CNA Hospital Jobs

AspiringRNin09 · Sep 1, 2006

Hi Kathy!

I work for Advocate and there are several people who I work with who have advanced degrees and they are switching to nursing. I do not think that Lutheran General would look down on you in ANY way because of that. One thing about Advocate is they are SLOW in the HR department. What I did 5 years ago when I wanted to work as a CNA was called the HR department and expressed interest. This worked, I got a call 3 days later to come in for an interview. Good Luck and if you want to know anything else please do not hesitate to message me!:wink2:

Kathyz · Sep 1, 2006

Thanks for the info! I appreciate your words of wisdom.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2006

Be patient. I know at my facility we do "group interviews" with either the Nurse manager or clinical manager and 2 (usually a mix CNA or LPN or RN) from the unit being applied for. Sometimes its hard to get everyone together on the same day to do the interview so it takes a couple weeks sometimes to set up.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2006

KathyZ - do you have your actual CNA certification or not? While some hospitals will train nursing students to be CNAs, others want you to actually have the certification on record. You can either take a class through a community college or hospital, or if you've already finished some nursing school (usually after the first fundamentals course with clinicals - have tested out of doing baths, beds, vitals, etc.) you can usually just take the test.

Kathyz · Sep 5, 2006

Gompers,

I've taken a CNA class. I will take the actual state exam next week. However, the state allows for an individual to work up to 120 days between the end of the class and the time of the exam. If the student then doesn't pass the exam, the student will be dismissed from their job.

Advocate Hospital does have their own 3 week orientation program. (I just e-mailed my HR contact and he's out for the rest of the week! :smackingf I guess I shouldn't be anticipating any phone calls this week.)

I will be patient and hang in there.

Thanks!

Gompers, BSN, RN · Sep 5, 2006

Hey KathyZ -

You should resubmit your applications after you pass the exam, so they know you're already certified for sure. Maybe that would help? Good luck with Advocate, and yes, be patient!

Kathyz · Sep 12, 2006

Great news everyone!! Lutheran General called me yesterday morning and would like me to interview for a Nursing Care Tech (aka CNA) position. The interview is tomorrow morning. It's in their Physical Rehab department; 32 hours a week which is just perfect for me (and my family!!). I'll keep you all posted on how it goes. Thanks for your advice.

Plus I take the CNA exam this Thursday so I'll be good to go.

:monkeydance:

Gompers, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2006

Great news everyone!! Lutheran General called me yesterday morning and would like me to interview for a Nursing Care Tech (aka CNA) position. The interview is tomorrow morning. It's in their Physical Rehab department; 32 hours a week which is just perfect for me (and my family!!). I'll keep you all posted on how it goes. Thanks for your advice.
Plus I take the CNA exam this Thursday so I'll be good to go.
:monkeydance:

:yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap:

Good luck on the interview and with your exam!

Kathyz · Sep 26, 2006

Well I have some good news and bad news!

The good news is that I passed the CNA exam (no surprise there!).

The bad news is that I didn't get the job at Lutheran General. I went in on a Wed and the unit manager and her asst were very nice. They asked me to come back Fri during their busy time (7am) to see what really goes on and if I'd like it. (Each NCT gets 6 patients a piece.) I went back Fri and shadowed another NCT. It wasn't as intense as I thought. I told the asst (b/c the unit manager was off that day) that I was very interested in the position. She said she would "contact HR". So I left that Fri feeling that I would be getting a call. It wasn't until a week later than I got an e-mail saying "we went with someone else".

I wasn't too surprised. Maybe they felt that I would leave in Jan to start nursing school or that I had a lot of education and not enough experience. Or they went w/ an internal candidiate who didn't need 3 weeks of their new hire orientation.

I'll just enjoy my time off. Three online classes plus studying for the NLN keeps me busy! As well as an 9 week old Black Lab my brother bought me as a surprise!

:rolleyes:

Gompers, BSN, RN · Sep 26, 2006

Well I have some good news and bad news!
The good news is that I passed the CNA exam (no surprise there!).
The bad news is that I didn't get the job at Lutheran General. I went in on a Wed and the unit manager and her asst were very nice. They asked me to come back Fri during their busy time (7am) to see what really goes on and if I'd like it. (Each NCT gets 6 patients a piece.) I went back Fri and shadowed another NCT. It wasn't as intense as I thought. I told the asst (b/c the unit manager was off that day) that I was very interested in the position. She said she would "contact HR". So I left that Fri feeling that I would be getting a call. It wasn't until a week later than I got an e-mail saying "we went with someone else".
I wasn't too surprised. Maybe they felt that I would leave in Jan to start nursing school or that I had a lot of education and not enough experience. Or they went w/ an internal candidiate who didn't need 3 weeks of their new hire orientation.
I'll just enjoy my time off. Three online classes plus studying for the NLN keeps me busy! As well as an 9 week old Black Lab my brother bought me as a surprise!

Stay positive! Since you have your CNA now, you are still marketable. Keep on trying, okay? :)