Taking the CNA Plunge

Banjoeer · Jun 29, 2008

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

Good luck to you nugget... If you can make it in the automotive field you'll be a superstar as a CNA...

Just keep your mind open... be patient with yourself... keep a good work ethic... You go man! :yeah:

MAmom81 · Jun 30, 2008

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

thank you so very much for your wonderful & uplifting post!!!! your post has made me realize even more how much i want to become an rn, it's my passion, my dream and i cannot image doing anything else. things have not been going that great for me right now i got an acceptance letter for my communiyt college's lvn program and i was so excited but right now me and my husband cannot afford it and i need to improve in math so as much as i would luv to go this fall i cannot and it's so depressing but i would rather improve in math then possible fail in nursing school:cry:!!!! i have decided that i am going to start taking my rn per-reques and hopefully my community college will offer their cna program in intersession and i will enroll in that so i can gain some experince and help my husband with the bills because he is the sole provider right now i am a stay-at-home mom:loveya:!!!! how do you do it when everything goes wrong? i would greatly appreciate any advice you have to offer.

jb2u, ASN, RN · Jul 1, 2008

Thank you so very much for your wonderful & uplifting post!!!! Your post has made me realize even more how much I want to become an RN, it's my passion, my dream and I cannot image doing anything else. Things have not been going that great for me right now I got an acceptance letter for my Communiyt College's LVN Program and I was so excited but right now me and my Husband cannot afford it and I need to improve in math so as much as I would luv to go this fall I cannot and it's so depressing but I would rather improve in math then possible fail in nursing school:cry:!!!! I have decided that I am going to start taking my RN per-reques and hopefully my Community College will offer their CNA Program in intersession and I will enroll in that so I can gain some experince and help my husband with the bills because he is the sole provider right now I am a stay-at-home mom:loveya:!!!! How do you do it when everything goes wrong? I would greatly appreciate any advice you have to offer.

I know it sounds cliche, but you really just can't quit!!! Always look at the bright side. I am positive that in almost any situation, no matter how bad, there is a bright side. It is easier said than done, I know.

We did not have anything really. Clothes, a one bedroom apartment next to someone I'm sure was selling drugs, a "cash" car, no cell phone or cable tv, no vacations, etc. A lot of things that people take for granted, we just went without. I prayed every day that my car would start. I repeatedly had to pull off to the side of the road because the transmission would not shift gears. After a few minutes, it would go just fine again. I was always happy that I just had a car!! Life is really what you make it. I am proof that one can start with nothing and make it!!! Complainers normally never make it and usually take the wind out of those that are trying to set sail to success. I hate people telling other people, "you can't do that," "oh yea, my sister tried eight times to get into that nursing school. You'll never get in," etc etc. Only you can stop yourself. Yes, some programs are hard to get into, but there are other schools and other options. One route would be to become a paramedic and then do excelsior online to get your RN. You can go the LPN route and then do a LPN to RN course. My point is one life gives you a road block, either decide to go through it or look quickly for another way around to reach your goal, but never, NEVER decide that that road block means you MUST turn around and go back to where you came from or choose a different destination.

I wish you and everyone else lots of success.

Sincerely,

Jay

Banjoeer · Jul 3, 2008

To continue about my experience in CNA training....

Today was our last day of classroom training. Tomorrow is our final exam... There are 100 multiple choice questions that I am sure are very straightforward.

We covered all the chapters in the book and reviewed all the workbook material. There is a lot of material... but most of it is common sense. Our school seems a little disorganized... Or maybe it's just the instructor?

After a few hiccups we got our clinical training schedules and with a few minor adjustments, everybody got happy with their dates and times. Clinical training starts for some of the class on Sunday... Mine starts on Monday July 7.

I've interviewed with a couple of agencies and have got some good leads for jobs... If I wanna take them. Because I have another business that conflicts, I need flexibility and some agencies are very flexible. It's a good thing.

Not a lot of "news flashes" in this post, but just to keep up-to-date on what's happening... Encouragement to those who are waiting, deciding, hoping, or unsure... Come on in... The water is fine!

:tbsk:

jb2u, ASN, RN · Jul 3, 2008

Good luck tomorrow. I hope you enjoy your clinical. Keep us posted!!!

Jay

sml1970 · Jul 3, 2008

Hi yall=] I found this on another thread ,and simply had to share it ... written by pumkinurse ...... I am deeply touched to taers . Especially pay attention to the last few lines =].~Sherie

"CNA's are the backbone of every facility. We are the eyes and ears of the nurse. Without CNA's the facilities would have to close. Nurses are wonderful I have no doubt but the CNA is the hands on caregiver and in some cases the only person the resident really trusts. Yet we are underpaid, sometimes treated as part of labor department and because we dont have the college degree sometimes we are not considered real nurses. I worked at a facility once where an Rn made a statement that CNA's didnt need to hear the change of shift report because they werent part of the nursing depart. That nurse was told to apologize to the CNA's by the nursing union and D.O.N. We are very special people because not everyone can share their love to others the way we do. OUr residents needs stay on our minds sometimes when we go home. That special treat they wanted or the new game they tried and liked, or the saddness we felt in our hearts when the long lost family member didnt show up for the residents birthday etc. We listen to our residents most intimate feelings towards their family and their fears of dying. So remember We are angels from heaven the ones who tip-toe into the rooms at night to place that extra blanket on our resident because we know he or she will be cold. And when they are passing we are the ones who hold their hand when their family cant be there. "

sml1970 · Jul 3, 2008

I found this on another thread ,and simply HAD to share. Its sooo touching , esp the last few lines=] .. enjoy!

CNA's are the backbone of every facility. We are the eyes and ears of the nurse. Without CNA's the facilities would have to close. Nurses are wonderful I have no doubt but the CNA is the hands on caregiver and in some cases the only person the resident really trusts. Yet we are underpaid, sometimes treated as part of labor department and because we dont have the college degree sometimes we are not considered real nurses. I worked at a facility once where an Rn made a statement that CNA's didnt need to hear the change of shift report because they werent part of the nursing depart. That nurse was told to apologize to the CNA's by the nursing union and D.O.N. We are very special people because not everyone can share their love to others the way we do. OUr residents needs stay on our minds sometimes when we go home. That special treat they wanted or the new game they tried and liked, or the saddness we felt in our hearts when the long lost family member didnt show up for the residents birthday etc. We listen to our residents most intimate feelings towards their family and their fears of dying. So remember We are angels from heaven the ones who tip-toe into the rooms at night to place that extra blanket on our resident because we know he or she will be cold. And when they are passing we are the ones who hold their hand when their family cant be there.

sophieblophie · Jul 4, 2008

Congrats on finishing up your class (I assume, anyway). I live in Wyoming, but grew up in SW Washington, so reading that you're in Portland made me a little homesick. I also went into my CNA class with an "advanced degree" ...well, it was a Bachelor's degree, I don't really know if that counts as advanced, but I felt like I was starting over from square one when I started the class. I finished my class in mid-April and I've been working as a CNA for about a month now. It's definitely the hardest job I've ever had, but it's very rewarding in some ways as well. My ultimate goal is to get my RN and I'm taking some pre-req classes this summer with the goal of getting into the program in fall of '09. Somewhere in-between there I want to get my LPN as well, but we'll see. Well, that's my story/experience. Congratulations on :taking the plunge". The world needs more male CNAs.

Banjoeer · Jul 4, 2008

Congrats on finishing up your class (I assume, anyway). I live in Wyoming, but grew up in SW Washington, so reading that you're in Portland made me a little homesick. I also went into my CNA class with an "advanced degree" ...well, it was a Bachelor's degree, I don't really know if that counts as advanced, but I felt like I was starting over from square one when I started the class. I finished my class in mid-April and I've been working as a CNA for about a month now. It's definitely the hardest job I've ever had, but it's very rewarding in some ways as well. My ultimate goal is to get my RN and I'm taking some pre-req classes this summer with the goal of getting into the program in fall of '09. Somewhere in-between there I want to get my LPN as well, but we'll see. Well, that's my story/experience. Congratulations on :taking the plunge". The world needs more male CNAs.

Homesick, huh? The Pacific northwest is a great place. Originally I'm from NC and have been here for 17 years.

I've traveled and worked in Wyoming a few times... it is beautiful there.... Good luck on pursuing your RN...

A bachelor's degree is an advanced degree in a CNA class. I didn't disclose my advanced degrees (Ph.D, MPA, BA) until I was "busted" by a student who recognized me. "Hey, you're Dr. Jay, aren't you?" Apparently she'd seen an ad with my picture. It was kinda funny.... The instructor wanted to know what I was doing there in a CNA class.

When I was inquiring about different CNA programs, one program director/school owner, after asking and finding out my education level asked, "Do you have any idea what CNAs do?" Yes, I replied... Mostly poop and pee patrol....

Happy 4th everybody!

:clpty:

sbenning5 · Jul 4, 2008

I start my CNA courses July 12. I just wanted to wish you lots of luck Banjoeer!

sam3992 · Jul 4, 2008

Thank you all so much for sharing your stories. I think that I am going to try to get my CNA so I can figure out if I want to be a nurse or not so thank you all for the encouraging stories.

MAmom81 · Jul 5, 2008

I know it sounds cliche, but you really just can't quit!!! Always look at the bright side. I am positive that in almost any situation, no matter how bad, there is a bright side. It is easier said than done, I know.
We did not have anything really. Clothes, a one bedroom apartment next to someone I'm sure was selling drugs, a "cash" car, no cell phone or cable tv, no vacations, etc. A lot of things that people take for granted, we just went without. I prayed every day that my car would start. I repeatedly had to pull off to the side of the road because the transmission would not shift gears. After a few minutes, it would go just fine again. I was always happy that I just had a car!! Life is really what you make it. I am proof that one can start with nothing and make it!!! Complainers normally never make it and usually take the wind out of those that are trying to set sail to success. I hate people telling other people, "you can't do that," "oh yea, my sister tried eight times to get into that nursing school. You'll never get in," etc etc. Only you can stop yourself. Yes, some programs are hard to get into, but there are other schools and other options. One route would be to become a paramedic and then do excelsior online to get your RN. You can go the LPN route and then do a LPN to RN course. My point is one life gives you a road block, either decide to go through it or look quickly for another way around to reach your goal, but never, NEVER decide that that road block means you MUST turn around and go back to where you came from or choose a different destination.
I wish you and everyone else lots of success.
Sincerely,
Jay

Thanks so very much for your uplifting post I really appreciate the fact that you took the time out of your busy day to respond to my post, thanks so much!!!! I am not quiting I am just taking a different route in becoming an LVN and evenutally an RN. I am going to start taking my RN pre-reques this fall & I am also going to put my name on the CNA wait list at my Community College on October 6th the CNA Program starts in Intersession and I really hope I get in all I need is a current TB test within a year, a physical--which I already got-- and finger prints which I got through my sons school, it was a live scan finger printing that I got because it's required for field trips and volunteering in his class so I hope that they will accept that but if not I will go where they tell me to. I think I can use my physical that I got the end of June because it's current and other students that where going to the LVN Program had asked about that and the dean said yeah, the student said she had had her physical a few months ago and the dean said that was fine. Wish me luck, I will keep you posted!!!! I also reapplyied to the LV Program on Thursday and I am going to call Monday to see if they put my back on the LVN wait list!!!! wish me luck!!!!