In Search of a Mentor in North/Central NJ

[CaitlinLiz]

Hello everyone! I apologize if my post is in the wrong category, I wasn't sure if there was a specific mentors area or not. But anyway, I am a certified nurse assistant and am CPR certified. I have worked for about a year and a half as a CNA in long-term and sub-acute care and a little in home care. I live in North NJ and have been accepted into Holy Name Hospital for the RN program starting next fall. I'm really excited about it and am extremely anxious to get started. I think that I would like to work at Hackensack University Medical Center after I graduate from the program and have been applying there as a CNA just to get in there and see if I like it as much as I think I would.

The main reason for my post is that I would really like to find a mentor in the North NJ area. Ideally it would be someone I can spend a little time with, watch and learn from, and go to for advice and questions about homework in the future, etc. I know that I can get advice from anyone on here, and I really love that! But I had a mentor that lived close to me when I did my CNA program and it was just great, so I would love to find something similar for my RN experience. I would just love to grow and learn from this person for the duration of my nursing program and even after that. I love to learn, and I am truly passionate about nursing. So anyone that loves to teach, and loves nursing, and would like to help me/teach me... It would be great to hear from you!!

As a side note- I am thinking about calling the nursing recruiter at HUMC to find out if they would allow me to work voluntarily as a CNA on the floor in order to experience the hospital feel and learn about the difference in setting compared to long-term care. I have applied for... I can say easily 15+ CNA positions and have not been contacted, so I assume it is because I don't have any past hospital experience, and maybe other factors. I don't know if hospitals allow volunteer CNA's and that sort of thing, but I have a full-time job and extra time this year because I am not in school, and would be more than willing to work there voluntarily. What do you think about that? All advice is welcome :)

:heartbeat

[RnM21]

Hey,

Good idea trying to get a job now as a cna over at hack, its pretty stiff competition now in terms of nurses being hired there, but I noticed that if you worked there as a CNA first and graduate nursing you pretty much can land yourself a job no prob, just get in good with the managers/nurses. I currently work over at Surgical/Trauma icu, no CNA positions but I think they are hiring on the floors. You will learn alot so long as you keep your eyes and ears open. As far as working as a nurse at hack it is a great learning environment with good pay and good benefits. Anywho, I hope you come on board, pass by Surgical Icu sometime, we're always knee deep into trouble. Good luck!!

Ray

[CaitlinLiz]

Is it EVER competitive!! I have been applying for over a year now and recieved one interview, one that they said they would call me afterwards and never did. The recruiter that interviewed me was so rude. And the job I had applied for was not even a CNA position it was a sitter position. All is well and life moves on but the person definately did not make a good image for Hackensack. I love that hospital despite them though Anyway yes its so hard to get in there but I am going to keep on trying! And if I get on of course I will come say hi, maybe someday I'll be working with you, I like all the excitement. :)