Chesh

I'm in the Hudson Valley also. I can't really offer you any advice regarding the area's your asking about but I'm wondering if you know about SUNYIT (SUNY Institute of Technology) They offer a BSN program through Ulster Co. Comm Col. It alows you to transfer from an AAS program into their BSN program. It's a satalite program basically. Good Luck with your search.

How far upstate are you and are you looking for BSN or AAS program?

Does anyone else have to pay for malpractice insurance?

I've been a CNA since '81 (long before certification was even required) and am now entering my 2nd semester in an RN A.A.S. program. Knowing the basics that being a CNA teaches is invaluable. I was one of the few students that didn't need my professors holding my hand through the 1st semester clinicals. I already knew how to do vitals, patient care, and transfers. Not to mention many other usefull things like oxygen management (equiptment related), feeding systems, and general pt assessments (safety, pain, etc) As others have said it's a great way to start and to get an idea of if you even like what nurses have to do day in and day out. (lots of paperwork vs being with the pt's as much as you really want to be) You will also get an idea of the difference between and LPN (LVN) and an RN. The have different restrictions and skills. In NY LPN's are working mostly in Nursing Homes vs. RN's working in hospitals. I'd also recommend working for a company that does tuition reimbursement. My company has 2 programs. One is just reimbursement based on employment and the other is full tuition with the requirement that you work for them for a set number of yrs following graduation.

It's unclear whether you work in longterm care or a hospital and I'm sure that will make a difference to the answers you're given. Assuming you mean hospital I'd have to answer with 'you can't force a pt to recieve treatment or care against their will' regarless of their age. It would be up to their parent to make the decision for them if necessary. As a CNA I wouldn't force anyone to do anything. Leave it to the nurse to do that. As a parent I'd be worried as to what harm might come from someone forcing my child to get naked and be touched by a stranger, (if you know what I mean) Better to be safe than sorry and in court.

I used to spray a little perfume on the shoulder of my uniform and when the smells get a bit overwhelming I'd just turn my nose into my shoulder and sniff the perfume. Vick's can be good but for some it makes their eyes water which can be another problem if you have soiled glove on.

Different schools have different requirements. My school requires the TEAS test with a score 75% or above, an essay based on why you want to be a nurse, the qualities that make a good nurse, and how you can effectively manage school, and an application. Beyond those 3 things they also look at your GPA. Our school requires a 2.5 minimum. I do know that our school will be more flexible with the TEAS score if your GPA is higher.

i got this list of abbreviations when i started nursing school. i hope it helps abbreviations [table=class: msonormaltable] [tr] [td][h=1]symbol[/h] [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][h=1]meaning[/h] [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent][h=1]symbol[/h] [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent][h=1]meaning[/h] [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]+ [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]positive [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]dc,d/c [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]discontinue [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]- [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]negative [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]dvt [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]deep vein thrombosis [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]/ [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]per [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]dx [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]diagnosis [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent] [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]less than [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]= [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]equal [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]ecg, ekg [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]electrocardiogram [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]> [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]greater than [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]¹ [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]not equal [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]ent [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]ear, nose & throat [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]~ [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]approximate [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]etoh [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]ethyl alcohol [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]# [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]pounds; number [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]ºf [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]fahrenheit [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]± [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]plus or minus [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]fx [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]fracture [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]d [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]change [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]g [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]gram [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]1° [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]primary; 1st degree [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]gi [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]gastrointestinal [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]2° [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]secondary; 2nd degree [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]gtt [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]drop [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]`a [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]before [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]hr. or h [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]hour [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]a & o [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]alert and oriented [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]hx [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]history [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]ac [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]before meals [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]hs [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]hour of sleep (bedtime) [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]ad lib [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]as desired [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]icu [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]intensive care unit [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]ama [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]against medical advice [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]im [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]intramuscular [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]asa [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]aspirin [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]iv [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]intravenous [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]ashd [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]atherosclerotic heart disease [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]ivp [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]iv push [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]bid [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]twice a day [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]ivpb [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]iv piggyback [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]bm [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]bowel movement [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]kg [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]kilogram [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]b/p,bp [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]blood pressure [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]kvo [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]keep vein open [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]bsa [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]body surface area [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]mcg [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]microgram [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]c [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]centigrade [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]meq [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]milliequivalent [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]`c [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]with [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]mg, mgm [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]milligram [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]c/o [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]complains of [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]mi [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]myocardial infarction [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]cad [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]coronary artery disease [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]ml [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]milliliter [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]cap [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]capsule [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]mm [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]millimeter [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]ccu [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]coronary care unit [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]nacl [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]sodium chloride [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]chf [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]congestive heart failure [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]nka [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]no known allergies [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]cns [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]central nervous system [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]npo [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]nothing by mouth [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]copd [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]ns [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]normal saline [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]cpr [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]cardiopulmonary resuscitation [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]o2 [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]oxygen [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]cva [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]cerebrovascular accident [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]obs [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]organic brain syndrome [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]pc [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]after meals [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]s/s [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]signs/symptoms [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]prn [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]as needed [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]t [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]temperature [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]q3h [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]every three hours [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]tab [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]tablet [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent][h=1]symbol[/h] [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][h=1]meaning[/h] [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent][h=1]symbol[/h] [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent][h=1]meaning[/h] [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]r/o [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]rule out [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]tia [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]transient ischemic attack [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]rom [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]range of motion [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]tid [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]3 times a day [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]rx [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]treatment [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]tx [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]treatment [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent]sob [/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent]shortness of breath [/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]uri [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]upper respiratory infection [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]uti [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]urinary tract infection [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]vs,v/s [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]vital signs [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]wnl [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]within normal limits [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]sl [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]sublingual [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent]_ s [/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent]without [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td=width: 73, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 222, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 96, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [td=width: 199, bgcolor: transparent][/td] [/tr] [/table] military time 2400 or 0000= 12:00am 1200=12:00pm (noon) 0100= 1:00am 1300= 1:00pm 0200= 2:00am 1400= 2:00pm 0300= 3:00am 1500= 3:00pm 0400= 4:00am 1600= 4:00pm 0500= 5:00am 1700= 5:00pm 0600= 6:00am 1800= 6:00pm 0700= 7:00am 1900= 7:00pm 0800= 8:00am 2000= 8:00pm 0900= 9:00am 2100= 9:00pm 1000=10:00am 2200=10:00pm 1100=11:00am 2300=11:00pm

Do you have anymore of these? They're great.

I've been a CNA for 30+ yrs. (A dinosaur for sure) I'm proud to call myself a "Certified Hiney Wiper" thankyouverymuch! I do what others cannot do. My residents appreciate it, their families trust me and my nurses are grateful (because many have no clue how to). I love being able to meet the needs of the people I take care of. Some will always be 'difficult' to work with (either co-workers, residents or staff) but for the most part my job is very rewarding. When I walk onto the unit and my resident says "I'm so glad you're here today, I've missed you" you know you're doing something right. Being a GOOD CNA is something to be proud of. Some of the best nurses start out this way, hopefully I'll be able to count myself among them as I'm finally in nursing school. A little funny that I'm sure many can appreciate........ A experienced RN was hired at my job and when a resident asked for help getting a bedpan she replied "I'm an RN! I don't do bedpans!" Unfortunately for her it was over heard by a unit manager and she was given a "warning" regarding her conduct...... Needless to say her behavior continued and gratefully SHE no longer works at my job. Me? I do "do bedpans" and I still have my job. Her? Not so much!