Alicia18

Only take those naturally-made breaks -- the quiet periods of the day (or night) when all my nursing home residents are snoozing. I don't clock out for them, though, b/c the minute something happens, whether I'm eating or not, I'm up. I don't plan my breaks -- they just happen! lol

When I finish school, I'm hoping to do Hospice or SOMETHING with the Dying if not Hospic in particular. If I don't do that, I can see myself staying in Geriatrics like I am now. I know I don't freak out when I'm with people who are dying, and I'm currently in Geriatrics, so that is what has given me some direction in a choice. Who knows, though? Clinicals start for me in the Spring of 2007. Maybe by the time I get out of school, I'll find that some other area fits me better...

I prefer dayshift b/c I'm much more a morning person. I DO miss the busyness of nightshift, though. Heh, extra pay for nightshift? I wish.

I'm a CNA, like Karmyk, and during breaks from school, I work nighshift, dayshift, whenever-they-want-me shift at a retirement home/nursing home. I've found that Reeboks have been very nice to my feet. I'm still using the pair that I got when I started working about 2 years ago. They are starting to show some wear now, but I love them so much I really don't want to give them up until they COMPLETELY die!

I'm doing a bachelors of nursing at Franciscan University, a small Catholic college in Steubenville, Ohio! Will be a second-year student in the Fall, and hope to have my prereq grades high enough so I'll be accepted into the actual nursing program! We've got a LOVELY campus, and many, many little places for a nursing student to hide with her books!

Just from my experience from working in a nursing home, I would guess for clinicals you would need scrubs with large pockets (if your school doesn't provide uniforms like mine does), comfy sneakers, a small notebook, several pens, and a willingness to be everywhere at once. lol Just a guess on my part, though. I don't start clinicals until Spring 2007. Seriously jealous of y'all who are already starting!

I just applied to join -- such a great idea! I hope you don't have to be TOO active there, because I don't know what my school schedule will be like...

I'm starting my Orientation at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio on August 24, but my actual pre-nursing classes start th 31st! Very excited! Classes: Chemistry (not looking forward to it, but, hey, maybe it'll be fun) Anatomy and Physiology (can't wait to dissect something! Yeah, I'm weird; I know it and now you know it. Nice everyone shares the same knowledge, right? ) Psychology I Psychology of Human Development Sociology The Psychology and Sociology courses look REALLY FUN!

Wow, Daytonite, what an amazing story -- thanks for sharing. I'm 18, and have been a CNA for about 9 months. I'm soon starting my prereqs for my RN and must admit to some feelings of nervousenss - esp. concerning pills. But if your mom could do it with no previous experience or training in nursing, I can too! You should let her know that she's a wonderful woman and an inspiration to many! :)

Good luck and have fun! I'm heading to that point myself! My first classes will begin at 8am 13 days from now! A big school day with Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, Psychology I, Psychology of Human Development, and Sociology -- I'm SOOO looking forward to it! Being an RN seems so much closer doesn't it? :)

16 hour shifts are okay, but by the end I usually feel like I want to sleep for a year. 12 hours are usually best for me -- just the right amount of time for me, esp. if I'm working two nights in a row! After you work 16 hours, 12 hours seem just to FLY! And 8 hours -- heh, they don't even feel tiring anymore! lol.

I try to at least sleep from 7am-12pm, but usually my body won't allow me to sleep much longer than that. My sleep is REALLY cut up by tossing-and-turning, probably because I'm only working nights part time, and living days the rest of the time. I can't wait until I'm out of school and am able to just LIVE on a nightshift schedule. I might actually get some real sleep when I work then! :chuckle So, yeah, I definitely agree with you, Wynne!

Yeah, being the best CNA I can is my job and I would do it whether or not Admin or my coworkers appreciate me. But a thank you DOES go a long way toward propping up spirits that are beginning to droop, or to remind CNAs that their hard work does mean something. I mean, yeah, we already know that, but it's nice to hear from someone else that we're doing a good job. Praise instills more confidence and happiness, I think. :)

I couldn't sleep at work; when I go to sleep, I STAY alseep! :chuckle You'd have to feel out your coworkers, Estrogen, but if it really is quiet during your shift, it would be silly for them to just expect you to sit there twiddling your fingers! OT aside, anyone know how twiddling your fingers is done?

OT continues, for a sec: Thankyou, Angie! :) Back OT, I guess there's always those shifts when you come home feeling like you could happily murder someone! :chuckle Thank goodness I haven't had TOO many of THOSE!