ThomasBonifacio

Thanks so much for all of the detailed responses everyone! I'm checking into Patient Care Technician courses and that looks like something I would be interested in doing for a few years. Maybe I need to put in more thought about the LVN/RN schooling...

I'm so sorry you're going through this right now. Prayers sent your way.

Hi All, Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and had lots of good food Just here to get some input again from a few of you. I start school at a community college here in Nevada in early 2015 for my Nurse Assistant Certification. I turn 18 in February of 2015 but just have a few questions...I know that some states use Medication Aides in acute care and long term care and want to know if having the ability to pass medications makes a difference in salary. Are Medication Aides able to push IV Drugs and or start/remove IV's with IV Certification? From what I understand, working as a Medication Aide, is essentially doing the Nursing Assistant work but just having the ability to pass medication, am I correct? I have thought for awhile about this and I just don't see myself spending four years in school to become an R.N. I'm on the fence about becoming an L.V.N. because from what I've heard, it seems like a lot of new grad L.V.N.'s are having problems finding employment in acute care which is where I want to be working. I know that being a Nurse Assistant is very physically and emotionally taxing and I'm most certainly aware that I will never be wealthy with the salary that Nurse Assistants make...However, becoming wealthy was never my goal...My goal is to be the best direct care worker I can possibly be and I'd like to know what type of certifications I can obtain and use only being a C.N.A. I guess the R.N. or L.V.N. route is just not for everyone! Thank you for any programs you guys can recommend me to...AllNurses and all of the people here have really helped me make an informed decision on my career and I think I'm going to be happy with being a direct care worker! :)

Congratulations! Enjoy the RN life.

Hello Nurses/Nursing Students, I'm currently seventeen and turn eighteen in February. Ever since I have been able to remember, I've wanted to be a Nurse and I am able to finally start the process of becoming one. In January I am going to be starting my CNA (Certified Nursing Asst.) course and everybody that has taken the CNA Course has told me that it's not a difficult course to accomplish so that makes me feel good considering I have been around healthcare my entire life essentially (My Mom has been a CNA for almost 35 yrs. and just got her PCT about five yrs. ago). The question that keeps floating through my mind is...Once I have the Nurses Assistant Certification under my belt and I go for my R.N, should I go for the 2 yr Associates or the 4 yr Bachelors? It seems they both have their pros/cons...My Mother is telling me that I'm young and should just go for the Bachelors yet, I just don't want to go to school for 4 solid yrs. Any input from some nurses that have already gone through this dance would be great. I am all ears for any suggestions and am really looking forward to starting my Nurses Assistant class in January. (I'm sure that I will be back for more advice at some point in the near future!) -Thomas AKA The Nurses Assistant in Training :)

Believe it or not but I actually thought that Scrubs were unisex for Nurses/Aides....Guess I need to open my eyes more in the store!

Hey Everyone, I guess this isn't anything more but me venting my nervousness so if you want, you may continue reading. So I'm seventeen and gonna be turning eighteen next Feb. and I decided to start my nursing career. My CNA Class starts in January of 2015 and I'm already having a heart attack! Everyone is telling me that this class is really easy and that I'm going to do really well but I suppose being nervous is a good thing? I've always gravitated towards healthcare since I've been really young (I'm talking 6 & 7) and was watching knee replacement and hysterectomies by ten years old. :***: My Mother has been a Patient Care Technician for 35 yrs. and has a ton of experience in bedside care so she's definitely a good person to learn from. I always wanted to grow up and be exactly like my Mother and now that the time is here I am literally flipping out! lol...Call me overly anxious but I can't help it. Is there anything I need to know before entering this course? Any tips that some of you RN's/LVN's/CNA's can give to a beginner? Would love to hear some input from you guys! :) ~Thomas