Questions about CNA's.

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Hi, I am currently thinking of becoming a CNA and would love some insight. Here's a litle info on me first. I went to school for LPN in the Summer of 2006. I have Crohn's disease and wasn't being treated and ended up in the ER for a few days. Long story short, I missed too many hours to pass my Nutrition class (I went in the hospital the week of finals!!) and although they were willing to work with me on retaking it and staying in the program, we were also struggling with balancing our regular bills and daycare. (I stayed at home with my two girls up until then, and then again after that Summer) So I had to drop, and put my dreams on hold. Fast forward to now. I put the girls in daycare in early November 2007 and have been working at their preschool full-time ever since. I am now at a community college taking just two classes this semester -math & english- and hoping to pursue my RN while working. I am in class and work from 8am-5:30 pm right now so I don't think I can fit a CNA class in my schedule just yet. I was hoping to do it this Summer. Maybe even quitting my job in June so I can stay in school and also go for CNA. So my questions are...

1) Do you feel it is worth it and beneficial to be a CNA while in nursing school?

2) What exactly do CNA's do? What do their job duties consist of?

3) What can I expect from my patients and co-workers? Do you feel you have any respect?

4) What kind of jobs can I expect after receiving my CNA certificate? Any chance at a hospital or will I have to work at a nursing home at first? (nursing homes aren't a biggie I am just expecting to like the hospital atmosphere a little more, although I could be wrong)

5) What is a typical day for you? What are the things you find yourself doing the most?

6) What are the usual set hours of CNA's? Is it pretty flexible or are they limited to certain shifts? Can you work part-time?

Ok, sorry to make this so long. I don't have any support really for becoming a CNA. I have heard people talking down about them because of the low-pay and amount of dirty work they have to do. But, I am being paid almost the minimum now, and have to put up with screaming, crying, hitting, biting, kids plus change their poop & pee diapers all day. It can't really be that much worse can it? :bugeyes: I know my husband will support me no matter what, it's mainly my Dad and other family members that talk so negatively about it. My Dad is an X-ray tech so I guess he sees what they have to deal with. I don't know, i'm kind of torn on this. I could just stay at the daycare where i'll see my own kids throughout the day (although my oldest starts pre-K this fall at a different school), or I can go ahead and try to gain experience as a CNA... Thanks for any replies.

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Specializes in ALF, Medical, ER.

1) Do you feel it is worth it and beneficial to be a CNA while in nursing school? Personally I think it is beneficial because I have learned how the daily routine is at the hospital, I am getting familiar with different diagnosis, treatments, conditions etc that I will be facing once I become an RN. Plus it can teach you how to manage your time and prioritize which is crucial

2) What exactly do CNA's do? What do their job duties consist of? In the hospital where I work I give bed baths, help assist to the bathroom, change briefs, change linens, transport patients down to x-ray, endo etc, assist the nurses when needed which can be anything from inserting and NG tube to assisting with a dressing change. I am also responsible for taking vital signs and reporting anything unusual to the nurse. There is probably a couple more things but I can't think right now.

3) What can I expect from my patients and co-workers? Do you feel you have any respect? As far as respect from patients go, sometimes you get respect, other times you don't. You may have one patient who praises your hard work and tells you how much they appreciate you, then the next patient may be so irritable at the situation they are in and sometimes you are the one they take it out on. I have to say that (thankfully) the majority of my patients are grateful for what I do for them. As far as co-workers go, that can also be hit or miss sometimes. You will find that some nurses will bend over backwards to help you because they geniuenly appreciate the work you do, others may take you for granted. Just the way the world works sometimes.

4) What kind of jobs can I expect after receiving my CNA certificate? Any chance at a hospital or will I have to work at a nursing home at first? (nursing homes aren't a biggie I am just expecting to like the hospital atmosphere a little more, although I could be wrong) At first I worked in Assisted Living, then started working at the hospital. Generally you will find jobs at nursing homes, LTC facilities etc.

5) What is a typical day for you? What are the things you find yourself doing the most? Typical morning I get report from previous shift, load up my linen cart and start with bathing the total care patients, Baths continue thru the morning. When meals arrive I set up anyone that needs assistance, feed anyone that may need to be fed. Throughout the day I answer calls for bathroom assistance, help with positioning etc. I also take vital sign whenever they are required. Some patients are once a shift, others are every hour. Bathroom assistance is the thing I find myself doing the most.

6) What are the usual set hours of CNA's? Is it pretty flexible or are they limited to certain shifts? Can you work part-time? Depends on the facility. The hospital has 12 hour shift although 8 hour shift are not unheard of. Days will normally have more CNAs than other shifts

Hope this all helps. Welcome to allnurses and let us know if you need anything!!

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hi! just wanted to address your #4 question. i held out for a hospital job because i wanted the hospital experience instead of ltc. it was my preference, but it ended up working because i do have a hospital pca/cna job now. i love it!! question #5, i was hired strictly evenings, 3-11, which works out because i go to school during the day. (but i am tired!!:icon_roll) it depends on what the fllor needs i think, some of the aides on my floor work 2 different shifts and rotate.

good luck!!

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I have question! :)

I was looking online at job postings at a local hospital because I am thinking about getting a part-time job while going to school to be a R.N. Anyway, they had a posting for a NST in the CVICU department is a NST different from a CNA??? Or is it something completely different? Thanks for the help!

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Thanks for the replies. Right now I am actually rethinking my major. I have always went back and forth with education and the health field. I am starting to think it is too hard in my area to become an RN. With only two schools in the area, and both of them having major flaws, and being extremely hard to get in, I get a little worried about going so far and then not making it to clinicals. I guess that would be all the reason to try CNA though, to make sure that's the route I really want to take. I've looked into some CNA classes and may be able to do one this Summer. I guess we will see. Thanks again and congrats to all that have become CNA's and GL in your continued journey through nursing school!

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well, i'm sure by now you've made your decision about being a cna, but reading this i thought i'd add my two cents....

i'm a cna, and have been in LTC and hospital settings for a long time...finally starting nursing school this fall! phew!

i think it's a wonderful idea for any nurse or nurse-to-be or anyone considering the medical profession in general (doctors included!!!!) to be a cna, and here's why:

i think you'll never be treated so poorly and honored so greatly in one shift as you can be when you're a cna. a lot of nurses on this forum badmouth cna's like they get paid to do it, and i think that's too bad. we're not all too stupid (i do know grammar and capitalization, by the way, i'm just a lazy typist), to work in a different field, we're not all lazy, etc...

having a perspective on what it's like to be on the bottom rung of the healthcare ladder will prove invaluable once you're a nurse. i can almost pick out which nurses have never worked as a cna before by how they treat me....it's sad really.

similarly, being a patient or having a loved one be a patient in a hospital shows you exactly what kind of nurse you don't want to be often, and sometimes the kind of nurse you hope to be. :-)

good luck in all your future undertakings :-)

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Thanks MagnesiuM! Actually since then things have changed, for the better!! I very unexpectdly got to go back to LPN school! I started my last two pre-req's Last Monday. In August I will be a full-time student and starting clinicals soon after. I've been meaning to ask the director if we can work as a CNA after so many hours of the PN program. Because that's definitely what i'll do until I graduate unless it's just impossible for me to work and go to school full-time. (I have two little ones at home) As of right now i'm just going to school 3 hours a day M-F and working only around 10 hours a week at the childcare center my daughters attend. I am looking forward to being in the health field even if it's a CNA at first. I would just love the experience!

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I was hired at an nursing agency in Seattle, Washington and I am a part time nursing student. I will be placed in hospitals and nursing homes; although, I have never worked in a hospital. Can you tell me what your typical routine is like? What do you do with new admits/discharges. Do you set up EKG monitors? God Bless, you sound like a trooper.

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