HELP please nursing assistant interview Wed.! (please read)!!!

interceptinglight, CNA · Apr 19, 2011

Facilities vary greatly about what they pay CNA's, however I do know that medical assistants typically make more than CNA's do. CNA's are not allowed to do any invasive procedures (we can't draw blood or give injections, and in some facilities we cannot even monitor blood glucose). If you'll be working as a nursing assistant that is NOT certified, you may be making even less to start with and they'll only give you a raise once you're certified in that state. I don't know if they take your medical assisting certification into consideration because it's not the same thing as being a CNA. I would ask for clarification of what the job requirements are. Where I work they do NOT take into consideration any previous education or medical experience. I have an associates degree from a business college as a medical secretary/transcriptionist and I've done medical assisting type work in doctor's offices for years (such as assisting physicians with minor surgical procedures and sterile technique) -- I was lied to about these factors being considered (in terms of pay) when I accepted my job. After the fact, I found out that my starting pay was only $7.62/hour and would only go up $2/hour once I was certified. It was a huge disappointment!! This has been the hardest, most stressful job I've ever done as well as one of the lowest paying. Also our benefits are all employee-paid and they're really lousy. I'm desperately searching for a medical administrative position (secretarial, medical billing, or transcription) because my pay would automatically go way up and my job stress level would go way down, but those kinds of jobs around here are hard to come by.

Don't be afraid to ask very specific questions about pay and benefits when you go for this interview. Hopefully this facility will be more up front with you than they were with me. Best of luck to you, and let me know how it goes. I'm really curious what you find out !!

:coollook:

cmm4ever · Apr 19, 2011

Thanks for writing back! I always get nervous for interviews. I bet hundreds apply for these positions everyday. Yeah Im not sure yet if my backround helped me at all or not. So you work in a hospital? I heard but dont know for sure that the pay should be descent. What are your duties? Well this hospital is part of Catholic Health and it just said nursing assistant not CNA...do you have any idea if it is mandatory to be certified? I know other hospitalas in the same system have cna jobs posted, but this one didnt. I have to try to think of examples of maybe some experience I have that may help me get the job./ what medical assistants can do that cna's cant and vice versa. How long was your training period? Did you just have 1 interview? I heard that I may have to go through 2 and an orientation....hoping its not too long of a process! Well thanks again and please any last minute advice...and what they might ask tomorrow? I will keep posted. By the way what area do you live?

interceptinglight, CNA · Apr 19, 2011

Thanks for writing back! I always get nervous for interviews. I bet hundreds apply for these positions everyday. Yeah Im not sure yet if my backround helped me at all or not. So you work in a hospital? I heard but dont know for sure that the pay should be descent. What are your duties? Well this hospital is part of Catholic Health and it just said nursing assistant not CNA...do you have any idea if it is mandatory to be certified? I know other hospitalas in the same system have cna jobs posted, but this one didnt. I have to try to think of examples of maybe some experience I have that may help me get the job./ what medical assistants can do that cna's cant and vice versa. How long was your training period? Did you just have 1 interview? I heard that I may have to go through 2 and an orientation....hoping its not too long of a process! Well thanks again and please any last minute advice...and what they might ask tomorrow? I will keep posted. By the way what area do you live?

I live in a small town in North Central Idaho and work in a long-term care facility. Where I work they only hire non-certified nursing assistants if they become certified within 6 months, and usually they offer the classes for free at the facility. They also pay you to attend their classes and for everything else -- the testing fees and the certification fee. It's a pretty good deal if you want to just find out what being a CNA is all about, or perhaps you want to further your career in nursing but need to start somewhere. I'm sure that your medical assisting certification gave you an edge over other applicants, but I'm not sure how much they'l take that into consideration in regard to pay. I had 2 interviews before I was offered the job. One of the first questions I was asked was 'Why do you want this position?' Another key question was 'Are you interested in furthering your career by becoming an LPN or RN ?' They're looking for people who aren't just looking for a job......they want someone with the kind of mindset that makes them a good nurses' assistant: caring, conscientious, professional, and serious about doing a good job. People who just want a job, any job, just a paycheck -- they will often bomb out on being a CNA because it's pretty hard work and not the greatest pay to start off with.

I started CNA class in August 2010. We'd have 2 classes per week (8 students in all), studying the text book as well as completing the interactive online quizzes and tests. In between the classes we were orienting for all the different shifts. It wasn't long before orientation was over and we were allowed to work unsupervised, even though we weren't certified yet. By October we were doing clinical shifts and demonstrating all the necessary skills needed for the job. Basic job duties are the usual ADL's (activities of daily living: toileting, dressing, bathing, feeding, oral care) -- we also had the opportunity to perform terminal care ('comfort care' for the dying) and even post-mortem ! We all became CPR/First Aid/BLS/AED certified as well. The only thing we weren't allowed to do on the job before we were certified was take vital signs. Our facility has manual BP cuffs and stethoscopes, but we use a digital 'tower' that measures BP's, pulse, O2 saturations, and tympanic or oral temperatures, for measuring respirations we just count them using a watch with a second hand. In class we were taught how to monitor blood glucose, but our facility doesn't allow us to do that, only the nurses can. We were also taught about specimen collections and we'd practice all the skills we were going to be tested on for certification (making an occupied bed, range of motion exercises, applying TED hose, etc etc etc, and of course taking vitals). Only one out of our class didn't pass the skills exam and she decided to quit at that point.

I would ask at your job interview, are they going to require that you get certified for this job and if so, do they offer scholarships. At my facility the nurse's assistants who work in assisted living do not need to be CNA's, but they have to be med-certified -- in other words, certified to be able to pass medications -- otherwise they do not need the State certification to be a nurse's assistant -- only if they work in the Skilled Nursing Facility.

Another question they asked me in my initial interview was --have I ever been disciplined or terminated due to attendance on a job? Showing up for your shift is of the utmost importance, and not doing so will get you quickly fired. They want people who are reliable.

I hope this helps ! :heartbeat

cmm4ever · Apr 20, 2011

Thanks for all the advice. I hope I get it I am so nervous! I mean I really need something for now (not that I will say that to them)...I mean I only had one real job in the past...but I was their for four years as a front supervisor/cashier...so its not like Im a job hopper. I was always early and If for some reason if I thought I would be a few minutes late I always called. I figured they might ask me tell me about yourself, Career goals/where do you see yourself in 5 years, strengths/weaknesses, why do you want to work here?, How do you handle a stressful situation/difficult pt. or coworker. Any advice on how to handle stressful situation/patient/coworker? I got stuck on that one a little. Wish me luck. I have the interview at 1pm tomorrow. Will let you know how it goes. How long after your first interview did they call you for the 2nd? I hope I can get in there before my graduation May 15th. I also have a copy of my cpr card, medical assistant certification card, cover letter and resume, 4 reference forms from school (like boxes that are checked off..but one teacher wrote additional comments). I also typed up two peoples names that I know that work for Catholic Health. I think that should be good.

interceptinglight, CNA · Apr 20, 2011

You are going to totally bag that job ! :w00t: Anyone who is as prepared as you are, good heavens -- you sure deserve it! I suppose a good answer to 'how would you handle a difficult situation/patient/co-worker' -- you could say "I always try to think before I speak"......or you could say 'I'd go to my supervisor and ask for advice about how to handle it'.......interviewers love it when you come across as someone who tries to use good communication skills. =

I think there was less than a week between my 2 interviews, probably because they were interviewing several others.

cmm4ever · Apr 20, 2011

I just got back from the interview and I think it went really good! If

I dont get the position I will be very surprised. Maybe I have a little luck on

my side for once in my life lol bc I ended up interviewing with someone else,

and she knows a few people that I mentioned that work at CHS. She walked me to

the elevator and said I ll try to find you something..and you can always bid. I

was told they plan on hiring people by next Wednesday, wonder if they really like you if they will call before? The only thing that stinks thought is that I guess the May 2nd orientation is most likely full and

the next one isnt until May 23rd. I believe it would last be 3.5 days. I dont

know what else happens after that. She said that usually the nursing managers do the

interviewing but, they were too busy. Maybe that was a good thing. I asked about a

2nd interview..and she said no this was it. So we will see.. hate waiting though.

I dont know if they think I would be qualified for anything else if they would

tell me etc. Just sent them a thank you email. She asked if I had any questions, and before I even said anything she said pay and benefits will be discussed when you get the call for the position. So I didnt ask that, and forgot to ask about certification. I did ask about duties and she said she thinks it will be different depending where Im placed. She just read to me what they job posting said (and she agreed that it was very vague). I also asked her about training and I think like I mentioned before there is an orientation for a few days and they even show you some computer stuff. Im not sure, but hoping to able to start very soon after that. I will let you know if I hear anything. I dont know if this will happen but, say I do get the job..watch I ll get called for an interview somewhere else (waiting to hear back from this Podiatrists office). If they want me I wouldnt know what to do. Well I probably would have had that interview by now at the podiatrist, but my resume I sent through the mail a few weeks ago got lost in the mail or something. I called and asked them if they got it and they didnt. So I faxed my resume in late last week...but the Dr. is on vacation all this week..and probably wont hear from them until early next week (which is when Im supposed to find out about the job at the hospital! I wonder if I didnt go to school for medical assisting if they do hire me if they would of. Ill be mad If I wasted 3 years of school for nothing. But hopefully it just pays off somehow.

cmm4ever · Apr 20, 2011

Oh I was right...didnt I say someone would call when I really think I landed this job at the hospital! Well it wasnt the podiatrists office YET..I think they will call me next week and try to set up an interview. It was this one cardiology place, kind of felt silly because my mom answered the phone and I

forgot who it was or where it was bc I applied to like a tons of places.

I knew something like this was going to happen. No one wants you and then

everyone calls at once. I have to try to find their job posting again, because I

cant remember what is said (for example. full time/part time , duties etc. I

think this might be the one where they want you to do ekg's but I believe in my

coverletter I said I told them that I know the basics but never really done one.

I was also thinking that the Podiatrists office will call next week. She asked

me to come in Monday but I asked her about Tuesday. Im hoping I hear from Mercy Hospital

by then so I can think of what I should do. I dont know how long after you get

the job at Mercy that you have to think about the offer and let them know. I

mean I might not even get the cardiology job and its kinda far well about 16 mins compared to like 4 minutes for the hospital....?!..my mom would be taking me, and I dont want to just deny the job at Mercy if they offer it to me, because I can always bid

on other jobs., if I want to. Also they may never accept me again in the future.

Plus I gave them a bunch of references. Ugh what to do...oh yeah I think that I

may have really gotten the job at Mercy because 1 of the 2 jobs I applied for is

down now?! I really wish I could look into the future and know what the right

thing to do was. Dont know what to do. any advice? :confused:

ChellsCMA · Aug 12, 2011

I worked for a hospital as a Nursing Assistant and was told that since I was a CMA that my pay would be higher than the 8.59/hr that they started a CNA or someone with no experience. Well I interviewed and got the job on the spot. I had worked at one of their "sister" hospitals as a phlebotomist part-time two months prior but after being laid off wanted something full time. I was hired and expected at least 10/hr but my pay was $8.59/hr with a small shift differential that made my pay go up to 9.67/hr after 5pm, whoopeee, I know. I worked there for 1yr before i left.