To workshop or not to workshop

medicrnohio, RN · Aug 7, 2004

I hate when I see people saying that all the basic nursing care "gets handed off to CNAs anyways." This is so not true. Basic nursing care is the basis for all of nursing and it is expected that both nurses and aides can perform that care. When you take the CPNE you will be expected to perform that care according to established guidelines. Dressing changes are generally not something that CNA's do either. In fact, on the CPNE you will have a wound station in the labs and could be assigned wound care during your patient care situations.

Now I know that you asked originally if you should take a workshop besides the one offered by Excelsior. I can not answer that question. I plan to take the EC workshop as I prefer to go right to the source for information. I have heard many positive things about some of the other workshops as well. I hope you make the decision that works for you. Good luck.

Michelle

BBFRN, BSN, PhD · Aug 7, 2004

Amen to that, Michelle!

Deej- if you think that the CNAs will be doing your nursing care, I suggest taking any workshops you can take. Do not get your RN thinking you'll be sitting at the desk all day doing paperwork. If you are of the mind that you will not be doing any bed baths, etc. the CNAs/Techs you work with will eat you alive, and rightly so. How are you going to document on the condition of a wound if you aren't the person changing the dressing? In addition, a nurse's assessment is different from an EMT's assessment in some areas. An EMT doesn't necessarily check the skin for breakdown, for example (think Braden scale). And a word to the wise: I did have to do a bed bath during the CPNE.

I do hear good things about Chancellor's workshops.

Spazzy Nurse, RN · Aug 10, 2004

Whoooooa there, Ms. EMT. Most of the stuff that I had to do during my CPNE were "things that are handed off to CNAs". There is a good chance that you may not have to put in a Foley or push a med during your PCSs, but you certainly will have to do the majority of the "things that are handed off to CNAs". Most of these things aren't taught in EMT-B training either, like how to ambulate someone with one sided weakness who walks with a cane.... where would you stand while ambulating? I think my past experience as a CNA is what made my PCSs go so smoothly, because I had to do so many of those duties all over again, and I was able to do so without any hesitation. I knew how to carry dirty linens, transfer every type of patient, brush someone's teeth, change someone's position Q2h, weigh someone, give a complete bed bath, help someone dress, nab the intake before trays were taken away, blah blah blah, all of which I had to do during my PCSs. (Probably more too, but it was a long time ago and I would have to sit and think about it for a while.) You may think you know how to bathe someone, but if you've never been taught the rules (washcloth flipping, water changing, how to cover up different parts of pt., order of what to wash, where to put your supplies while bathing, etc. then you may slip up and not pass a PCS because of that. They might nail you for putting a poopy washcloth on the floor when there is nowhere else to put it. You need to know how to do it all.

I went to an EC workshop out in Redondo Beach, CA. I don't know if they still put them on there, but it wouldn't hurt to check. They used to have the sites and dates listed on their web site, and I'm sure you could always call and ask too. I think it might be a good idea for you to attend a workshop.

Sorry. Blabbed too much again.

deej · Aug 10, 2004

Um, yeah, that's why I was thinking of attending a workshop, because I recognize that I'm deficient in those areas.

Thanks for the kind words of support, though.

Spazzy Nurse, RN · Aug 10, 2004

Um, yeah, that's why I was thinking of attending a workshop, because I recognize that I'm deficient in those areas.
Thanks for the kind words of support, though.

Sorry---- I just quit smoking. :clown: