nervousstudent

Hey guys. I just want to thank you for your responses and support. It helps a lot. We had our first clinical today and it was actually pretty great, I enjoyed myself which was surprising as I was not sure that I would. After working with actual people instead of practice dummies, I do feel more comfortable. I've found that I learn better on my own by reading my book instead of watching videos and doing group activities in class so I've been trying to do a lot of that. I will be fine tuning my skills by practicing on family and reading the book as much as I can in order to prepare for the final test as well as the exam for the certification. I am feeling quite excited about this and I'm disappointed that we have to go back to the classroom Monday and Tuesday instead of clinicals. I hope I pass all of the tests so I can be a CNA. As for direct responses: I think my problem is that I'm kind of socially anxious and the pressure to know what I am doing and perform it well in front of other students really gets to me. I have yet to feel really comfortable practicing with my group even though I find them to be friendly and likable. They all have healthcare experience and I do not. Sometimes they say/do things that make me feel like an idiot, such as clapping when I perform a simple task correctly, like a single step in bed making. It's embarrassing. At least there are only two lecture/classroom days left of class. Also, there are 18 students and one instructor at a time. I don't think so SuperMeghan91, your class sounds like it was very strict. Mine isn't so bad. They allow you to retake tests if you receive a C or below I think. I have only missed one single question out of all of the exams thus far. Thanks for the link, I will check that out. And thank you again to everyone. The support and advice is much appreciated.

Hi all. I don't mean to be annoying or anything...but I'm so anxious about my CNA course. It started today and it is Monday through Friday, about 8 am to 4:30 PM ending on the 17th. Today we learned hand washing, putting on and removing gloves, and making beds. The instructor read some power points on the screen and talked a bit about that then we were thrown into groups to do the bed making. I never got to try making a bed with a patient in it. The instructor didn't even come around and watch all of us but she will be checking it off for every student on the state checklist thing. There is a textbook but it was never opened and we were never told to read it. We were given a quiz which I think might have had things she didn't even talk about on it as well as homework with things not discussed (that I found in the book that we never opened nor were told to read). I'm not even sure how much of the book I am supposed to read so far. I am certain that at this point I have no idea how to make a bed (considering all of the fancy, elaborate steps involved), with or without a resident in it. We were shown a 13 minute video then expected to get up and be able to do it. I had no idea what I was doing and I asked if we'd get a chance to do it again before clinicals and such. I was told we can do it at home. Is this generally how CNA courses go? I am frankly so terrified now that I won't get any of this down pat and won't be able to pass the state exam. I'm just kinda...freaking out a little. Do I have anything to worry about? What can I do to ensure that I learn these skills on my own time since the instruction received in-class is not adequate for me? Of course, I don't have the video to go through the steps of bed making here at home and from what I've read, different states or instructors will expect you different methods from their students. Agggh am I overreacting? PS, I am in Iowa if it matters.