Published Aug 1, 2007
Futurenurse86
35 Posts
Hi! Im new to the group, and also just finished my cna course here in NC. My goal is to eventually become an RN, im starting my pre-reqs in Jan. Anyway, in the meantime im waiting to take my state board and then get a job. I need to find a place that will be flexible as far as going to school, and also somewhere that will give me the most expierence. So where does everyone work- nursing home, hospice, home health? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
jennah982
15 Posts
hey
im also going for my RN eventually. unfortuantely in RI there is a waiting list for the program. Anyway, I start at a nursing home/hospice in Sept and they are going to pay my FULL tuition for the RN program as long as i contract for 2 years. Look for nursing homes/asst living that are part of an organization. I know Horizon Bay is located around the country, they offer help as well
aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN
585 Posts
I work PRN (as needed) in a hospital and it is the most flexible job I've ever had. Since I'm PRN, I'm only required to work two shifts per month. The unit I work on is self schedule so I can pick when I want to work and when I don't. :yelclap: I can also work nights if I want to but I don't. I try to work two days a week like part timers, so my husband and I can get caught up on bills before I enter my clinicals which will be full time school.
I am in finals right now and I took two weeks off for that with absolutely no problems at all.:w00t: I was very up front with everyone (HR, nurse manager, charge nurse, peer interview) what my goals are (I'm working on my BSN) and how my schedule is going to change every semester. This was before I got my formal job offer.
It helps to be honest like that up front because if you are, you'll know immediately if that is the place for you or not. I've had a few people turn me down (before I became a tech) because of my always changing schedule with school, teaching (I teach group fitness), and coaching (I'm an assistant coach for a half marathon program). If I had lied to them, I probably wouldn't be working there now or if I were, I'd be miserable.
Good luck!!!
amanda1229
73 Posts
Call around -- we are lucky to be in the field we are in, when it comes to school schedules. Health care jobs are very flexible usually, they want us to go from CNAs to nurses! They want us to advance! In my and everyone I know's experience, you tell them what you want, and if you're getting the job, they give you that schedule. That's why so many places are reimbursing for tuition, too.
bethin
1,927 Posts
I work in a hospital on a med/surg unit. I work weekend option which means I work 2 12 hours shifts every weekend. I get paid as if I worked 36 hours which is full time with full time benefits. The only drawback is I have no social life.
I also do agency work. I like this because they call me and ask me if I can work that day or another and if I can't it's no biggie. I'm not docked for saying no. Plus, the pay is better than my hospital gig.
Talk to employers. Tell them you're going to nursing school. Odds are they'll accomadate you because they want to retain you once you graduate.
redshott
59 Posts
hi! where in NC are you? i'm in Charlotte and am getting ready to start my CNA class in Aug or Sept. My goal is to work at a hospital. My sister actually has a CNA come help her every morning and I don't know why that doesn't interest me more...Most of the CNA's that help her watch tv half the time! Anyway, getting off topic...my reasoning for the hospital is since that's where I hope to be a RN, I can get more of a feel for the various depts and how things work.
After speaking with some RN's, they say to continue on and get your CNA II license so you can help out more. i'm hoping to start my RN core classes in Fall 2008 and am taking pre-req's now (CNA being one of those).
Im in fayetteville/ Fort bragg right now. My teacher said you pretty much need cna 2 to get into a hospital, im going to be taking that class in october!
yeah, I was told that for a hospital you really need your CNA II but, they are in great need (i guess...one hospital here has 12+ CNA I openings) and i assume that you could get your CNA, start working, then get your CNA II...i've only found one place that even teaches the CNA II, about 6 do the regular CNA though