NotQuiteAntonio

Thank you for the responses, guys! My apologies for the delay in getting back to you - I assumed my post got buried, as no one had said anything for a few days. I have a handbook. I've been trying to memorize the steps just by reading them, but that's not doing so much for me (don't know if I mentioned the poor memory before, probably). I can't look at a list and memorize it. I don't know why, my brain just doesn't wanna do it. What I have been able to memorize, apart from the simple opening and beginnings steps, such as introductions, providing for privacy, etc., is what I've had the opportunity to practice in class. The things I've had hands-on exposure to. If I could get more of that, I'd be fine. But, the thing is, being that the class is so accelerated, we basically have to have a good idea as to how a skill is performed before we're even shown how to do it by the instructor. Half of the teaching is up to us. The way it works is we'll come into class, do the lecture portion, then she'll show us how to perform the skill ONE time, and then expect us to be able to do it. We test out on the skill the same day, needing a score of at least 7/10 for most skills. 10/10 for others. The other kids might be able to manage that, but I am having trouble. I mean, I am passing, because she's kind of lax about some things, she'll correct you, and so long as you finish the skill, you get a 7.. but.. it's not a very good experience for actually learning how to do the skill and being able to repeat it. I get that it's our education, our lives, and that we should do all we can to learn, not just have everything bottle fed to us, but I need more than one opportunity to practice it in class. I've been trying, and will continue to try, to practice what I can out of class, but some things just aren't possible, whether because I don't have a suitable partner, mannequin, materials in general, or the imagination. I can't just imagine giving a bedbath, reading the steps. I need to actually do it with a mannequin or something. The pillows work for some things, but not so much others. I wish we had a skills lab, like some have mentioned. I'd be there every day. The in-class portion of the program ends on the 18th of this month. We take our exam on the 22nd, then go for a tour of the facility we'll be doing our clinical in, which starts on the 24th. So, I've got like a week to figure things out. Gonna do my best. We'll see. Worst case scenario, I fail, then take it again. I might even try to find a program elsewhere that's not crammed into 75 hours, four weeks. It'd be worth the drive and/or extra money, if I'd get to spend more time learning the skills in class, even have access to a skills lab. Again, might work fine for some people, but not me. I'd rather take 3 months getting the certification than 1, having to rush through everything. Apologies for all the complaining in this wall of text. I have no one to vent to about these things. lol I'm not gonna give up though. I'll pass eventually. Definitely will be seeing more of me, allnurses. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE RESPONSES.

I recently made another post, asking how many of you read your textbooks for the CNA course. Apologies, if I'm spamming the forum. I figured I'd make a new post, because this is kind of a separate question. Basically, just curious what methods you guys used to learn your skills? I'm not the swiftest, and my memory isn't the best, but I'm amazed at the thought that people can memorize all of the steps to each and every skill. I just don't understand how it's possible, without being exposed to applying the skills repeatedly firsthand? Some of the skills can be practiced at home, and I plan to, but not all of them. Did you guys really learn those by memorizing the steps/practicing in class? If so, I must really be slow. I look at some of the skills, especially those with upwards of 20 steps, and I'm just like.. how am I gonna remember this? Some people have mentioned being able to go to a "skills lab" on their campus, as they were taking the course, to prepare, but was that an option for everyone? My class starts on Monday, I plan on asking our instructor if we have something like that, but what am I gonna do if that's not the case? I have no doubt I could eventually learn them, but only after much exposure, which I don't think is gonna be possible, without me failing the course and retaking it, etc. I can't learn by just reading lists, watching others do it, or practicing a few times in class. I need a lot of hands-on, repetitious exposure, which I don't think I will be afforded in a 75 hour class (that's all my college offers, otherwise I'd probably go for one of those 16 week courses I've heard about). I'm really hoping we have a skills lab too. I'll be up in there every day. But, if not.. any tips? Sorry, if this post is a little long. I was kind of venting. ~

I'm kinda afraid to have nurses treat me like poopie, as a CNA (I'm not there yet, but soon, I hope). I'm a tough cookie though, I'll be oki. Sorry if this doesn't exactly apply to the post, I just wanted to talk. Best wishes, everyone.

Thanks for the responses! Apologies for the delayed response - been very busy these past couple days. Yeah, I've been in contact with another group of current/past CNA students, and the consensus seems to be that, while looking at the book would increase a person's chances of doing well on the written portions of the class, so long as you pay attention during the lectures and possess a little common sense, you should be fine. I'm typically a "do what I have to" sort of person as well, opting to look in the book, but with this course.. I feel I should dedicate more time to learning the skills. It'd take me a lot of time to read through and take notes on the book, time I'd rather spend on the skills, if possible, especially being that my memory is not the best. I don't know what the heck I'm gonna do - the skills book we were given is so intimidating. There are so many steps to some of the skills. Plus, it doesn't help that I'm the sort of person that better learns things by repeated exposure, failing, making mistakes, being corrected, etc. I can't just look at these lists and have them sink in. I've read the first two (handwashing and gloves) like a hundred times, and I still cannot recite them perfectly. Granted, they're the easy ones, I was able to learn them easily. I don't need to remember the steps. I just do them naturally. I'm not even gonna bother with repeating the rest over and over, with some having like 30 steps. They won't stick in my memory. It's one of the 75 hour courses as well, so I dunno how much time we'll get to practice the skills in class, and I am not sure if my college offers a "skills lab," as I have heard others say they had the option to use. The class doesn't start 'til Monday, so I'll find out then. I'm really hoping so though, 'cause I'm probably gonna fail otherwise. Of course, I'm going to practice what I can at home, with my grandmother, or someone, but some things just aren't possible (perineal care, two person moving of a resident, etc.. the obvious ones). I need to be able to do them over and over.. and, like I said, fail, have someone be like.. that's wrong, before I can do it right. I really hope I don't have to achieve that process by retaking the class one or more times. That'd suck. Plus, I'm on academic suspension from not doing so well a few years ago before dropping out, so.. I'm not sure what will happen if I fail a class. I had to sign a couple appeals and some performance agreements. I don't think I'm "allowed" to fail. ANYWAY.. sorry for complaining. WOE IS ME. Gonna do my best. Thanks again!

I'm curious, did many of you guys read the textbooks in your CNA programs in their entirety? Did you take a bunch of notes on the material as well? I'm thinking that it would be a good idea for me to do it anyway, regardless of the response I get here, because it'd probably help me learn a bit more. Though, it is rather long, and part of me would rather spend more of my available time on practicing the skills. That said, should I read it all? Take notes? Like I said, I'm probably gonna anyway, but I'm just wondering if there's a chance I could get by with skimming through it (not to say I'm not committed, just that I am a lot more worried about being able to memorize the skills as opposed to the book material). If you could offer a brief moment of your time to give me a little input, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!