klynn81

No state. Province. I'm in Canada with that said..I am American and my sister and I have talked about the wages that CNA/LPN/RN make in the states and I've come to the conclusion that I'd probably never move south of the border again especially without going back to school for nursing first because I find the pay insulting. (been there done that, I worked as a CNA in the states oh say probably 12yrs ago and got paid A LOT less. I believe it was $8 or $9 at that time).

yes yes and yes! I'm working towards going back to school to become a nurse and as someone who has been working in a hospital as a CNA/HCA for over a year now I know that my experience will be beneficial. It definitely gives you the opportunity to work beside nurses and get a glimpse of what their day is like, and it will also give you the experience of working with patients, getting comfortable with bedside care, how to manage and prioritize your time and duties, and gain some perspective on what a vital role a CNA/HCA is along side nurses. As far as pay, I work at a hospital and starting pay is just over $17/hr. not including any shift/weekend premiums. To me I'd say that's 'decent'.

The hospital I worked in previously we washed up people in the morning and again in the evenings (seemed kinda silly to me). The hospital I work in now we just wash up patients in the morning and as needed in the evening. Sometimes the day shift doesn't have time to do a bath or shower during the day so we do it in the evening but it's not the norm. I find that the evenings tend to be a bit slower, not to say that it's not busy though.

I started out working as a CNA/HCA in a LTC facility and a little over a year ago made the switch to working in a hospital. I did my practicum in the ICU and since have held a position on a medicine unit but have had opportunities to pick up shifts on various different units....ER, Cardiac, NICU, L&D, Rehab, Anti/Gyne. Some units, especially in the ER & ICU I was super nervous about the what if's. As a CNA/HCA we are responsible for doing CPR and there's always that fear of a code being called but after seeing a few codes (while doing my practicum) I was amazed at just how well everyone jumps into action and works well together. As for the rest I can understand those fears, some of which I share, but again the experience I've gained thus far has helped to ease some of those. And I will say that ANY experience you get as a CNA will definitely help you along the way. I cant say enough good things about the LPN's and RN's that I work with who worked their way up from a CNA. Gives some perspective. Not to say that the nurses who didn't aren't good...it's just different. Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and start thinking about what could go right. :)

Note entirely true. I can't speak for other areas but where I live in Canada there is a big demand for nurses!!!! NOW is the time more than ever!! Regardless of how young or old you are. I'm 31 and just going back to school for nursing. Never too old to follow your heart!

I put the deposit down to save my seat for the August entrance of the BN program. Not sure if that's the route I'll go...I swear every other day I'm back and forth...but at least I'll have some more time to think about it and figure it out.

As a side note...we've done the long distance thing. I'm American, he Canadian, and dated long distance (8hrs) for 4 years before moving in together. Now 8yrs married, with 4yrs prior to that having been the long distance I think it's safe to say we know what distance is like. Not Fun! :) Where's the dang easy button? I'd be hittin' it so hard right now.

Thank you everyone for your feedback. It is much appreciated!!! I just had a good chuckle because I was actually at the library today and checked out this exact book. "The 5 Love Languages" and I was just reading it too before I came on to check for any new responses. We both had taken the little assessment on their website to get an idea of which language each of us is, and now are going to read the book to discover more. We had a long talk today about this...heck we've had TONS, especially over the past week. While we do believe that we are strong enough to get through the 3 years, I think it's accurate to say that neither of us are really looking forward to the challenges it will bring. As of right now I paid the deposit to hold my seat, but I'm also applying for the LPN program locally. I understand some think that it's just 3 years in the grand scheme of things, and I get that, and I partially think that myself, but my marriage is #1 to me so I'm just trying to think about this from all angles.

Thanks....I still am not sure what I'm going to do. (see post "Got Accepted...Needing Advice") But if I go forth, it's a full time BN program so I'd be taking anywhere from 12-15 credit hours per term. So about 6 each term (including clinical).

@SycamoreStudent - I suggested that we keep the place we are renting now (we both like this town and would probably move back afterwards and buy a place) however he said and I agree it would make no sense to keep this place when a) I'd never be here, b) we have one vehicle and it's the one he'd be using to commute (I'll take public transit) so coming out on weekends would be pointless, and c) i'd need to be there for school 5 days a week vs. him only needing to be here 3 days a week at max, and last d) his job isn't a m-f job so his schedule is something of the sorts 2 on, 3 off, 2 on, 2 off, 3 on, 4 off...etc. so just because I would have weekends off school doesn't mean he'd be off work. @blacksunflower - In my mind it definitely makes more sense to just go the direct route and get it done with, then I wouldn't have to worry about trying to get into another school later to get my BN, and also wouldn't have to worry about going through schooling once we have kids. As it is I'd be 35 when I finished mid 2016 so the clocks ticking but I'm choosing to put my career before having kids so as not to have the added stress of little ones (not to say it's not doable however I just know from plenty I've talked to (i work as a CNA/HCA in a hospital now) say do it before you have kids if you can). And that's what I brought up that regardless of where we live, or which route I decide to go nursing school is going to be hard, it's going to be stressful, it's not gonna be all fun and games, and that if we both really wanted this for me, and for us, then we'll have to just stay focused, prioritize and manage our time well, and remember to make the most of our time together. While he says that he supports me, I fear that after time he might get upset or resentful about having to make the commute and the time spent apart. I've never felt more torn in my entire life.

Forgive me if this gets long but I need some advice from others... I applied to a community college to get into their 3 yr BN program. (A program that they aren't even accepting new applications at this time as they have enough applicants to fill seats for 2013, 2014, 2015). This October I got the letter offering me a seat in the program to start in August 2013. I've wanted this for so long and now I finally have the letter in my hand. Great right? Except about 6 months ago the husband and I moved 2hrs away for his new career. Accepting the seat for this program would mean me moving back and attending school and him commuting 3 1/2 hrs for work. He works 2-3 days a week so he'd stay out here for the days that he's working and then come back to the city on his off days. Which means I'd need to find a place to live in the city, and btw. school, studying, and his schedule we worry that we'll never see each other and what kind of stress that would put on our marriage. But if I went and did 3 yrs I'd finish mid 2016. Where we live now they have a community college that offer a 2 yr LPN program. I am in the process of applying for this but it's a 1 1/2 yr wait to get in. In the meantime I could start taking (a&p1, a&p2, medical microbiology, sociology, nutrition). If I got accepted into the program I'd finish mid 2016 as well. Being an LPN isn't a bad thing, and there are jobs here for LPN's but there are way more opportunities for RN's, and in the same amount of time (when you factor in the wait to get into the LPN) I could be finishing with my BN vs. my LPN. There is always the option to take the LPN and bridge at a later time however I'd have to go through 2 yrs to get my LPN, work minimum of 1 year, and then apply to get into one of the the LPN to BN bridging programs for 2 more additional years of schooling. (one of 2 of the schools that offer this only accepts 6 students per year). I'm 31, and currently my husband and I don't have any children. I know me moving back and the husband commuting (time apart) isn't ideal but feel like it would be a short term sacrifice (3yrs in the grand scheme of things) in the long run. He is VERY supportive of me going to school for nursing, but we are both nervous about what the time apart and stress of school will do. I know no one can make this decision for me but if you were in my shoes what would you do? *as a side note, I wouldn't be working while going to school. While we'd have to budget and money might be a bit tight finances are not something that worries us.

I got my acceptance letter to start August 2013 for the 3 year BN program.

I'm in Canada. I couldn't possibly be more excited about the 1 year of paid mat leave!

Five days in a new position at a hospital where I work a different unit every day and I can already tell you that I'm sick of the nurses who treat others with ZERO respect. I am new, but I am NOT dumb. I went to school for 3 months, and did 6 weeks of clinicals but that does NOT mean that I was taught or experienced how to do EVERYTHING on each unit of the hospital. No I don't know what the beeping on the IV pumps means (your the nurse, isn't that your job?), no I have never had to unhook a patient from a gastric suction machine (but I'd be more than happy to have you show me so that NEXT time I'll know what to do), yes it would be nice if a patient is npo post op if you'd actually put the damn NPO sign on the front of the chart (It would save me time from having to flip through every single chart before handing out trays/waters). And for Petes sake.....if you have asked me to do something and I haven't had a chance yet that is because I'm already busy doing something else. You are not the only person who needs something. Don't feel like your above everyone else from answering a call light....rather than standing there looking at the light and waiting for me to come out from another room that I'm busy in..how about you go and see if there is anything you can do!!!! Seriously...I know there are good nurses because I've worked with them. I don't know what the H e double hockey sticks is wrong with some of these nurses that they feel it's acceptable to behave this way. I guess they find it acceptable when the dr.'s talk down on them or treat them like they have nothing to do????? hmmmmm???? I don't think so.

Canadian Prairies here. Population 640,000. Certified Health Care Aide (5 month program, job similar/same as CNA) at hospitals starts out at $17.04. There are shift premiums of $1.00/hr extra for evenings (3:30-11:45). $1.75/hr extra for nights (11:30-7:45am), and $1.35/hr extra for any weekend hours worked.