ceebeeaitch

Were you given a full or restricted license?

Thank you!! I hope it goes similarly for me. My biggest fear is TPAPN. I don't want to be monitored or have to tell my future employer my diagnosis (huge invasion of my privacy!) I've already asked my psychiatrist to send a letter so hopefully with her good word I'll be okay. Unfortunately I won't hear back from the BON about my authorization to test until December (after I graduate!). Thank you all for your input and kind words!

Hey, so... I have bipolar 2. I was diagnosed at 13 and spent about a month in a psych facility. I've been stable for the past 7 or 8 years. I'll graduate my ADN program in December. I sent in my application to the Texas BON back in August. I chose to disclose my diagnosis because the form specifically asks if I have been treated in the past 5 years for bipolar disorder; I have. I've heard stories from other nursing students that if you lie to the BON that you're screwed. If I were to say no, I haven't been treated in the past 5 years, that would be a lie. I guess it kind of feels like I'm screwed no matter what I say. But I did disclose. And now my application has been sent to the enforcement department. I've read online other nurses who disclosed and were accepted, but they had to join TPAPN. I'm cool with doing TPAPN if that's what's required for me to be a nurse, but is that something that I have to disclose to potential jobs? I'm just scared that my choice to disclose is going to haunt me.

Hi, everyone, I wanted to share my experience with the whole process of becoming a CNA since I didn't really know what I was in for when I started and I had some trouble finding out everything I wanted to know. So, I did my classes here in Austin, Texas at Central Texas Nurse Network. I'd like to start by saying that if you live in Austin, don't take classes there!!! I can't stress that enough. The information about the class online is all wrong, staff gave conflicting information, some of my payments weren't recorded, and at the end of the class the Spanish speaking students were given exams in English even though they requested oral Spanish exams. I could go on for hours about how horrible this class was. As for the exam itself, my skills were hand washing, communication, range of motion (upper extremity), shaving with disposable razor, and ambulations. Some of the things my classmates got were oral care, dependant oral care, moving to the head of the bed, unoccupied bed, occupied bed, weight, TPR axillary, blood pressure, and moving on the side of the bed towards you. Range of motion was easy. The resident I worked with had very good motion in her arms and was able to help with the movements. I actually had the most difficulty with the shaving. The resident I worked with for this skill only spoke Spanish, which I don't speak. It was a real challenge and test of my communication skills. The shaving itself went fine but when I was done I realized I hadn't brought a linen bag in with me. I had to leave to get the bag and forgot to knock before reentering the room. I was pretty flustered at that point and wound up taking all my supplies out with my gloves still on. I was mortified and ran back into the room and placed them in trash, but I was certain at that point that I was going to fail. When I got to ambulations the resident wasn't pleased with the gait belt saying she didn't need it and didn't want it tight, but I was able to coax her into wearing it. She was very mobile and was fine walking, she mostly just needed help to stand. When I was finished the woman doing the exam informed me that I had passed everything, she pointed out that I should never leave the room with my gloves on. I was so happy and shocked that I passed even with that glaring mistake. I was super nervous about written portion, mostly because I felt least informed about it. In the end I felt that it was mostly common sense information. A lot of the questions I got were focused on moral/religious dilemmas of one sort or another. There were also a few medical terminology questions. There were some questions I blanked on but I ended up missing only two questions out of 70. My suggestion to any one worried about the exam is just to study the provided materials and use your common sense. Whatever you do, always remember that the safety of the resident is the most important things. If you do all that you'll be fine.