32 year old dude enrolled in CNA program this morning...

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... and I just wanted to thank everyone on this forum for all of the useful information. Loads of good reading material here, and I appreciate it!

I'll give y'all a quick rundown of how I got here, just because I feel like sharing a bit. :)

I was once a college professor / English as a Second Language teacher. Did it for a while, enjoyed it well enough, but found it unsatisfying. It didn't really... move me. So I quit professing and went to work at an organization for homeless Veterans. One of the fellows in the program got kicked out for gambling, gambled all of his pension away, and tried killing himself. I spent a week going to visit him in the hospital, and I found that we both seemed to get something from the experience. Two weeks later another veteran was kicked out of the program, but he wound up drinking himself to death. I took it pretty badly - he had pleaded for help and the organization refused to help him and even went so far as to call the police to have him removed from the property - and I wound up quitting in a rather explosive episode with the administration.

So when I started to think about What Now?, I realized I needed a position that ran on compassion and didn't have a built in mechanism to judge people as Right or Worthy or whatever.

And I immediately remembered my week at the Catholic hospital and it became immediately clear! So I waited for a month - until today - and registered for a CNA course. I registered online, and even though the course was full the first 15 times I tried to register, eventually... something happened. And I was able to get a spot. I'm extremely pleased and excited and all the rest. Classes begin on the 9th of June. Huzzah!

Anywho - thanks again to all the posters for giving me all the good reading material. I'll be lurking around for the next month or so until classes start. Though I suspect I'll have questions once the classes begin!

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I teach CNA classes. Was an accountant, then stay at home Mom, then went to University to become a nurse, during that time worked as a CNA in nursing home and Home Health, during my 40's! Became a nurse at 48 yrs. My youngest student was 16 yrs. home schooled and going to college early. Oldest 78 yrs. retired high ranking officer, was a base commander! I have students that are refugees, and from all over the world. Pre-med, pre-nursing, recovering addicts, and everything inbetween! The majority are all fantastic people that "have a heart", and want to help others. I am so fortunate to have this opportunity. So, for those of you that think you are getting too old to start something new........no way!! Good luck to you....

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Hemodialysis.

Welcome to allnurses!!!!

I hope you find this the start of a wonderful career.

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Their is no age limitation when it comes to wanting to learn skills on how you can impact someones life by just being the eyes and ears to a nursing facility. Its strange how life has a way of shifting us into the direction we are prone to go in. At 24 or 30 I would still feel great in the same manner on obtaining a CNA certification. You will make a great CNA and wish you the greatest luck!

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Specializes in PCT - ER, Ortho, Neuro, Med-Surg.

I was a 37 year old chick with some ESL teaching experience abroad and a variety of other life adventures under my belt when I - for some of the same reasons you list - took a leap of faith into the role of hospital tech (basically the same duties as CNAs plus blood drawing and a few other added on tasks).

Nearly two years later I know I've found my way home. Starting nursing school in the Fall. I hope you love it as much as I and so many others here do.

:)

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I Find Your Story To Be Very Touching!i Wish You The Best In Your New Career!

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I think it is great that you have the courage to start a new career..I am in the same situation now and have been wanting to go back to school to finish my nursing degree for some time. I currently work in accounts receivable(yawn...) and want to do more. I was thinking about get certified as a CNA to start and take it from there.

Good luck to you !

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I think it is great that you have the courage to start a new career..I am in the same situation now and have been wanting to go back to school to finish my nursing degree for some time. I currently work in accounts receivable(yawn...) and want to do more. I was thinking about get certified as a CNA to start and take it from there.

Good luck to you !

HI Denise0815,

thanks for the encouragement. I wish the best for you as you exit to a career in nursing.I signed up at Concorde in memphis.I keep you posted .Thanks!

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Specializes in ER, OB.

good for you! you will do a great job!! i have loved all of the male aids i have worked with. they have all been really great. they have the extra strength that us girls don't. at first the female residents didn't like the male aides but after they got to know them they were begging for them! you will do a wonderful job. good luck and if at first the residents seem a little scared of you just give it time. you will be the favorite aide after a few months. good luck!

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:up:I am a 33 y/o male and was just added to my state registry yesterday. My wife also took the state test etc and passed! We wanted a more stable career course, and was just burned out in our previous career's. Plus if we ever want to re-locate we figured getting employment would be much easier. I say go for it I did and I don't regret it.

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Dude..same here...

I am almost 32 and had a great career in top management in many different bus. And you know what? None of that made me feel good at the end of the day. I searched for years and never knew what i wanted or found my niche. By prayer and the grace of god i stepped outside myself and realized what i needed to do was "make a difference", and lets face it pushing freight out the door for a dollar aint it! My mother was a CNA for the last 17 years and stuck with it. Every night she would come home with a smile on her face, and exhausted. I say this cause she was happy, tired and fulfilled. Anyways , as i reflected i finally realized what it was that gave her satisfaction. Every night when she came home, she knew that her entire day was devoted to helping, nurturing and guiding our elder and less fortunate . She never communicated this verbally. ..but i understand and i want to carry that torch..be it a CNA or LPN or RN. We do make a difference.

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... and I just wanted to thank everyone on this forum for all of the useful information. Loads of good reading material here, and I appreciate it!

I'll give y'all a quick rundown of how I got here, just because I feel like sharing a bit. :)

I was once a college professor / English as a Second Language teacher. Did it for a while, enjoyed it well enough, but found it unsatisfying. It didn't really... move me. So I quit professing and went to work at an organization for homeless Veterans. One of the fellows in the program got kicked out for gambling, gambled all of his pension away, and tried killing himself. I spent a week going to visit him in the hospital, and I found that we both seemed to get something from the experience. Two weeks later another veteran was kicked out of the program, but he wound up drinking himself to death. I took it pretty badly - he had pleaded for help and the organization refused to help him and even went so far as to call the police to have him removed from the property - and I wound up quitting in a rather explosive episode with the administration.

So when I started to think about What Now?, I realized I needed a position that ran on compassion and didn't have a built in mechanism to judge people as Right or Worthy or whatever.

And I immediately remembered my week at the Catholic hospital and it became immediately clear! So I waited for a month - until today - and registered for a CNA course. I registered online, and even though the course was full the first 15 times I tried to register, eventually... something happened. And I was able to get a spot. I'm extremely pleased and excited and all the rest. Classes begin on the 9th of June. Huzzah!

Anywho - thanks again to all the posters for giving me all the good reading material. I'll be lurking around for the next month or so until classes start. Though I suspect I'll have questions once the classes begin!

Congrats! and Kudos to you on the decision for a career change. You are obviously going to be great with this as you truly have compassion. Congrats again and keep us posted on your progress :yeah:

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