Do I have the job?

[lexie909]

Hi everyone!

I had recently found a nursing home that offers training, and after training and certification you're employed there. I had called the DON and she told me to come down and fill out an application and to speak with her when I get there. I filled one out and spoke with her and she hired me on the spot... I told her I would give her letters of recommendations because I have only 1 employer ( I'm in high school). She said that would be excellent and she would wait to hear back from me. I went back about a week later and she wasn't there. The receptionist got the admin. he didn't know who I was and he was confused. I told him my situation and he said to put my name and number down. So fast forward a couple of days I went back again and there's a new DON. Back to step one I told her I filled out an application and that I was waiting for the fingerprints form so I could get my finger prints done before employment. I also had my college schedule for pre nursing. She took a copy of that and said that HR would call me. HR called me a couple of days later and she emailed me the fingerprints form and I completed it. So I'm a little uncertain and I'm really excited for this opportunity.

[CelticGoddess, BSN, RN]

Yes I am in high school. I just turned 18 and wanted to be a CNA throughout nursing school. If you had read my post they are paying for training and then orientation. You have to apply to the nursing home before training (training starts at the end of June) it's a 4 week class and 8 weeks of orientation as I was told when I spoke with the old DON.

They might say you get 8 weeks of orientation but I have would have doubts about that. When I worked LTC as a nurse, I got a whole 4 days of orientation. The CNA's got about 2.

[lexie909]

The comments are sounding snarky because we are all well-aware of nursing homes that are poorly-run, have constant changes in administrative personnel and tend to dick employees around shamelessly.

Someone offered you a job on the spot, then left their own position, and the people who are there now know nothing about you. This is sadly typical for the way these places operate. I think what some of the "snarky" posts are getting at is that even if you do have a job there, it may well be the kind of place you don't want to work in.

Another flag is "4 weeks of classroom training and 8 weeks of orientation". That sounds a bit pie-in-the-sky for a nursing home with personnel turnover. You might want to check other facilities and see if their offers are comparable. If they can't match that, then there's a reason. It might be worth your while to take a CNA course at your local community college. Not sure how this would fit in with your pre-nursing coursework.

Part of valuable nursing education that you won't get in school is to be able to sniff out a bad work situation before you find yourself employed there. Good luck to you; I'm wishing you all the best in your career.

Thank you so much! I wanted to be a CNA for the experience. CNA classes are expensive in my area about 1250$. That's why I reached out to the nursing home for free training.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I would say to do a little research. When I was going to go to CNA class, a couple facilities offered to pay tuition up front. Either way, in my state, law required that if you got a job at a facility, they reimburse you the cost of class. Unsure if it had to be a full time job, hired with x number days after the class, etc. Regardless, there may be other opportunities out there, either 'pre-paid' or reimbursed. As others have said, there are definite red flags about the facility where you interviewed.

[lexie909]

I would say to do a little research. When I was going to go to CNA class, a couple facilities offered to pay tuition up front. Either way, in my state, law required that if you got a job at a facility, they reimburse you the cost of class. Unsure if it had to be a full time job, hired with x number days after the class, etc. Regardless, there may be other opportunities out there, either 'pre-paid' or reimbursed. As others have said, there are definite red flags about the facility where you interviewed.

Okay I'm starting to do a little more research now and trying to find another nursing home in my area. If all else fails I'll pay for the class.

[lexie909]

I would say to do a little research. When I was going to go to CNA class, a couple facilities offered to pay tuition up front. Either way, in my state, law required that if you got a job at a facility, they reimburse you the cost of class. Unsure if it had to be a full time job, hired with x number days after the class, etc. Regardless, there may be other opportunities out there, either 'pre-paid' or reimbursed. As others have said, there are definite red flags about the facility where you interviewed.

Thank you. I'm starting to do a little more research now and trying to find another nursing home in my area. If all else fails I'll pay for the class.