Brand New CNA, Grateful

[Dorko]

Hi everyone!

I thought I'd share my experience so far as a super shiny new CNA. I wrote this on my journal page, so if its seems like its story-mode it's because of that:

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I've been very lucky recently. I don't deserve it but someone must be looking out for me. I thank God for all the opportunities he has presented. I passed my CNA certification on March 2015 and I was still working as a HHA but I was looking into CNA agencies, I was really reluctant to do so because the pay is atrocious. Living in NY, the standard of living is really really expensive.

Anyways, I'm rambling….I WAS HIRED BY THE HOSPITAL THAT I APPLIED HERE IN BROOKLYN! I was floored because I sincerely just did it with no expectations at all.

(I'm going to share my experience so anyone who applies to hospital can see the process)

It was a roller coaster….. You first apply on their website and they call you for an interview if they're interested. Then they set up an interview but before you go in they make you take a computer/data test (very easy, it's just typing).

I went to 3 different interviews for different units. Apparently, everyone that I interviewed with gave positive feedback to the HR department (they interviewed me first). Well that first set of interviews didn't get me hired. So I totally shrugged it off (after a little bummed out episode) and I kept working as a HHA and going to Agency interviews (I was being picky about CNA agencies because I wanted to work with a reputable one, I have enough nurses in my family to know you can get sucked into a horrible job situation because of an agency). JUST WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO START WORKING AT A NURSING HOME, I received a phone call from the HR dept of the Hospital again and they told me that everyone who interviewed me remembered me. They want me to come back because of all the positive reviews.

So this time around, I was armed and ready. I wasn't going to get my hopes up but I was TOTALLY going to sell myself. Got myself a new outfit and brought my A game. I'm actually really comfortable with the interviewing process. I love love to talk LoL. Unlike the last time, I didn't have to elaborate much on my experience but the HR interviewer sent me off to meet the head nurse of the unit I'd be working at. They did this last time too but there were 4 other applicants that time (That was in a different floor/unit of the hospital). THIS time it was just me! My heart was pounding so hard but the head nurse was this lovely young woman! She and I laughed about stress pounds and it was a very easy interview. She asked me a little bit about my experience, how I would handle stress, how I would deal with work conflict, and how I would deal with the patient's family. I brought in my experiences with HHA and I just elaborated on the fact that most times work conflicts can be resolved by listening and communicating in a positive manner. I'm also heavily involved with the patients family as a HHA and I gave examples of how certain situations can be resolved by just being open and receptive to what they have to say. This job ISN'T about you it's about the welfare of your patient. So leave all your preconceptions at home and do your job is the most compassionate manner you can be but be effective at the same time.

After all that, she started introducing me to the floor Nursing Techs/Assistants/Nurses….and at this point I STILL wasn't convinced they hired me (really I wasn't convinced until HR told me to buy my uniform and get my ID picture done bahahaha). They were really nice! I went back to HR after that and I was offered employment! I was told that particular unit has the lowest turn rate because everyone loves working there. They haven't hired a nursing assistant for the floor since middle of last year!

Employment at the hospital is contingent on the background/credit check, physical and drug test. I was super nervous about the background check because my credit is in the toilet and some of my employment was under the books BUT I had references that I could procure.

They DID check my employment because my HHA agency told me. I guess they weren't put off by my toilet credit either. My physical went great, they did a FIT test..it was just PPE test with the head gear and mask to see if you knew how to use it. If you're claustrophobic, just be upfront or..you can push through it BUT not if you're gonna pass out. I passed that too.

Monday/June 15, (5 days after my interview, 3 days after my physical), HR lady once again called me to set up my orientation days. We both laughed, when I asked if I could go buy scrubs now. I was hired hired hired HIRED. Well technically, I was hired after the interview with the head nurse but I didn't feel comfortable until my background check came through.

They asked me if I wanted the Day or Night shift. I chose the night shift because I'm a night owl and it'll work better once I start taking classes. This job is PART-TIME but I was told by HR and the Head Nurse that it's really misleading because we get a lot of extra hours that it's full-time really. I get benefits and overtime pay and the pay is 2.5 times more than CNA agencies! …what! yay yay yay.

I've rambled enough! But I'm so happy and thankful to God. I didn't expect to get hired because of my lack of CNA experience but I was told it really depended on the hospital. My hospital is a mentoring one so they like employees to grow with them. I was encouraged to go for my RN and I was pretty much told I'd be hired by them! AHHHH!! There's also so many educational opportunities by the labor union so I'm going to check that out. I'm suppose to go to a presentation at the hospital next month/July just for that. So excited!! I officially start June 22. Thank You God!

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The point of this post is don't listen to people who say that as a brand new CNA you CANNOT work in a hospital, this may be true for some hospitals but you need to try, you need to put yourself in their radar and they might end up calling you back in the future. My CNA teacher always told us that we need to be able to market ourselves in interviews. We're our biggest cheerleader.

[Veldtor, BSN, MSN]

Congratulations on the start of your new career! I work as a CNA out on Long Island, and I can tell you they love nursing students. Out of the 14 people in my CNA orientation only 3 were not in nursing school.

Since I just graduated and have been working for over a year now as a CNA, I want you to know how lucky you are to have this job and how beneficial it will be to your nursing career. When you start your clinical rotations you will have the benefit of previous patient interaction. Many students are terrified to walk into a patients room and be met with resistance. Your time as a CNA will give you invaluable patient-provider social interactions.

I hope you post more about your journey, and I wish you luck!

Congratulations again!