archangel31

CONGRATS ON PASSING YOUR EXAM!! I started out at a nursing home as an NA and they paid for my schooling to become certified. Yes, nursing home work can be very trying and sometimes discouraging, BUT you can hone your bedside manner while you are working. Maybe I said that wrong because you need a bedside manner, I think, to even consider nursing. What I mean is that you can explore what it means to do more for your patient than just give meds or chart. You will sometimes be a confidant or a best friend or a sounding board to your patient. You learn how to LISTEN to your patient and sometimes that is what can make or break their recovery. I have an Associate degree in Medical Assisting, but I do not work as one due to not finding a job either. I work as a receptionist in a credit union. BUT I have made the decision to go for my RN, it is where my heart is. ANYWAY, it is probably not what you want to hear, but go where you can get the experience and try your hardest to make the best of your situation, it will make a difference later, I can attest to that. I have a feeling that you will always do your best and work hard no matter what! Blessings!!! Let us know how you are, message me if you want to talk:)

In addition to what "fuzzywuzzy" said above, you also need to consider that if ANYTHING goes wrong with your patient or patients, the family, facility and the state will come at you from all angles to investigate the incident, and depending on the family's feelings and details of the investigation and facility policy, you could lose your certification and be banned from working in a nursing home. I worked in a resturant too before I became a CNA ("thought the grass had to be greener on the other side" kind of feeling), and if I had it to do all over again, I would have stayed in the resturant. I wanted to go to nursing school, and the one I chose required all prospective students to have a certain amount of time and experience by working in a facility such as a health care center. I do not want to hinder you either, but just really be sure. To be honest, it is all about the residents. Yes, you are providing a lot of direct care, you will see them one on one more than the nurses, but your feelings and mental/physical limitations come LAST, and you have to act so until you walk out the door after your shift. You really have to be able to turn everything off and on before and after your shift. If you do go ahead, I wish you much luck and strength!!

Here is another tip and a thank you all-please don't discount the reason(s) for someone needing time off or being upset with a schedule. Yes, we all have different reasons for needing time off because we are all human, but no one's reason is bad or good or petty, or should shed a questionable light on their committment to patient care and co-worker concern. They are just trying to balance their life as best they can. A Thank You for not voicing the irritation at other people's reasons for request offs or covering those shifts. As for getting further, whether it is work or life, each person has his/her gifts. Some use these gifts in the best way possible, some do not take advantage of their gifts, and then there are those that always come out on top no matter how hard they have/have not worked.

This might be a stupid question, but do you not have a nursing assistant cert.? You did not mention it, but if you did, you could work in the hospital that way. Otherwise, as to the point of getting noticed, I would say that some things you can do would be showing up on time, if not a few minutes early, for each shift; showing great interest in doing the best you can at what ever job you do at the hospital; showing interest in learning new tasks from other staff members who will offer to teach you OR asking to observe/learn new tasks from other employees, and always making a true effort to smile and be as pleasant to all you come in contact with when working. Aside from skills, which are no less important, these behaviors will get noticed by your co-workers, which will go up the chain to management, and also by any patients because some of them will make comments about the personnel who they feel went the extra mile for them. Much luck to you in your studies and blessings:)

Knowledge is a treasure that no one can take from you. As for the BS, it is everywhere, not just medicine, and it is an element of society that you will just have to learn the best methods on how to deal with it. Also, your nursing career will depend on what field of nursing you enter into, it is not always about working in the trenches.

The two facilities I worked in had CNAs such as this, and because they were afraid of losing them, mgmt just put up with and put up with it, meanwhile the other aides were getting tired of it and it was just bad all around for morale. Finally, some of these "late birds" either quit or were fired. First and foremost, the patients come first, but your staff needs some support too so that they can give their best even when short. Go to the max on this one-if she has been suspended once, do it one more time,BUT let her know that the next time she is late, she is terminated. Working as a CNA is a professional health care position, no matter what others say, and it is tough responsibility, so the person working it must act professionally, I do not care how young they are. She will only mess herself up with her lateness, but your facility has to go on about its day too. Blessings.

To mom-n-student, many thanks to the sister who wants to work with children with autism and medically fragile children, we need more of those angels!! Anyhoo, just remember, with nursing, you will not always be limited to one field of nursing, especially as you earn more degrees. You will also have the opportunity to teach and/or manage. At the private school I work at, the SLP staff we have partnered with from one of the universities in the city are wonderful help to our kids. Check out all the avenues both fields offer, you might consider having degrees in both fields. If there is one thing I have painfully learned, do not miss out on all the educational opportunites. Knowledge is a treasure that NO ONE can take from you!!! Blessings:)

I am soooo sorry that you are experiencing this. As for your loans, do they not have forbearance options if you are not working? And I am going to say it, I am a Medical Assistant. (I say it that way because I have read some nasty comments regarding our education) Anyhoo, I have experienced the same as you have, I graduated in '09, applied to all of the positions possible, had 3 interviews between '09-'10, nothing. I volunteer in the health room at the Catholic school my children attend. I do not use hardly any of my training, but I am working with the children as a whole, and I have been asked to substitute for some of the teachers and staff lately. On the whole, it is good experience for when I go to nursing school in Spring '12 because I want to be a school nurse. Also, our credit rating is bad, and that has, in my opinion, had an effect on my chances because employers do check that. I tell the MA students, look at all possibilities for internships, even if unpaid, until you get hired, because more employers are wanting EXPERIENCED people. That is good in theory, but they do not take into consideration as to how the new grads will get experience if they do not get hired??? Like the other replies, also look into LTC facilities for some work experience and money. Blessings to you:)

It is like they say that stuff about the set hours and no OT just to get the nurse hired, and then they feel as though they can work you anyway possible because you need the job. Hope it gets better for you:)

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, especially at this time of year. Details aside of my saga, I was just honest with the DON that interviewed me about what happened at my previous position, and she thanked me for being honest and was very willing to give me the chance to "get back on the horse". Hope you land a better job this time around:)

Not sure if you have one in your city, but do know of any public clinics for the low income patient, especially the ones who do not have insurance? I know you are working, but it might be a temporary bridge until your policy kicks in. I have upper and lower back pain, probably caused from the combination of scoliosis and numerous back strains. I feel for you so much, and pray you find relief:)

Awesome post, Nursetastic!!! You would be cool to work with:)

I've worked eve/night double shifts and night shift before, and either I was just slow or really meticulous when doing my rounds, but I did not have a lot of down time. Some nights, just after completing the 1st set of rounds, it would be time to start the next set. Plus, some of the stuff I did not get done at the beginning of the shift such as washing wheelchairs, passing ice, etc., I would be catching up later in the shift. Now as for the CNA who is hiding out to do homework, and has been spoken to on this issue, a write-up should be done the next time. Some aides, you give them an inch, they will take a mile.

Very unsafe to your patients and to your license!! The two SNF I worked at as a CNA had LPNs and Medication Techs to do med passes, blood sugars, etc., and the CNAS did the vital signs and waking people up to get them up and ready for the day. The RNs we had were supervisors, usually one on days and one for the evenings. I am sorry about your first experience as a nurse, hope it gets better for you.

In this business, you can never be too dramatic, about the resident OR yourself. Yes, you have to provide the best care possible to your resident, BUT you also have to look out for your job welfare. This is not the only place you will ever work, and it may be a stepping stone to the next level in your healthcare career, so you need to make sure your work history is as "clean" as possible.