CNAs are where it's at

I just finished up a CNA (certified nurse's assistant) class this week, so now I can work at a nursing home or hospital doing the really dirty work no one else wants to do! I don't mind it so much. Two weeks of clinicals have made me dispassionate about... doing some of the things we have to do. Which I won't go into right now.

But, Tuesday night we had graduation for my class of four. My parents came, which was really cute--bringing sugar cookies, nonetheless. Before graduation we had to take a final exam. We've had little quizzes all semester with similar multiple-choice questions as the final, and I often find myself giggling as I pencil in my answers--because some of the answer choices are so darn audacious! Here are a couple of the questions that I thought I'd share with you (pretend you're me and you have to choose correctly for your final exam!):

1. The single most important thing a nursing assistant can do to prevent the spread of disease is to:
a)carry dirty linen close to his uniform
b)never change his gloves
c)remove his gloves before cleaning spills
d) wash his hands

2. Which of the following is NOT an example of abuse or neglect?
a) assisting a resident to make a complaint
b) not answering a resident's call light
c) leaving the resident in a soiled bed
d) threatening to hit a resident

3. Residents have all of the following rights except:
a) the right to refuse treatment
b) the right to voice complaints
c) the right to make personal choices such as what to wear and how to spend their time
d) the right to be abused by nursing assistants if they're being combative

4. A nursing assistant can show she is listening carefully to a resident by:
a) looking away when a resident talks
b) changing the subject often
c) rolling her eyes when a resident says something she doesn't agree with
d) responding to the resident when it's appropriate

5. What is the proper way for a nursing assistant to help care for a diabetic resident?
a) the nursing assistant should clip the resident's toenails
b) the nursing assistant should make sure that the resident eats all he is served
c) the nursing assistant should encourage the resident not to exercise or have any activity
d) the nursing assistant should make sure the resident goes barefoot

My parents and I had a good laugh over all of these. :)

In other news: I got to have a little Spain reunion with Biz, Tim and Ginny last weekend in Birmingham, AL! My only regret was that the 26 hours I was there went by too quickly. But I did deeply appreciate the time spent with dear friends.