darci14

I am a new cna and about to start my second semester of nursing school. I started a new job in LTC a week ago. I am light years away from being as fast as the other cna's who work the night shift with me. I am always going over my time. The other night another cna who has been there for twenty years told me that the reason I am so slow is because I am washing the residents (peri) when I change their briefs. I am supposed to, right? My preceptor said to but this aid told me that nobody does that including my preceptor and the only reason she did it with me was because with the two of us working together she had more time and help. She said eventually I would be fired for too much overtime or for being too slow. Also, this is one of the top rated homes in this area. After she said this I understood why every resident I changed on my shift had terrible odors and usually residue from the last BM. Does anyone have any feed back or suggestions? I really need this job. It is my first job in the field and eventhough I am in nursing school I still want to be a great cna too. Any comments are welcome. I would really like to know if this is true among aids because I find it apalling.

I took the dosages calc test last May after the spring semester and I applied the first week of June, I think. I am pretty excited after two years of prereqs. I say hang in there. Work and get experience in the meantime if you can. The wait is soooo worth not having the student loans.

I applied at FP last spring and got my letter to start this fall.

When I attended orientation at Forest Park a month ago I asked about the nursing tutor in the student success center. The Forest Park campus does still have a tutor for students in the nursing program, not just prereqs. You should check with Meramec if you need further help. I have heard good things about Forest Park, so I am glad I waited it out.

Don't know about St. Anthony but SLU hospital does.

Do you still attend STLCC Forest Park? I am starting the Fall 2010 program. My understanding is that tutoring is offered in the Student Success Center. Is this no longer the case? I haven't been in there since I took Biology.

I know how fortunate I am. It took a long time and a lot of networking. This is the most respected and biggest teaching hospital in the area. Since I start NS this Fall, I hope to work here during school and as a RN when I get my license.

Well, the second and third days were much better than the first. I got to practice vital signs and improve my accuracy. I am supposed to work with an RN this week so I am pretty excited, but I think I did a pretty stupid thing. After my first three days, I emailed my nurse manager to touch base. I didn't say anything negative. I thanked her for assigning a knowlegable preceptor. I told her I had been nervous that first day and that by the third day I was more comfortable. I also asked direct questions that require a direct answer. Well that was two days ago and I have yet to even get a response from her. I am terrified that my preceptor said unfavorable things about me. I guess I will find out when I go back this week. I definately won't be sending anymore emails. I hope she has just been too busy to respond and doesn't think I'm a moron.

Yesterday was my very first day working as a CNA in a hospital. I have never done this kind of work before. I worked in finance and am starting NS this fall. I felt like a total idiot. I got lost more than once, was sent to get supplies and forgot what room to take them back to. To top it all off, I could not get an accurate BP all day. Well, twice out of about fifteen times. Not only have I been practicing on friends and family for about a year, we were told in CNA class that we should silence the room. My preceptor says we can not turn down the TV or ask family members to be quiet. She has been a CNA for eight years. She even takes BP over sleeves. We have been using a steth with two sets of ear pieces. I hate to think that she takes pride in me not getting the same reading that she does. She also loudly announces that she wants me to count respirations. We were told in class that if the pt knows u are counting, they subconsciously alter them. It was my first day and I was frustrated and nervous. This was also the first time in my life that I have ever worked twelve hours straight. I know that I must concentrate. That is the key. I just can't help feeling that after practicing for such a long time, my BP skill should be more accurate. Any advice would be appreciated. My hospital uses the disposable steths and cuffs because of isolation.

I had to check to see if I had written this post. The only reason I knew it wasn't me is that I am 47 years old. I too completed my CNA in October 2009. I worked in an office for 16 years, laid off, 2 years of prereques, hoping to start ns this fall. I didn't really start to look for a CNA job until January. Not because of school but because I like you was terrified. My CNA clinicals were my only experience and I wasn't sure how many of my skills I remembered since I has been almost 6 months or more since completion. I am lucky to have found a job at a hospital. I start on Monday. I am terrified beyond belief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel intimidated, sick, nervous, sleep deprived due to nightmares. I say all of this to let you know that you are not alone. We have all been in the position of being new at a job. I always tried to treat new people with care and consideration and hope to be treated the same. I really want to be a nurse and have worked really hard on my prereques. This is the next logical step. If you are lucky enough to get a job that gives you experience at a facility where they are willing to take a chance on you, then you have to believe in yourself and your ability to learn. Of course I need a job as much as the next person, but the main reason I accepted this job is to LEARN. Go for it, give it your best, and don't look back.

Being a single Mom is hard even when you are not in school. My first semester in school I found something that worked wonders for me. My only child is 18 so while I didn't have little ones under foot, I had been out of school for nearly 30 years. I found that the afternoons were a terrible time for me to try to study because by then, life had started to intrude on my ability to concentrate. As a result, I no longer study after 2 in the afternoon if I can help it. It is insane to a lot of my classmates, but I get up at 2 in the morning, have a cup of coffee and hit the books. I have found that my mind is so much clearer and able to retain material. At this time of the morning I am less likely to be thinking about what my husband or daughter said or whether they get on my nerves. You may not be able to or want to get up at 2 in the morning, but some variation may work for you. Just find the time of day that your mind is most uncluttered and try to study then. Good luck.

Does anyone work full time while going to nursing school? Is this even possible? The program I have been accepted into does not recommend it, but I really need to work. Is anyone out there doing both at the same time? Darci14

Congratulations on getting your first job as a CNA! In my area they have been terribly hard to come by if you don't have experience. I have applied for dozens if not hundreds, both hospitals and ltc with no luck. Good for you. Maybe that means theres hope for me.