“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…”  Everywhere you go, you are bombarded by the sights and sounds of the holidays. If you’re walking into work, you may see wreaths, holly, and you’re being bombarded by the sounds of Christmas muzak. People seem to get upset a little bit quicker. If you’re new, this may be your first Christmas where you HAVE to work. Such is life when you’re at the bottom of the totem...  Read More »

So, you’ve been hired as a CNA in the hospital. Either you’re new to the field or you’ve been working in long-term care for years. So, how do you feel? Nervous? Confident? Scared? It’s normal. Relax. I’m going to share a few tips in this article that may help you ease into your transition. First, realize that you have had some training. Your education may bring something new to the floor, but don’t be so quick to judge co-workers...  Read More »

“That patient in 310 is soooo needy! He won’t eat, complains about everything, and refuses to ask for help to get around! ARRGGHHH!” How many of us are guilty of saying something like this about our patients? We say it to co-workers, ourselves, and doctors. We even say it loud enough to be overheard at the nurses’ station. Then we wonder why the family seems distant to us. We all have the things that make us come to work. Sometimes,...  Read More »

On Wednesday, I shared my first tip on how to be “The Man” in an overwhelmingly female classroom. Here are some more thoughts on the topic: Tip #2: Be organized Okay, I’m going to be honest. I can’t find stuff about 25% of the time. The day of a test, I was usually asking friends for a pencil, or an eraser, or something simple (I make sure to return it though!). The night before class, however, I was packing my bag with all the books...  Read More »

Mention to most guys that they could have a job where they could be surrounded by women, make relatively good money, have countless opportunities to make the world a better place, and most would ask “where do I sign up?” There’s just one catch. To get there, you must first go through at least two years of education about the entire process and your responsibilities in said field could mean life and death for others. Still, some of them would...  Read More »