CNA jobs this summer for new grad in Bay Area?

[sixthwannabe]

Hi! I was wondering whether it would be feasible to get a job as a CNA (without acute care certification) this summer since I am starting CNA school in a few days and will graduate mid July. Hopefully, I would like to find a job as a CNA shortly afterwards. THe private CNA school I am going to says that most graduates find jobs, but since this is a for profit CNA school, I don't know if I should really believe that everybody gets a job upon graduation.

Let's say I finish in the top of my east bay CNA school class in Mid july. Given that I am willing to work anywhere in the East Bay, How long might it take for me to find a job? I don't mind working at nursing homes, etc. The problem is that I need to find a job as soon as possible lol however with school churning out CNA's and my not having any experiance..well you know...: )

I am also wondering if hospitals might be more willing to hire me if I tell them that i'm a nursing school on the waiting list for a nursing school (out of state...) that starts in october. Is this going to look bad since it might mean (if I get off the waiting list, which is a small probablility) that I will only be working for a few months? Or if I do hired should I just not tell them and submit a letter a few weeks in advance before I leave? If so, would they be mad at me and not give me a good reference should I attempt to get another CNA job later down the road?

THanks so much people!

Also, How hard is it to get a job as a CNA while in school for nursing? This is for the Las Vegas Area, the Orange County Area, and Salt lake city area? I guess I should just ask Orange COunty since this is the california forum.

[caliotter3]

The school is telling the students what they want to hear. It is easier to get a job when one has experience and even then CNA jobs are not as easy to come by lately. Good luck when the time comes to look for that first job.

[CharmantUn]

That may be a bit of a pipe dream to think you'll get a CNA job that quickly. For starters, did your school tell you how loooong it takes to get your CNA certification number from the health department after you pass the boards? I was told 16 weeks!!! I passed the boards in mid April and just received my certification card/number in the mail last week. Wow, a 2 month wait instead of a 4 month wait. Thanks, state of California. I've spent the interim volunteering and taking nursing pre-req classes.

I may be wrong, but most agencies/nursing homes are not going to want to touch you until you have that certification number. Without it, your (potential) employer will have to run a background check on you on their dime.

A couple of people in my class got jobs as caregivers prior to taking the boards, with the promise that their pay would go up $1 an hour after they got their certification. These individuals happened to have years of prior experience as caregivers, so it wasn't much of a gamble for their employers to hire them.

Best wishes! Also--the boards are A LOT easier than you'll be led to believe.:)