mattiemiranda

Becoming faster just takes time! I was the same way when I became a CNA. Once you get comfortable with what you are doing you will be faster! As far as the 11pm to 7am shift....it just depends on the facility and what is available but I don't think that it would be too hard to get that shift. You can always take a different shift and ask them if they can change you to that shift when a spot opens up!

The best advice that I can give you is to not 2nd guess yourself! I have been told a million times to not change answers on tests and quizzes and I finally started listening. My grades have been higher ever since. Usually, the first answer that comes to your mind is going to be right. Don't be discouraged! It happens to the best of us!!! I am in a class of 55 students and most of us did that during our first semester. Now that we are in 2nd semester, we know better! :) I used to get so stressed out about the answers that I got wrong...whether it was because I changed the answer when I had the right answer to begin with, or whether I just didn't know the answer. Now, I have learned to look at it as a learning experience! Nursing school is hard, so give yourself some credit! :)

I am in LPN school in Tennessee. I have been in school for 2 months. For the first trimester we take A&P, Geriatrics, Personal Vocational Relationships, Skills, Common Emergencies, Nutrition, Pharmacology, Drug Calculations, and Intro to Med/Surg. I am in a 12 month accelerated program.

I have been in LPN school for 2 months now. At first, it was extremely hard to get used to the routine of going to school 5 days a week and studying for so many hours after school. You just have to get into the mindset that nursing is your dream!!! The quote that I think about often is "Failure is not an option". Just work on your study skills and try to have a schedule of when you study but make sure that you do have a little time to just relax and breathe!!! You will get used to the routine. Just give it some time. Try your hardest and before you know it, you will be an LPN!!! :)

I go to Tennessee Technology Center in Nashville. I started the LPN program on May 3rd and just finished up my 6th week. I have heard that all of the TTC LPN programs are similar. Basically, it is extremely fast paced! In Nashville, we started out with Anatomy, Personal Vocational Relationships, and Geriatrics. PVR and Geriatrics were short and the finals for those 2 classes were only a few weeks after the start of school. Now, we are still in Anatomy and have started Skills and Intro to Med/Surg. Finals for Anatomy and Skills will be in about a week. The program involves a ton of studying!!!! I am doing really well in all of my classes and made A's in the 2 that I am finished with. Just be sure to read everything that the instructors tell you to read and highlight what they go over in the books. I usually study anywhere from 4 to 6 hours after classes. It is overwhelming at times and stressful, but you will get used to it! Things may be different in Shelbyville but that is what the program in Nashville is like! If you have any questions feel free to email me at [email protected]! :)

Thanks for the info. My financial aid ended up covering the whole program and I started classes last Tuesday! :)

Some schools won't make you go through that training again but they do advise that you go through it again as a refresher course. I am a CNA and have been since 2007. I start LPN school tomorrow and I am definitely going through the entire program because I think it will help me to go through all of it again! :)

I have worked as a CNA in LTC facilities and hospitals. There is definitely a difference. When you work at a LTC facility you might learn more advanced skills but it is unlikely. In a hospital there is more of an opportunity to learn more skills. As far as the patient load goes....it just depends on where you work. I had about the same patient load in a hospital as I did at a LTC facility. In the CNA course you will learn basic care. You will be taught how to give bed baths, obtain inputs and outputs, obtain vital signs, transfer/turn patients, give showers, shave male patients, safety techniques, make beds, proper hand washing techniques, proper discarding of soiled linens, etc. CNA work is not easy but it is rewarding! I have been a CNA for several years and am starting LPN school on Monday. When you first begin you will be unsure and nervous but you will be okay. You eventually get used to everything and will have your own routine! Good luck with your class! Just stay focused and you will be fine! :)

We have a shower/bed bath list that we go by. Not every resident has to have a shower every single day and where I work, they don't require us to give them bed baths every day but I try to give as many bed baths as I can if they really need it. So, no, when I say that I get everyone ready in an hour that usually does not include bed baths, showers, etc. because I usually do that later on in the day unless it absolutely can't wait. The residents that I have right now have different shower times. Some of them I do not have to bathe because they are night shift baths. Usually facilities try to be fair and split them up between day shift and night shift. That way no one is extremely overwhelmed with having to give a ton of showers every day.

That is funny!

If you have any other questions *****. I don't mind trying to answer questions and help out fellow CNA's! :)

I usually have anywhere from 8-12 patients. Breakfast starts around 7:45am and when I work day shifts I get there around 6:45am. Half of the residents that I take care of stay in their bed while the other half get up and go to either the "feeder" room or the regular cafeteria. So I work on getting the ones that go to the cafeteria/feeder room ready before the others. That way I can get them down to the cafeteria in time. Sometimes I am able to get all of my residents ready before it is time for breakfast but I have to really book it to do that. Also...sometimes the night shift CNA's will already have some of them ready because some residents get up way earlier than others. It really just depends on where you're working, etc. Don't stress too much about not being able to get them ready in time. I think all of us CNA's have times when all of them aren't ready in time due to a patient messing up the bed, etc. Just focus on getting the work done. At first, you will be slower than other CNA's that have been doing this for years but that is absolutely normal. In time you will speed up and be able to do everything at a faster pace. That is how I was when I first started. I felt so incompetent but after a few weeks I was able to do things faster.

Being a CNA requires great time management skills. When I first started I was nervous too. But normally you will be with another CNA for a few days to learn everything. You will definitely get used to having 8 to 10 patients. I learned quickly how to prioritize as much as I could. You will have unexpected things pop up out of nowhere that will put you behind but that's pretty normal in health care. You'll get the hang of it and have a routine of your own. Everyone does things differently and you might even notice when you first start out on the floor that the CNA that trains you might not do everything by the book. It is difficult when you first start because you will encounter patients that make you feel like you can't do the job but you just have to push on and keep going!!! I hope this helps!!!!

Thanks for replying!!! I will check out the health departments for all of the medical requirements. I just didn't want to do that until I figured out about my financial aid! I'm nervous about whether or not I will get enough financial aid to cover school but hopefully it will work out! Other than that, I'm so excited!!! I have been a CNT for several years and am so ready to become a nurse!!! :) My name is Mattie and maybe I will see you tomorrow! Oh one more question....which health departments did you go to for the medical stuff? I don't want to go to the wrong one!!!!!! Thanks!!!

A lot of RN's will tell you to just go ahead and and become an RN. But, I started out as a CNA and am now about to start LPN training. I don't regret becoming a CNA first because I do have experience working in different areas and already know the basics. My aunt, who is an RN, told me that it is a great idea to become a LPN first. That way, if you decide that nursing isn't the field you want to be in, you haven't wasted a ton of money at a 4 year school! As far as the person that told you that it's not easy to bridge over....I don't think that it is any problem to become an RN once you're an LPN. All that you have to do is go back to school and once you're an LPN and work at a hospital or somewhere else, the company may even pay for you to complete RN training if you sign a contract with them stating that you will work for them for a specific time. You're doing what you want to do! Don't listen to anyone else!!! :)