stna

At my school we have the opportunity to take classes based on what career field we would like to go into. I've signed up for Allied Health because I want to work in health care. We've had the opportunity, in Allied Health, to become an STNA. An STNA is a "State Tested Nurse's Assistant." All first semester my class worked hard studying for this. I've never wanted anything as bad as I want to become an STNA.

Before I began school I was a lot more shy and less outgoing. I wasn't quite sure if I really wanted to be in Health Care because I couldn't see myself meeting new people and faking happiness. But after a few months in the Nurse Aide Training Program, I've come to realize that this is exactly where I want to be in my life. As a part of the STNA program we are supposed to go on clinicals. Clinicals are when we go to a nursing home for a week and work like a real STNA would work. It's designed to give us hands on experience working with actual residents. Clinicals helped me know for sure that being an STNA was something I should strive for. It's a great "foot in the door" for my medical experience.

On January 31, 2010, I had to take my STNA exam. There's two parts to the test, a written test and a skills test. The written test is 76 questions over everything we had learned in the NATP (Nurse Aide Training Program). The skills test is five tasks and the test itself is designed to test whether or not we can perform our STNA skills correctly. When I completed both tests I was confident that I had passed without a doubt. Three days later I got my results and I was heartbroken to find out I hadn't passed the skills portion. I felt like a complete failure and to be honest, I've never been that hurt in my whole life. I'd spent so much time and invested so much effort and I was left with NOTHING to show for it. Yeah, I'd passed the written portion. But you have to pass both to become an STNA. And to retake the skills portion it would cost $76.00.

Yesterday, February 26, 2010, I retook the skills portion of the STNA exam. My skills were;
1. hand washing
2. range of motion-hip and knee. (The one I'd previously failed)
3. denture care
4. applying an antiembolic stocking.
5. emptying a urinary drainage bag.
I had completed the skills confident that I did good and then I remembered the last time I was confident. The outcome was not at all what I had expected. This started putting doubts in my mind. I honestly don't believe I passed the test again.

My results are supposed to come back today and I'm so nervous. I don't want to experience that sinking feeling ever again. I don't want to have to be hurt again or disappointed in myself. I'm terrified of letting myself down again. All I can do is wait and pray. I really hope I passed this time. It means so much to me.
Posted on February 27th, 2010 at 11:03am

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