I graduated from my CNA class!

[KB24]

I graduated from my CNA class this week and I take my state exam in a few weeks.

Do I need 6 months of experience to work in Peds? Do hospital hire CNA's in NICU?

Thanks in advance.

[Bamaeyes]

Congratulations!

[caliotter3]

Congratulations and good luck on your CNA exam!

[aztova]

Congrats and good luck! I would pick being a CNA at a children's hospital over adult care any day. Just apply and see what happens. My CNA program kept telling people that they probably wouldn't get hired at a hospital right out after passing the state exam. A friend in my same class was hired by a hospital right after graduating. I have no desire to work in a LTC facility so I just scanned children's hospital job openings. I have heard that NICU's sometimes use CNA's but you don't do much patient care...More along the lines of doing whatever the nurses need you to do.

Good luck!

[aura_of_laura]

I would like advice from other CNA's and nurses. What does it take to be a great CNA? I want to be the best CNA I can possibly be.

Kindness to your patients, even the ones who seem to be unresponsive, or the ones you want to punch in the nose.

Patience, with the patients and with the nurses that will be supervising you. We'll get testy, we don't always understand each other's job duties, and sometimes *sorry* we'll blame you because everyone else seems to be blaming us.

Pride and self-respect, because you are going to be a vital part of any unit - a good CNA makes all the difference in the world!

[rvcnaguy]

I've been told I'm a great C.N.A. but I'm pretty burned out and trying to get out of it. Being patient, understanding, flexible, predictive, professional with the patients, family members and nurses has seemed to work pretty well for me. The patient and nurse is always right..Lol! I'm a male C.N.A. and kind of just fell into the work. I was EMT certified before I became CNA certified which may have helped me think outside of the box. I have learned and have come to know alot over the years but work hard in not acting like it. I never really did want to be a nurse but co-workers have seemed to want it for me. Nevertheless I feel stuck.

I think you will be a fantastic CNA because of your great attitude. That is 90 percent of being a great CNA in my opinion. Anyone can learn the skill but not everyone can maintain the optomistic attitude. I also think if nursing is the direction you want to take this is a fantastic place to start.

Again! Congratulations! I'm so glad you are excited!

[KB24]

Do employers require you to have PALS if you're applying for a job in Peds?

[rvcnaguy]

Hey,

Usually that is for the RN's. I think it would depend on the place you work too probably. The last place I worked was so small they had all sorts of patients on one floor, peds included. I'm not sure, but my guess would be a big hospital that specializes in peds probably doesn't use CNA's. They have enough nurses to staff the unit and the parents probably would be involved. Asking a peds nurse that works at Children's Hospital would be the best.

[KB24]

Thanks.

I didn't get the job.