CNA To RN Career Question

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Hey everyone!

So I've been reading and hearing how difficult it is for new RN grads to get jobs now a days. I just got my CNA and I'm working as a dishwasher right now and submitting resumes. My question is, how many nurses here, or have you heard getting hired on as RN's after going to school. One reason I wanted to obtain my CNA is so I can potentially get a job, work and go through nursing school and be hired on afterwards. Is this realistic? CT has many openings, and will be playing the waiting game for now. It will take me a couple months before I get good experience, which will help me advance to my goal of one day getting into a hospital/rehab center. Also, I understand it will be awhile until I get into nursing school. What are your thoughts?

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Specializes in Med Surg.

I was a CNA in a hospital when I passed the NCLEX. My hospital would not hire me as there was a hiring freeze on new grads and I was told when they did start hiring they would not hire Associate Degree Nurses.

I got a job at my current hospital a week after passing the boards. Now with a few years experience, my "old" hospital would love to have me back but no way. That hospital missed out on the opportunity to hire a lot of great nurses.

There are no guarantees. Work your butt off in school and in direct care settings and you will maximize your chances of getting hired.

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How long were you a CNA for? Thanks for the response, I know I have to get strait A's before I even consider getting into nursing school. From the bottom to the top, that is life.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

A few of the CNAs/techs at my workplace were promoted into nursing positions (LPN and RN) once they completed their respective programs.

If a full-time nursing position is open, the HR folks at my workplace would rather promote someone internally than interview masses of external applicants.

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That's right, forgot about internal/external applicants. Good thing to think about as well.

Thank you!

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We've had several CNAs at my hospital graduate from RN programs. None of them have been hired on as nurses. There's no policy against it, it just hasn't been happening. My hospital even hires a few new grads here and there, but the competition is fierce. I'm surprised at some of the people who've been shut out as they seem to be very desirable employees.

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Specializes in ICU.
That's right, forgot about internal/external applicants. Good thing to think about as well.

Thank you!

Not everywhere cares... I didn't get hired as an RN at the place I worked as a CNA, and neither did three of my classmates who also worked there. I feel like hospitals care more about the experience you have in nursing school than whether you are their employee or not. Obviously, this is hospital specific and specialty specific, but my hospital required multiple critical care rotations in nursing school to hire a new grad into critical care. As if we had a choice in where we were placed... :no:

Working as a CNA will help you at some facilities, though. I would call HR for local hospitals and see whether they prefer to hire current employees or whether experience matters most before you hang your hat on any one particular place.

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Specializes in Med Surg.
How long were you a CNA for? Thanks for the response, I know I have to get strait A's before I even consider getting into nursing school. From the bottom to the top, that is life.

I was a CNA for 3 1/2 years before I graduated nursing school.

I had the exact same plan as you: get straight As and get experience.

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