to CNA or not to CNA that is the question

So...I have finished my phlebotomy training, but it will be a while before I get my certification all ironed out with the state, and it could even longer before I'm able to nail down a job in that field, if at all.

The local college did not need me to teach any classes this term. They go to the faculty first, the graduate students next and *then* the part time pool by seniority, and between the low course offerings during winter and being the newest of the newbies, no luck for me.

I've still got my retirement home receptionist job, but that is only 19 hours per week, and at $10.50 an hour and no benefits, you do the math. No es bueno. Not getting by. So...

At the end of last week I saw that a caregiving facility I applied to almost a year ago for their in house CNA training program was starting a new training round at the end of January. I managed to get an application in the day after the announcement went out, and I put a lot of energy into my resume, references and cover letter, so I'm hoping I have a good chance there.

Secondly, I also put in an application to be a "medication technician" at a care facility across town from, but owned by the same company that I currently work for. The CEO at my current job found out pretty much immediately, asked me about it, and I explained the situation. It turns out they won't hire a non-CNA for meds passing, not really, but several days later he told me that I should apply to be a caregiver at yet another facility owned by the company. I put that application in tonight. It would be full time, so I would get benefits after 90 days. However, they do not have an in-house CNA program; I would not graduate to certified nursing assistant over time or have the job portability and pay raise that comes with it.

My inclination is that doing the CNA program at the un-related-to-my-current-job place may be the best opportunity long-term. I would have to find out pay rates, etc to be more confident in that statement, but even if I just stayed there 6 months, got my license, and then moved over to the hospital where they make twice as much, it would be totally worth it.

However, if I tell my current employer that I need more hours, they say, alright, here's an opportunity, and then I don't take it, that's a little awkward. Or what if it becomes a timing issue...what if my current employer says, okay, sure, let's start training you in the new job, and then *days* later I get word that I got into the on the job CNA training program?

I should call the on-the-job-CNA place tomorrow and ask if they have had a chance to review my application, and make sure there isn't any contract that mandates 1 year of FT work following training (as some places do), or anything like that. How can I carefully bring that one up, huh?

On-the-job-paid-CNA-training-thingy:
$8.70 per hour (lame)
3 months-ish to get CNA license
benefits, probably after 90 days
my friend who used to work there said the new company cut down on overtime possibilities
the last time I applied, when I met the teacher, I had a positive impression of her
After establishing my CNA license I could move somewhere that pays way more

Caregiver position with my current company
Pay unknown (maybe more than the other since I already have a history with the company?)
Benefits, but after 90 days
they are not set up to train someone who has little experience in caregiving, to my knowledge
No idea what hours they'd want me to work


When it comes down to it, I really don't need the CNA training if I'm going to be an RN in a couple of years anyway, but it might help me stay better afloat financially while in school...maybe....

Two more weeks until I get a day off

Next week I'm finishing my last two weeks of classroom training for phlebotomy, so I'll have two more class sessions and then be out at my externship site (still to be determined) possibly as soon as next Thursday. Boy that's scary. I've only done 2 live draws so far, and that's better than most of my classmates. Hopefully I'll be feeling more confident by the end of the week.

Teaching is going well, but I'm way behind on grading because I feel like I just don't have time. I have two assignments (x 50 students) that I'd like to turn back next week. Maybe at least one of them.

My coworker at the retirement home who's been off on maternity leave is coming back in about two weeks, so I'll have weekends off again, can stop trying to find subs for my hospital volunteer work, and will actually have my Sundays back again. Whew.

This week in lab they are giving presentations of their group research project ideas. I usually observe another teacher on Tuesday mornings, so hopefully I can go for the first hour of that and then use the rest of the time to grade instead of watching them all.

One of the friendly seniors at the retirement home who's always been very kind and polite to me woke up a couple days ago and couldn't walk. He's at the hospital having tests now. He was very private about it. He called his family (his son is a doctor) to come help him instead of calling or paging the front desk for help. I hope it turns out alright.

I'm at work right now (in a lull between handling an emergency and starting lock-up), and there's a guy from the power company in the lobby. I guess he's been trying to get through to one of our residents on the phone and she hasn't been taking his calls or returning them. He wants to buy some land she owns up north somewhere, to run a power line through. I've called the lady up in her apartment and she said she would come down but it's been a while and she isn't here yet. I hope she's with it enough to deal with this kind of thing on her own. It's independent living here, and all of our residents are supposed to fall under that category of self-care, but several of them really don't. I think I may have been a little bitchy to the power company guy. He was trying to be friendly and conversational, and I don't know, I am feeling protective of our residents.

The other day a 80-something lady that I don't know well yet came to the front desk and said that she and her husband had been gone for a few hours and that a purse with valuables in it had been stolen from a shelf in her closet. I was doubtful, but called the police for her like she asked. I figure it's better to be safe than sorry in that instance. But then I listened to her talking to the other residents in the living room, having trouble finding her words, talking very slowly...I was doubtful enough that I figured I'd better call her husband. He knew nothing of the purse and told me not to call the cops, that he'd come down and get her. I called the police back and canceled the request. Ugh. Tough judgement call. I wouldn't want to ignore her issue if it was by any chance real.

I am listening to the power guy talk with the resident now, and it sounds like she's sticking up for herself alright. She told him she's not interested in selling the property, and he's talking about getting some sort of "easement" instead to put the line in.

I feel like I just want to curl up in bed for the next week. Too much going on, too much to think about. I didn't have to be to work until noon today, and I thought I'd get up and get a bunch done (laundry, dishes, garden, etc) but I basically stayed in bed until I had to get up for work.

I think I'm going to find out where my phlebotomy externship is tomorrow night.

85 year old woman takes diet pills

....causing ER visit for shortness of breath.

She at first described it as a "medication problem" she was having and then fessed up that she'd been taking some diet pills. Most of our residents are on heart medications among other things. This lady doesn't even fit into my definition of "fat". She's very tall, maybe 5'10", and if I had to guess, maybe 170 or 180 pounds.

I hope that's not me at that age, still fretting about the size of my body. I hope I have grandchildren and kitty cats and a full life to fret about instead.

Poor woman.

Got in "trouble" at work for hands on help

The other day I had a note in my mailbox at work to please refrain from physically helping the residents as it puts both myself and the company in a position to be legally liable if something bad happens.

I understand the concern. It's just a tough spot to be in, when the paramedics have assessed the resident and said she's okay, the resident insists she's okay, and then when everyone's gone home, said resident still feels dizzy and needs help getting back to her apartment. I thought I was staying on the right side of the line (dividing okay help from the type of help that's not allowed); I walked backwards in front of her and let her hold my hands to steady herself. She wasn't putting a great deal of pressure on me physically, having the contact just helped her feel safe.

I guess according to corporate, what I'm supposed to do in that situation is call the family (from 60 miles away) to come help her back to her room. Or call 911 again. Or just walk along side her, and if she falls, she falls, and then I call 911 again. Ugh.

I didn't get written up formally or anything, and my supervisor said she knew "my heart was in the right place", but that I had to refrain in the future from physically helping a resident.

This is so much more than a "receptionist" position.