Published Apr 30, 2010
Julsey
3 Posts
I recieved my CNA/HHA certificate through the state now I need to start job searching. I've applied a few places and haven't heard anything back. So I'm pretty much assuming that because I have no experience as a Nurses Assistant the only places that are going to hire me are nursing homes. This isn't a completely bad thing however I really just don't want to do it. My mother has been a CNA for 20+ years and injured her back. She tells me story after story of how I shouldn't work at one. When our NA class had our big 'ole 16 hours of clinicals the assistant there were horrifying us with there stories. The girl who was training me was begging me not do this as a job. She said she just cant stand it anymore. She told me she was "just like me in wanting to make a difference and help the residents" but now she can't stand them, she is in pain and treated like crap, etc.
I really dont know what to do. I want to help care for the eldery or anyone for that matter who needs it I just need to find that right place to work I guess and so far no luck.. I live outside a huge city too. I've tried hospitals, and assisted livings.My husband just got out of the Army and now we both need to work our butts off while he is going to school full-time as well. I even busted my butt and recieved my AS degree and Dental Assisting Certificate but its worth garbage in this state until I further my education to recieve licencing here..
Does anyone have any recommendations?
CoffeemateCNA
903 Posts
Chances are slim that you would be hired to a hospital with no prior CNA experience.
Your best bet would be to work as a home health aide or at an agency.
Intern67
357 Posts
History is littered with nurses, doctors, ballplayers, soldiers, roofers, masonworkers, engineers... who all told their kids "Don't do what I did."
Some of those kids listened. Others didn't and had great careers.
Every job has things about it that suck. Your mom happens to know a lot about what sucked about hers. That isn't the issue. This issue is: What do you want to do? I mean with your life. What do you want to do for a career?
"I want to help care for the eldery or anyone for that matter who needs it"
Then do that. I bet if you talk to your mom about it, she will tell you how much satisfaction she go doing just that. If you have to start at a rotten nursing home then so be it. That's where I started; I am so glad I am not there anymore, but boy did I learn a lot there. I still volunteer there and relish the dirty looks I get from my lazy CNA Ex-coworkers.
Ev1987
347 Posts
So I'm pretty much assuming that because I have no experience as a Nurses Assistant the only places that are going to hire me are nursing homes. This isn't a completely bad thing however I really just don't want to do it.
Why not? Why don't you want to work in a nursing home?
My mother has been a CNA for 20+ years and injured her back. She tells me story after story of how I shouldn't work at one.
How did your mother injure her back? Could this incident have also happened in a hospital or assisted living facility, as well as a nursing home?
I want to help care for the eldery or anyone for that matter who needs it I just need to find that right place to work I guess and so far no luck.
If you want to help care for the elderly, there are plenty of them to help care for at a nursing home. You've stated that you have no experience working as a nursing assistant, and that you've applied to a few places and heard no response...then why wouldn't a nursing home be a 'right place' for you to work if you 'assumingly' have no other options?
My husband just got out of the Army and now we both NEED to work our butts off while he is going to school full-time as well.
If you NEED to work, and 'assumingly' only nursing homes will hire you because you lack of experience... then wouldn't working at a nursing home be a logical solution for you until you've gained enough experience to possibly work in a hospital or elsewhere? My mother told me 'beggers shouldn't be choosers.' Good luck in your job search. :redbeathe
fuzzywuzzy, CNA
1,816 Posts
You basically said you have no choice- you NEED to work. All the whining and making excuses in the world isn't going to change that. Either suck it up and get one in a nursing home, or start waitressing or something. Personally I don't think it makes much sense to waste your CNA cert after you spent time and money getting it, and a nursing home is your best bet. Rationalize all you want, but you've never worked in one so you don't know what your experience is going to be like, no matter what your mom says. What is she talking about anyway? She doesn't like being a CNA and yet she's still doing it 20 years later?
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
If LTC facilities are where the jobs are, then that is where you need to look for work. Rest assured, most CNAs end up working at LTC facilities when they start out. It is very difficult to get a hospital job when you have no experience going for yourself. After you have worked for six months, go to a home health agency where you can do basic care for one patient and get paid about the same as in the LTC facility. And while you are at it, you should continue to look for work as a dental assistant. Sometimes an ad will come up where they are willing to hire someone without experience. Hopefully, you won't hurt your back working in a dental office. Good luck with your job hunting.
KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN
1,641 Posts
There are such things as GOOD nursing homes out there. Ask around; there may be a couple of nice facilities in your area. www.medicare.gov is a great tool to use as well. They rank nursing homes in terms of quality, staffing ratios,etc.. Long term care isn't a death sentence; if you find out you hate it, there's always home health, assisted living, etc...
tmangulo
9 Posts
I was lucky and got a CNA position with a great hospital with no experience. Just keep trying and don't give up. I was turned down many times before I found my current position and now am in nursing school which the hospital is paying for. Times are tough but you gotta stay tougher to get through it. Good luck!!
lolasmomma2bLVN
35 Posts
I got hired as a CNA in a hospital with no experience. It ended up being horrible. You never know, you may like LTC and hate the hospitals. The problem at the hospital I worked at was staffing. The liscensed staff never helped and other CNA's wouldnt help each other. Teamwork is key! Especially on preventing injuries!