There some other two year program in there, art, I am not sure what they call if, but my daughter in CT is takign the courses and will be allowed to administer shots when she is done. I though it would make her a nurse, but she says she'll be a "medical technician." When I trained as a nurses aid which took a full school year, nine months, there were Licensed Practical Nurses, LPNs, who had two year degrees and could give meds. They were just a cut above we NAs.

What I have seen, as a patient, and heard from nurses, is there are no NAs any more to do the work I used to do; that nurses must change sheets, bath, wipe bottoms, empty bedpans, etc. But, the one most important thing, imo, they don't do that we NAs did was give back rubs, just a simple back rub...if they'd implement them, again, as part of the evening ritual in hospital, I am sure many patients would be much comforted and sleep better. I had a head nurse who was a real stickler about that; she recognised the importance of healing touch, esp. when a person is scared and not feeling well. Medicine has really done a number on patients. After my heart surgery, they insisted I wear the CPAP at night. I need my hair braided in order to do so. Not one nurse would help me with my hair. I could not reach up as it hurt so badly. My daughter was at work and busy with her baby, Rog doesn't know how to braid. I finally asked a friend to come up and do it, then kept it in that same braid for the rest of the time I was there. It was such a simple thing and made me feel so dismayed and hurt when each one of them refused to help me, saying it wasn't their job. My hair was not dirty, in a nasty snarl or anything.

Sorry for the venting, but it did really bother me as I knew, as an aide, it would have been my duty and pleasure to help a patient with such a task, esp. the night after their chest had been cracked open!