CNA job hunting for new comers

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hello everyone.

I passed the CNA State Exam few weeks old and begun searching for a job. Still, I don't have my license card yet.

I went to hospital/healthcare/covalescent websites to look unto job employments for CNA; though, I feel depressed because they'll only hire CNA's who have one year acute care experience. How am I going to get a one year experience if all hospitals are hiring "one year experienced CNA"? I need your help and advices. Thank you in advance!

:crying2:

My wallet is crying, too.

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Don't give up. Be persistent. Like they say the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Robin

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It's unlikely, though not impossible, that you will be hired at a hospital right away.

Most CNAs have to spend some time working in LTC (nursing homes) to gain experience for an acute care setting.

Don't stop looking for hospital jobs, though. You never know when one will become available for those without prior experience.

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I really appreciate your responds guys!:)

I'd definitely not lose hope for searching a job. I hope one day the recession crisis will vanish! :rolleyes:

Literally, how am I going to get a one year experience if I don't have a CNA job history or anything related to CNA duties? Hmmm... by volunteering? But I need money :w00t:

I lived in Southern California by the way.

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Literally, how am I going to get a one year experience if I don't have a CNA job history or anything related to CNA duties? Hmmm... by volunteering? But I need money :w00t:

I'm really not sure whether this is an actual question or a rhetorical one, so I'll answer anyway. :)

Like I said before, you may have to look for jobs outside of the hospital at first. There isn't much of an option for you except to work in a nursing home for 6 months to a year in order to gain that necessary experience so you can work at a hospital. You could work home health or some other job, but they won't help you to hone the skills that will be necessary in an acute care environment. Probably 90% of CNAs start out in nursing homes. The ones that immediately get jobs in a hospital after completing a CNA course usually know someone within the hospital who is willing to get them a job. Sometimes volunteering can lead to a position, but it is no guarantee, and the time you spend working might as well have been in a nursing home where you get paid for it.

Anyway, my advice is to apply for LTC (long-term care) positions now and work there to gain the necessary experience. While you are working, though, you can keep a close eye on positions at nearby hospitals on the chance that one of the jobs doesn't require prior experience. After you gain the experience, then apply to those positions that require it.

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You can try applying to hospital jobs though. Usually they say that 1 year of experience is preferred, not required. Who knows, you might get lucky. :D

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Apply everywhere. Around here the hospitals say 6 months preferred. So, go for it, and see what happens.

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I felt disappointed this morning when I got a call from a personal HR and was told that my job application/resume was disapproved due to lack of CNA work history...hmmp!! :angthts:

But I would definitely put your advices on my hands and use it! :lttang:

just keep hunting......

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab.
I felt disappointed this morning when I got a call from a personal HR and was told that my job application/resume was disapproved due to lack of CNA work history...hmmp!! :angthts:

Don't get discouraged. Keep searching, something is bound to come up. Try to apply to LTC's and see what's available. It's all just a matter of time.

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Don't get discouraged. Keep searching, something is bound to come up. Try to apply to LTC's and see what's available. It's all just a matter of time.

i will do my best to send out my resumes to different LTCs in my area. :D

thank you for your response!

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Take whatever job you can get while you put in apps for a CNA position. Make sure you apply to registries, and places that work with people with disabilities.

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When I got my certification I was persistant in trying to get in at a hospital although the company I took my classes from was going to hire me in their LTC facility. Unfortuanately, I wasn't able to get hired in the hospitals I applied to so I went to the LTC facility that was going to hire me and they put me on the schedule right away. I've been working as a CNA for 4 years now and after 2 years my company's hospital had an opening for an Acute Care CNA. I applied and got the job which was part-time and 5 months later was moved to full-time. I still work PRN at the LTC company and have recently been moved to a full-time Acute Care Ward Clerk.

The point is...never give up and things will eventually fall into place. Patience is defiantely a virtue! :)

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