pacjeffery

Don't apologize. I had to rant too. And I completely agree with you. Double standards abound. If I were to do 1/10th of what is done around me I wouldn't have a job!

I haven't. It seems that it would be an exercise in futility.

It gets old at times. I'm sitting 1:1 with a psych patient. A nurse comes from the other side of the unit to get me to help another CNA change a soiled patient. That same nurse's patient. Now I have nothing against ALL nurses (no pun intended) but I can't help but lose a little respect for that one particular one. I'm 6'3" 295lb and get called for every transfer, pull, change and I get placed with the psych patients that are more prone to violence. I ask myself often what that nurse does when I'm not on shift. It happens most places I've worked. What I don't like the most is that I get the grunt work while the smaller CNA's get Unit Secretary assignments. I have not only training as a Unit Secretary but did double duty as such/CNA in a max security prison. So it's just that I feel there's no equal distribution of labor. If that's the case I'd like to transfer to the ED. At least there I would get a critical care dept pay increase. Med/Surg they can have. Sorry... had to rant & vent a bit.

I have a beard at work. Yes, off work too, lol. Seriously, I fit the N95 ok. Don't let that tip the scales. How often will you wear one?

If I can't get ED then I'd prefer NICU or SICU (ok any ICU). With the EMT I was looking at being a flight nurse. But it still comes back to FNP in the ED.

Well yes indeed. My plan is to go through EMT-Intermediate, obtain my RN, somehow get into the ED & work there through NP school. My end game is FNP in the ED.

This place doesn't have a PICU, NICU or PCU. ED, Med/Surg, ICU, Psych only. Weird, huh?

I've signed up for EMT training (B & I only). Currently, I work as a hospital CNA. I get placed with combative 1:1's or put on rehab units. Oh yeah, I'm 6'2" and 290lb. After three years of this, I am tired. Not of healthcare, but the continuous back-breaking assignments. The smaller CNA's get easier work. In May 2014 I'll have my EMT-Intermediate. I can work a rig or ED as a tech through RN school. Any ideas on what I can do until then? Should I tough out this next year? It'd make sense to get a foot in the door in my hospital's ED. Is there a ''calmer'' floor than Psych? Med/Surg is tedious.

Sorry but you too didn't read what I said. I know there isn't a waitlist. But if you don't meet point requirements (the minimum isn't known until it's determined the number of applicants and their point to talks).

And I said there was a "wait". Not so much a waitlist. But telling the applicant there's no waitlist and to reapply next cycle makes for a delay regardless. In Nevada, getting into a nursing program is still a numbers game. We all cross fingers no matter how many points acquired.

That's how they officially work, yes. But its those points that can hold people up. If an applicant has say 27 points and the admission cutoff is 29 you have to apply next cycle. What you don't mention is that the point system isn't etched in stone. It's a sliding scale directly correlated to the number of qualified applicants and their respective scores. So if they get 200+ applications and they have 120 spots with #120 having 30 points, guess what the cutoff is? They don't have a waitlist, I know. But there exists a delay in starting nonetheless.

There's a few lpn-bsn programs. I know of one back east.

I am a 38 year old CNA with just 3 years experience. I recently was accepted to my local CC's LPN program that's 4 semesters long. That's Fall 2013-Spring 2015. I can also take their one-term phlebotomy course. The only difference to me is one year. With phlebotomy I'd be done with my BSN Spring 2017. As an LPN it's Spring 2018. I know LPN's earn more than phlebotomists. After either program, my family will be relocating to Chesapeake, VA. I want to makes as much as I can during my BSN. Is the extra year worth it? I've checked, a CNA in Chesapeake makes at most $13/hr with experience. An LPN there is around $17/hr with some earning up to $20/hr. Phlebotomist I'm not sure on. If it were just me I know what I'd do. But I've got to help raise my infant twin boys, pay for school out of pocket & do what's best. What would you do?

Hospital. Not too bad. Far better than most LTC's.

There's no fast track but we're still in! The classes are BIOL 189, 223, 224 & 251. General biology, A&P 1&2, Micro. After 189 this Fall, you could take A&P 1 with Micro in the spring. Even still, you'd be looking at another semester to take A&P 2.

I got into the LPN program at CSN for this Fall. I'll be done Spring 2015. The first Fall (2013) & Spring (2014) are just one class since I've done the other classes already for those terms. So, I can take A&P II with Micro this Fall and Nutrition and 2nd term Chemistry in the Spring. Fall 2014 would be the third term of the PN program finishing up in Spring 2015. I have until Friday to accept the spot in the PN program or decline. Accepting voids my application to Phlebotomy. I did a scenario on paper and if I declined and pressed on with prerequisites (taking 2 classes per term) I can be finished at Nevada State College in Fall 2015. That's ASSUMING I get in. Yes, that would be a better option. But on one hand I have a guaranteed spot in one program. In the other I have some legwork to do before I can apply (in Feb 2014) to NSC and HOPE to get accepted. At my hospital, they do a terrific job of hiring new grads that are employees. So.... I can be an LPN after Spring 2015 (turning 40) or if I get into NSC I can be an RN (BSN) after Fall 2015. From all accounts I've heard, there appears to be a 1-2 year "wait" on RN programs in southern Nevada (CSN, NSC & UNLV specifically). I called Nevada State and was told that admissions are keener than in years past. A year's wait was normal. What do I do?

I got my letter of acceptance as well. The only thing I can recommend for us is to take the science sequence to prepare for the LPN-RN bridge! PN 100L & BIOL 189 sounds like a good schedule. Myself I will be in A&P II, Micro & PN 100L. SInce PN is a one-unit class I think I can handle it.

Thanks. I need the luck. I really was hoping for their Fast Track option.

Fortunately I am doing this with my fiancé on board. She works and makes ~$45k/yr. I guess my main concern is saving my back some so I can make it through RN school AND raise the boys. Being pigeonholed into rehab, Ortho, surgical, etc because of my size isn't helping. Why should I do the grunt work while smaller CNA's are sitting 1:1, making beds or being unit secretary? If the duties can't be shared equally I would rather remove myself from the equation.

Not sure where you are located, but at my CC it's a total of 6 units and will cost similar to what my CNA did. About $700 + licensure exam fees.

I'm looking at Tele Tech but I'm told the rad techs are cross trained. It looks like phlebotomy may win out. It's a one term program of 3 classes at a community college.

My hospital doesn't have apprentice positions. I'm 38 and have been a CNA for ~3years. I'm looking at EKG (Tele) tech or phlebotomy. I want to do something different because I'm tired of being pigeonholed into rehab or similar units. I'm 6'2" 280lb. I'd like to save my back and have something in the tank when I graduate a program. I tried unit secretary but I always get pulled to the for for larger or combative patients. My hospital has EKG techs and lab techs (phlebotomists).

Any news?

I carry a full beard. Clean cut, neatly trimmed. First I take a razor and hit the edges and neck. Then I take a beard/mustache trimmer and the closest guard attachment & shave. That's how I go around the job. I am 37 and a CNA in a hospital.

Even 60 days gives enough time to get in the Fast Track (Summer registration). Cross the fingers...