truthteller

When my disability revealed itself (I do not disclose it because I know to well the pain of discrimination) I was kicked out, lied about, and had an attempt made on my life.

While doing clinicals for CNA certification I adopted the strategy of offering my services to the CNAs I was assigned to shadow and the nurses assigned to where I was. I used phrases like, "How can I assist," "I can do that for you," "I can make it easier on you by..." "I can save some time for you by..." I start nursing school soon and I intend to do the same thing. If they say no, deal with it like an adult. As a CNA I've discovered "no" is a powerful and effective word that will help your sanity. Take that last sentence as wise advice and hold on to it steadfastly.

Show up on time. Take an active role in the learning process. Turn in assignments on time. Enjoy every minute of it. You'll be fine.

Chemistry is very important background for A&P. You will need it to understand the sodium-potassium pump, cell depolarization, electrolyte balance, acid/base balance, how and why proteins, enzymes, hormones, etc. work the way they do. Take chemistry first. In fact, I recommend genchem AND O-chem before A&P. And yes, there is a lot of math in chemistry so make sure your college algebra skills are sharp.

I hear this garbage all the time. Here in Nevada, Truckee Meadows Community College is building a new health science center for 10 mil. Do you think the State and the college would spend that kind of money for a worthless degree for students paying to go there? NOT! And what can a BSN really do better? They can argue over which theory of nursing would provide the best care while the ADN is actually making a difference in the patients' life. Deal with it.

Carefully document the professors behavior with dates, quotes, and specific actions she does. Carry a small electronic voice recorder if you need to. Record everything she says. When you have enough evidence make a written harassment complaint to the deans of student and faculty conduct. Save the recordings and don't tell anyone you have them. Let them make a written response then unload them and expose them. Nasty people need to be treated with a higher dose of nastiness. Contact your states BON and file a harassment complaint with them too. You will be retaliated against by the other professors so be prepared for it and have your evidence solid.

Administrative law in most states requires a licensing board to provide you with a written complaint that formally expresses the charge and provides copies of complaining documents for which you are provided an opportunity in writing. You can hire a lawyer if you want to (and you probably should) but I would file the thing away and forget about it and imply to them, "Go right ahead and investigate me. Hand me the cup and I'll pee in it. Then you'll have to eat crow."

In Northern Nevada word around suggests the ADN grads are in higher demand than the BSN grads due to the fact that they spend more clinical hours doing the very skills you describe. I've heard it enough times to know there's truth behind it.

As someone who has been in management, late is late. I expect you to be on the clock and ready when the second hand ticks straight up. I do not allow headphones while on the job, ever. As far as customer/patient complaints go, I listen and respond appropriately. If I hear it once I rarely say a word. If I hear it twice, I'll talk to you about it. If I hear it a lot, we have a problem (that problem, of course, could be me or the customer/patient and that's why I always give people the benefit of the doubt; you understand). I've been fired too. My responses have been varied. I've laughed in their faces. I've said, "Thank you and good luck," knowing how much I did they never knew about. I've hired attorneys and taken them to court. And, my favorite, have turned over pages and pages of written documentation of violations of state and federal law to authorities with cc's to corporate hq's complete with names and titles. Every job I've ever had my position has always been to perform my job to the best of my ability and document when others, especially higher ups, don't do theirs. I never tell anyone that I'm doing that. The best defenses are the ones no one knows about. If you're going to throw me in the pig pen slop, there's absolutely nothing that's going to stop you from joining me. If you're going to abuse me, you had better be prepared for the fight you picked. The best policy is maintain high personal standards. Coworkers and higher ups will recognize, subconsciously, you are not one to be messed with.

You don't hate people. You hate yourself. Get over it.

Big deal. Play along and make the patient and their family/friends happy. I promise it won't hurt you or suddenly make you want to change your entire life for an imaginary friend. All you're doing is providing comfort.

I recently heard a patient doing this to a doctor. She claimed not to have been seen by Dr. in months. He offered to show her where another Dr. on staff had seen her the previous day and she went ballistic. He remained calm and professional throughout. I was impressed.

You did the right thing. The responsibility lies with the fool who decided 2 CNAs for 33 patients was adequate. Based on your description I can make an educated guess who you worked for. Leave them behind and move on. You're a better CNA for having learned and they're an even more unsafe facility for losing you. Now, they have 1 NOC CNA for 33 patients and a trainee if they're lucky. State and federal nursing laws should define a specific limit regarding nurse/aide to patient ratios. I believe 8 patients per CNA should be the highest. Any more than 8 is unsafe practice by the management.

Just got my acceptance letter. I sincerely hope you get yours too.

Don't listen to a single word of that BS. I'm a hard working and well liked by patients, nurses, and fellow CNAs CNA. And I'm a straight A student too. And I'm going to be an excellent nurse. I look people in the eye and I say what I mean and I mean what I say. It's called honesty and integrity and the dishonest and corrupt are terror struck by it. Be confident in who you are and let the chips fall where they may.