luvtranscendsall

In my first semester of nursing school we were told in health assessment not to use complaining of because of the negative connotation that goes along with it. We actually got dinged on our paperwork because of it. I am in my last semester of a 2 year program, so although it has been acceptable in the past, I believe that there is a movement of getting away from using c/o.

Actually I am a licensed CNA. I paid for, tested, and hold a state licensure through the VA Board of nursing to work as a nurse aide. When i finished Nurse Aide school I was given a certificate of completion on flimsy paper but after I tested for a state license they given me a hard plastic license with all my info on it and a small paper license to put in a frame kind of like when you get your nails and hair done how they have their license in a frame at their console. I get paid more than people that aren't licensed. Here in the commonwealth of VA you can not give hands on care unless you have a license or are within 120 days of getting a certificate. AFter 120 days, you can only be like a sitter.

I'm sorry but a CNA's job is not only physically demanding but it is also emotionally and mentally demanding. CNA's are allowed to be abused, spit on, slapped, scratched etc. Yes that can happen to a nurse to but CNA's are providing more ADL, hands on care for a patient so they are more likely to endure this type of abuse. To say that a CNA's job is not emotionally demanding is really diminishing what we do. There have been times where I have been totally spent and burnt out. At least nurses have the incentive of great pay. CNA's are overworked and underpaid. There are lazy CNA's and then there are CNA's who are just burnt out. Just like there are lazy nurses and nurses that are just burnt out. Truth is everyone has to work together. Nothing in my job description is beneath an RN. In fact, I had no problems in fundamentals of nursing class in my first semester of RN school because it was all CNA type stuff. Just like a nurse has to set boundaries with CNA's and delegate tasks, CNA's need to set boundaries with nurses that think toileting someone or changing bed linens are beneath them.

Instructors can be a big support if you find the right one. In my second semester I found myself having a hard time with not enough help from my boyfriend with the kids and house. I started working again. I had been on unemployment before that and that was our only income and when I started working I grew resentful at the other students that I thought had it so easy and resentful at my home life. I had a hard time balancing work with school with down time. I was severely sleep deprived. I got a C on a test. It was my first C and the instructor pulled me aside and I was ****** because I was like there are students who live on C's and I just get one and you want to harp on me about it. Truth was when she sat down and talked to me and to my suprise I ended up crying and venting to her (within reason) she helped me put things in perspective and develop a plan for success. She told me she could tell I was struggling because my aptitude was high so there was no reason for me to get that C. she also set me up with support services with student success advisor and periodically checked in on me. I don't think I would be where I am now if it was not for her. So sometimes talking to your instructor or department head can be a good thing. They have been around awhile and they see people like you and me struggling but trying to do better with our lives and they want us to be successful.

I'm sorry but it doesn't matter that you changed 2 of your 4 pts beds and had other things to do. It is never acceptable to leave dirty soiled linen on the floor. If yuo can not see why then I suggest you review universal precautions and your facilities infection control protocol. As a CNA of 8 years and a nursing student in my second year, I understand that there are lazy disrespectful CNA's. I also understand that as a nurse it is a lot to do the meds, charting, and assessments on 4 patients but try doing vitals, bed changes, toileting needs, the nurse's grunt work, plus running to get drinks and snacks and all the personal little things patients needs for 12-15 patients. I can not stand when a nurse thinks she is above and beyond what I do. If I am not busy tending to someone else that is one thing and if that is the case that person does need to be approached but don't leave a room that you are doing something in to come and get the CNA because you feel that is there job or leave dirty linens on the floor for the CNA to pick up because you are busy. guess what we are busy too!

I was told when I went to my local hospitals outpatient center that they were no longer hiring LPN's and they gave the existing ones the option to go back to school and work towards their RN or they had to take a pay cut and work as CNA/PCT so I do believe that they are being phased out. Also they are so many vocational schools that give the LPN and then when you try to transfer credits, community colleges aren't taking them.

I have one more week to the official start of my RN Program. I took Introduction to Nursing and Dosage Calculation in the Summer. The Intro to Nursing class was a 5 week hybrid class that taught us the history of nursing, beginning ethics, and taught you how to research. It also covered concept maps, learning contracts (that were written like a care plan), as well as some other odds and ends. Dosage Calculation was not mandatory but since I am the type of person that needs extra help in math because i freeze up real bad during math test, I thought it would be smart to take it. My program requires you to take a dosage calculation every semester. Word is if you get below an 85 on the dosage test, then you are out. Everything seems to always be if you don't do this...you're out. If you do this....you're out. There is no middle road. LOL, but I guess that's a good thing. This fall I am taking Fundamentals of Nursing (which is the first class with a clinical and lab component) and Health assessment. I am real excited. I have a passion for nursing:redpinkhe. I have been reading all these posts about people that are doing it just for the money and I do believe once I am a nurse, the money will help me a great deal but I do have a passion for nursing. I love the science and art of nursing. I have waited a long time to get into the program and I am very proud that out of hundreds of applicants they chose me. My program only accepts 70 first year slots with 30 of those slots held for LPN to RN bridge program. So I guess I just wanted to share and be part of the community but I will ask a question............. How much of Fundamentals of Nursing (or whatever your equivalent class is) is CNA type stuff? They told us to read bed making, feeding, and elimination skills ahead of time. I am a CNA and can do those type things blindfolded (if you know what I mean) and I can't wait to learn new things!!:stdnrsrck:

For me, I always wanted to work in a hospital. I wasn't able to because when I became a CNA I had a 6 month old baby and then when he was 2 I had another baby. I knew that I would have to sometimes call out being a single mom so I kind of just been biding my time until my kids went to school, because I didn't want to burn my bridges at a hospital. Not saying that LTC work isn't a part of my reputation but it's easier to make your own schedule in LTC then it is in a hospital. Well I have one more week until both my kids will officially be in public school and I "officially" start nursing school (I took Intro to nursing and dosage calculations over the summer) and I am going to start applying for hospital jobs.

I don't know for a fact but I have heard that it will because you have prior healthcare experience. I am CNA, too. I hope that it will give me the edge over other applicants.

Sometimes you can get CNA training for free through your local Workforce Development or Unemployment Commision. Another thing is that you can find a nursing home or a hospital that offers a CNA training program. Those programs are usually a lot shorter than the $600 programs. I paid $600 for my CNA training but there were people in my class that were funded by the workforce development and even Social Services. The nursing home job I worked at offered a training program for two weeks and if they hired you, they had to pay for your test because that $675 usually doesn't include your testing fee for your license.

I can totally relate to that from a CNA's perspective and I am sure when I am nurse I will experience that as well. It makes sense to put it that way.

Thank you!! This was the best reply!!!

No I don't understand how one's work wouldn't reflect one's philosophy of nursing. That doesn't even make sense. I am open to hear the how and why you wouldn't want your work to reflect your philosophy of nursing. I know that, unfortunately due to the way the system is set up, one sometimes has to accept less than ideal things on a job however I would hope that any nursing act would be done within the scope of whatever philosophy of nursing they believe in. I been a CNA long enough and have worked in various healthcare settings to get at least good idea of what ya'll are talking about.

So glad my school changes everything around every fall when the new influx of first years come in. All schools should do this so one doesn't automatically assume that they are trying to cheat from an upperclassmen. I think its sad that the OP has now been chased away from this valuable resource. Great JOB!!

I would seriously hope that one's work as a nurse would reflect ones personal philosophy of nursing.

Thats understandable, however, I have been in healthcare as a CNA and EMT for 6 years and I have met nurses with no philosophy, no skill, and no common sense. I have seen this so many times that it would anger me. I have met nurses that I have had to show them how to do certain aspects of their job. I have seen nurses that don't care about the Art and Science of Nursing and all they cared about was a paycheck. You don't have to be a nursing student to see this if you have some health care experience and they did say she was a CNA.

My comment wasn't to your post. It was reply to the skeptical post.

So lets say this question is an assignment, what is wrong with asking these questions. No one person can give an absolute answer for this type of question. I just don't see the problem with this. Its not like they are asking a specific question with a specific answer. Its a philosophical question, meant for discussion. Most people just don't randomly come up with their own philosophies. They usually expand on anothers philosophy. I just dont' understand why someone would even want to answer the way you answered...why not just move on to the next post. Instead you could have possibly chased a new nursing student away from a potentially good resource. It just baffles me!!!

There is nothing wrong with what you posted. People are just so sensitive these days. I start August 22nd. well I had to take Intro to Nursing and Dosage calculations over the summer (it is required before fall semester starts). I will be taking Fundamentals of Nursing and Health assessment this fall. I have been a CNA for 6 years and I am also an EMT. I didn't answer your questions because I am not a nurse but I can share a little bit about what you said about CNA's and nurses appearing to have no philosophy. From my experience, it seems that when you are in school and new..you want to change the world. I was picked to give a speech to my CNA class because I had the highest grade and I remember saying I will not compromise my standards for nobody and the truth is...in the 6 years I have. The system sets us up to get burnt out. I have been on floors as a CNA where i was the only one to provide care for 37 residents. Although compromising my standards was not my fault, it saddens me to think of the ideals I once had. I have worked so many doubles back to back due to shortages on the floor that my care became almost robotic, like it was a factory line. I think everyone has a philosophy but it changes over time. You have to be flexible in healthcare. Right now I am reworking my philosophy. I am going into nursing school and pretending like i don't know the ugly side of the profession so I can be open minded. I am glad you are throwing these questions out there. If anyone has a problem with you asking these questions then you probably don't want their opinion anyways.

If that was the case, then why are some of the questions aimed at someone that is already a nurse. How can you have a philosophy of nursing or an approach to nursing as a brand new nursing student just getting ready to start.

I got offended for you. I understand if you were trying to get answers to a problem that only you could figure out but a lot of my assignments in Intro to Nursing is to interview other nurses and ask questions similiar to yours. People shouldn't jump the gun and assume someone is trying to cheat unless it is a specific question that you couldn't figure out on your own. I also don't see anything wrong with throwing a practice question out there since NCLEX questions are applied learning questions...sometimes discussing various ways to approach a question, can help a student hone their NCLEX skills and apply those skills when they take the actual test.

My college offers a class for nurses returning to work after a long period of time. That might be something you would like to look into to boost your self esteem. Also, there is no need to tell them you are bipolar as long as you are stable and currently taking your meds.

My nursing school requires us to wear lab coats for lab and if we are cold while doing our clinicals. I am sure that this guy is not intentionally trying to confuse patients, instead he is following his programs protocols.

I have just been recently accepted into nursing school. However, I have been working as a CNA for over 5 years. I do not recommend sitting on the bed because of universal precautions. When you are changing bed linens or carrying linens you are never to hold it against your uniform because you are contaminating your uniform and you are contaminating the linens. I am not saying I have never done it but I have also, in a matter of 5 years, contracted MRSA so many times that I had to be decolonized. I have also caught scabies three times. I worked in a LTC facility and the scabies incident was not being handled by management because they wanted to deny that was the problem. I know it seems like the humane thing to do but pulling up a chair on the bedside is just as humane and keeps a professional demeanor. Think of it this way...although it is humane to sit on the bed to comfort a patient, it is also humane not to cross contaminate and cause more disease in your patient.