If you are a new grad who has had a lot of job exprience working in the hospital as a CNA are you more likely to get hired over a new grad who has never worked in a hospital or LTC facility or who has limited experience working in that field?

100% -- experience beats no experience (especially if you're applying to hospitals)

I am a senior nursing student....with no experience.

I am trying to find a job as a CNA so I can gain some.

Ive been trying to get a job at a hospital with NO luck. I may have to try a homecare agency. I was discussing this with my family and they were telling me that I need to find work as a CNA so that I can have that experience on my resume

Don't be discouraged. Many hospitals do not even consider CNA/LPN experience. Prime example, me. Here is an email I recently recieved:

Thank you for your interest in XXXX. We have received your on-line applications as well. At this time, we have selected other candidates to interview for the RN positions for which you have applied. We would like to see a minimum of one year RN work experience to be considered for a staff nurse position. I realize that you have several years as an LPN but the role of the RN is more encompassing. We appreciate your interest in XXXX.

Regards,

Sad for me. When you interview, just leave a good impression. Many people I went to school with that had no hospital experience are working. I am not. Good Luck!!!

It also depends on whether or not that experience was positive -- and whether the former CNA or LPN had a positive reputation.

If the person did a great job and comes with great recommendations -- yes, that gives them an advantage in the hiring process. But if they lack in people skills, seem to be "old and jaded," or come with mediocre recommendations from their former employers -- that can really hurt them. "Negative baggage" can be worse than no experience at all.

My CNA experience never counted for any hospital jobs that I applied for. They all want RN expereince, which a new grad dosn't have.

I have had friends get hired into a hospital position without having worked as a CNA, while those of us in our class who had worked as CNAs did not get hired by hospitals and went to SNFs

Not as much as legend seems to remember.

It is more about who you know. Those who are BFF or have the power to order those that hire to hire you are who you need to know. You could have dragged yourself through college barely passing, and have been the worst liability to the licenses of your clinical instructors -but- be the first hired into the best hospital in town, if you know the right people.

I have 10 years of CNA/LPN experience. I still am considered an "inexperienced nurse" but the HR recruiters seemed to like me better when I slipped in a bit about my healthcare experience.

Of course I haven't been hired yet lol. My company doesn't have a job for me. But I do have a couple of interviews lined up. And I'm not afraid of LTC having worked in it for so long. I can start at the company's LTC and move to a hospital in 6 months so that's my plan! (If I get hired of course hehe.)

It won't help if they want RN experience, but if the CNA job is within the company, HR/management will be able to find out about what kind of a worker you are--dependable, hard working, etc. You will also have familiarity with at least some aspects of how the hospital works.

It also gives you increased opportunities to network.

Good luck on finding work, I found I was much more marketable after my first semester of nursing school was over.

f you are willing to relocate, you can search for jobs at IHS facilities