CNA

Last Thursday I woke up bright and early to go take the CNA state exam. It was nice to wake up and watch the sun rise on my drive. My body is still used to waking up in the early morning, so even though I've been getting up at 8:30 most mornings, 6:30 felt strangely refreshing. I was fortunate enough to take the test with most of my classmates, and to make it more amusing my friend Tony was my partner during the skills test. It was funny as we'd spent our lunches together in the facility cafeteria during our month of class, when all the other classmates went out for lunch. We had some great conversations during those 30 minute lunch breaks. He was a nice guy and I always encouraged him in his life endeavors. We were able to talk about God and Christianity. He was open to the topic. He was also just out of an 8 year relationship and wanted to be with somebody who was committed. He'd tell me stories during the month of going to the bar with friends and meeting a really nice girl only for her to not want to reconnect later. I told him to be patient and a really nice girl would come along without him having to go to the bar to find her. Well sure enough while we were all waiting for our turn this past Thursday he was telling us excitedly about this really nice girl who'd come in to the gym he worked at. They hit it off right away and they're in a relationship now. She's a Christian and he's changing his work schedule so he can go to church with her. It was wonderful to hear him happily talk about this wonderful gal he'd met. Patience pays off.

I did pass both the written exam and the skills test! Quite exciting. I went in expecting not to pass. I didn't feel I had prepared and studied enough, and the test is so picky where if you do one thing wrong you could be failed. You have to perfectly perform 5 out of 5 skills. I had to do Hand Washing, Dressing a Client with an Affected Right Arm, Denture Care, Recording Urinary Output, and Female Peri-care (on a manikin). I almost botched the whole test on the 2nd skill. I started dressing the resident (a.k.a Tony) with the wrong arm first. The examiner loudly hinted, "You're dressing the client with the affected RIGHT arm." ...and I didn't get the hint so she suggested again, "...the affected RIGHT arm!" *whew*!!! Then I realized!!! Yikes. During the skills test you're allowed to correct an error as long as you state what the correction should be and when you should have done it BEFORE the skill is complete. I lucked out.... and completed all of my other skills appropriately. Only one of my classmates didn't pass and that was because she had to count and record someone's pulse. That's one of the hardest skills of all, and she new she'd gotten off count but didn't specify a restart. What a bummer! We all felt her pain because not one of us desired to get that skills.

Anyways, I was also out of there and done with the exam by 12:30pm..... and they'd said it could last till 5pm. So it was like having a day off. Celebration!!
Now I'm an official Certified Nursing Assistant. I still have a long way to go in learning how to work in the LTC environment and be the most efficient and supportive employee I can be. It's a challenge and occupation that I'm enjoying so far. My time is spent helping people that can't get by without assistance. I feel like it's a ministry of sorts and caring for the disabled, needy and elderly is something God expects of all of us in some capacity or another. 

Psalm 71:9, "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth."

Leviticus 19:32, "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD."

Galatians 5:14, " For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

New Beginnings

It seems like so much change has happened in such a short time. This year has been turbulent but not in an unpleasant way. Starting a new relationship, quitting a job, watching a new marriage beginning, starting a new job, working on old goals, beginning some new plans for the future. It's a wild year. Last year felt really routine and like not much changed so I suppose it shouldn't be surprising that this year is full of growth spurts.

Working in long term care has been a neat experience. At times it's just as fast paced as working in the barn. Instead of 6 milkers ready to switch at once it's 6 call lights going off at once. I'm enjoying the challenge. The first few days of work were a bit stressful... not because it was hard but because I wasn't allowed to do anything. Because I haven't taken my state exam there was some miscommunication about my ability to work so the other CNA's would have me just shadow them. Quite literally. All I could do was stand around and watch while they worked. To make it worse there seems to be a shortage of employees and the demands of the facility are growing so my help was clearly needed. Luckily I talked to the DON and learned that I was actually able to work legally, provided I'm working 40 hours a week. I'm glad for this because when I'm at work I've been taught you work and work hard. So now it's a matter of learning the system and the order of things at this home. It's like juggling because I must learn each resident's individual personalities and needs, learn each co-worker's individual personality and work style and also balance this with the rules and order of the work place. So far I'm enjoying it quite a bit in spite of the learning curve.

It's gratifying work though, and so many of the residents will thank you profusely when you've done them the simplest favor. Last night I helped one lady find her room and pajamas. She's fairly independent but slightly confused and she said she'd really enjoy a glass of milk. Well that's exactly the thing to ask a milkmaid like myself, and how could you refuse a gal a glass of milk? So I got her one and she was so overjoyed she hugged me! It was so very sweet.

The day is almost half over already and I still have yet to shower. Working PM's is a rough change from waking up at 5:30 and going to bed at 9:30. My body is still waking up at 6:30 even though I'm going to bed at 11:30 most nights. I suppose it will all become more natural the longer I work this shift.  Anyway, I'm off to do something productive.

Channing & Rachel's Wedding

As it happens, this past Saturday my little brother (though not so little anymore) was married to the sweetest gal he could have possibly found. The weather had been sunny and 60 degrees for days and then the day before their wedding we had a big blizzard. Go figure. It did make travel a bit trickier, especially since the bride and her family are 3 hours away and so was the wedding. Nevertheless, this weather didn't prevent the wedding.

It was a beautiful, joyous, God-centered occasion. Here are a few pictures.... if you click on them I promise they'll look more normal.