CNA job in CO

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I'm a new LNA in New Hampshire. I'm looking for a job right now, hoping to get some experience and save some money. My fiance and I are hoping to move to Colorado sometime in the spring or summer of 2011. I was just wondering what the job market was like for CNA's out there? Is it hard to find a job? I'm finding out here that everyone wants experience, not exactly sure how I can get experience if no one wants to hire me with out it. So my fingers are crossed that some prospects will pan out.

I'm hoping to make decent money, and was wondering what your experience was with Agencies, hospitals, LTC, and home health options? I feel like I was lied to from my LNA instructor. She said the possible pay was between $10-$26. I really have yet to find anything over $14 or $15, I guess it was the "too good to be true" statement that came back to bite me in the bum! Oh well, I can hope right?!

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It took me a year to get a CNA job at a hospital in one of the largest health systems in Colorado. I did not have any experience so was lucky to get this job. It pays $12.81 an hour...decent benefits though. Another girl who was hired the same time I was (also her first CNA job) gets $10.81 an hour. We can't figure out why. We laugh about it because I have a BA and an MA (both in education)...she only has a BA so that is why I make the "big bucks":D Try some of the home health care agencies however, I don't know what their pay scale is. Good Luck.

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Thank you Sart45 for your response. Gives me some hope that one day I can make it into a Hospital! That is hilarious that there's such a pay gap between you and your co-worker, I guess education really does pay! Are you planning on going on and becoming an RN?

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I've been taking prerequisites since last summer. I was supposed to be finished this summer (currently taking Microbiology) so I could apply in August. However...chemistry has just been added so I need to take it in the fall (I previously posted on this). I work full-time and one class is about all I can handle.

There is a company called Visiting Angels (www.visitingangels.com); you may want to look into that if you can't get into a hospital. One of the girls in my class works for them and is very pleased with them.

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Plastic Surgery.

I really think it depends on the program you are in, I did have some previous health care experience but I got a CNA job before I had even graduated from my NA program at a major hospital. Although they told me in the interview it was because the hospital preferred graduates from my program.

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I really think it depends on the program you are in, I did have some previous health care experience but I got a CNA job before I had even graduated from my NA program at a major hospital. Although they told me in the interview it was because the hospital preferred graduates from my program.

Where did you do your CNA training at? I talked to Ann Rose today because they had one of the higher pass rates, but I'm still nervous about being able to find a job even if I get trained well!!!

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Plastic Surgery.

I took my course at Red Rocks Community College, and I have also heard that Ann Rose has great pass rates. I took my test at PearsonVue in Aurora.

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Wohoo!! I got my first job!! Thank goodness I will get some much needed experience before we move to CO! Thanks for all the responses and info!

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Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

Probably depends on where in Colorado you are looking at working. I am taking a CNA class up in Fort Collins. I don't expect to be hired on at a hospital, you pretty much need 6 months to a year experience first. I am taking my class through Columbine Health Systems, and hope to get a job through them as well, they have four LTC facilities. They also do hospice, Alzheimers, and rehab. I have talked with several employees that already work there, and they love it. Plus, they will pay for me to go to nursing school.

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