Two Birds with One Stone :D

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Okay, this is not so much CNA or even nursing related. Today, I scored a job as a Psychiatric Attendant at a Children`s Hospital :yeah:. The second thing was I past my State Exam for EMT-B :yeah:. Now I have to watch the mail for 6 weeks to get it :banghead:. I was thinking of pursuing a CNA class, but they offer QMA trainning. In Indiana a QMA is essential a CNA that can pass Meds. I have to find out if its the same thing since its a State Facility, & they can skip the normal rules.

QMA is suppose to have 1000 hrs as a CNA, before taking the trainning for QMA. Unless, you log a 1000 hrs as a Psychiatric Attendant counts.

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab.

What are the job duties of a psychiatric attendant? Is it like an 'orderly'?

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Its pretty much the same thing as an orderly. Except, you interact alot more with the children. You act as a role model, authority figure, friend, & a caregiver. You of course provide direct patient care. One minute you could be correcting their behavior the next you could be playing a game with them. The moment after that you could also be sucker punched. The age range goes from 5 to 17 from what I know atm. You basically do what the nurse tells you.

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab.
QMA is suppose to have 1000 hrs as a CNA, before taking the trainning for QMA. Unless, you log a 1000 hrs as a Psychiatric Attendant counts.

It sounds like there is no state certification for a psychiatric attendant. Almost equivalent to a nurse aide. It sounds like they want you registered with the Indiana State Department of Health before you start training in the QMA program. Although I do not know for sure, I wish you the best with everything.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
Its pretty much the same thing as an orderly. Except, you interact alot more with the children. You act as a role model, authority figure, friend, & a caregiver. You of course provide direct patient care. One minute you could be correcting their behavior the next you could be playing a game with them. The moment after that you could also be sucker punched. The age range goes from 5 to 17 from what I know atm. You basically do what the nurse tells you.

Congrats! I had a co-worker who also worked at our state psych hospital..it sounded so cool & interesting. It will definitely be a learning experience! :up::up::yeah:

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