jamiemd

Thanks for the reply :)

That's great that you love it... Yea as far as "gross stuff" I'm fine with that. I've dealt with some pretty gross stuff before, and blood and guts doesn't bother me. I even made the statement to a GF of mine that id rather scoop brains off a sidewalk then feel so sad from the nursing home experience. To each their own. Thanks for all the input.

All sounds advice, thanks guys. My expectations? Well I do expect it to be challenging. I am fully aware of the daily to day interactions and challenges nurse's go through (I have a handful and friends and family who are nurses in various disciplines). While I have not decided which "specialty" I would like to pursue...I was hoping for my future experience in school and the beginning of my career to show me what I am drawn to. I also get that I will probably get the ****** shifts and the job that maybe is least desired when first starting out, and I will be grateful for the opportunity. As far as the nursing home goes...I knew before applying to the job that it would be more of a challenge to me then other aspects of my "training" I would have to endure. "To each his own". . . some people can't handle missing limbs from car accidents, some people can't handle chemotherapy patients, some people can't work on kids, and some people aren't fans of geriatrics. For me, I find it depressing that within an 8 hour day I had to watch a patient deteriorate and when I left they were cutting her medication and just giving her morphine while she passed. I have a hard time with helping the nursing home residents who clearly need more assistance that is not being provided to them at those facilities, those who are essentially mute and being forced to go wherever the caretaker and their families dictate. You can see their sadness and frustration and desperation. It's not all bad...there were some fabulous people I met, wonderful individuals who brightened my day and made it easier. I tried to focus on that...tried to focus on how rewarding it was to help people and make a difference in their day. But when I felt like I was forcing a mute to do things they didn't want to do...that made me uncomfotable. And that poor woman passing was all alone. Where the heck was her family? My intention is to become a phlebotomist for two main purposes: 1) Gain experience in a medical related field 2) Get a better paying job to get me the hell out of retail and help me work my way through school. :)

Thanks for the advice guys....

Hi... I was a massage therapist but the repetitive stress caused me to stop that as my main source of income, which is when i decided to go back to school for nursing (which was what I wanted to do in the first place). It seems like there is a lot of threads regarding the incorporation of massage therapy with nursing and I was curious how that works?!?! The only environment I can imagine this is would be home health or a holistic facility like a birthing center or something?!? Anyway, being such, would it be beneficial for me to include my history/experience as a Massage Therapist when applying to the nursing program and/or applying for jobs?? Could I list this as a potential specialty?? Thanks

Okay so it seems like most people would agree that doing any kind of CNA work is beneficial to get into a nursing program and also helps on the resume, but what about caregiving and phlebotomy? "MY PLAN" is to take a phlebotomy course this upcoming fall semester and obtain a position to work my way through nursing school. I was banking on this being my "experience" in the medical field and also a huge benefit personally towards my career in nursing. But how does this "experience" fair against CNA and Caregiver? Would you think that having experience as a CNA looks better than experience as a Caregiver? Would you think that having experience as a Caregiver looks better than experience in Phlebotomy? I do not WANT to work in a nursing home, it is very challenging and depressing for me...but I have the opportunity to do so and do not want to pass up that opportunity if it is crucial for my resume/nursing career. Would you think the Phlebotomy experience would be sufficient enough so I can pass on the Caregiving job??? HelP!!!

I kind of feel like even though you are feeling guilty, you are setting a really good example for your children by demonstrating hard work and dedication and perseverance. Leading by example will teach them so much and those are invaluable traits to learn :) Many people would kill to be in your shoes, programs are getting harder to get into by the day! It's your decision, but I would suggest sticking it out and showing those kids how their mommy can be tough and rock it all the way through!! :) Good luck!

I am basically in the same boat...finishing MicroBio right now and then just need Physio in the fall to apply to the program at my CC. I know quite a few nurses (friends and family) who all say that hospitals are definitely choosing BSN grads over ADN's from CC's, HOWEVER, the CC programs are still a great option is you intent on continuing your education to a BSN after the program. You may not have a guaranteed job once you're an RN, but you definitely opening up more options for yourself! :) My tentative plan is to finish my last pre-req for the CC program, apply, and hope that I get in. IF I don't get it, I was going to start taking the additional pre-reqs required by the university (BSN) programs. My CC has an application deadline twice a year (no wait list), so I will keep trying on that while continuously taking the steps towards BSN program entrance requirements. This is the best plan that I could come up with since I'm limited financially, and I feel pretty confident about it :) Hopefully my input helped! Good luck!

Oh one more thing. . . what are you thoughts on doing a phlebotomy course instead??? I was considering this as well is mainly because it seems to be available at community colleges for which I get the BOGFWaiver (pays for my classes) and would still get me into the medical/patient care environment...Money is a little tight so the thought of paying $1500 for a summer CNA course makes me cringe! let me know your thoughts :)

Wow that is exactly what I am hoping for...unfortunately it has been extremely difficult to get a hold of information at some training facilities and even the phone numbers listed seem to be incorrect?! So strange. I will continue my search and post my results in case they can be of use to anyone else :)

Great! Thanks for the heads up!

Thanks! Good luck to u!

Cool thanks for the input! May I ask where you are taking your CNA course at/what type of facility?

You would probably be fine either way...it's all about determination, but I would say do the micro with English so there is no overlapping. That will make your life a little easier.

So I am a "pre-nursing" student...only have one more class after this semester before I can apply to the program! But, as we all know, it seems like forever away!!! I'm very eager to get out of my retail job and into something more meaning and helpful on my resume towards a future career in nursing...so I am considering doing a CNA course or even Phlebotomy to get my foot in the door at a hospital while I wait to get into the nursing program/work my way through the nursing program. Have any of you done this? Would you recommend it? Any other suggestions? thanks, jamie