CNA jobs

r_janice · Jun 24, 2005

Hi.
I am a career change student who is looking for a flexible CNA job to supplement income while I am attending school. However, I got a bad taste in my mouth when I had an interview at a local nursing home that was holding a job fair. I had an interview with this one lady who told me that I was a "high-risk" candidate. (???!) By this she meant I would have to go through "extensive" training, on top of their regular training, because I got my certification back in OCTOBER 2004! OH MY GOD that is really a long time ago!!! (sarcasm). Has anyone else heard anything this stupid? I mean it would be different if I waited 23 months after being certified to start looking for a job, but this--this is rediculous! :angryfire
Also, she told me that there was no other way to be an RN, if you don't work as a CNA. Is this true? There are other things I can do, employment-wise, while waiting for clinicals. :uhoh21:
Please let me know! I'd love to hear feedback on this! Thanks!

I dont know much about CNA's but I do know you do NOT have to be a CNA in order to be a RN. I have no medical experience and was accepted to nursing school. The lady that told you that is out of her mind.

Good luck with your decision. :)

Achoo!, LPN · Jun 24, 2005

My ADN program requires you to go through a CNA class before starting clinicals, but you don't have to work as a CNA.

Someday-C.R.N.A. · Jun 25, 2005

My ADN program requires you to go through a CNA class before starting clinicals, but you don't have to work as a CNA.

The ADN programs I've looked into are the same.

Good Luck!!

edogs334 · Jun 25, 2005

I know that where I live (Eastern MA), most all of the RN programs do not require you to be a CNA before starting. The Wisconsin ADN programs that I have looked at (in the Madison area in particular) require you to be a CNA. That being said, I've never heard about any other programs requiring CNA certification. That manager probably based her comment on the fact that the few nursing programs she knows of (and probably the one she went through) require CNA certification. She most likely hasn't bothered to research the requirements of programs outside her immediate geographic area. I don't mean to put down CNA's at all, as I am going through a CNA program right now (so I can get a tech job in a hospital before applying to RN programs). Having CNA certification/experience is helpful in terms of deciding whether or not nursing is right for you, but I'm sure the majority of RN programs in the country don't require CNA cert. as a prerequisite.

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Aug 11, 2005

Most hospitals I know of will hire nurse interns after their first semester of clinicals. This may be a better way to go.

UW-Milwaukee does not require that you complete a CNA course before beginning nursing clinicals.

leopold · Aug 11, 2005

High risk CNA? That's a great way to get off on the right foot with a job. I would say follow your gut instinct and back away from that one. When I first started as a CNA (two months after graduating) I felt like a "high risk" CNA cause I didn't have a clue what I was doing. When I finished school and clinical rotation I kept asking my teacher "Are you sure I know enough to be a CNA?" and she said, "Oh yes, you'll be fine." NOT! I wanted to have someone beside me for a week at least (didn't happen) but I got the hang of it soon enough and got pretty good at it.

As for nursing school, you don't need to be a CNA, a lot of people do it, but it's certainly not necessary.

likatutata · Oct 11, 2006

you don't have to be a cna to become an rn. a lot of schools in wisconsin require you to take cna training to become an rn, but you don't actually have to work as one. however, a lot of rn's and lpn's i talk to recommend it as a way to keep yourself in check and treat your cna's nicely when you're a nurse

Gooselove · Oct 18, 2006

I have been a CNA in WI for 3 years. If you have any questions...feel free to ask me. :)

freetobeme82 · Aug 24, 2011

I am taking my CNA in a month or two. I would like to work in only one of two settings. Home Health Care.. going to peoples homes.. Except you have to go ro 7 houses a night in order to make your hours. This can be hard on your car in the dead of winter. We get extremely brutals winters in WI. Sub artic temps and crazy on going snow.. blizzards.. ice storms.

OR... I would primarily if I am lucky enough to find one.. love to get a job with a privately advertised person for home care. I would then have steady work and go to one location. If .. it pays well. I read on here one CNA contracts herself out to families for 15.00 hour. for four hours/per four hour shifts. Or just per hour if 7-8 is needed. I would love to do this.

freetobeme82 · Aug 24, 2011

Does anyone know... how likely or unlikely it may be to contract air born illness's diseases.. Or fatal ones/blood born in a home care setting with a sick person. I know.. hospital patients and staff catch staff often. More then they let on. My friend is an RN and she tells me all the time. She had two nurses die of staff.

I went to a home health care site.. and the site posted this big thing... about blood born illness's and air born etc. I don't want this to scare me off.. from going for my CNA to work in home care or doing private duty for hire work.

Please give me some positive up beat feedback in support of this.. LOL. So.. I am not fearing for my life.

Thank You.. Leah