes, most of them smoke two in a row, it is so exausting, and takes about 45-60 min out of my shift, so that is considered my break because I don't really have time to take my own break. It gets really tiring to have to go through all that, and then have to get them back in and back into bed and undressed (I work 3-11). Not to mention all the time I waste when they ring every 5-10 min asking if it is time yet for their next cigarette. Then when I actually get a break once in a while, all the residents ring and keep asking everyone where I went and they want to see me when I come back from break. I have been on my skilled/rehab unit for the past four years, everyone has gotten used to me always being there and knowing what they want, Im flattered that they like me so much, but sometimes enough is enough. Some of them even refuse their showers if im off that day, so I can do it when im on, so I get stuck with 2-3 days worth of showers. I love my unit, everyone says that I have spoiled them. I really am thinking about asking for a unit switch because I am physically exausted. Now I am in pain all the time, I need to have a surgery done to my right leg again because of being on my feet too much. Well at least I get these little vacations once in a while. I do love my job and I love taking care and helping people, I just have to learn to take care of myself too sometimes, because im important too.