So confused/upset/hopeless. Current CNA student needing advice.

[meghanlee]

I am one confused student.

Right now I am getting my CNA certificate from my college as it is a pre-req to even applying to nursing schools. I'm already becoming a little disgusted with some of the work I'll be doing as a CNA, (mainly vomit ) but I keep reassuring myself I won't be a CNA forever.

I didn't realize how hard it is to get into nursing school! It looks like I may be wait-listed for up to two years!

I really don't like the idea of being a CNA for two years, so I was thinking of getting my LPN then doing the advanced course afterwards from LPN to RN.

My main concern is math. I am not the best math student but I AM a hard worker who is willing to give it my all and spend tons of time studying. Not to mention every school around here (Washington State) has different pre-reqs, so I STILL have to take some more classes.

I am so compassionate for people and am truly interested in nursing. I am just so fearful of waiting for two years for RN school and weary of whether or not I'll even find work as an LPN. Will it be worth it in the end? Can I ever get into nursing school? Should I start applying in other states?

Can anyone give me some words of advice or wisdom? I am feeling so dissapointed and angry with myself today.

[Vito Andolini]

I think you shoiuld explore all your options. Check into LPN jobs to see what's available in your area. check into RN schools in other states if you are able and willing to go out of state to school.

Don't worry about vomit, urine, poo, etc. Not all types of nursing require contact with them. Or you will get more used to blood, sweat, pus, and so on and be able to handle everything. And some of us gag and wretch right along with the patients and are still good nurses.

Just don't give up. You sound very sad and sound like maybe you would benefit from some counseling with your clergyman or a secular counselor of some type.

I wish you well.

[Vito Andolini]

The first thing you need to do is get your emotions under control. When you're at work, dealing with sick and dying people and their family, you're not going to be able to be confused, hopeless, upset, or crying your eyes out.

How should she do that? Any kindly, specific suggestions for her?

[invisigoth]

I will echo the sentiments of most and say that becoming an RN will not save you from cleaning poo and vomit. Every nurse has his or her weakness. Mine happens to be the sight of vomit when "Auntie Flo is in town". Some people have romantic notions of nursing and I would say examine within yourself if this is truly what you want. Get control of yourself and focus. Also please know that the Universe responds to what you believe about yourself. Believe negative thinking and you will fail and you what the universe says? Your wish is my command. Perhaps it is good you discover these things about yourself now and deal with them.

[mochabean]

I've been a Nursing Assistant for 3 weeks now. I've gotten used to the sights and smells that I've experienced so far. It doesn't effect me as much as I thought it would. I have a job to do so I just go in, do it quickly and properly, don't get emotional about, and keep my face blank. Almost like a robot, but not quite. Since you're in school, you'll be working your way towards a goal of becoming a nurse. Two years seems like a long time, but you're not going to be a CNA for a long time. Just stay focused while you're in school.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

How should she do that? Any kindly, specific suggestions for her?

Any kindly, specific suggestions on how she should perform her job while an emotional wreck?

[invisigoth]

Any kindly, specific suggestions on how she should perform her job while an emotional wreck?

I use calm drops and other homeopathic remedies myself. I also use EFT taps to control my moods and calm down when something at work upsets me. It got me through clinicals.

http://www.emofree.com

[LovingLearning]

Heya, Meghanlee!

Know what? I had the same concerns as you did. I'm a first semester NS, and was worried that I'd not be able to deal with things like adult depends/diaper changes, or vomiting patients, et cetera.

I can now say that the only thing which gets me is suctioning out a trache. I've dealt with everything else, from a GI bleed mixed with feces, to bloody vomit, to bloody urine, gross feet, gross fat folds, and on and on, the only time I felt in danger of losing my composure was during a trache suctioning.

So here's my suggestion. Do the CNA class. Get into the field for a bit, and see if that's what you want. Look at LVN or RN, and shadow an RN for a day; see if that's something you can handle.

If you can, then rock on towards that RN degree. If not, then think about alternatives in healthcare...like, LVNs in Drs offices don't usually have to deal with some of the more blechy stuff. Not everything will put you into daily contact with a lot of the more messier aspects...not at all.

There are hundreds of avenues to explore. And what's wonderful is you want to look into it. So...start looking. :hngon:

Another thing, too. Don't worry about having emotions about things. There will come a time where it won't be all right to cry, or to be sad in public...when you're dealing with very ill people or death, times like that call for a certain distance. But you'll have time to learn how to do that. As for right now, you go on and cry. But then, pick yourself up, and figure out alternative ways to accomplish what YOU want to.

Nursing has it's drawbacks, to be sure. But the first time a patient hugs you and says 'you've made a difference', all those drawbacks kinda fall away...and I can see you want to make a difference. So don't let anyone hold you back from that. You'll learn to overcome things along the way...and you'll find a place to work, too.

Have a little faith, both in yourself and in your possible career path...deal?

Best-

Lovin' Learning

[caliotter3]

If you have ever changed a baby's poopy diapers or cleaned up spit up, you can most likely handle any bodily fluids in nursing. Keep on going forward. You know there are ways to get used to it. And you always have the option of having a coworker help you (you help each other) so that you aren't dealing with this stuff alone. Four hands instead of two make the clean up go way faster and you're on to other tasks. Don't give up so easily. You're capable of handling a lot more than you think.

[ybstressed, LVN]

You will get over being grossed out. I use to have that problem with vomit. If I even heard some one start to gag I would throw up. I once had a patient vomit in my mouth. Yes, I was swabing the patient and telling her to open wider and she gave me a little gift. I ended up vomitting in the trash can.....collected my sample...then went to the bathroom and slowly died.....but I got over the vomit issue.

[Speed Freak]

These threads always make two lines from an old movie (Young Doctors in Love) pop into my head.

"There are over twenty bodily fluids present in the human body and I am proud to say I have tasted all of them."

And:

"Your attention please! Due to a mixup in urology, no apple juice will be served this morning."

[Speed Freak]

I am not starting school until the 15th of this month. In high school I worked at a nursing home as a janitor on the weekends. I got a pretty good idea how it is. But no matter what happens, and how bad it can get in LTC (I am getting my CNA training through a nursing home), it can never, ever get as bad as the most disgusting job I ever had.

One summer in college I spent it steam cleaning the inside of garbage trucks. This is in Texas. Working inside a closed metal truck with the reaching up 150 inside of there. Caked on grime a mixture of spoiled food, diapers, coffee grounds and who knows what else, falling off the roof and sides in sheets. Landing on your head or into the warm, goopy, ankle deep water. What I smelled in that job, JEEZ!

Nothing could ever be that bad. There were thousands of dead and Iraqi bodies after Desert Storm on the road to Basra. Miles of them. One of my soldiers commented when we drove by about the smell. When I told him I had smelled much worse, he did not believe me.

I am looking forward to entering this field. As bad as I want to succeed, a person never knows what can happen in the future. But if I do not make it for some reason, it won't be because I got grossed out.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

In my years working in correction, I had a large selection of body fluids thrown on me at one point or another.