How to find a CNA job?

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Jan 10, 2011

I would ask; your program *might* offer job assistance. The best thing to do when looking for a job on your own is to dress kind of nice and apply in person. You don't really need a resume, just an application. The internet isn't so helpful in this line of work, at least in my experience. List your availability for all shifts and all kinds of hours so you have a better chance of getting an interview.

You can work any kind of hours in this line of work... full or part time, or per diem. Tons of CNAs are in nursing school and the places are pretty accommodating to that. Just be willing to work on holidays and at least every other weekend... otherwise it's pretty flexible.

LifesAJourney · Jan 11, 2011

I find that general job search websites are not as helpful as going right to the source. If you are looking for a position in a nursing home, research possible employers by looking at their rating by Medicare http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Include/DataSection/Questions/SearchCriteriaNEW.asp?version=default&browser=Firefox|3|Windows+Vista&language=English&defaultstatus=0&pagelist=Home&CookiesEnabledStatus=True

Use this website to your advantage in deciding which nursing home is more suitable. Then, when you find one, dress to impress, walk in, and ask for an application. Having a resume on hand is an added leverage. Nursing homes are always in need of cna's since they are short staffed or employee turnover. I've also read on this forum that non-profit nursing homes provide an overall better quality and environment than for-profit nursing homes. For-profit nursing homes tend to care about their bottom line, so staffing is skeletal. I use to work in a for-profit nursing home and my wish is that they would correlate staffing to the TYPE of care needed. If I am assigned to 10-12 residents and the majority can ambulate, I don't mind that patient load. However, if the majority of my residents are total care and I am still assigned that 10-12 patient load, it doesn't make any sense!!!!

If you are wanting to work in a hospital, you must go online or call the HR department to see how they want their applicants to apply. Most places have turn to online only applications, meaning YOU MUST APPLY ONLINE ONLY! Even your resume must be submitted online with your application. When I had my interview at a hospital and was waiting in the HR department, I have seen them tell people they do not accept hard copies of resumes since everything is done online.

I'm not sure where you live in California, but I google hospitals in California and got a list of numerous hospitals you can try List of hospitals in California - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia My advice to you is pick the hospitals that are in your area and look up their requirements for applying. Granted, hospitals prefer some experience for the position, but I've read on this forum that some people get the job without prior experience besides the cna clinical. So it doesn't hurt to try :)

Good luck!

LifesAJourney · Jan 11, 2011

In a nursing home you can get away with working part-time and they typically have 8hr shifts. Shifts can be divided as followed: 6am-2pm (day), 2pm-10pm (evening), and 10pm-6am (night). You can also work full-time and even doubles if you so choose.

Hospitals in my area have 12hr shifts either 7a-7p (day shift) or 7p-7a (night shift). Part-time commitment is 2 12hr shifts, while full-time is 3 12hrs per week. When you apply online for a position it will state whether it is part-time or full-time and how many hours per week they require.

Also, cna's can be called various names such as nurse assistant, pca, pct, etc. When you look online, search under "nursing support" as that where you will typically find the position you are looking for. If not, then search under "nurses" since some places mixes nurses and cna under one general job category.

Hope this helps.

xInspiredx · Jan 12, 2011

^Thank you all! :) All of the posts were very helpful!

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I've been looking at possible CNA jobs, but at least 99% of them state that you need 1 year of prior experience. Would the training in the CNA program provide 1 year of this needed experience? The CNA program that is offered at a local college is only 1 semester (~5 months) though, but I am unsure of how the program works.

Thirdwatch · Jan 15, 2011

Most of the time, they want 1 year paid experience.

xInspiredx · Jan 15, 2011

Most of the time, they want 1 year paid experience.

Thanks for your reply.

Then how do you get a starting point? If (basically) all require 1 year of paid experience, then it seems very difficult to get a position. I've viewed all of the available openings for CNA's in my area (as far as 100 miles), and they all want 1 year of experience.

Thirdwatch · Jan 15, 2011

Thanks for your reply.
Then how do you get a starting point? If (basically) all require 1 year of paid experience, then it seems very difficult to get a position. I've viewed all of the available openings for CNA's in my area (as far as 100 miles), and they all want 1 year of experience.

Apply everywhere even if they want that. They're times that they will still take you. Just turn in the applications...or resumes. I applied to a CNA job that extrictly required that year. They still hired me without it.

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