Advice

ctmed · Oct 10, 2012

Some of those agencies actually pay more than the facilities themselves. I would go with 2 agencies while you look. You will also, depending on the agency get to work in a variety of places from home settings, psych units, and hospital floors. Plus, agency does count as experience, if that is what is not getting you past the paper pushers in HR.

Careful though, many agencies make you sign a non compete which means if they have no work for you and you really like one of the places they sent you, you can not work for them. Also, agency tends to go through cycles where there may be tons of work or no work. There are also quite a few last minute cancellations by facilities as they will ask around to see who wants to fill an open slot for extra hours if they can avoid paying agency. NEVER cancel with them or no-call no show and go to where they want, even last minute calls. If you do that, the dispatcher is more likely to have you on his or her short list to call first when something pops up.

ctmed · Oct 10, 2012

Double posting, but I just read your other post.

It seems you want the layout, friend.

Private sitters/ companions (non agency) is usually a pretty select field and word of mouth. It is also like being in bussiness for yourself. I hear you about those sitting agencies not paying very well if those are the agencies you are talking about.

You could try craigslist. However, I have gotten some pretty messed up things off of there. One person wanted me to go all the way across town for 2 hours then leave and come back at night for 2 hours. Of course, only wanting to pay me for 4 hours! Another advertised he wanted someone in good shape to lift. Turns out this parplegic guy turned 5 shades of pink when a big dude that rides a bike 20 miles a day showed up! He wanted some hawt female CNA to bathe his ..er... thing!

LJohnson11213 · Oct 10, 2012

Thank you so much for the feedback.:) I will definitely look on Craigslist and keep faith that I will find something. The home health agency I am getting ready to work for pays 9.00 hr which is better than what I am getting now so I am going to give it a shot until I find a Cna job. If I was to work with a Cna agency would I be a big deal if I quit (not saying I would but jus curious, like is it contracted work)

ctmed · Oct 10, 2012

9/hr in NYC? Crap. That is about the going rate here in Louisiana. But where you are, 5 dollar bills are like one dollar bills.

Yikes. I heard Mickey Ds pays folks 15 in NYC.

Now, I have heard some folks that got started in companion deals actually suck it up and work for a facility. They get to know family members and get on good terms. When they build up a network with the families that actually have the cash to pay a sitter/ companion, they quit and go that ways.

ctmed · Oct 10, 2012

Oh yeah... have you checked psych obs? basically, if someone comes into an ER claiming they want to kill themselves or an overdose, some one has to sit with them. The ER staff usually does not have the time.

You get everything from the lady who drank antifreeze because her high school sweetheart husband ran off with the 20 yr old secretary to the alzhiemer grandfather who wants to rip out his foley and wander naked to a job he retired from a decade ago to a kid that slit his wrist.

Ask at an ER or HR.

LJohnson11213 · Oct 10, 2012

Yea home health aide and agencies pays 9.00 hr and Cna in nursing homes start off with 12-15 hr sometimes but agencies pay 9.00 ... Yup sucks lol I wish Micky d paid 15 they only pay 7.25 (minimum wage). I used to work fast food (another misery lol) I'm not really trying to work for the money I jus want to provide care to clients and get thru school. I mean the money good tho but I'm not in it for that only. Jus feeling discouraged

LJohnson11213 · Oct 10, 2012

I am going to look for psych obs online , thanks . R u a Cna too ?