TMCC Program

U.S.A. Nevada

Published

Hi Everyone!

I am brand new here and have already found some very interesting and useful info on here. Hopefully I'll keep finding more and maybe be able to help as well!

I just got accepted into the TMCC Nursing Program starting in Aug. 2009!!!!! I am sooo excited!!!!!:yeah::D But also nervous!!

Is there anyone else joining me?!

Medwynn - I didn't know where to post this question to you, so hopefully you will see this and reply. :D

I wanted to know..I think you said you worked as a nurse tech while in nursing school? How do you get a nurse tech position and do you know where they are available? Hospitals, doc offices, everywhere (especially in Reno..)? I honestly had never heard of a nurse tech until I saw it around this site and researched it a little more.. I'm sure it would be a great experience and help along the way with nursing school. Any advice you have would be appreciated - Thanks!

KJSquared- Did you ever get any info about the "nurse tech"? I'm getting ready to start nursing school and thought this would be a great idea. I too heard about this only on this site....does this position exist in Reno??? Let me know if you find out :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
KJSquared- Did you ever get any info about the "nurse tech"? I'm getting ready to start nursing school and thought this would be a great idea. I too heard about this only on this site....does this position exist in Reno??? Let me know if you find out :)

Hi there - There is such a position as a nurse tech or nurse apprentice.. However, I am beginning my 3rd semester in Fall (you can apply for nurse tech after your 2nd semester), and all the hospitals in Reno didn't have a single position available and/or were not in need of a nurse tech. Bummer... I really wanted to do it. A lot of people from my class are doing the CNA thing instead.

Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi there - There is such a position as a nurse tech or nurse apprentice.. However, I am beginning my 3rd semester in Fall (you can apply for nurse tech after your 2nd semester), and all the hospitals in Reno didn't have a single position available and/or were not in need of a nurse tech. Bummer... I really wanted to do it. A lot of people from my class are doing the CNA thing instead.

Good luck.

Oh No! Well keep your eyes and ears open and maybe a position will open up. I'm not starting school until Jan and I heard WNC in Fallon does a CNA program starting this Aug that is only 6 weeks long. I was thinking of doing it because I think it will really help when graduating from nursing school and looking for work. What do you think? It is too much to take on???

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Oh No! Well keep your eyes and ears open and maybe a position will open up. I'm not starting school until Jan and I heard WNC in Fallon does a CNA program starting this Aug that is only 6 weeks long. I was thinking of doing it because I think it will really help when graduating from nursing school and looking for work. What do you think? It is too much to take on???

Hi there,

I don't know if you have already taken the CNA course but I would recommend it if not, especially while you have the time. I took my CNA my exam this summer in Aug (was supposed to test in July and look for a job, but got wait listed) and if I had more time I would have looked for a job and thought it was worth it.

I'm not sure how much it will help your resume when you graduate with RN, but if you are unfimiliar with hospital settings, it would benefit you to get some experience in that area. I am interested in critical care, so I would have loved to get a job as a CNA doing something in that area, but unfortunately don't have any time to spare at the moment + another part time job.

Let me know how it goes!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi there - There is such a position as a nurse tech or nurse apprentice.. However, I am beginning my 3rd semester in Fall (you can apply for nurse tech after your 2nd semester), and all the hospitals in Reno didn't have a single position available and/or were not in need of a nurse tech. Bummer... I really wanted to do it. A lot of people from my class are doing the CNA thing instead.

Good luck.

Hi kjsquared,

I noticed from the threads that you are enrolled at TMCC's nursing program. May i ask would you recommend the program to others ? Also, you said that alot of people in your class are going the CNA route on the side, does one automatically qualify to take the CNA exam once they have completed a semester or two of nursing classes ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi kjsquared,

I noticed from the threads that you are enrolled at TMCC's nursing program. May i ask would you recommend the program to others ? Also, you said that alot of people in your class are going the CNA route on the side, does one automatically qualify to take the CNA exam once they have completed a semester or two of nursing classes ?

Hi Shar81,

I would definitely recommend TMCC to anyone! They have an incredible passing rate for NCLEX but also it's just an all around great program. I believe it has and will prepare me really well to be a RN!

You can take the CNA by exam after you successfully complete your 2nd semester of nursing school. You qualify to take the exam by written and skill - you just have to pay for it & schedule a date.

Hope that helps.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi there,

I don't know if you have already taken the CNA course but I would recommend it if not, especially while you have the time. I took my CNA my exam this summer in Aug (was supposed to test in July and look for a job, but got wait listed) and if I had more time I would have looked for a job and thought it was worth it.

I'm not sure how much it will help your resume when you graduate with RN, but if you are unfimiliar with hospital settings, it would benefit you to get some experience in that area. I am interested in critical care, so I would have loved to get a job as a CNA doing something in that area, but unfortunately don't have any time to spare at the moment + another part time job.

Let me know how it goes!

Hi again kjsquared...sorry it's been over a month! I didn't know you had replied to me! I'm actually in the middle of my CNA course. I've been doing my clinicals once a week for the last 5 weeks. Going into it, I also thought I wanted to end up in critical care. I had the opportunity to shadow the current CNA at Renown working in the ICU and it was NOT what I expected. Working as a CNA in the ICU at Renown wouldn't help you at all with your nursing. Her job mainly is to make sure all the nursing supplies are stocked! I was so surprised. The only interaction I had with patients was helping the RNs turn patients and that's about it. I was pretty disappointed. If you ever do decide to be a nurse tech or CNA while still in nursing school, I would suggest doing it on one of the Tele floors. You will do ALOT more and they still consider that critical care. Anyway, hope nursing school is going well for you :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SRNA.
I had the opportunity to shadow the current CNA at Renown working in the ICU and it was NOT what I expected. Working as a CNA in the ICU at Renown wouldn't help you at all with your nursing. Her job mainly is to make sure all the nursing supplies are stocked! I was so surprised. The only interaction I had with patients was helping the RNs turn patients and that's about it. I was pretty disappointed.

As an RN who has worked in an ICU at Renown, I'd have to say the CNAs get as much out of being in the ICU as they want. If they want to do the minimum and just restock supplies and help turn patients, that's all they'll get out of the job. If they're interested in nursing and want to learn about patient assessment, ICU equipment, abnormal labwork, etc., there are plenty of nurses who like to teach.

Sounds like you shadowed a lazy CNA. Just sayin'!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
As an RN who has worked in an ICU at Renown, I'd have to say the CNAs get as much out of being in the ICU as they want. If they want to do the minimum and just restock supplies and help turn patients, that's all they'll get out of the job. If they're interested in nursing and want to learn about patient assessment, ICU equipment, abnormal labwork, etc., there are plenty of nurses who like to teach.

Sounds like you shadowed a lazy CNA. Just sayin'!

I wouldn't say she was lazy. She was actually great at the part of her job that I saw her do, she just didn't do much patient care. I think they are a little short-staffed when it comes to CNAs right now and she really had ALOT of stocking to do. It just really wasn't what I expected. Most units that I have been on, the CNA has a bunch of tasks relating to patient care that they are responsible for. In the ICU that I was in, it seemed like the nurses took care of everything and the CNAs are just there to help where they are needed. She asked each nurse numerous times if they needed anything and they all said no. I'm sure each ICU is different but that was my experience.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

Things must have changed quite a bit since 2007 at Renown (in the ICU). When I worked there, we never had CNA's. We did total patient care; sometimes we had the help of the Critical Care Tech but that was it. I started in the ICU in 2003 after my first semester of nursing school as a CCT/Apprentice Nurse I (they did away with the AN I position after that). Then, after my second semester at WNC, I moved up to Apprentice Nurse II and did that for about a year prior to graduation. That was a lot more than basic CNA work and if they still have that program, I HIGHLY recommend it! It provided me with an enormous amount of education, organizational skills, and familiarity with the unit so that when I did graduate and was on my own, I was comfortable working in the ICU as a new grad. I was paid pretty well, too....around $17/hour. I loved my job as AN II and was grateful for the experience as I moved through the nursing school. Good luck in your quest to find something like that....for me, it was invaluable!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the reply LIFE IS GOOD! The employee I was shadowing was a Critical Care Tech, that's just her official title. She is basically a CNA, she said she got hired right out of school and wasn't required any other training besides her CNA certification course and passing her exam of course. It does sound like things have changed quite a bit since you were there. I would love to have the experience that you had! I am starting nursing school Jan 3 2011 and would absolutely love to work in the ICU and move my way up like you did...I"m just not sure they do that anymore??? I will definitely do some research and find out. I"m also not sure if I'll have the time! How was working while you were in NS? I'm just nervous to take on too much! Are you still working in the ICU? Would love to hear what you think about it and if you would recommend. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.
Thanks for the reply LIFE IS GOOD! The employee I was shadowing was a Critical Care Tech, that's just her official title. She is basically a CNA, she said she got hired right out of school and wasn't required any other training besides her CNA certification course and passing her exam of course. It does sound like things have changed quite a bit since you were there. I would love to have the experience that you had! I am starting nursing school Jan 3 2011 and would absolutely love to work in the ICU and move my way up like you did...I"m just not sure they do that anymore??? I will definitely do some research and find out. I"m also not sure if I'll have the time! How was working while you were in NS? I'm just nervous to take on too much! Are you still working in the ICU? Would love to hear what you think about it and if you would recommend.

I usually worked two 12-hour shifts while in school. I was also juggling a 3 year old and 6 year old, along with a husband who worked full time night shift and was going to school himself 3/4 time! LOL. I don't know how I stopped from going insane. The second semester of school, I was a Tech and worked days. Then, after my second semester, I started as the Apprentice Nurse II position and worked full time through summer, shadowing my preceptor (she's still there, as far as I know and a wonderful, experienced critical care nurse). I worked full time nights (3 to 4 shifts a week) through summer and then when school started back up cut back to 2...usually Friday and Saturday nights. It wasn't too terrible and the experience I got was invaluable. They gave me a ton of training and I loved being able to get my organizational skills in order prior to graduating! Plus, knowing where everything was at and how to order it if we were out (from being a tech) was a bonus!

I no longer work in the ICU and am doing psychiatric nursing instead. It's where I belong...lol. Although I miss the total patient care, the technology (I LOVED messing with the neuro stuff like ventriculostomies, ICP monitors, etc.) and all the excitement, I don't miss the hospital shifts, working holidays and weekends, and having trauma surgeons screaming at me over the phone because I dared call them in the middle of the night when their patient was crashing. LOL. I love my Monday through Friday 7 to 4 job with an hour for lunch (and NO holidays or weekends!) and I love being able to do so much patient education.....something I didn't get to do much of when all my patients were on vents. I did leave the ICU because of a personal issue (you can read my story over on the Recovering Nurses forum) but it's been nothing but a good thing for me.

I highly recommend the Apprentice program if they still have it (I think they do). It was a great way to get experience prior to graduation. I was responsible for all the care and charting for 2 ICU patients for about a year before I graduated...this enabled me to be fairly comfortable hitting the floor as a "new nurse". Good luck!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment