I'm so discouraged

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I have been wanting to start courses to become a CNA, but the more i research the more i find forum after forum of people saying they can't get jobs, no one will hire w/o experience, they went to school for nothing etc etc etc. Can someone fill me in? please help.

P.s. I need a job that pays at LEAST 12 bucks an hour SOON within the next 5 months, my girlfriend is having a baby and i need that. any ideas other then the CNA idea? THank you guys..

While in my area, CNAs are always needed, you might not get 12 bucks an hour. I started out making 7.50 and now I'm only making 10.50. So, that really depends on where you live.

As for experience, you can often get hired at a long term care facility with no experience, but hospitals usually require it.

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Specializes in PMHNP.

You could look at other companies that hire PCAs such as group homes for the elderly or mentally/physically disabled. If you work in home health you are basically an aid, but you don't need your CNA certification for that. I know of many that have scholarships or tuition reimbursement :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Depends on a lot....particularly the area you live in. For CNA's, nursing homes pay the best. It varies by facility. When I left my CNA job in 2001, I was making 12.85 an hour (I started in 1996 at 6.39). It was a very nice place, too.

I hope if you pursue the CNA route it's because it's something that you really want to DO. Not just for the money. That is not a job you do just to collect a paycheck, that's for sure.

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Specializes in A little of this & a little of that.

Congrats on the good word from the hospital. Also look into Nursing Homes, they will often train you and get you certified for free because they need the help. EMT-Basic is about a 12 week course and pay for that is sometimes higher than for CNA's. In some areas if you volunteer for your ambunace corp or fire dept, they pay for your training. Then you get a paid job someplace and volunteer on the side to pay back for your training. Everything depends upon where you live and what resources are available.

New nurses in some places are having a hard time finding jobs, sometimes its because they have their hearts set on something in particular. Medical Assistants in many areas aren't finding jobs as easy to gget as their programs promised. Assistants and techs of all kinds are generally in high demand because they are not the best jobs and there's no room for advancement unless you go back to school. These jobs are hard work and not for everyone. But, they will pay the bills. Sometimes you can find an employer, especially hospitals, that will give tuition assistance to go to nursing school. Good Luck with everything.

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