This is my journey from S.N to R.N

That’s the new job. I’m an NA II at the hospital I do my clinicals at.

Difference between NA I and NA II? Well, there is a whole extra dollar an hour to start. But the level II is advanced meaning that I can do suctioning, wound care (if over 48 hours old), catheters, tube feedings, among other things whereas level I is limited to accuchecks, vitals, and bed changes as well as a few other things.

I had orientation the last couple of weeks and it went very well. Since I’m a student, I (along with my other classmates) only had four days of orientation. This afternoon I’ll have my first solo shift and I’m a little nervous.

I semi-soloed last week with only 6 patients, but today I’ll have a full load. I don’t know if I’m ready!

The perks of this job over the HUC job? I do more than answer phones. I get to handle my own patient loads. I’m learning to multitask better and handle mulitple patient care. I’m getting the opportunity to fine-tune the skills I had only  couple of chances to do before.

Ex: I had done maybe three accuchecks in clinicals the whole time in school. After my first 7am-7pm shift, I had done at least 10. I also got to do wound care every day on an unstageable pressure ulcer and try my hand at a condom catheter.

I feel great so far and think this was the best decision I could have made for right now. I graduate in 8 months…it’s time to start transitioning into a more of a nurse role. And since I’m in the Float Pool, I’ll get to see a little bit of everything.

I’ll let you know how my first solo shift goes. Hope you’re all having a lovely week.

Love,

Laney

Today was the NA exam. I was dreading it…not because it was difficult skills, but because you have to do all these things while someone is staring at you and silently making notes.

Let me back up. Today is also a mandatory day at school for our group presentations on Women’s Issues. Last week, I called the NA people to see about scheduling myself for a day since I hadn’t gotten any verification that they received my application. Apparently they received it on the 4th and had scheduled me for today. They sent a letter, but I never received one, and neither did my classmate.
“Is there any way to reschedule?” I asked. I got the run around and a big no because of I didn’t call within a time frame from when they got my application…but they handbook says you can call 7 days in advance and reschedule with no charge.
I had to go at 0800 for the written test which was super easy. We had two hours to do 70 questions. I finished in 25 minutes and then had to wait THREE AND A HALF HOURS to do my skills portion. They scheduled 6 people to go at 1000 and yet they can only take two at a time. So my 1000 scheduled time was pushed back to 1145.

The skills part came next. I was nervous and sweaty and shaking. We got the tour of where everything was (supplies, clean supplies, dirty hold, soilied linen, etc).
My skills were:
Washing Hands (mandatory by all)
Weighing and Recording my partner
Passive Range of Motion on one shoulder
Positions on one side
Foot Care

Overall I think I got off pretty easy. And I passed!!! Meaning that in a few days, I will be licensed and registered as a Nurse Aide I. Then, I can send off my paperwork for my Nurse Aide II which we get automatically after completing second semester.

Then I ran back to school, changed quickly into professional attire (a nice dress and heels) and did a presentation on the Prevention and Identification of Breast Cancer in Women.

What a day! Then I came home (to a lovely lunch made by my husband…thanks!) and slept. Now I’m watching a bunch of TV shows with Ishaq before bed. Luckily, I have tomorrow off of work. G’night.

Love,
Laney