Taking the CNA Plunge

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Specializes in CNA, Acute care, LTC, Hospital.

Well... I've been thinking, deciding, noodling, talking, wondering, figuring, doubting and everything in-between about moving into nursing... But tomorrow's the day I take the plunge for real.

On Monday June 23, I start my first CNA class. We're scheduled 10 days in the classroom and 10 days in the clinic. I live near Portland Oregon and my class is at the Cascade Medical School. I'm currently working on pre-reqs and plan to complete a ADN then a BSN. I already have advanced degrees, but they are ancient, so I have to start over for most subjects.

I'm a mid-life career changer who has been talking about nursing for a few years now. I've had a few careers... I was an Air Force guy (10+ years), owned restaurants (10+ years), was in practice as a private therapist (4 years), and am currently a contract instructor for business topics (5+ years).

Nursing is radically different from my other jobs. I know there are many challenges, but I've been inspired by reading many success stories on this forum and others. I hope to become an inspiration myself!

I'd like to hear about your experiences as you got started in nursing. If you haven't shared, but have a good story, please "dish"... And I'll post what happens as my adventure develops.

Blessings....

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I haven't started yet so no stories ;) but want to say congrats on taking the "plunge" and good luck!!

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Hemodialysis.

this is from my staff bio...and good luck on your journey!!!

while in the army, i read a book written by a nurse, echo heron. she wrote of her highs and lows in this wonderful nursing world. after reading this book and contemplating the end of my time in the service, i thought nursing sounded great. i went out of the army, and instead of going right into college for nursing, i decided to go to medical assisting school to see if this is what i really wanted, without the expense and time of nursing school to find out that this is not for me. i only worked as a medical assistant for a very short time, had to get around nurses! so, i got a job in a hospital as a cna. i also worked in the hospital as a cardiac monitor tech and a unit clerk. nursing was very interesting, but going to college for three years was not in the cards for me at the time. i had a son on the way!!!

eventually, i went to school to become a mechanic. it was short, six months. i still did not feel complete. it did not work out for me, but college was still not in my cards. i went on to work as a courier, warehouse worker, salesman, shipping/receiving clerk, etc etc...never feeling my true potential was met. the thought of becoming a nurse never left my mind. feeling that time was running out and life was not getting any easier, i came home one day to tell my wife that i wanted to leave my current job that i had finally worked my way up to $10.25 at, that was a lot of money for us, and work as a cna while going to nursing school. did i mention that she is a stay at home mom (i am the sole income provider) and this time my wife was pregnant with our daughter??? yes, she thought i was crazy, but with all the faith and love she has for me, agreed that i could follow through on my "brilliant" plan. now there was no guarantee that i would get into nursing school on the first try and to not get in would have "ruined" us, but i had to try!! i went out and found a free cna training class which ended with a job offer of $6.50, yes times were hard. it had been 13 years since i graduated high school, so i went out and bought a grammar and algebra book because i had to take a "compass" test to see if i had to remediate. if i had to remediate then i would not be able to go into the next nursing class (they only started a new class once a year) and so i would have been delayed a whole year, not in my budget!! after studying hard, i took and did fine on the compass test, no remediation!! i did great in all of my classes and when the time came i found out that i got into nursing school on the first try!!!

things were begining to go my way for a change. while still a pre-nursing student, i found this great site. i loved every minute that i spent reading post. i never signed up until i received my acceptance letter from nursing school. "jb2u" was now a part of allnurses.com!!! imagine my surprise the day that i received a pm from allnurses asking me if i would be interested in becoming a moderator. they wanted to have a cna forum and wanted to know if i wanted to moderate it. besides thinking that a cna forum would be a great idea, i loved the idea of being a part of the staff here!! i quickly agreed before they changed their minds or realized that they meant to send the pm to "jc2u."

i am now an rn. i work in a med/surg icu. with the exception of about a week inwhich my computer was down, i've been on allnurses everyday. my wife is happy that we have finally made it. we made it through a lot of hard times and tight budgets. i look forward to people asking me what i do for a living now. i love nursing!!! i look back on my short life so far. i remember the hard times. i still remember, with tears in my eyes, my son sitting on the floor watching cartoons because we could not afford a couch and did not have anyone to rely on. i remember only having enough money to buy my son fruits and vegetables while my wife and i ate ramen noodles. i remember sleepless nights and fears of not making it out of nursing school. i was working, going to school, and helping moderate this site. and yet, here i am today. life did not break me!! i will provide for my wife and kids. i have always provided love for my family, but now i can give more. now, i am complete!!!

i hope everyone enjoys this site as much as i do. also, i hope that when life seems like a dark bottomless pit, your wisdom will provide you light and your inner strength will give you the wings to soar out and above.

thanks for reading,

jay

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Specializes in CNA, Acute care, LTC, Hospital.

I hope everyone enjoys this site as much as I do. Also, I hope that when life seems like a dark bottomless pit, your wisdom will provide you light and your inner strength will give you the wings to soar out and above.

Thanks for reading,

Jay

Well, from one Jay (my real name) to another... Thanks for your encouraging words. And a big "THANKS" for moderating. I've noticed you guys are on top of it...

:tku:

11 hours 40 minutes and counting til orientation begins!

Blessings...

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Specializes in CNA, Acute care, LTC, Hospital.

Don't know if there's a hue and cry for a report from the first day at CNA... but here goes...

Class of 14 students, ranging from a 17 year old high school senior to a 55 year old CNA re-tread (was a CNA years ago and came back to the field)

About 4 different reasons for the attendees:

1. Qualifying for a j.o.b.

2. Already got the j.o.b. but can't stay in it for more than 4 months without certifying (State rules in Oregon)

3. Working to get points for nursing school application

4. Unemployment benefits have run out and state says "Here we'll re-train you"

Today just covered a few orientation points and eased into some ADL (activities of daily living) topics. Hard topics like: hand-washing and how to secure a gait belt... A very easy introductory day. Half day classroom and half day lab/experiential.

Our instructor is quite personable and nice, but her style of "teaching" is to read from the book. :scrying: Not a bad book, though!

One day in the class down.... nine more to go :loveya:

Our book is The Nursing Assistant's Handbook by Jetta Fuzy, RN. Plus dozens of other books/reports/works/check lists.

Nothing real exciting or sexy.... Just some info for the info-seeker..

Blessings...

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Hi =] ...Im a late starter as well.Im 37 ..and have run a home childcare for 12 years. I am so excited to get started with nursing, I start my first CNA class this sat..June 28th. Your never too old ..age is just a number! Then I hope to get into an LPN class 2009, but this is a great way to "plunge" into the field now . And I can work as a CNA while attending LPN school=]. Best wishes , keep me posted how you doing ... the encouragement helps sooo much i think ! ;) ~Sherie

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I just finished my CNA class yesterday and got my certificate. I thought we learned a lot and was amazed at how we were kind of thrown into the real world of patient care. We covered twenty-plus chapters in the book and had lots of hands-on training including learning the "skills" necessary to pass the state test. The real test was when each student was assigned four residents of their own for an entire day! I mean we had to do it all and what a challenge just learning the names to faces, routines, needs and most of all the unexpected chaos. What a day that was!

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Specializes in CNA, Acute care, LTC, Hospital.
I just finished my CNA class yesterday and got my certificate. I thought we learned a lot and was amazed at how we were kind of thrown into the real world of patient care. We covered twenty-plus chapters in the book and had lots of hands-on training including learning the "skills" necessary to pass the state test. The real test was when each student was assigned four residents of their own for an entire day! I mean we had to do it all and what a challenge just learning the names to faces, routines, needs and most of all the unexpected chaos. What a day that was!

Wow... That's an amazing "skills test"....

I've just finished my first week of CNA classroom training and we had our 50 question "mid-term" today.... Not too bad... a few poorly worded questions, but there were two perfect scores in the class (yes, one of them was MINE! :yeah: )

Our RN instructor is a knowledgeable person and very nice... But she is not dynamic and her style of lecture is to READ THE BOOK.... OMG...

There is a tremendous amount of content for someone new to the health-care field.

Other than that there's not much to report.... Happy weekend to those who get one.... We have class on Saturday!

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Specializes in CNA1, CNA2.

I am starting my CNA classes on July 14th in Wilkes Community College in N.C.

I am a little nervous . My professional career has always been in the automotive field. I was just layed off and decided to change my life . I have always been interested in a health care cereer,so I am going to make the jump.

Wish me luck , and good luck to you all

nugget

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I'm also getting ready to take the plunge. I have always wanted to be a nurse but I never thought I could do it. I have a very supportive family who has given me that extra little push that I needed to realize that I CAN become a nurse and a good one at that. Wish everyone the best of luck and we will make it through.

:D

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Ok yall....had my first class today! AMAZING ... we cramed sooo much into today ..and I have a test these 3 chapters on July 12 th ..Im doing weekend only classes.I can not wait till the next class .Ive become a sponge and "junkie" to wanting to learn more and more =] .. Talk to yall soon happy weekend!~Sherie :stdnrsrck:

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Specializes in CNA, Acute care, LTC, Hospital.
I'm also getting ready to take the plunge. I have always wanted to be a nurse but I never thought I could do it. I have a very supportive family who has given me that extra little push that I needed to realize that I CAN become a nurse and a good one at that. Wish everyone the best of luck and we will make it through.

:D

You go for it... You can do anything you set your heart to :up:

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