Gemini84

Thank you for your reply. Yes, that was my original goal after high-school, then I started doing CNA work and fell in love with the medical side. My mother is a counselor, and even with all of her education, my aunt who is an RN makes alot more than her, with an associate degree.. my mom says she wishes she would've chosen nursing. LOL. Yes, Community Outreach, Hospice and Oncology are defintley the things I'd love to do. I have met a few outreach nurses and they said that even though they don't get paid alot, they really love their job. I love Hospice work.. I can't explain it. The relationships that I have made in that field, I will carry in my heart always. :) PS- My mom thinks I shoud be a Psych nurse..She said she could get me a job, but only if I was an RN of course.

Thank you!

Hi! I have posted here a few times in the LPN section, which was my original plan. Now, I'm having second thoughts. I HATE math! I mean HATE! I'm not good at it at all!! English and writing is my thing. :) The LPN program I was interested in requires Math116 (Math Applications) and English 101. It is a Tech college. A community college, for the rest of 2009, is allowing Math116 and starting in 2010, they will be requiring Math100 (College Algebra) for new applicants. I feel like if I can really study and be eligible for Math116 for LPN, why not just do the RN program? I'm 24, will be 25 this Summer. I'm not married and no kids..just animals. LOL. I was just in a hurry to finish and I thought a year would fly by and I would have a great career, but I'm looking at the big picture. The jobs I see in the paper are mostly for nursing homes and assisted living facilities for LPN's. I'm just not interested in doing that. My dream is to be a community outreach nurse.. as I do ALOT of volunteer work with homeless shelters. I would also love to work in Oncology, as I lost my grandmother to a rare cancer in 2001. So.. I only have until the end of March to decide between the tech. college or the community college for RN. Any advice is great! Thank you for reading.:typing

Hi. I'm from north Alabama, and I recieved my NA at a local nursing home. It was 4 weeks total training and they pay you an hourly rate while you're in class. Once you get on the floor and get certified, you go up in pay. :) Check out these nursing homes, as they are always advertising for CNA classes: Sunbridge Health and Rehab Athens Convalescent Center Limestone Health Facility (always hiring) Valley View Health and Rehab Hope this helps you some! Being a CNA was my first job at 18, now I'm 24 and a nursing student.

Thank you for the reply! You really touched on something, that inspired me to be a nurse. When I first started school, I wanted to be a Social Worker. I got a job in Hospice care in 2005 and my life changed. I was raised by a grandparent who passed with cancer in 2001, and she had Hospice care. The people that I met inspired me in so many ways! The Hospice agency I worked for had meetings every Monday where the Social Workers would report on the clients and the RN manager would read thank you cards and notes from families. The two Social Workers thought it was so funny that everytime they would go out to ask about the "nursing" care of the clients, the families would always ask about me and say many good things. (I was a CNA)... As cliche' as it sounds, I honestly just treated the patients like I wanted my grandmother treated or myself. I would bring the patients birthday cards or little gifts on their Birthdays, etc. I loved getting the thank you notes and hearing all the nice things the clients would say about me on supervisory visits. I remember one of the managing RN's called me into her office and asked me if I had ever considered nursing before. (I was 21 at the time)..She told me that the field really needed people "like me" in it that truly cared for the patients. You reminded me of that! :) Thank you again and please know that you have inspired me a little more to keep on in nursing school.

Thank you so much for the welcome! I guess my first question would be; what is your favorite thing about being a Parish nurse and do you (or know of any other nurses) that might volunteer/work at homeless shelters? If so, what kind of duties do you perform for them? Thanks for being so friendly! :)

I have so much respect for all nurses; LPN's and RN's but there is something very special about Parish/Community Outreach Nursing. This is my dream. I am a nursing student and while right now, I'm just doing the basics, I am so excited for the future! I do alot of volunteer work with area homeless shelters and I have been doing so for a few years now (I'm 24).. When I decided to become a nurse, I didn't study salaries or anything. That is how I knew I was making a wise choice. It came from the heart. I watched a news program on late night TV a few weeks ago, and the show was following around a Community Outreach RN that was giving basic medical care to street homeless indiviuals. It really touched my heart and even she said, "this is not about money". I feel like this is where God is putting me. I already do so much work with homeless shelters, I feel I could do so much more with my education. Thanks to those of you who have posted about your experiences in this field. :bowingpur:nurse: PS- Any advice is greatly appreciated as well!

I feel your pain! I worked as a CNA right out of high-school with the intentions of becoming a nurse. I thought "good experience and good hands on work".. it was great experience, but it was exhausting! I had the deal with alot of the nurses you have.. they would actually come and find us if we were on break, or in another patient's room just to answer a call light. It used to make me so mad! Alot of the LPN's I worked with back then really loved to show their authority. I have made the choice not to do CNA work again while in school. I know it will drive me away!!

Thank you so much for your encouraging words! :) My aunt is a Hospice RN in Florida, and she loves it. My grandmother (her mother) had Hospice care, and it touched our lives. My mother is a Therapist, so I guess it just runs through the veins. I'm actually studying Elementary Algebra, just to freshen up.. people can laugh, but I'm doing everything I can to be prepared. Thank you again, and good luck to you in your nursing adventures!

Hi. It's just the general Compass entrance exam. I'm attending a Tech. College.. and the best thing about this school, is there are no waiting lists. You pass Math 116 and your Compass reading, and your in the nursing program. Of course, they only offer LPN, but that is great for right now. :)

Hi all! I have been to this forum several times and registered today. I am a nursing student hopeful, for Summer, 2009. I have to take the placement exam in January. I am HORRIBLE in math!! So, I'm completley terrified that this is going to hinder me. The requirements for the LPN program I hope to get into is Math 116 (Applications).. Of course, Reading score of 76 or higher as well. I'm 24, and I've had to put off school for so long, due to death of a family member. I'm determined not to do this any longer. I worked in Hospice care for two years as a HHA/CNA and my dream is to be a Hospice nurse. I don't have a "back-up" career.. LOL. I know this is my calling. I'm hoping some of my fellow "math haters" out there can give me some encouragement, especially if you're in a nursing program. :)