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.
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
omg! your post brought tears to my eyes! i am going through some of your past transgressions! your post have given me more courage to continue on to become the nurse that i was destined to be. i just completed my cna class and i take the state exam, august 14th. i am soooo terrified of nursing school and my math skills suxs big time. i have two daughters 15 and 5 and i want to be able to provide for them and give them the best life that i can possibly give them. i know once i get into nursing school, funds will be limited but my kids already love noodles so that's one meal already on the menu:d i appreciate your post from the bottom of my heart. i know i can do this and become one of the best ever!!!
thank you sooo much for giving me the courage to follow my heart:bowingpur
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
wow! what an inspiring story! you and your wife are really blessed to have each other!:redbeathe
OMG! Your post brought tears to my eyes! I am going through some of your past transgressions! Your post have given me MORE courage to continue on to become the nurse that I was destined to be. I just completed my CNA class and I take the state exam, August 14th. I am soooo terrified of nursing school and my math skills suxs BIG TIME. I have two daughters 15 and 5 and I want to be able to provide for them and give them the best life that I can possibly give them. I know once I get into nursing school, funds will be limited but my kids already love noodles so that's one meal already on the menu:D I appreciate your post from the bottom of my heart. I know I can do this and become one of the best EVER!!!
Thank you sooo much for giving me the courage to follow my heart:bowingpur
I truly wish you all the best!!! You will do it!!!
Today... This morning at 8am I took the Oregon State Board CNA exam. I don't know how I scored, but I do think I passed....
Let me tell you what the testing was like...
There were 7 of us and all were taking the test for the first time. The proctor issued the test to us... There were 5 different tests. We had 90 minutes to take the test and those who finished first, signed up first for the skills exam.
The skills exam was scheduled in 45 minute increments. Our latest test today was scheduled to start at 2:15pm. Finishing the written test faster lets you choose your time.
My skills were:
Hand washing
Measuring output from a catheter bag
Dependent feeding (measuring percentage and cc consumed)
Partial bed bath (face, neck, shoulder, underarms)
Assisting ambulation with walker (from bed to wheelchair)
We have 35 minutes to do all five skills. Here's the rub. Their "set-up" between each task is part of your 35 minutes. If the time runs out you may finish the skill you are doing. My time run out about half-way through the last task.... So I did get to finish.
There isn't any time to waste.
I'd recommend not stressing about any of this... Just study your skills book... And read your course work book....
Today... This morning at 8am I took the Oregon State Board CNA exam. I don't know how I scored, but I do think I passed....
Here's the rub. Their "set-up" between each task is part of your 35 minutes. :hpygrp:
Congrats on getting the test done!
I just finished mine and it felt like a load was lifted off of me. Three days later when I found out I had passed, it was kind of surreal (I really hate that word - Hollywood people use it all the time but it is appropriate here.)
This crash course program with all of the book work, testing, clinicals and skills practice, practice, practice became a big part of my life. I even dreamed one night about placing a wheelchair next to the bed to practice ambulation and was trying to calculate how close to the bed the wheelchair could be and still move the foot/leg rests to the side in a locked position. Talk about stressing for the skills test!
Anyway, I passed and I'm sure you did fine. You sound very conscientious and detail-oriented so you probably gave this alot of thought and practice.
I also was a little concerned about the set-up using up my skills test time. The pretend patient had to put on a gown (as a robe) so I could take it off during partial bed bath. Also, in the transfer from wheelchair to bed the bed had to be raised (so that I would be tested to see if I remembered to lower it during the skill.) I was so concerned that I raised the bed to hurry things along because the proctor and pretend patient seemed to move rather slowly. All in all, I finished with 9 minutes left over. I had handwashing, mouth care, hair care, transfer from w/c to bed and partial bed bath. Really pretty easy stuff but I was so nervous that I almost made a disaster out of mouth care. The only deduction I got was I forgot to wipe the patient's mouth with a washcloth after brushing their teeth. And I had the washcloth on the overbed table but my mind went blank.
I can sympathize, I started @ 33 on the nursing pathway and I hopefully graduate in Dec. Congrats on starting the CNA prog. it is a big step in the nursing path (just doing the job is too). Good luck, L
Im happy to share I passed the written yesterday ... the skills I have to wait for results =[. The computer went down due to tropical storm Fay .ughhh:no:! I feel confident but I did make a universal precaution errror ....I checked pt ID bracelet prior to washing my hands . I hope I passed the skills ... I will let yall know . God Bless you all=]!
P.S I had making occ bed, tarnsfer w/gait belt to w/c, pulse/resp, and of cours handwashing =]
Go for it! I'm also taking the plunge this September for a CNA program and I cannot wait. I'm also working very hard on my pre-reqs towards RN and hoping I get accepted to the nursing program. I'm 45 and have wanted to be a nurse as long as I can remember, but like so many people, the road didn't take me there right away. I had a "nice career" prior to having my children, but I never felt good about what I was doing. Good for you, good luck and go for it!
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
awesome and inspiring story... thank you:bow:! i'm a mom and a returning student who will be applying to nursing school for my fourth semester next month. i just try to keep the faith that this will happen for us too someday. you rock!
p.s don't you think we need a boy nurse logo too:p
Congratulations on becomming a C.N.A.!!! I think it's wonderful that you have changed your direction in life and are on a new path. Good luck to you with everything!!! Keep us posted
Go for it! I'm also taking the plunge this September for a CNA program and I cannot wait. I'm also working very hard on my pre-reqs towards RN and hoping I get accepted to the nursing program. I'm 45 and have wanted to be a nurse as long as I can remember, but like so many people, the road didn't take me there right away. I had a "nice career" prior to having my children, but I never felt good about what I was doing. Good for you, good luck and go for it!
exactly that is what I am trying and going to do is become a CNA and tackle my RN pre-reques so that I can be put on my CC RN wait list asap!!!! like you I have wanted to be a nurse since high school and the road just has not taken me there yet but I will get there, thanks for your post it has made me want to work even harder on my dream of becoming an RN, I wish you the best!!!!
ever!!! 
. I hope I passed the skills ... I will let yall know . God Bless you all=]!
sml1970
58 Posts
Yes .. I only have 3 more classes ..then hoping to geta job at a hosp=]