Started CNA school!

bankssarn · Sep 20, 2012

That's great! I'm glad you're enjoying it. I was a CNA for several years before I became a RN. I worked in long-term care, and I loved it. Are you interested in LTC, home health or a hospital setting?

TurtleCat · Sep 20, 2012

That's great! I'm glad you're enjoying it. I was a CNA for several years before I became a RN. I worked in long-term care, and I loved it. Are you interested in LTC, home health or a hospital setting?

LTC or home health... I'm specifically interested in working with the elderly population, I love my elders. However, I don't think home health will be an option for a while now as I don't have my own car... so I'll just be applying to LTC facilities at first. I like the concept of working in LTC, but I keep hearing horror stories of how so many LTCs are poorly run with ridiculous staffing ratios... then again, every place is different...

That's cool that you're an RN now. I'm still debating whether I want to go the RN route or not; I know it's much better money than just CNA, but it is also a lot more stress, responsibility and liability too; I'm not sure how well I could deal with that, knowing that one little mistake I make could kill someone. But I'm trying not to worry about it too much for now... right now, I'm just focused on doing CNA and seeing where that takes me. I really hope I wind up liking it, I gotta say I'm really looking forward to the clinical externship as that's when I'll get a taste of what the actual job is like.

TurtleCat · Sep 24, 2012

Had another class Friday evening. We mostly went over vital signs a little bit and practiced our first skill, hand-washing. Hand-washing was easy peasy!! The vital signs I might have to practice a tad before I get the hang of them, tho. I think it'll be okay in the end however. Just need practice.

Our instructor is really nice and sweet so far. That was something I was actually a little worried about, since I've heard so many horror stories of nursing and CNA instructors being psycho *******, but she seems really patient and kind. She says that I seem really intelligent and like I have a photographic memory, and that she thinks I'm doing really well in the class. That made me beam. =) I would also like to add, not trying to demean her or anything, but she is physically disabled. In a way, I think that's kind of brilliant -- having the instructor for a CNA class have a physical disability. It helps teach you empathy and how to care for others that are physically incapable before you even start your clinicals. Also, I think it's a good thing because I often hear how so many nurses are out of work and unable to find employment when their body gives out before their minds do. It's good that this one was able to find herself a good, stable job even in such a circumstance.

I'm going to be doing a lot of practicing and studying, and then I have another class Monday evening. Monday evening we have our first test, I hope I do well on it. :x Honestly I think I will, this class seems easy enough as long as you study for it, and I'm doing that. Just trying to hang in there. :) I'm excited for clinicals, since I imagine that's when I'll really get a taste of the job and know whether it's for me or not. I admit I am still kind of scared to death of clinicals and the actual job, as I worry about some making some horrible mistake that'll cause harm to a patient or make me lose my job. But I figure, I just gotta try my best and let things take their course. Worrying myself sick over everything won't get me anywhere -- I gotta try things out for myself.