VagusX

Taking Teas V on Friday. I'm a 4.0 student and a strong writer but it has been 10 years since I've actually had to identify sentence structure/grammar. I scored a 58% on the practice test for this section! I can't seem to figure out the best way to approach studying for this. I've tried videos online and I took the practice test after I read the Teas book so I don't know what else to do.Have you has trouble with this also? How did you study for this section?

Well, I've now been an ER volunteer for about 2 months. I thought that I would chime in with an update as to my perspective of the experience. With respect to the recent post on the volunteer butting into the nurses conversation, I can say that that is what I consciously try to avoid doing. It is absolutely inappropriate for anyone to loudly insert their voice, uninvited, into someone's conversation. I do think that it isn't so easy for a volunteer to know when to be assertive and when to hang back. I lack assertiveness so I constantly worry that I'm not being assertive enough. Here's an example of how I'm addressing this kind of situation. I still haven't figured out what the right thing is to do so advice is appreciated. A call light goes on. I go in to see what the patient needs (which the nurses want me to do so that the call light can be turned off). The patient asks for a drink of water. I tell them that I need to check with their nurse first but I will let them know either way whether than can or not. I go look up which nurse is that is assigned to the patient. I find the nurse who always looks busy either charting or talking to someone else. If they are talking to someone else and I don't feel it is a lengthy or personal conversation, I hang back in the wings and wait for either the convo to end or for the nurse to acknowledge and address me. Quite often, neither of these happen in which case I let the patient know I'm working on it and wait for the opportunity to ask in a non-annoying way. When the nurse is charting, I'm not sure what to do. It feels the same to me as butting in on a convo. I wish that I was given more responsibilities. I'm more than eager but I'm largely ignored. I've joined forces with housekeeping though, and we kick butt turning rooms over. I never stop moving even when I've run out of stuff to do. The other thing I'm wondering about is what to do with patients. I go in and explain who I am and ask them (and family/friends) if they are warm enough, need the phone, or anything else. If they don't, I just tell them that I will be around if they change their minds. I'm not sure if I'm making myself available enough but it seems that in the ER, people aren't in the mindset of wanting to have a chat or have a stranger sit with them. Thoughts? P.S I'm in awe of the charge nurses. How do you guys do it? You are responsible for everyone, staff and patients and you always seem to be in control of it all. I am constantly impressed.

I've only literally been someone's shadow so far so I haven't yet figured out where to put myself in the event that I have run out of things to do and no one wants/needs my help. I do tend to be overly conscious of not being in the way but then that makes me feel sort of paralyzed. I find it hard to jump in to things because I'm pretty fresh off of my CNA clinicals in which it was all "You can't do this, that, and most other things", etc.. The volunteer I shadowed moved a few people who were sliding down their beds which I would have thought would be a no-no but apparently they give her some leeway (sp?) as she is a retired nurse. Everything I know of healthcare involves cut and dry guidelines as to what certain people can and can't do and these lines seemed to be a bit blurred for volunteers. As a quick example, during CNA clinicals, it was very stressed that CNA's don't go anywhere near meds and to not even pick them up if instructed by a nurse to do so. As a volunteer, I was shocked to be picking up meds from the tube and walking around with them trying to locate the patient's nurse. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the hands-on involvement, it's just confusing to me. I'm definately going to put my oven mits on and start baking!! Thanks

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm feeling a little more inspired now!

Thank you so much. This is actually really helpful. I find it hard to know where I stand and what I am or am not allowed to do. It's not as clear-cut as I expected it to be. I asked the volunteer I shadowed whether the staff readily asked for help and she said that they mostly don't. I guess they are uncomfortable with directing and assigning work to volunteers. This is the part that I find awkward. I'm just worried about what I should do once I've done all the immediate tasks I can do and have offered help that has not been accepted. What I fear most is getting stuck nervously twiddling my thumbs in the middle of the ED. I am an introvert so that doesn't help. Also, when I shadowed, we were checking on the supplies in an occupied room directly across from the nurses station that was beeping because the patient's IV was occluded. The nurses station was packed so there were plenty of heads around to notice. Are there monitors at the station which will notify the staff about this sort of stuff? Am I just being annoying if I go and tell the nurse about it? Appreciate your advice. I didn't know volunteering would be so socially difficult to navigate!

I'm a CNA (non-working) and soon to be nursing student and I just started volunteering in my local hospital's ED. I've shadowed a retired nurse volunteer twice and will be starting my 4 hour shifts next week by myself. I feel very uncertain about whether I am a hindrance or a help to the nurses and techs. My duties include stocking rooms, cleaning rooms and making beds, collecting pharmacy items and labs from the pneumatic tubes and giving them to the patient's nurse, and of course, catering to the patients and families. I have to be "on" during these shifts because I am essentially having a first impression on what I hope is a future employer and co-workers, but I just feel plain awkward at times. I've also had some interesting looks from some of the nurses which I can't decipher but they are not exactly welcoming looks. My question is, what are your impressions of volunteers in the ED? What are your expectations of volunteers? What do volunteers do that tick you off or what do they do that you really appreciate? Thanks so much!

Just wanted to get an idea of what would be a typical shift schedule for a CNA. Please include your hours per shift, shifts per week, and what type of facility you work in. Thanks!

I am in the same boat with this issue and I'm not sure what to think with regards to employment opportunities. It would be great if anyone here who deals with hiring RN's could add their thoughts on this. I have been medicated for ADHD and insomnia for 8 years and have held steady at the same dosage for the last 5. I'm pre-nursing right now and don't anticipate a problem with getting into the program, but I'm not sure where I stand for future jobs. The general opinion of these drugs seems to be steadily shifting towards the negative spectrum, despite the positive, life-changing effect they have afforded me. What is the best way to approach the application and medical form process? Should a letter from the doctor be included? When it comes down to picking a candidate, how much weight does this kind of information have?

Thanks for the advice! Since I don't have practical experience beyond course clinicals, would you suggest that I include some of the relevent pre-req courses (i.e; A&P, chem, microbiology, nutrition, developmental psych) on my resume?

This sounds crazy, but I have time to spare! I just passed my state CNA exam and I'm taking a CPR course in August so that I can start applying to some part-time CNA jobs to gain some practical experience. I'll be applying to a nursing program for next fall, and I've spent the last year engrossed in a heavy course load of pre-reqs. I'm addicted to the education and I'm bummed out that, after finishing all my A&P, micro, etc, I now just have a couple of general courses left. I would love to sign up for an advanced math course or a third level A&P course, but I can't justify the cost of doing that when it's not required. My question is, beyond the CPR certification, are there any other certification programs that will scratch the itch I have for more practical education while I wait out the nursing application process? Anything that would make me more marketable in the future? Side note - I do plan to occupy some of this time working as a CNA, however, positions are few and far between in my area and I'm not counting on finding something quickly. Thanks!

Hello CNA's! What did you wear to an interview for a CNA position? My career history consists of various positions in medical admin so my interview waredrobe is made up of blouses, dress pants and pumps. I'm going to be starting the search for a CNA spot but feel that what I have may be a bit too dressy. Thoughts?