Getting hired with no experience

Sour Lemon · Mar 22, 2019

Where I've worked, almost all of our telemetry monitors started as CNAs ...and almost all of our CNAs started out in nursing homes.
Hospital jobs seem to be most desirable to CNAs, so the competition may be fierce. I'm not sure how most telemetry monitors get started beyond the ones I've worked with.

River&MountainRN, ADN, RN · Mar 22, 2019

And, depending the state/facility, most want you to actually be certified as a nursing assistant to work as a PCT/CNA.

Golden_RN, MSN · Mar 22, 2019

Agree with Sour and River above...

You may want to look into CNA training programs asap. It's possible you could do one over the summer.

Monitor Tech jobs are not entry level hospital jobs and they will almost always hire from their nursing assistants.

Sometimes volunteering can get your foot in the door to a hospital job, but if money is tight, I'd do a CNA program and work in a skilled nursing facility.

andrea3434 · Mar 22, 2019

5 hours ago, Sour Lemon said:
Where I've worked, almost all of our telemetry monitors started as CNAs ...and almost all of our CNAs started out in nursing homes.
Hospital jobs seem to be most desirable to CNAs, so the competition may be fierce. I'm not sure how most telemetry monitors get started beyond the ones I've worked with.

True at my hospital as well. Not to mention group homes. Many of my aids either work side jobs or started at group homes for mentally challenged adults.

CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2019

Easiest way to find out what the average employer is looking for as far as experience or certifications is to look at their "careers" page. Searching through the want ads can tell you what requirements are most commonly found . Good luck!

beekee · Mar 25, 2019

EKG Monitor Tech is pretty narrow. Hundreds of people are nursing assistants, in a wide range of settings. An EKG Monitor Tech is only hired in a hospital, and there are maybe a handful of them. To give you an idea, my hospital has 2 techs on at any given time.

You should get training as a nursing assistant. There are more job opportunities, it’ll give you good experience and help you make contacts.

buttercup9, ASN, BSN, MSN · Mar 25, 2019

Absolutely train as a CNA/PCT. It will give you MUCH better training as to how be be a nurse than being a monitor tech. While understanding EKG is a useful skill, understanding and DOING bedside care is far more valuable. It can be tough to get a hospital position and looking into skilled nursing facility or long term care may be useful. You will learn significantly more being a CNA/PCT then a monitor tech. Once you get your foot in the door at a hospital you may be able to do both.

However, as a warning, CNA work is difficult and often thankless. I did it while in nursing school and though it was hard, I am SO glad that I did. The experience taught me a lot about patient care, time management, soft skills like how to talk to patients and families and managing conflicts/expectations, I was able to watch RN's and who I thought was good and not so good and to recognize the habits and skills of the good ones. There are too many benefits to list really. However I stress that is is HARD... and being an RN is different, although everything a CNA is responsible for and RN should be able to do and in my opinion is part of the RN's responsibilities even though those tasks can be delegated.

Long story short- become a CNA.

good luck

GeminiNurse29 · Mar 26, 2019

Here in my state, the state run facilities are desperate for Patient care techs who have to be CNAs that they will pay for your training and offer a sign on bonus. Of course, you have to pass the test to keep your job. Maybe there is something similar in your area?

romans8:28 · Jun 2, 2019

Thanks everyone for your responses. I landed a job as a PCA and am currently training. I can absolutely see where this position would be more beneficial to me in the long run. I am learning so much and really loving it! This is truly a blessing in more ways than one. God is Good!!!!