I will be starting an ADN program in January. This is a second career for me and I will be quitting my 8-5 desk job in order to pursue it. I'd like to go ahead and begin working full time as a CNA this fall so I can get into a hospital/care facility and get experience, then I'd like to continue working part time once I start school.
I'm wondering about the best way for me to go about this. If I am applying for a full-time job as a CNA, would they consider me knowing that I will be starting school in four or five months and would need to drop down to part time? Should I apply for part time jobs instead and see if I can pick up extra hours while I am not in school?
Any advice from anyone who has more knowledge of how to best go about this would be appreciated. Thanks for your help!
Thanks so much. I will definitely look into the PRN option as the flexibility sounds wonderful. Glad to know I have options...perhaps I can start off in a care facility and try to get into a hospital after a year or so. I'd love to be able to be a CNA somewhere where I could later work as an RN. That sounds like the perfect situation. Too bad I am not in Iowa or Nebraska :-)
You could also look into hospitals that may have tuition reimbursement. Mine did. I worked as a CNA there and they paid for most of my tuition. After graduating and passing NCLEX, I was hired as an RN under a contract that I would work x amount of years.
Where I live, you have to put in a year as a LTC CNA before getting a job in the hospital, basically always. I think it's worthwhile. I'm in a 2 year ADN program now, after several years as a CNA, and my program doesn't require students to be certified as nursing assistants first anymore. We just took our ATI fundamentals assessment and our cohort on the whole was below national averages in the "basic care and comfort" category of questions. Those are the things you want to be able to do in your sleep, so that you can concentrate on the stuff you can only learn in nursing school. I did well on the exam and was thankful to have worked as a CNA. I think it really is helpful even though it's hard.
I can tell you what I did recently. I just finished my first semester of an ADN program. I got reference letters from three professors and touched up my resume. This is a second career for me as well. My resume had not been updated in almost 13 years so it needed it. I started applying for externships, patient care tech, and CNA positions. For about a month I heard nothing. I probably put in about 50 applications without a phone call. Right before first semester ended we had elections for Nursing Student Association President and I won. Once that went on my resume, I put in for a Clinical Assistant position which said first semester of nursing school could waive PCT/CNA certification. I put in the app at 11 pm and got a call the next day. I went to my interview with my portfolio and I was prepared. I got an offer within 2 days of the interview. It is per diem so I only have to work one shift a week during school but can sign up for more during the summer. It is a great hospital and I was told this is a year and a half job interview. My advice is don't give up and just keep applying. Use your clinical time to meet the people that do the hiring. The better you network the better your chances. The person's place I am taking just finished school and got hired as an Rn. Get involved at school and touch up your resume and make it relevant to the job you want. I got my dream position on an incredible unit and if things go well, I might have a position when I get done with school. Good luck.
Now is the time to ask your self if you can realistic pull this off without any major set backs. If you believe you can, we can proceed. Look at how changing jobs may affect your income both now and while your attending nursing school. Then think about how starting one day over another will impact your success long term. if your still interested follow the specific simple steps below.
Start out by formulating a plan of action, by organizing your future work days on a visual schedule. Next create a detailed budget, and finally reviewing all possible emergencies or unexpected events. After you have done all of the above have a academic instructors or program director review your plan. They may be able to provide further advice.
Organizing your time is essential to able to schedule working hours around your school schedule. It would be great to gain experience as a nursing assistant while in school. While your interviewing for nursing assistant positions apply for the working hours that suit your academic needs.
Creating a budget is critical to your success. Write out all your expenses and income. Ensure that everything balances with any unexpected costs that may arise. Money is always a number one reason students drop out of nursing school. If you may need assistance with cash, please have a few sources ahead of time selected.
Finally make a list of possible emergencies and how you may solve them. For example my nursing school is a hour and a half away from my house. I always leave two hours ahead of time to ensure if my care breaks down or i get a flat tire I can fix it without being late. Have a fellow student on call to pick you up if your care is not working is great preventative measure.
This last piece of information is so vital. If you decide you want to drop a course don't leave with out talking to your instructor first. Then review with your program director what the withdraw policy is and how it affects your financial aid both now and in the future.
Someone once said "if you fail to plan you plan to fail" . . . . .
julz68
467 Posts
Maybe it's a Midwest thing. That's how my hospital works too, and I'm in Iowa. :)