To our RNs, CNAs, Midwifes, researchers, etc...

[Stella_Omega]

I hope to be joining you soon

All my life I've been an artist. I've built dollhouses, film props, toys for men women and children. BUt this economy isn't very conducive to my trade, and it's been a lean year and ahalf.

Over the summer more than one person suggested that I become a nurse.
I said "I work with my hands!"
They said "Every thing you do as a nurse- is with your hands!"

Interestingly, the three people that have been most vehement and supportive about this- are people I've played with in the BDSM scene.
One is my ex-girlfriend- She's in neo-natal ICU
My dear, dear leatherman friend, Chris in is in Imaging, and the gorgeous bottom Peggy is in Pediatric ICU. (Imagine a woman built like Raquel Welch, covered in tattoos from feet to neck, and a shaved head- being the Angel of Mercy in one of the most respected hospitals in the nation) And Peggy said; "Be a Midwife, Stella! You'd be so good at it!"

Since I am in dire straits, I went looking for some kind of grant to start scooling. Before I knew it, my family was on food stamps, and Medi-cal! ANd when i went to the work program, they said "Anyone need mental health help? I raised my hand. So now I am on Wellbutrin, and for the first time since I can remember, i am not fatigued...

It's bewildering, feeling good!

Now, my plan is to do an 11-month training to become a CNA, and then see where I can go from there. With the fog lifted from my brain I should have only moderate trouble with the academics for the four-year program, although if I'm working full-time they might take me longer...

I've been talking to any nurses I come across. Cat's stories have been helpful to me, and, Cat, you are fucking inspirational

The phsychiatric nurse i saw yesterday chatted with me for an HOUR! and told me that she could not do either pediatric or neonatal ICU as she was too emotional. It occurs to me that I might be in the same boat, there. And poop bothered her, which is why she specialised in psychiatric.


So, I'm looking for anecdotes, the voices of experience, and want to tender my deepest regards to all you you

 

[rgraham666]

Congrats, Stellla.

I'm sure you'll do well.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

I say go for it. I'm just a year shy from graduating with my R.N. It's cool that you posted this today, as I had my first rotation on a NICU unit last night. I blogged about it this morning, it was so moving.

Blog

It's the most recent entry, titled "Little Miracles".

I wish you the best of luck, and if you ever have any questions just drop me a note.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Excellent, Stella

Good Luck. Fine people in health care are always needed and you will do wonderfully

 

[Stella_Omega]

I say go for it. I'm just a year shy from graduating with my R.N. It's cool that you posted this today, as I had my first rotation on a NICU unit last night. I blogged about it this morning, it was so moving.

Blog

It's the most recent entry, titled "Little Miracles".

I wish you the best of luck, and if you ever have any questions just drop me a note.

That's quite a story, Lucky

Alex calls me once in a while with tales of the tiny people that she cares for.

 

[ungenderless]

Congratulations! The field definitely needs more CNAs.

I was a CNA for 5 years. It was the single worst and best job I've ever had. I've had my scrubs covered in someone elses soil while trying to clean up a large man who was trying to beat the crap out of me because he was convinced I was keeping him from going to church with his mother (who had been dead for 5 years). I've also had people who were notorious for being picky and mean to everyone insist that I be the only one who takes care of them.

There's just nothing else in the world like it.

 

[Guest]

 

[Stella_Omega]

Stella, I've spent a lot of the last month talking to a friend who is sick and tired of being a nurse. If you want to hear the negatives, let me know, and I'll send a PM.

I do believe that you can do whatever you set your mind and your heart too.

NO I don't want to hear that stuff!

I told a friend about this plan today. She said;

"Stella, if I were in the hospital and you came in to give me a shot- I would KNOW it was for my own good"
That's the stuff i want to hear- fawning and adulation

 

[Aurora Black]

I wish you the best of luck, Stella.

 

[glynndah]

Fawning and adulation

 

[Stella_Omega]

Congratulations! The field definitely needs more CNAs.

I was a CNA for 5 years. It was the single worst and best job I've ever had. I've had my scrubs covered in someone elses soil while trying to clean up a large man who was trying to beat the crap out of me because he was convinced I was keeping him from going to church with his mother (who had been dead for 5 years). I've also had people who were notorious for being picky and mean to everyone insist that I be the only one who takes care of them.

There's just nothing else in the world like it.

The world need more of everything in the medical profession, doesn't it!

Was five years the maximum you could stand? What did you go on to?

And Aurora Black, And Glynndah- thank you guys.

 

[Alessia Brio]

Yay for you! Nurses rock.

 

[Guest]

 

[Stella_Omega]

*snaps mouth shut so quickly the dogs wonder what the breeze was*

*heaves her own sigh of relief*

*and then grapples with her unquenchable curiosity*- NO! I didn't say that!

 

[cloudy]

Good for you, Stella. Proud of you.

(I'm too squeamish, but I certainly admire those that CAN do those jobs)

 

[Skip1934a]

Stella, I think you have made a great choice. There are four nurses in my family, and they love medicine as a career. There seems to be a shortage of heathcare candidates all over the nation, so you should have no problem finding your choice of employment.

Best of luck, and go for it, as quickly as you can.

 

[SeaCat]

Stella,

Welcome to the family of the Insane.

As you know I am a C.N.A., as is my wife.

I have been in medicine for over 14 years now.

I have been an E.M.T., I have been a Psych Tech. I have worked in a Nursing Home and I am now employed by a Hospital.

It is the greatest job yu will ever hate.

You will love the people you care for, even though some of them annoy the hell out of you.

You will learn to hate how the R.N.'s look down upon you and treat you as scum or worse. (Even though in many cases it will be you who will save their butts.)

Occasionally you will find a Nurse who remembers where she came from. Those will make it worth while.

Next year I will be going back to school with my wife. Our intention is to get our R.N.'s. One thing I will never forget is what it was like being a C.N.A.

I know me, I will push my Aides hard and expect the utmost from them, but I will also treat them with respect and protect them. I will be there alongside them when they get drenched with Urine and other bodily fluids, I will be there with them when they get the few accolades. More importantly I will be watching for those who want to learn, and I will teach them as have been taught.

Again, welcome to the fraternity.

Cat

 

[Guest]

Heyya Stella. I'm a Physician's Assistant. I think that's fantastic news on a new career choice, schooling and such. You'll never have to worry about finding a job once you put on pair of scrubs.

Oh, and you can take your medical kink out of the closet now if have one.

 

[ungenderless]

The world need more of everything in the medical profession, doesn't it!

Was five years the maximum you could stand? What did you go on to?

No, I had learned the ropes inside and out, and developed a reputation that I was quite proud of. Actually, there are a couple of reasons I finally got out of it. First and foremost, a new company took over and began systematically destroying the lives of both the employees and residents.

Second, I had just seen too many deaths of people that I'd grown close to. I was working part-time and going to school, so I was floated around to different areas of the building. A resident that I loved dearly passed away and I didn't even know for 4 days because I was never over there in her area (and it's not like you have time to go and hang out with any of them - not with the low staffing and high expectations).

And the worst part about it - nobody cared. Most CNAs that I worked with were indifferent about seeing people pass away, or glad when the annoying ones did. You'd think that working so close to death would make people appreciate life more, but it's quite the opposite.

Now I'm just focusing on getting my degree in Multimedia so that I can do something creative for a living. It's been several months since I quit, but I still miss my residents.

You will learn to hate how the R.N.'s look down upon you and treat you as scum or worse. (Even though in many cases it will be you who will save their butts.)

OMG! So. Fucking. True. They're not all like that, but the ones that are more than make up for the ones that aren't.

 

[Stella_Omega]

You will learn to hate how the R.N.'s look down upon you and treat you as scum or worse. (Even though in many cases it will be you who will save their butts.)

OMG! So. Fucking. True. They're not all like that, but the ones that are more than make up for the ones that aren't.

And then they complain that CNAs won't stay put.

I...See...

 

[ungenderless]

And then they complain that CNAs won't stay put.

I...See...

Yes, they don't ask themselves WHY there's such a high turnover rate for CNAs, I'm guessing cos they know that they won't like the answer.

 

[SeaCat]

No, I had learned the ropes inside and out, and developed a reputation that I was quite proud of. Actually, there are a couple of reasons I finally got out of it. First and foremost, a new company took over and began systematically destroying the lives of both the employees and residents.

Second, I had just seen too many deaths of people that I'd grown close to. I was working part-time and going to school, so I was floated around to different areas of the building. A resident that I loved dearly passed away and I didn't even know for 4 days because I was never over there in her area (and it's not like you have time to go and hang out with any of them - not with the low staffing and high expectations).

And the worst part about it - nobody cared. Most CNAs that I worked with were indifferent about seeing people pass away, or glad when the annoying ones did. You'd think that working so close to death would make people appreciate life more, but it's quite the opposite.

Now I'm just focusing on getting my degree in Multimedia so that I can do something creative for a living. It's been several months since I quit, but I still miss my residents.


OMG! So. Fucking. True. They're not all like that, but the ones that are more than make up for the ones that aren't.

Ungenderless,

I am one of those who seem not to care when someone passes on. For me it is a defense mechanism I created many years ago.

I was a new E.M.T. as well as a volunteer FireFighter. The second call I went on with the Ambulance, (We won't talk about the first but it truly was a baptism by fire.) was to do a wellness pick up on a young woman with breathing difficulties. She was absolutely beautiful and within a couple years of my age.

We ended up transporting her multiple times, and I did see her outside of the Rescue Bussiness. (She was active in our town, as well as going to the same school I was going to.) I had the chance to talk with her a lot, I got to know her and eventually we became friends of a sort. She often called me at home and we talked quite a bit.

One evening when I was hanging around the station playing Pool a call came in for Respiratory Distress. I recognised the address as I climbed into the back of the Rig. When we arrived at her house she was in trouble. She was Cyanotic and having a lot of trouble breathing.

We did a scoop and scoot. We loaded her in the Rig and hauled ass. It was a 20 minute ride to the hospital, we made it in ten with me holding her hand for the last five minutes. By the time we arrived she was unconscious. There was nothing we could do in the back of the Ambulance. As we rolled her into the Exam room her heart stopped. They declared her dead ten minutes later.

I had to do some serious soul searching after that call. It hurt losing her, it hurt even more because I had formed a bond with her. I almost left medicine that night, left it for good even though I felt drawn to it.

It was then that I decided I would not allow myself to become close with my patients, it was just too painful. It was then that I realized a great truth. I would not be able to give my patients the care they needed and deserved if I became emotionally attached to them.

Yes I did get nicknames because of this attitude. Yes I am sometimes looked upon as being unhuman, and yes I do sometimes slip up and become attached to one of my patients. (I pay every single time too.)

This doesn't mean I don't care for my patients. Exactly the opposite. I fight for my patients, I fight with my patients. I push them and try not to let them give up. While they are under my care I am their best friend and their advocate. I am the one who is there after hours if they need someone to talk with. I am the one they call when they have a problem with another staff member. I am the one who will willingly clean up either an 18 year old or an 80 year old after they have shit all over themselves and make them feel unselfconscious about it. I am the one who the young woman who just got a Hysterectomy, and whos Husband or Boyfriend left because they were no longer a woman turns to and cries on my shoulder.

I am also one of the first to tell them it's okay to let go.

I am also the one who when I leave work, I leave my work behind.

Cat

 

[Stella_Omega]

Ungenderless,

I am one of those who seem not to care when someone passes on. For me it is a defense mechanism I created many years ago.

I was a new E.M.T. as well as a volunteer FireFighter. The second call I went on with the Ambulance, (We won't talk about the first but it truly was a baptism by fire.) was to do a wellness pick up on a young woman with breathing difficulties. She was absolutely beautiful and within a couple years of my age.

We ended up transporting her multiple times, and I did see her outside of the Rescue Bussiness. (She was active in our town, as well as going to the same school I was going to.) I had the chance to talk with her a lot, I got to know her and eventually we became friends of a sort. She often called me at home and we talked quite a bit.

One evening when I was hanging around the station playing Pool a call came in for Respiratory Distress. I recognised the address as I climbed into the back of the Rig. When we arrived at her house she was in trouble. She was Cyanotic and having a lot of trouble breathing.

We did a scoop and scoot. We loaded her in the Rig and hauled ass. It was a 20 minute ride to the hospital, we made it in ten with me holding her hand for the last five minutes. By the time we arrived she was unconscious. There was nothing we could do in the back of the Ambulance. As we rolled her into the Exam room her heart stopped. They declared her dead ten minutes later.

I had to do some serious soul searching after that call. It hurt losing her, it hurt even more because I had formed a bond with her. I almost left medicine that night, left it for good even though I felt drawn to it.

It was then that I decided I would not allow myself to become close with my patients, it was just too painful. It was then that I realized a great truth. I would not be able to give my patients the care they needed and deserved if I became emotionally attached to them.

Yes I did get nicknames because of this attitude. Yes I am sometimes looked upon as being unhuman, and yes I do sometimes slip up and become attached to one of my patients. (I pay every single time too.)

This doesn't mean I don't care for my patients. Exactly the opposite. I fight for my patients, I fight with my patients. I push them and try not to let them give up. While they are under my care I am their best friend and their advocate. I am the one who is there after hours if they need someone to talk with. I am the one they call when they have a problem with another staff member. I am the one who will willingly clean up either an 18 year old or an 80 year old after they have shit all over themselves and make them feel unselfconscious about it. I am the one who the young woman who just got a Hysterectomy, and whos Husband or Boyfriend left because they were no longer a woman turns to and cries on my shoulder.

I am also one of the first to tell them it's okay to let go.

I am also the one who when I leave work, I leave my work behind.

Cat

Cat, I'll be calling on you for support, I am sure - if I get that far.

The psychiatric nurse i talked to told me that she could not work in Pediatric or Neonatal ICU, because she could not seperate from her patients.

 

[SeaCat]

Cat, I'll be calling on you for support, I am sure - if I get that far.

The psychiatric nurse i talked to told me that she could not work in Pediatric or Neonatal ICU, because she could not seperate from her patients.

I completely understand her reasons as I couldn't work in either of these areas either. I am heading back to my first love, what my Brother calls P&P Medicine. (Patch 'em and Pass "em) i.e. Trauma. For me it is not stress inducing, it is straight forward, and I don't have a chance to get connected with the patient.

My wife on the other hand want's to get into Pediatrics.

Cat

 

[Guest]

dearest stella...
how i smiled when i read this thread. im so happy that you are on a positive track. direction should always be smiled upon!

i have worked in the health care field for 17 years. i have done jobs from being a health unit coordinator to cardiac tech to emergency room tech to phlebotomy. i loved it with every fiber of my being.
sadly, i chose to leave the medical profession in order to persue my degree in computer sciences... i do love what i do now but the satisfaction of helping someone in need is missing.

when lucky is done with her schooling, i fully intend to go back and finish my nursing degree and specialize in hospice care. if i can help people, then my soul is complete.

i wish you only the best in anything you choose in this profession. you never know what you'll end up doing...specially if you start as a cna. its a good grounded start and i just know you'll find your way into hearts of a squillion people who need your special creative touch