What to expect out of my STNA class (nurse aide training)

stressgal, RN · Dec 11, 2004

Congrats on the great grades and beginning the nursing process.

I too live in central Ohio and was required to become an STNA prior to applying for my ADN program. Your STNA classes will teach you alot of the basics such as taking vitals, changing beds, daily care of clients and so on. The book portion focuses alot on patient's rights. My clinical time was completed in a nursing home, as PTA's in hospitals do not have to carry an STNA license. The test is not too bad. Everyone was more concerned about the skills they would draw rather than the written exam. As far as getting used to the "really gross stuff" I'm not sure you ever get used to it. Sometimes you just need to remind yourself that the person is not feeling well and you are there to help them however you can.

Have fun and good luck.

ICor9:24 · Dec 11, 2004

Congrats on the great grades and beginning the nursing process.
I too live in central Ohio and was required to become an STNA prior to applying for my ADN program. Your STNA classes will teach you alot of the basics such as taking vitals, changing beds, daily care of clients and so on. The book portion focuses alot on patient's rights. My clinical time was completed in a nursing home, as PTA's in hospitals do not have to carry an STNA license. The test is not too bad. Everyone was more concerned about the skills they would draw rather than the written exam. As far as getting used to the "really gross stuff" I'm not sure you ever get used to it. Sometimes you just need to remind yourself that the person is not feeling well and you are there to help them however you can.
Have fun and good luck.

Thanks! I am really looking forward to it, and I can't wait! I am at Columbus State. I am a little more worried about the scary stories I have heard about instructors being not so nice, and also the nurses being bothered by students being there! I am really hoping for a positive experience! I am sure it will be great!

RobCPhT · Mar 31, 2006

If you have trouble with smells you can use a mask with a few drops of essential oil. I use lemon from bath and body works. This trick was learned when I had to first do cadaver work. Same thing with infection control, wash was wash and scrub scrub scrub. Good luck!

-Robert

tookewlandy · Mar 31, 2006

The STNA experience will make you get over the things that youa re worried about(puke,poop,etc) i to was afraid of how i would handle that but now it dosent even bother me after a year.

Megsd, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2006

I took a STNA class in July and was also worried about the yucky stuff. My class practiced most skills on other students before we went to clinical, which made it a little easier. I will never look at these people quite the same after having brushed their teeth and fed them applesauce!

I learned to handle really yucky stuff in an easy way and a hard way. The easy way is to remember that while yes, you will be changing incontinence products, emptying bedpans, etc., it's not like it takes an hour to do these things. A few minutes and you're done. Don't dwell on it, just do it.

The hard way was to be exposed to a big poopy mess (diarrhea on the carpet, bathroom floor, potty chair, resident's hands (she kept putting her hands where they don't belong), bottom, pants, socks, shirt, etc., etc., etc.) and have to clean it up. Once you do that, something like emptying a bedpan is really small potatoes.

You will probably come home with stories that no one outside the healthcare field will think are as funny as you do, but I find that laughing about situations make them easier to overcome.