It's funny how things just fall into place.

Whenever a patient passes away, a hospice RN has to come out (she pronounces the patient deceased, contacts the coroner...there are things that have to be done for the patient and she takes care of them).  I knew the nurse that came out on Tuesday; we'd worked together before.  She asked me if I was a CNA or LPN - based on the level of care that I'd provided she thought I was at least an LPN if not an RN.  I said that no, I wasn't, and she said that it was a shame, because the hospice was hiring for those positions and they'd love to have me on board.

Her comments got me thinking. 

After my patient's funeral today (I didn't stay; seeing her in the casket was just too much for me.  I hadn't unloaded my emotional baggage properly - I should have known better than to have gone to the visitation without getting the stress of the last couple of weeks out of my system) I looked online for a local CNA class.

I found one.  One that starts on Monday.  One that I can afford.

I registered, and tomorrow I'll go pay my fees and pick up my textbooks and uniforms.

I called my boss at hospice and told her what I was doing.  She said that I'd be an excellent CNA, that my chances of getting hired with them were excellent and that I shouldn't stop with this certification - that I should set my sights on an degree in nursing and go for it.

We'll see.  All I know right now is that I'm starting school on Monday, and that this is exactly where I'm supposed to be and what I'm supposed to be doing.  Things fell into place beautifully.

I'm a student!