The summer of my junior year of highschool I became a Certified Nurses Assistant. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The process wasn't easy, but the rewards are great. Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant has helped me support my daughter and allowed me to help other people when they need it. It was my first experience with having a real job in my chosen career the healthcare field. The first step to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in Illinois is to enroll in a state approved Certified Nursing Assistant program. I chose Lake Land College in Mattoon, IL to complete this requirement. Lake Land offered an eight week summer program for anyone over the age of sixteen. So, I enrolled and started my journey in the …show more content…
That was an experience I was not expecting. It gave me the opportunity to realize patient care continues after death. For example, I had to help close the patient's eyes and crossed her arms before rigor mortis sets in. Rigor mortis can occur as soon as thirty minutes after death so it is important in a nursing home setting that patient care is given before transport. I never thought of treating patients after death before this experience. Another experience that I encountered at Clinicals was a woman that normally could walk on her own, but had fallen trying to get her remote. In this situation Certified Nursing Assistants have to report an accident to the Registered Nurse on duty. The Nurse then assessed the patient and asked her a series of questions. The nurse then asked me to get a full set of vitals, which includes: blood pressure, pulse, respirations, temperature, and then monitor for the next seventy-two hours. Fortunately, the woman did not injure herself and was able to make a full recovery. The third and most crucial step was to pass the state Nursing Assistant Competency Evaluation exam. I have never been a good test taker, so I was extremely nervous. I took all the practice test online that I could find. The test was administered by Lake Land College at the Workforce Development Center. The CNA exam was all on the computer which was new to me. My fears were totally unfounded, because I passed with flying
Why would anyone be in the healthcare field? First, there are different types of positions available. Second, this is a very rewarding career for those who enjoy caring for others. Although, most people think there are a lot of differences between certified nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses, they share the same type of work, working conditions and job outlook.
It has been over one year since I have started the accelerated nursing program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. When I first started the program in fall 2014, I have no idea what nursing was like. Although I had my bachelor from another institution, everything I learned was very different compared to the information I have learned in School of Nursing. Nursing school has slowly transformed me into a graduate professional nurse based on the professional development that I have completed along the way.
There are many steps one must complete before engaging in the rewarding field of nursing. First, a college education is required. A student in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program must complete the requirements to become a registered nurse. A student must maintain a 2.0 grade point average on the courses outlined in the university’s curriculum pattern. A minimum grade of a “C” is required to exit all biology, chemistry, mathematics, and nursing courses. After earning credits for the courses required at the university, a student must apply for clinicals by completing the “Application to Enroll in Clinical Nursing Courses.” In order to graduate from clinicals and receive the desired BSN degree, one must complete the approved curriculum within a four year period after enrollment in the first clinical nursing course. A standardized test called the NCLEX is gi...
While in nursing school I was eager to get in on “action”, I remember just wanting to do something nursing and was always volunteering for things. I would walk the floor on the med surge unit and look for anything interesting. Walking by a patient’s room I seen a gentleman sitting up on the side of his bed looking uncomfortable. I asked nursing question that I knew to ask and got the man help from a nurse who placed the patient on pulse ox and did vital signs. All while my anxiety and adrenaline are at an all-time high while watching this take place, hoping to be able to get in on the action. Within a few minutes rapid response team was called in. The patient was there all alone. The patient was intubated, labs drawn, and bagged. After the patient was put to sleep in the room the rapid response team person allowed me to bag the patient. I was having palpitations of my own and thinking how am I supposed to keep the breaths right on this patient when I couldn’t keep up with my
All my life I have always wanted to be a nurse. Since I was younger I can recall playing with stethocopes. I have four siblings so my parents paying for my education has never been an option for me. That having said I became a Medical Assistant. Becoming a medical assistant has been a great blessing in my life. I have been able to work with patients, while going to school but I am ready to further my education. I want to be able to provide patients with medications, IV's, and many other skills that will put my full knowledge to use. I think that nursing is a great profession because it is a job that is in demand. Nurses can work anywhere ranging from clinics, hospitals, schools, and even jails. This means a lot because if anything occurs
The medical world today is always looking for more nurses in any medical field. A pediatric nurse is a registered nurse who helps with newborns, babies, and young children with physical exams, keeping shots up to date, medical records and check ups. For those who want to become a pediatric nurse they will go to college for several years to get his or her associate or bachelor degree. He or she can work in all different settings, jobs, and have different positions in their work setting.
school to obtain my certified nursing assistant license. After the delivery of my son, I decided to obtain
To begin with, my experience as a volunteer nurse assistant, has allowed me to attain a skill that is necessary to ease into my career as a registered nurse (RN). My career goal is to become an RN within the next three years. I am able to put people at their ease, gain their confidence and deal with their problems and fear. Nursing can sometimes involve managing distress and I can play a key part in helping patients and families come through their crisis. With this experience, I have been able to add value to my skills since I have experience of being a nursing assistant. I am aware of the ways to face challenges in these field. I know this position that I’m trying to attain will be difficult, but with motivation and hard work it will not be
I decided on a career as a pediatric nurse because my sister was a long term patient at CHOA. During her time in the hospital, the nurses not only took excellent care of her but also made sure to take care of my entire family. Now, I just want to give back and help patients and family who are in the same situation that mine was.
Growing up I always wanted to work in the medical field but I never knew what exactly I wanted to do in the medical field. Having a job and working as certified nurse assistance (C.N.A.) give me more of an idea of what I would like to do in the medical field and that is to become a nurse. I found being certified nurse assistance (CAN) was a great way to really test myself on this goal. Being a CNA exposes me to many members of the health care team; I got an opportunity to see doctors, licensed practical nurses, and register nurses in action.
When I was in middle school I was inspired to become a nurse, so when I was in high school I took up nursing as a course and also did an internship when I was a senior at John F. Kennedy High School. That internship opened my eyes and it made me want to become a nurse. As soon I as stepped into my first year of college, every semester I started to lose interest. So during this past summer I decided to try out Secondary education, so far I like what I am learning.
I have displayed leadership in my life primarily at my work as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), at my hometown nursing home. I remember one time that I was on the latter end of getting trained in, the one training me had a medical emergency and had to leave. Which left a newer CNA and myself to take care of a hall of about twenty five residents for the night. So I asked her what residents she was comfortable with getting read for bed, I went on to take care of the others, and for some we helped to bed together. I did know when to cry uncle, however, for some residents that I did not know as well I asked for advice from my fellow coworkers on other halls about how I should care for them. We were able to have a successful night and all the
Upon arrival, my grandpa laid in an unconscious state caused by bleeding within his brain from a stroke. I saw many people I’ve never seen before while sitting in the waiting room. One after another, they came and
I chose to become a nurse when I was a freshman in high school. I ended up going to my local vocational school, Mid East, for their Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program. I went there my junior and my senior year of high school. It wasn’t an easy 2 years of my life, because I was always studying or doing homework. I was very determined to pass my state boards for my LPN my very first time taking them, and I did
My junior year in high school in the Health care program consist of class room learning medical terminology, pharmacology and skills of being nurse; however, in my senior year, I had the privilege to attend clinical at local nursing homes, hospitals and veterinary clinics. Clinical in health care program, in high school was an eye opening experience and consist of me shadowing the nurses that I was assigned to. I had the opportunity to see what nurses have to deal with and it does take a special person. My experience in the Health care program and working firsthand with the sick and elderly patients has supported and confirm that I have what it takes to become a nurse. I enjoyed the experience of shadowing nurses so much that I volunteered at the Lowman Home, a nursing home in my community during my spare time while I was in high school. I was assigned to work with elderly patient who had Alzheimer; I would read, play games and interact with the patients; I enjoy see the smile that I put on their faces by taking time with