I've just recently completed the CNA program and passed both the class and the state exam. I've worked in the medical field in the past but it's always been in billing or as a receptionist briefly. I'm not a job hopper, but when all you can find is temporary work it doesn't look that way to the hospitals or nursing homes. My goal is to work in a doctor's office, nursing home, or hospital. I'm not picky! At this point ANYTHING works, both for the experience and for the money. You see, I'm currently working on my ASN in RN and I thought that if I got my certificate as a CNA I could work my way through school as well as gain the experience. I'm having trouble getting that chance. I have applied EVERYWHERE. I live in the midwest where there are all kinds of medical facilities, but NOBODY will give me the opportunity to prove myself! Its so frustrating! I've had 1 interview for a CNA position at the county nursing home and thats it! I keep asking myself if I'm not making a good enough impression or if my resume isn't good enough or if it's just the economy. I've redone my resume and worked with 2 professionals to help me keep my attitude, appearance and resume in good standing. And STILL nothing! I've been searching the websites everyday for 6 months. I'm at a loss. Everyone tells me that I just need to keep plowing ahead but its very depressing and discouraging when the 3 different hospitals I've applied to won't even give me an interview!
Thanks for everyones responses and support! I got a CNA job with a home health company. I can't believe it! Not what I expected for my first job but I'm very excited about it.
THANKS!
"No Longer Frustrated!"
Jade
Wonderful! Congratulations! Please let us know how you do since I'm planning to get my CNA cert too. If you don't mind sharing your location, please do. Thanks!
I am working home health, have been for a year, and love it. You may find you'll want to stay with it if/when you become a nurse. I tried long-term care but there's really no 'getting to know' your patients like you do in HH for obvious reasons. Answering call lights left and right and such. For a while I was worried about being in the house alone, but I found there is always an on-call nurse 24/7 on the other end of the phone if I have a question or concern, and the relative is usually always in the house whenever I am. My only REAL complaint is the policy against having male CNAs take care of female clients. I can definitely understand it (we just had a horror story in the news about patient abuse with a caregiver, who happened to be male) but it limits the assignments I can take. Beyond that I can see doing it the rest of my career. Even when I do become a nurse (whenever that is!)
*raises my hand* I have had a difficult time finding a job too and still don't have one! After acing my state exams the DOH delayed my application and I remained a NAR until only a month ago. All the placed I applied said to contact them after getting my certification from DOH. Well I got accepted into nursing school just two weeks later! Yay but now no one in town will hire me since I was stupid enough to be honest and write in my resume that I'm an RN student at such and such college which is a few hours away. So no one wants to hire me for just two months. Argh!
However I have had two phone interviews for LTC facilities in the town my new college is in and can set up a in person interview as soon as I move. Hopefully I will be able to get a job before school works so I can put in a month of full time before school. I will be in school full time and am a single mom with two kids so I really only want to work one or two shifts while in school. I love this thread and the chance to vent!
Usually, the reason why CNAs, RNs, etc. can't get hired is because they lack experience.
Many hospitals will welcome you with open arms if you come in as a volunteer. You can gain valuable experience by watching and helping wherever you can. If you do it wholeheartedly, you will get noticed and as soon as an opening becomes available, chances are you will be considered before anyone else.
You will have gained knowledge and honed your skills. You will be more confident and able to list it all on your resume. Always, keep an eye out everywhere for paid positions, however.
I was told that about being a volunteer too, but sadly it did not pan out for me. I began to volunteer at a Denver hospital in March 2010 assisting the CNA's (stocking PPE boxes in patient's rooms, passing water, taking away food trays, etc.) By God's enabling I did that for 15 months, and was always praised and thanked for the job I did and help provided. I had started volunteering when I was going to school for a Surg Tech program, BUT I soooooooooooooo fell in love with doing floor work via my volunteer job that I realized 18 weeks into the ST course that I really wanted to be a nurse, so I quit the ST class and got certified as a NA. Everyone told me I'd most likely be a shoe-in at the hospital I volunteered at, but after 3 LONG months of applying for CNA job after CNA job, speaking to HR, getting letters of recommendation, NOTHING!! I was told that I need the experience before being hired - what a shame, because I know the supply rooms for the Ortho Surg & Med Surg floors real well, know most of the RNs and CNAs on those floors (they all are WONDERFUL to work with!!), etc. Once I got certified many of those CNAs & RNs were surprised (well at least they told me they were, I have no reason to think they were just trying to be nice by pretending to be surprised) that I was not hired there. Praise God, I did get a position at a SNF and so I am content for now, but I really wouldn't bank on volunteering as being the sure-fire way of getting in w/o 6 mos. in a LTCF or SNF first.
I am working home health, have been for a year, and love it. You may find you'll want to stay with it if/when you become a nurse. I tried long-term care but there's really no 'getting to know' your patients like you do in HH for obvious reasons. Answering call lights left and right and such. For a while I was worried about being in the house alone, but I found there is always an on-call nurse 24/7 on the other end of the phone if I have a question or concern, and the relative is usually always in the house whenever I am. My only REAL complaint is the policy against having male CNAs take care of female clients. I can definitely understand it (we just had a horror story in the news about patient abuse with a caregiver, who happened to be male) but it limits the assignments I can take. Beyond that I can see doing it the rest of my career. Even when I do become a nurse (whenever that is!)
My agency has placed me with a female when they had no other option. It's a shame they have these policies, but in our country there is violence towards women, so I can appreciate the reasoning.
My agency has placed me with a female when they had no other option. It's a shame they have these policies, but in our country there is violence towards women, so I can appreciate the reasoning.
I'm worried about this issue too, but my problem is even greater because I'm gay. I have never flirted with or jumped on anyone, but I don't know if my future employer will consider my sexual orientation as an issue to be hired.
WorkingStudent2011
34 Posts
Wonderful! Congratulations! Please let us know how you do since I'm planning to get my CNA cert too. If you don't mind sharing your location, please do. Thanks!