My CNA Cert a waste of time?

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I have almost of year of direct, though unlicensed patient care experience, and almost 6 months of licensed home care experience (CNA/HHA)

I have sent out resumes to over 100 SNFs, LTCFs, and just about any other place that says they're hiring CNAs and I haven't gotten a single bite.

Whenever I'm not out on some sort of "homemaker" assignment through the "health care staffing agency" I currently work for, I am searching the net for jobs, cold calling every facility within 50 miles, and sending out resumes.

When I decided to try to put myself through nursing school by working as a CNA, I had no idea that it would be nearly impossible to find a job in the SF Bay area. It's bad enough that we have to wait years to get into nursing school.

Is there something else I should be doing? I'm really discouraged and getting really depressed.

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I don't know about Ca, but here in Fl it seems that everybody wants at least a year's experience. Or, you have to know somebody who knows somebody. Don't be afraid of nepotism if that's all you have to get your foot in the door. Also, have someone look over your resume...your local unemployment, job, or worksource office should have someone, or try your school's placement office. Maybe it just needs a little "bling". Good luck!

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I HATE the nepotism, but only because I have no connections. ;-)

It's such a catch-22. You can't get a job unless you have experience (or you know someone), and you can't get experience without a job!

GRRRRRRR.

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The problem is not you, it is that you are trying to find work in the SF Bay area. Sign up with as many agencies that will accept you. That is what many do to keep any kind of work schedule going. If one agency does not have work for you, maybe another one will.

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It's extremely easy where I'm from (Tyler, Texas) to find a job. I could walk into ANY LTC in my area, and I literally mean every single one.... and immediately get a job with only my 6 months experience. The medical help wanted ads in our newspaper is chalk full of CNA ads.

I can't imagine it being that hard... but I'm sorry that it is :/ and I wish you luck in finding a job soon. If I were you I'd consider working out of the SF area.

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I'm not sure about your area but I thought it was going to be hard to find a CNA job where I live (South OC) beacuse I have no experience...I just got my CNA license last month and started looking for jobs and I found that no matter how many applications I filled out online or resumes I sent I didn't get any calls back but finally when I decided to actually GO IN to the facilities is when I got responses from people and I actually got 2 job offers that I had to choose from after only 2 weeks of looking.

So maybe just change your strategy...try going in dressed like you would for an interview and ask for the person in charge of hiring and personally hand them your resume and if they have applications to fill out there then hand that to them too. Then if you don't get a call in a couple days then YOU call THEM! I've found that if you push them just a little bit then they respond more to that because like I said when I did that I got 2 job offers right away!!

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Specializes in none.

Please do not be discourage. I felt the same too about CNA. Do no give up. Keep searching and put your resumes in everything from nursing home, hospital, private care and clinics. Another suggestion is looking for something outside of the area you in live in. You might have a better shot in finding something.

Good luck with your search ok.:nurse:

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Please send me a private message. I'll tell you where you could get a job as a CNA up there. I'm in SoCal and didn't want to move up there for that job. The bennies are great and pays 2400.00/month.

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work&play

OP only has 2 posts so can't PM you. Perhaps you might want to send her a PM with your info.

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Ok. I'll pm the person. Thanks

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I've never had any luck with sending resumes, period. Go to the place you want to work, find the hiring manager or whatever, and find out not just if they have any current openings, but if they expect to have any soon. Make sure they have your resume or application on file. Make a list of these places, get names of the people in charge, and keep calling back. Unexpected jobs open all the time, and you will be first on their list when they do.

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I HATE the nepotism, but only because I have no connections. ;-)

It's such a catch-22. You can't get a job unless you have experience (or you know someone), and you can't get experience without a job!

GRRRRRRR.

Simple to fix

1) Volunteer

a) Gain experience

b) Network/connections

2) Make sure you have your BLS (if you can get your Phlebotomy)

a) Makes you more marketable

Most places you can float around as a phlebotomist making 13-16

You go to a local community college and charge to certify students in CPR/BLS

There are a lot of places that say “we want a years worth of experience” Pfft they will kindly break that requirement if you conduct yourself with a GREAT resume and interview trust me. It’s like that in every field

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