[L&Dnurse2Be]

Originally Posted by chadash

About getting a job as a CNA in a hospital:
I have alway wondered what it takes to get a hospital job. I have been a CNA for 10 years in LTC and home health, and have often applied at local hospitals (there are several in my area, I live in a town with three universities nearby.) I have never once been called for an interview. I thought my age might be a factor, but have never figured it out. I would love the challenge of a more medical environment! Since I have been in LTC, I DO know how to work hard!

My best suggestion is to fill out the application, whether it is online or in person, make copies, and deliver one personally to the DON of that department. If you don't hear anything in about a week, call them, and follow up on it. That is how I got my first 2 hospital jobs. One was fresh out of CNA training, no experience in health care at all! Be determined, and good luck!

[rdnkmom]

Originally Posted by L&Dnurse2Be

My best suggestion is to fill out the application, whether it is online or in person, make copies, and deliver one personally to the DON of that department. If you don't hear anything in about a week, call them, and follow up on it. That is how I got my first 2 hospital jobs. One was fresh out of CNA training, no experience in health care at all! Be determined, and good luck!

I agree with the above. Take a copy to HR and to each Nurse Manager on each floor of the hospital. Make sure you get their name so you know who to call and aski for. That's how most of the nurses I know got the jobs they have at hospitals because they said that HR just forwards them to the NM anyways and it may be days before they do that. Good luck.

[chadash]

kcrow1128 and L&Dnurse to be:
Thank you! Our hospitals do online applications. I never thought that I could take a copy to the actual unit. I will give that a try!

[catlover71]

He could not verbalize much at all, but he didn’t need to. His face was utterly beaming. I knew right then and there that I had made the right decision to quit my old job and get into nursing.

Bless your heart, I want to cry after reading your post.

[OnmywaytoCna]

I've taken my Cna course and my exams are in three weeks. I am really nervous. I can go back one time and refresh my skills before I take the tests, but I am afraid I will forget so much between now and test day. I study off and on. Some days I feel really confident and other days I can't remember anything. Anyone have any advice they can offer? Thanks

[lovingtheunloved]

Originally Posted by OnmywaytoCna

I've taken my Cna course and my exams are in three weeks. I am really nervous. I can go back one time and refresh my skills before I take the tests, but I am afraid I will forget so much between now and test day. I study off and on. Some days I feel really confident and other days I can't remember anything. Anyone have any advice they can offer? Thanks

I don't know what it's like in Florida, but here in Arizona, you more or less have to have a pulse and no felonies to be a CNA.

[SaraO'Hara]

It's about the same in California, judging by a few people I've worked with :P

Working as a CNA - you will get down. You will get very, very dirty. I have a saying that unless you have more than one type of body fluid (not yours) on your uniform, it's been a good day.

Typically, on day shift in LTC, I have 8 - 10 pts, 2 or 3 showers, anywhere from 2 - 6 people to get up and dressed (depends on where I'm assigned). A few sets of vitals to get done, beds to make, meal trays to pass, etc etc. 9 patients can be hell on wheels or perfectly reasonable - it all depends on who they are.

Some are pleasantly demented and everything is "wonderful"; others will attempt to beat the CNA giving them a shower. Occasionally, a pt will die - and yes, you have to clean them up, change the sheets, and get them ready for the family / mortuary.

No needles, no meds, no caths, just basic nursing care and being there for your patients.