Getting Frustrated

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Hello everyone! I am wanting to ask some advice about job seeking as a nursing student. I will be beginning my second year in a few months and I desperately need a job this summer. My preference was to find a PRN CNA position...but the problem is I'm not getting any calls at all!! I submit a decent resume and fill out the online apps, as well for any position I can find with no luck whatsoever. I've made follow-up calls several times. What else can I do? Or...what am I not doing that I should be doing? It seems all my classmates are finding these jobs easily and yet here I am. I have a high B average and the college I attend is highly respected in my area...so I have been told numerous times. I thought this would be so easy when it was time to find work. I am getting depressed and disappointed and a little worried that if I can't find a job now...what will it be like when I actually have my RN? If anyone has any tips, I would greatly appreciate hearing them!

Do you have access to job fairs? I applied to several CNA jobs last year and never heard back. I went to a job fair this spring, spoke to HR reps at the same companies I'd previously applied to, and had two interviews (and a nurse tech job!) within a week. The job fair experience was extremely positive and I obtained several business cards of the HR people with permission to email them directly.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Wow, seriously? Yet another new account with a poster making ridiculous comments like this. There has to be something in the air...

Thanks for all the ideas. As for using NurseMia76, if I'm able to work as a CNA...wouldn't that be a nurse? Is there some other reason I shouldn't use it? I'm not superstitious.
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How are you in nursing school... But you don't know what a nurse is?

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Specializes in Pediatric.
How are you in nursing school... But you don't know what a nurse is?

Scary thought!!!!

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Specializes in Pediatric.

It's like that other thread with the nursing instructor who was saying students didn't know 650 mg APAP was (2) 325 mg tablets...

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I know it would be a bummer to not get a job with a certificate you earned, but you could always look outside of a CNA job. There are a lot of PRN Medical Scribes, Unit Secretaries, Medical Receptionists, or other entry-level hospital positions like that. I got a job on my medical campus as a student assistant, just doing filing and other office tasks, but they are super flexible with my hours.

It seems weird, but definitely check out Craigslist too. There's often a lot of part time jobs for smaller offices and practices, and they usually have more flexible hours than big hospitals do. Good luck! Definitely let us know if you find something.

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
Thanks for all the ideas. As for using NurseMia76, if I'm able to work as a CNA...wouldn't that be a nurse? Is there some other reason I shouldn't use it? I'm not superstitious.

Are you serious??

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in ICU.

You said you are able to work as a CNA. Are you certified? Did you take the class and pass the test. Also CNA stands for Certified Nursing Aide. Not nurse. I think there may be some slight confusion on your part here and this is why you are not getting interviews.

Attending nursing school does not automatically qualify you to work as a CNA.

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

"it seems" is not evidence. The world "seemed" flat before basic science proved otherwise. If your peers are getting jobs ask them where they are applying. Ask then what they are doing different. "thought it would be easy" to get a job? Well it isn't anywhere in the USA right now. It is time consuming and difficult. You want a tip? Perserverence is the key.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Thanks for all the ideas. As for using NurseMia76, if I'm able to work as a CNA...wouldn't that be a nurse? Is there some other reason I shouldn't use it? I'm not superstitious.

You serious? How can you be a nursing student (going into your SECOND YEAR at that) & NOT know what a CNA is? Are you punk'ing us? So no, unless you are an LVN or RN you cannot use the s/n 'NurseMia76'.

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Thank you for the info about the job fair...we had one during school but at that time, I wasn't looking.

About thinking a CNA was a nurse, I appreciate the info, I am a second year student working toward my RN...I realize a CNA is not a licensed RN, but I had no clue they weren't regarded as a "nurse". That's not something that has ever been discussed during lecture and as someone coming in with absolutely no medical experience, how would I know? I guess I won't make the same mistake twice! I assumed CNAs, RNs, were all nurses. I do not have an official CNA license, but we are allowed to work as such when we have one semester of school under our belt..as long as we are still attending. Not sure if that's the same in every state?

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Oh, and for the record, I am not running around telling anyone that I am a nurse...I specifically just typed that name in when registering to ask my question on this board...it never crossed my mind that I would offend anyone or that anyone would even pay attention.

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