AM326

I work 7-3 when I'm on the floor, a good day is 9 patients. Vitals Q4, BS (ACHS or Q6), Meals, Baths and normal calls. When I'm in the ICUs 7A-7P I'll have 14 pts, and in the ER (30 beds) 7A-7P Splints, Labs, Ekgs, BS, codes and whoever gets to the patient first for needs haha.

Oh god LTC by far is much harder! I used to work for one and the pay was horrible for the amount of stress, and labor. I have been working at a hospital in the Float Pool for 7 months and I get to go all over the hospital in every unit (except for dialysis and Cardiac Short Stay). I work mainly in the Critical Care units (ICUs and ER) and I love it. When I'm on the floor (rarely) and I have about 10pts on day shift, it's still wayyyyyyyy better than LTC. Again, like many have said before it really depends on the person. Some techs are AMAZING in LTC and enjoy it, I personally do not do well with routine. I applaud the aides that work in LTCs and rock it out.

I thought the same thing...but the prob is many new grads will not relocate for a job. I decided to be a cna...and then a pct (I am now). I get to do everything a nurse does minus make care plans and give meds. I c an draw blood...and do ekgs :3 I love it. Also, I am studying pre nursing and they will accommodate my schedule even when I'm in the program. They are going to make me a position here in the ER then ill stay here as a nurse for a year then hopefully move to atlanta and go for my bsn there :3

I agree. I know of a lot of places here in TN that hire employees without the proper training that are trained on the job then test for the cert within 3-6 mo. I personally don't mind teaching especially if they ask. I don't think I would have told her to read the policy though. I wouldve told her the med tech is the one who performs that.

I agree...but at the ltc I worked at...as a cna we put the ted hoses on...not the med tech.

I would wait about a week before you email her. Normally it takes 1-2 weeks to hear anything back from a nurse manager at the hospital. Its too early still...she maybe interviewing other canidates...that doesn't mean you didn't get it. Best wishes!

Its very typical. I had many hospital interviews and first it is with a nurse manager...then the director may come in (only had that happen 3 times)...after that there's usually a panel of 2 rns...charge nurse and two techa. It depends how big the hospital and what position it is. Anyways...I hope you got the job!!!!

Actually I know many if not all the hospitals here in TN and GA give tuition reimbursements. I'm getting it for my pre reqs and for nursing school while I'm a PCT. So its out there.

I'm sorry you are having a hard time Ive been a cna/phlebotomist for 1.5 yrs. My first job was a cna at a local ltc. Let me tell you...the nursing staff makes a difference. I hated my ltc job because the other cnas and nurses were so mean to both me and the residents. The experience left me questioning weither or not I wanted to continue nursing. I got a job a few months later as a tech at a hospital that I LOVE. The hospitals are very different to a cna experience in a ltc. Please don't give up...try to get a job at a hospital...you'll love it :3

**OH...and in the ER...there is no such thing as downtime...the night shifters work just as hard as we do during the day :)

First off, every hospital is different. I work PRN as a CNA/PCT and I'm scheduled to work 8 hrs/5days a week. Some units have a shortage of techs so I always volunteer to stay the full 12 hr shift, so I regularly work about 52-60 hours a week. The units that I stay in know how I do my job well and they are ok with the overtime pay. Let me state that I work in the Float Pool...which means I go to ANY unit between two hospitals in my area. So if they are short they call me :3 Also, don't let anyone tell you that night shift is the *easy going down time* shift. I normally work the ER, Medical ICU, Cardio ICU and Post Anesthesia. When I stay a bit longer into the night shift, the night shifters are always on point working hard running everywhere. I don't see them having much of any *down time* True they don't have trays, but they may have other duties they have to complete like Blood sugars, vitals, I'Os, transporting, helping the nurses out and even trying to prevent patients from getting up from bed that are a fall risk. I don't know why but on nights patients have this sense to want to spring out of bed...and when that bed alarm goes off (especially on a confused patient) you are running back and fourth :/ Like I stated every hospital is different with their policies.

Like many have said pruor...I would try to get a prn position and not sacrifice the pay. :)

I work FT as a Tech so I'll just be taking Chem/Lab + Nutrition part time to bring my GPA up then hit the Heavy sciences

Oh man I couldn't agree more.

I have written a few threads about rn vs lpn...and as a current cna working in a big hospital, My gut is leaning towards the lpn. I have been a cna/pct/phlebotomist for 1.5 yrs. I am about to get married next month and I am thinking about a shorter school route at this point. I was always scared to go into the lpn program because I always hear that they aren't used anymore and I don't want to work in a ltc. I wanted to get my bsn...but its so insainly competative it makes me ill So question...is there such a thing of an emergency lpn? I would like to take extra critical care certs when I receive my lpn..if I officially go that route :3 Thanks in advance!!! :)

Here in TN you don't need to be certified to be a HHA. If you have your CNA its a huge plus. They don't pay well and I personally couldn't constantly drive to all of my clients homes.. and paying for my own gas. I love being a CNA/PCT :3

hey hun I wouldn't worry about it, I'm sry you had to drive so far to take your test thought I took mine a little over a yr ago...and some of my mates didn't pass their skills :/ They are crazy OCD when it comes to the Bolded texts. Again, I wouldn't bum over it , just practice on family members. I would have one friend/fam hold the manual checking off your steps while you practice with another friend/fam. You got this! :3

I agree 100%

Hey there :) I don't know too much about MA's specializing in Cardiology Clinics, but in the hospitals that I have worked for don't really mix the two. I wish we had a Cardiology Tech program. The hospital I work for specializes in Cardiology/Heart Surgery, and I would LOVE to take a course like that. I am a CNA/PCT with certs in EKG and Phlebotomy taking pre nursing courses, so I don't know too much about MA's role with cardiology. I will say that I love your enthusiasm for going for the program and I wish you the very best!!!! You got this!

I agree 110%. I recently spoke to UT(umiversity of tn) about what some other states have been doing to weed out nursing applicants. They are working on having pre nursing students be certified cnas and have worked for a min of 6 mo prior to applying to the njrsing program. I think its a great way to weed out students who can't see the REAL side of nursing. :)

I agree I would do it.

I spoke to one of the new nurses in my unit for a bit about schooling and she informed me that starting 2015 you will need a BSN instead of an ASN to even practice nursong in a hospital. It worries me some because my plan was to get my ASN, work as a nurse at my hospital, then study for my BSN. What she said worried me What have you heard? Thanks :)

Ltc cna was 2 weeks...and the hospital cna/pct about 1 month...I got paid for both times.

like arorificeara said, don't worry about not doing well. Stay positive and keep that excitment going. You'll be great You got this!