Starting CNA program

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I am starting a 5 week CNA program in a couple of weeks! I have no previous experience in the health industry so does anyone have any words of encouragement or advice? I applied to an LPN program but got waitlisted because of the "no experience" so I will apply again for next year and in the meantime I thought I could get a per diem as a CNA maybe twice a month (still working my full time job until I attend LPN school). I have butterflies because this is a mid life career change for me!!!! Thanks!

I'm a late-thirties career changer in the third week of CNA class. I come from the corporate world. There is a mix of teens, 20 somethings and 50 somethings. I think I'm one of two thirtysomethings in the class.

i learned pretty quickly when we practice skills, to make myself focus on what I am doing step by step and take my time to complete the skill, whether it is making an occupied bed or taking blood pressure. If you are practicing in a lab with other students all trying to learn a skill simultanuously, it can be difficult to focus on your own work instead of sneaking peeks at others nearby. Don't feel rushed, take your time to complete the skill correctly and have the instructor watch you as you practice when possible. Also, as a soft-spoken person, I force myself to speak up and "act out" the caregiving scenarios, starting from introducing myself to the patient to explaining the steps involved in the task.

Haven't gone out to clinicals yet but all the practicing in the lab setting should prepare adequately for that.

Good luck!

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Thanks everyone.....all your replies have made me feel better. I am taking the course at a community college and they dont give much info at all...esp regarding the immunizations that we need. I have calls and emails into them but no one gets back to me.

I have my book and I will start reading it this weekend since the class starts ina couple of weeks!!!

Thanks again!!

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Specializes in Nursing Assistant.

hey sawyer!! i was just reading your post on here and wanted to know how you are doing in your cna class. i start my cna classes in oct through the red cross. i also read your posts on greater lowell tech's lpn program. i plan on applying for the fall 2010 semester. are you still planning on applying to that program??

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Hey Ladi.....I started my CNA class last nite - I liked it so far! It was just the basic stuff right now but it moves at a fast pace. We have an exam every class on the previous nites materials. We start in the skills lab next week. Are you taking the red cross course in Haverhill? I almost signed up for that but the one I am in now is closer to my house.

So you read the drama on the Greater Lowell thread huh? It was nervewraking waiting for the NET and then after the interview. I was devastated that I got waitlisted so I will be re-applying. Good luck in your CNA class!

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Specializes in Nursing Assistant.

Hey Sawyer thanks for replying!! Yes I am taking my CNA classes in Haverhill. Yea I read everyones posts on the Greater Lowell Practical nurse program and it really was inspiring to me. Everyone was soo honest and truthful in their post just reminded me of myself. It was almost like a soap opera, I couldnt wait to see what was gonna happen next lol!!

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I finished my CNA class about 6 months ago. (I even got a CNA job while going to school to become one, it was an awesome quick change in my life) - at 22, I was one of the youngest. I was also the only male too, which was a little weird. I was so nervous because I didn't know what to expect. I heard stories about how it was so fast paced and stuff because for my program, they cram everything into a short period of time. Once it got time for clinicals, I thought to myself "That was it? - why didn't I do this sooner?"

Fast forward 6 months, after gaining some experience in a positive workplace, I can say that I absolutely love my job. I work with a bunch of petite girls that always need my help when moving slightly bigger patients, and I wouldn't change anything about it. Now I'm going back to school to become a RN.

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Specializes in Nursing Assistant.

Thats awesome Shane!! Yea I'm in my second week of my CNA course and we had a few skills tests already PPE's and positioning and transferring. The instructor said that I need to practice more on my skills. I just got sooo nervous that I forgot some stuff (taking off gloves properly and doing the two man transfer with a gait belt) A little discouraging but I just gotta practice some more. I'm not gonna let myself fail, its just not an option whatsoever at this point!! Everyone pray for me!:imbar

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