northernguy

northernguy

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All Content by northernguy

  1. respect between CNAs and Nurses

    northernguy replied to tanzie2469's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    Ive read a lot about friction between RNs and CNAs on here, but I havent encountered much of it. In a hospital setting you might encounter an RN who doesnt seem to have much use for CNAs, maybe...

  2. Is it hard to find a CNA job?

    northernguy replied to umbdude's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    I didnt have any trouble finding a job right out of CNA school, but you will most likely have to work in LTC, which is not a job everyone can do. Running around non stop all shift, busting your back...

  3. CNA's, Favorite department to work in?

    northernguy replied to gochicagobears's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    Its not like Ive worked on a ton of different units to compare, but I would say Med/Surg because you see a little bit of everything and it probably has the most variety of any unit you can work on,...

  4. CNA Life

    northernguy replied to 1010MASH's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    Theres no way to know what the situation is only hearing one side of the story. The fact management used the word tattle tale raises red flags in my mind, that doesnt seem like a word most supervisors...

  5. Does your LTC/SNF/ALF require CNA 2 (Acute CNA) Certification?

    northernguy replied to CNA1991's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    What exactly does a CNA 2 or acute CNA learn that a CNA 1 doesnt? My state has no such certification, its just CNA and thats it. Does a CNA 2 learn phlebotomy and EKG

  6. Your Work Environment

    northernguy replied to fuzzywuzzy's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    Have you thought about working at a hospital? I think you'll find a hospital environment a lot easier, with less pettiness and without people constantly making mountains out of molehills. Its...

  7. What does seniority mean at your facility?

    northernguy replied to AJ_427's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    If you are in a union it has concrete benefits. Otherwise it probably depends on your personality. Some people are able to milk their seniority more than

  8. Have you taken a BLS class?? or CPR??

    northernguy replied to missie1's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    I would take the BLS class for sure unless you have severe income issues and its expensive in your area. If you want to work in a hospital its going to be required, and even in LTC or some other CNA...

  9. Lazy stuck up nurses

    northernguy replied to UpstateNyDollCna's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    One thing that has surprised me as a CNA are how nice and easy to work with most of the RNs have been. In LTC we did have some bossy ones, and in the hospital you do have some that make it clear THEY...

  10. Hospital CNA's, what do you do?

    northernguy replied to gochicagobears's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    I work Med/Surg. It varies somewhat depending on the shift. Id be typing all day if I listed EVERY thing we might possibly do during the course of the shift, but mainly check vital signs assist with...

  11. stretched earlobe piercings as CNA?

    northernguy replied to stretchedlobez's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    Wait, you have a tattoo on your face as well as the stretched earlobe thing? Ill be honest, you got an uphill battle here. If you are female it might not be as bad, but if you're a male the second...

  12. Advice on overnight?

    northernguy replied to mag426's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    What is a PCA exactly? Are you a CNA? Im assuming PCT(patient care tech) and PCA are the same thing, but I get confused with all these different names. I can tell you what a CNA and PCT does on the...

  13. I got a JOB!

    northernguy replied to karamarie91's topic in Patient Care Technician, Assistants

    Med/surg will basically just be an easier version of what you did in LTC. You may have a few patients that are incontinent or need turning, but it wont be a constant thing like LTC. One big difference...

  14. Emergency Rooms

    northernguy replied to MVitiello's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    Pretty much all ER techs do blood draws, start IVs, start foleys, and do EKGs. Its a lot more than portering and generally beyond the scope of practice of a CNA. There may be ERs that hire CNAs and...

  15. Getting into an ER as a Tech

    northernguy replied to MusicEMT's topic in Patient Care Technician, Assistants

    Sounds like you are already more qualified than most since you have actual EMT experience along with ACLS and EKG training. Where I live its impossible to get any of that kind of training unless its...

  16. Is hospice volunteering a good start for CNA?

    northernguy replied to Jessicainsantafe's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    Do you want to do this volunteering in order to gain experience as a CNA and help to get a job? If so I dont think it would be that hard to find a paid position as a CNA as long as you are willing to...

  17. Getting into an ER as a Tech

    northernguy replied to MusicEMT's topic in Patient Care Technician, Assistants

    If you are an EMT Basic, it probably would help to have some phlebotomy and EKG training, since both seem to be pretty much universal roles for ER techs. Also wouldnt hurt to be a

  18. why did you want to be a cna?

    northernguy replied to mee9mee9's topic in Patient Care Technician, Assistants

    What other job allows me to wear pajamas at

  19. Is it time to quit?

    northernguy replied to Noob_to_Nursing's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    It doesnt really matter if the guy was joking or not, obviously the poster didnt find it amusing and it made them feel uncomfortable, which was likely the intention of the comment. This is a people...

  20. Is it time to quit?

    northernguy replied to Noob_to_Nursing's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    You should definitely report the "im going to hurt you comment". This isnt the line of work people who make statements like that should be doing. If this guy is so short tempered or prone to being...

  21. Orientating new staff- help!

    northernguy replied to JDZ344's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    For LTC we were supposed to explain everything and let the orientee watch the first day. It changed as to whether they were allowed to help with transfers, sometimes they were and sometimes they...

  22. Are the two parts of the CNA test on the same day?

    northernguy replied to MyGenesis's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    Best way to find out is to contact the state you are PCSing to, their department of community health or whatever handles things like that. CNA is something handled by the individual states and their...

  23. Do you like being a CNA?

    northernguy replied to tammy_zeidan09's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    Working as a CNA is certainly not my dream job, but its OK. I have done a lot worse jobs in my life, and in todays economy any job is better than none. Busting my knuckles wrenching on cars is not...

  24. most interesting duties/responsibility as a CNA

    northernguy replied to fjellerup's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    I work on a Med/Surg unit. I dont know that any of the CNA duties are particularly interesting. Its standard CNA stuff. Vitals, emptying foleys and drains, I&O, ADLs, Ostomy care, ambulating,...

  25. Orientating new staff- help!

    northernguy replied to JDZ344's topic in Medical Assistant, CNA/MA

    Just dont be rude, and If you cant explain everything, at least have them watch you do everything, as awkward as that might be. I remember when I was oriented in LTC, the person doing the orientation...