How to steer into the kind of CNA job I want

[Tom C]

I took an early retirement from teaching, so, shall we say, I am closer to 30 than I am 20?  🙂  I started down this road after working as a home caregiver for about 16 months.  I enjoyed many things about the work, but was not satisfied with the organization - 120 caregivers and 2 supervisors - I felt more like I was being herded than being heard.  I have completed my CNA training, passed the written and skills test (state of Washington) and now am awaiting my certification and magic number so that I can go to work.  I am seriousy considering going up one step, to be an lpn, so I want my experience to be as focused as possible.  I have already been offered one CNA position working in home care that would be about 80% housecleaning, cooking and shopping - have politely told them I will think about it, but not really interested.  My question: what can I do to help steer me into better jobs (at this point, "better" means hospital work)?  I think I would ultimately like to work in a hospital, especially in peds, though I have told that men seldom get into that department.  I am looking through the internet at courses that might help me, might enrich my skill set as well as make a statement as to what I want to do. I have already taken a course in working with veterans.  I am considering a course in medical terminology.  Are there any other courses that would be beneficial?  make me stand out in a positive sense?  I have been told that there is a agency that gives temporary assignments.  I am going to talk to them to see if they will use me, and let me sample many different environments.  What else?