NaeRN

im 30 weeks pregnant and in my 1st semester of nursing school ... it is 100% possible to do . my best advice to you is to realize the fact that most people feel you should "delay the process" just because you're having a baby but let it be your motivation to push through it! when i told my director of nursing that i was 5months pregnant (in orientation) she "encouraged me" to think about doing the program next fall ... well low and behold i have one of the highest grades in the whole program this semester ..... i make myself study at least 1-2 hours/day and go to sleep every night before or at 11 ; IT IS POSSIBLE!!

Woah, in my program a 74 is passing. Anything below and you fail (:

Being a CNA is what you make it. Sure there are nights I'm on the floor by myself and I just want to snatch this badge off and tell my nurse manager where he can shove it ... but there are MANY more nights where the love and appreciation from my patients almost make me forget about every other problem. For the last two years I have been a fulltime CNA on a busy med/oncology floor while taking my pre reqs, and now that I've been accepted into the nursing program this fall I have decided to go PRN. In some ways I think I will almost miss being full time and building those relationships with my patients! It is worth all the hard work in the end. :)

DEF ed tech! As a med/surg PCA most of your time will be spent on incontinent care and getting vitals. I LOVE floating to the ER when I get a chance. Take my advice lol i work on a med/oncology floor as a CNA and if this is your first job in this line of work.... i'd rather be an ER Tech! :)

That is exactly what i did! I took my class and got certified junior year, got my first cna job at 18, and now at 20, i am starting my RN Program! Being a CNA will open your eyes to alot of things in the medical field, as well as give you tons of experience with patient care.

Congrats ! I am leaving the pre nursing forum as well! I got my acceptance letter on the 5th!

i got accepted into my program with a cumulative 3.2, but a 27 on my ACT. My school stresses ACT scores, so i'm sure that's what got me in!

"I feel a lot of it is pretty easy work to learn. There are already personal care assistants, nursing assistants (that aren't certified) that are in hospitals, home care aides, without being certified. I feel the only thing that you should be certified in is BLS (Basic Life Support) and First Aid/CPR. I just don't see how hard it is to take a person to the bathroom or check vitals (an automatic vital thing is used mostly), go from room to room to see what a patient needs. It can all be easily learned in a nursing home where the assistants aren't even certified. CNA is very basic compared to what RN/LPN's do. What do you guys think?" Your comments on CNAs actually seems pretty much like it came from someone who knows ZERO about the job of a CNA, PCA, PCT... a BLS certification is CPR certification.. and you just don't know what you are talking about. I shake my head at people like you. A CNA is an intricate part of the nursing team, though we are misunderstood, undervalued and highly unappreciated. Though you may feel that a CNA is a basic role and doesn't (shouldn't) require certification other than BLS, I am confident that my nurses ate glad that I can report to them things that I find out of the ordinary, and that is due to my "little basic" certification class. Thanks. I recommend you take an accelerated CNA course and see how little of a brain it actually requires.

Thanks so much for everyone's input! I too have worked with people that work up to their day of delivery.. I do realize that pregnancy is not a disability but I think i'm just a little nervous because i'm pretty small ((4'11)) to begin with. But like always, I will just continue to practice good body mechanics.

I recently found out I am pregnant, and I am still in the tender stages (I am 8 weeks). I work on a busy med/oncology floor, and have little to no help from my nurses. The kind of nurses I work with REFUSE to do "tech work" as they would rather facebook on their phone, or go out to take multiple 30 min smoke breaks (at our "non smoking" facility).. I am also a full time nursing student and wife.. Anyway, I am afraid for my baby.. as I am required to push pull and assist some pretty big patients. My hospital doesn't honor light duty, (my friend was sent home on STD at 7 weeks because she brought a light duty order not to pull or lift over 25lbs to our employee health nurse) I want to at least work until im 20 weeks, but I am scared for my baby.. this is my husband and I's first and I just dont feel like I can continue to do this job safely without the proper support from my coworkers. FYI: I have voiced my concerns to my head nurse and she was no help.. she goes, "well, i'll help you if i can but if i cant you will just have to make it on your own" I do know girls that have worked all the way up to their due date, but they work on the opposite rotation, and have WONDERFUL nurses for support... ANY ADVICE IS WELCOME

I am also hoping to start my program this year , though it starts this summer and it's a BSN program. I turned my application in January 3 (they aren't due until the 31st) so I'm hoping to hear back by March or April!! Nursing is something I've always wanted to do and I'm so excited my dream has almost come true !! God bless all of yall as well!

What is your job title (CNA, medical assistant, medication aide, HHA, PCT, PCA)? CNA Where are you located? Mississippi What is your hourly wage? 8.52 Are you paid shift differentials? 1.25 extra for nights What shift(s) do you usually work? 6p-6a 12 hour shifts What is your current specialty (rehab, med/surg, ortho, doctors' office, clinic, long term care, psych, home health, hospice, etc.)? med/oncology, psych How many years of experience do you have? 1 What is your status (full-time, part-time, or casual / per diem / PRN)? Full-Time Are you a pursuing a career as a nurse (RN or LPN)? I will complete my BSN program May 2016!!

I wish I had a patient load like yours! I am a CNA on the med/oncology floor and on a good night I have 10-12 patients. On a bad night it can be anywhere from 12-20. Day shift gets three techs at 24 patients, but on nights we only get two techs (if my part time coworker is on schedule, if not, i'm on my own) no matter how many patients we have. After my 12 hour shift of q4 vitals, daily wts, total care patients, constant call lights, q2 safety checks, behavior health patients, and absolutely NO help from the nurses whatsoever... I don't even want to think about the hospital anymore! I've floated to other floors (I have to go most of the time since i'm the only CNA) and the nurses pretty much treat us the same way .. the refuse to answer call lights, get blankets, water, etc because "that's a tech's job". It infuriates me, but that's what I deal with until I finish nursing school!

My nights at the hospital are 6p to 6:30 am and something like this 6- get report on pt's from day CNA, visit all pt's &introduce myself 7:30- start 8pm vitals, safety checks, change pt's as needed, pass diabetic snacks, turn hospice pt's chart 10- safety checks, bed alarms on, turn hospice pt's, change as needed, chart 11:20 ish- start 12 vitals (all pt's), safety checks, turn hospice pt's, change as needed 12:30 ish- chart, take break (on a smooth night) 1:30- safety checks, turn hospice pt's, change as needed 2- chart (usually after this we have a bit of down time) 3:30- start 4am vitals, turn hospice pt's, get daily weights, change as needed, safety checks 4- chart 5-6 usually just answer call lights &wait for the ay CNA's to make it in 6:15- give report (In between answer call lights, accept new admits, and help out the nurses... )

Starting year 2 (: Summer 2013 Nursing ethics Statistics Fall 2013 Microbiology Human growth &development Theatre appreciation Oral communication Pathophysiology Applying for BSN this December !!!!