Florida CNA's

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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I am considering going to school to become a CNA in September. :yeah:I was wondering if you can tell me how quickly you found a job, your starting pay and where you became a CNA first. I wanted to work in a hospital, but most job ads say you have to have a yr in a clinical setting.

Basically any advice-the good, the bad and the ugly! :D

Thanks!

Oh! And BTW if you're interested in HCA at all, go to Largo Medical Center's website, click on careers, click on search jobs, this will take you to hca.taleo.net under that in Job Field select Hospital & Facility then select Nursing support then which ever facilities you are interested in. I just counted 32, yes THIRTY TWO, CNA posititons available through out our district!!! Good luck!!!! :)

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I passed the state CNA exam today. I must say, seeing difficulty in finding CNA work is really discouraging.

congrats! :yeah::balloons:

what skills did they test you on?

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CVICUismydream: 32 position, wow...but does that mean they are going to actually fill them, and don't they require 6 months to a year experience?

flg8r36: My skills were range of motion (upper extremeties), catheter care, and urinary drain bag. I had 5 minutes left while I was cleaning the catheter supplies. I think I got through drain bag w/about 30 seconds remaining. Needless to say I was stressing while they were tallying the scores.

I'm starting nursing school in March. Everything is happening so fast now!!!

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CVICUismydream: 32 position, wow...but does that mean they are going to actually fill them, and don't they require 6 months to a year experience?

flg8r36: My skills were range of motion (upper extremeties), catheter care, and urinary drain bag. I had 5 minutes left while I was cleaning the catheter supplies. I think I got through drain bag w/about 30 seconds remaining. Needless to say I was stressing while they were tallying the scores.

I'm starting nursing school in March. Everything is happening so fast now!!!

WOW -- the time factor is what has me worried. did you take an actual CNA program or a prep class?

where are you going to nursing school?

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I took the Pinellas med-prep in Pinellas Park. IMO a waste of money. The "nurse" walked 10 people through the 21 skills and then basically went to play on the computer in a different room while we practiced. I couldn't attend a practice session due to car trouble and called to reschedule. Let's just say the epitome of white trash started screaming at me over the phone refusing to reschedule. I'm now working on a BBB complaint against them.

I'm doing the Erwin tech LPN program in Tampa.

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i heard others complain about that one as well .... i went to florida med prep, but only because the nursing home i wanted to eventually work at recommended them. they hire from their graduates.

congrats on erwin. i've heard good things about that school. also heard from reading posts on here that is is hard to get into, so kudos to you :w00t:

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CVICUismydream: 32 position, wow...but does that mean they are going to actually fill them, and don't they require 6 months to a year experience?

You just have to look and see. I clicked on every 2-3 to read the description. some require no exp, some require a year, some require special certification (like for the CNA's at suncoast b/c it is a rehab hospital).

But yes they will be field. If anything, when HCA posts a job, they really need the people to fill it.

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Specializes in CVICU, CT Transplant, Transplant ICU, CV Step down.

well the good thing about florida is right out of the class you can find a job that will at least pay you 8.50 til you get your cert...and after that its about $10-$12 an hour depending on where it is your trying to work...

and working in a hospital they want you with at 6 mos. experience not so much a year again depending on what hospital it is your trying to get into...but good luck with everything

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I am going to be taking the exam soon, wanted to do it a year ago and then my plans were put on hold. I want to go into home health. Right away. I do not want LTC or hosp. Do you think I can find something in home health with no experience? I have 15 years now as a dental assistant, so I am comfortable with direct care. I hope in the exam I am tested on mouth and denture care.. I know I will have no problems there!! Thanks for any input. Also, I am going to be taking a huge paycut going to NA. As a DA, I am at 15.00/hr and know I wont get close to that. My goal is LPN.

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I went to Florida Medical Prep in Largo. It was very fast paced as someone else also said.. but the most important thing they said, that I 100% agree with, IS YOU HAVE TO STUDY A *LOT* BY YOURSELF, OR YOU WILL *NOT* PASS THE STATE EXAM. I had a large class, that they split in two for the state exam. Out of I believe... 10 or 12 people, only me and TWO other people passed the exam. Don't know if they didn't study or what, but our "teacher" wasn't the brightest bulb either. He was pretty breif, said what he had to say, and they would sit in the corner eating M&M's. We did have a different instructor I believe the last day or the last 2 days of the course, and he was WAY better, too bad for those other people we didn't have him to begin with!

As far as getting a job at a hospital, they do usually require 1 yr. experience. I had ALMOST 1 yr. experience I was about 2 1/2 months shy, but I recieved an interview with a recruiter, then an interview with the charge nurse for day shift of the floor that was looking for CNA's, as well as an interview with the charge nurse of night shift for this floor. I was so excited, they told me about the paid nurse's training they offered, how I'd become a PCT in a couple months and be making $14.00/hr... but then I never heard anything from them again!

You'll have better luck apply with a nursing home or assisted living facility. Home health you'll probably have a good chance of getting hired on with also. But BEWARE, when you're doing home health there are NO coworkers, it's just you being thrown to the wolves, so be sure you know what you're doing before you take a job with a home health agency because if you don't, the clients/patients WILL complain. And since there's no one else there, it's your word against the clients. I'd saying be sweet, patient & building a relationship and TRUE bond with patients in a home health agency setting is VERY important... because all they have to do is pick up the phone and say they want someone else, and that's it, you've lost however many hours you had with this person. I speak from personal experience, and that of fellow employees at the agency. But besides that, it's pretty slow-paced and easy. Although sometimes you do have to do a lot of housework. But don't be afraid to put your foot down because it's considered LIGHT HOUSEKEEPING. So don't get on your knees and scrub the floor. You don't get paid enough for this, trust me. I make $11.00/hr. right now. No benefits. Which is another con. You miss days, you don't get paid, and your client may get irritated and ask to recieve a different caregiver. OR. you miss days, someone goes to fill in your shift, and your client ends up liking them more than you for whatever reason, and you lose your client... happens ALL the time!

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WOW!! Great info! Thanks! Where are you located? I read that you went to Largo med prep, I am in New Port Richey and would love to get in with BayCare. I heard Bayada is not the best agency to work for. I know you dont get any benes doing HH, but my husband takes care of that with his job.

Are you paid milage? Is that XX.00 and hour for the time you are with the patient, and is your drive to the next client on the clock too? Tell me how it works with time.

Do agencies offer you tuition reimbursement to advance from CNA to LPN??

THanks again!

Linda :-):heartbeat

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I took a challenger course at TampaBayCNA - it had it's pros and cons, but overall I was happy to get the info. I did study a lot before the exam - a month at least - and made flash cards to practice skills. It helped a lot.

After looking for quite some time I did get a job at a hospital in Tampa. I just happened to meet the nurse recruiter and had a conversation with her and when I passed my test got back in touch with her. She arranged an interview with the nurse leader on my floor. I am VERY grateful to have gotten into a hospital setting. i am definitely learning a lot and deciding if I will go on to nursing school.

The pay is sad -- about 9/hr if a true employee with benefits; I am PRN and get 10.50. I just took the hospitals nurse tech course and will get about a dollar more an hour after finishing my competencies and phlebotomy.

Good luck. Present yourself well. Have a resume. Go around to facilities and try to talk to them.

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