CelesteR903

This is exactly what I did. I got my CNA last year and just received my CMA last week. I'm doing my pre-reques for RN too. At my college being a CNA actually exempts me from a class and a clinical. It's hard to work and go to school but I love it!

I'm taking my first A&P class tomorrow and I'm scared to death. I really want to make an A in this class since an A will give me another point towards the ADN program. I'm currently a CNA and CMA working towards my RN. I finished my CMA class last semester and my teacher told me the taking my A&P this semester would be best since alot of it will still be fresh from the CMA class but I know A&P is way more indept and I'm really nervous. Anyone have any good tips to get over my nerves or to make the best grade?

I'm a CNA while doing my prereqs and it's hard. I'm not sure why you think you'll get bored as a CNA it's not an easy job. I work at a long term facility and it is a little easier then the hospital because you know your residents and they schedules and likes and dislikes. You don't have a constant stream of new people. The main thing it is a very physical job so you will get worn down. I work the 2-10pm shift and go to school in the mornings. Once accepted into nursing school I switch to double weekends. Most of the nurses tell me not to try to work full time and go to nursing school. They say it's too overwhelming.

I'm 4'11 and 130lbs and do fine. You'll find once you start working you'll build up muscles and find how to move your patients. It did take me a few weeks to be confident enough to do it alone but I have no problem now.

Both sound like a good option. You might also consider the work schedules of both professions in your area. I'm working as a CNA while doing my pre reqs. I'm currently working a 4 day on 2 day off scheduled 2-10pm. This allows me all morning to go to class. Look into both and see what will best suit your needs.

Medication aides in Texas are certified so they do stand to lose their certification too. You are taught all the side effects and what to watch out for. You are also taught to assess the patient before giving meds. You are not taught to just "pass a pill". You are taught what to check before hand and after.

Congrates!!!!!!!! I start Med Aide class next week.

I really upset the CNA before me yesterday and I kinda feel bad but at the same time don't. When I got to work yesterday the weekend nurse told me to be sure to do a walk through because they were having hard time with the aide doing things that day. Walk through and it was the same things she ignores every single day. One resident wasn't laid down and was waiting by her bed to be laid down. Another who does not get up in the evenings was laid on her covers (even the nurses have told her not to do this). Our most combative resident was asleep in her chair and hadn't been changed. I pointed these out and even offered to help with the combative resident since she was a lift. While putting the resident down the aide flipped out on me. Started yelling that I was picking on her and we didn't have as much to do on the 2-10 shift so it didn't matter if we had to put a few people down when we got there. I tried to explain to her that things like that put us behind the whole rest of the day. Anyway I pretty much walked off after we finished that resident. She didn't do anything else but go to the time clock and cry about how mean I was to her. The nurse informed me that she had been doing that all day whenever someone asked her to do some work. Anyway during dinner one of the other aides on my shift jumped all over me for making her cry saying it wasn't in the combative residents careplan that she had to be laid down. I pointed out rather or not she had to be laid down didn't matter nearly as much as rather or not she needed to be changed and we couldn't do that sitting up. That aid shut up after that. I'm not looking forward to facing the aide before me today as she is still going around whining about how mean I am. I want to yell at her "The whole point of a walk through is to be sure everything is done!!!"

Congrates! I start my Med Aide class on August 9th! I can't wait.

I'm in Texas and got hired before I actually got my certification. I applied to almost all the places in town and alot sounded really interested but never called back. I finally got my job 2 weeks before I was supposed to take the test. One thing I did that impressed the director of nursing that did hire me was I gave her copies of everything she would need if I was hired to the interview. I made a resume up with references, school info, and job history. With it I gave them copies of my license, ss card, current TB test results, and immunization record. Our CNA class gave us a paper after 16 hours stating we were in the class and completed at least 16 hours. In Texas that was all you needed to work in a nursing home. When I did get hired I already had my test day so I told the nursing director when that was too.

I passed both my skills and written test!

Exactly. Everytime I call for help with a transfer the whole time I hear about how I need to learn to do it by myself and how everyone else does. When I point out it's a 2 person transfer I'm told "You won't always be able to find someone to help you." When I'm calling the other aid in to help transfer the nurse acts like I'm putting everyone else behind because I'm asking for help.

Our facility has a paper they give us everyday with the residents info on it. It specifically list how each is to be moved. That's what I'm going by. Thanks for the support. I was starting feel like a failure because I can't move them on my own.

I started working at a local nursing home a week and a half ago. I'm still uncertifited as my test is Friday so I'm classified as a training nurse aid. I'm trying to do everything right and not upset the other NAs or nurses so I don't get fired but I'm feeling pressured to do things wrong. I have 4 patients that are 2 people transfers. While laying people down for the night I was getting the other aid on the hall to help me with those people. All she was helping with was the moving. She kept making comments about how I was going to have to learn to do it on my own since I might not always have someone else around. The nurse kept yelling down at the hall that I was putting the other NA behind by making her help me. I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to drop anyone! I also don't want to get fired because the nurse and NA think I'm not doing my job.

They did give me a packet that included a timeline of when they want things done and what each shift is responsible for. Is that what you mean by routine? I'm really nervous. My last day of clinicals I got a horrible CNA who left people on the toilet while she went out and smoked and then tried to convince me I should throw out a bedpan for her because it wasn't going to come clean. I really hope I don't get someone like that for my orientation here.