I am an RN student applying for a CNA job w/ no experience

Jules A, MSN · Feb 14, 2008

Hi,

I would do a resume because your other work experience can surely apply to nursing in some ways and if nothing else show a positive work history. I'd also add the number of hours you spent in clinicals and some skills you learned that will be an asset when you get a job as a tech. Good luck!

hikernurse · Feb 14, 2008

I found that hospitals were extremely interested in hiring CNAs who were in NS. It's a good way to ensure themselves of an RN a couple of years down the line . No harm in doing a resume, but I didn't do one and had no problems whatsoever finding a job.

Good luck :). Being a CNA was a great learning experience and I'm really glad I did it.

NCLEX~hereIcome · Feb 15, 2008

At the hospital I work at.. they love nursing students as CNA (they are actually called Nurse techs) See if they offer such a position when you are applying because it pays a little more and there is still no commitment to working at that hospital when you are done with school. Also, go online to Yahoo.com and they have a really easy resume maker. I think it is under hotjobs (on the left).

Good Luck:sstrs:

swee2000 · Feb 19, 2008

Go for the hospital job!!

I understand how you're feeling, as I was in the same boat as you back in 2004. At that time, I was a single mom of a 4 yr/old, working full-time(in a non-healthcare related job), & attending nursing school/clinicals part-time in the evenings. Because leaving my job(at the time) would've forced me to take a $5/hr paycut, I put-off getting a healthcare-related position as long as possible and just relied on experiences from clinicals to get me through(which isn't saying a whole lot). It wasn't until mid-2nd semester when "all the stars lined up" and I finally was able to attempt the job switch. I only applied for a CNA position at one hospital and it was where my 1st semester clinicals were held(on a Med/Surg unit). Much to my surprise, they hired me right away. Even though I lacked in patient-care experience, I caught on right away and fell in love with my job. Fast forward to today, four years later, and I am still employed with this hospital, on the same Med/Surg unit, and am now a LPN and constantly being asked when I'm returning to school to finish the RN program.

So my point to saying all of this is to give you a "confidence booster" that you can & should apply for a hospital CNA job and shouldn't let inexperience scare you away from anything. Also, once you get a hospital job and start working, you'll witness, learn, & experience so many things which will benefit you in nursing school & beyond. Take advantage of this because alot of what is taught in nursing school doesn't make sense until you see it actually play out in real-life with a patient. Also, I don't know if this is offered at any of the hospitals in your area, but at mine, once you've completed 2nd semester of nursing school you can apply for a Nurse Intern II role where you basically function as an RN under the direct observation & supervision of an RN. You give all the meds, do assessments & all it's charting, etc, etc. More good experiences to get you prepared for the future.

Good luck to you.

future L&Dnurse · Feb 19, 2008

A well-done resume with a strong cover letter is going to be very helpful, IMO, so I'd go ahead and write one. Also, you may ask some of your clinical instructors if they'd be willing to be a reference for you. Past employers (non-medical, too) would also be good references.

ABNI · Feb 19, 2008

Hi and thank you all for your time and great replies. The replies helped me view my situation in a better way. And, I have considered some of your suggestions on building a resume and I've applied to jobs with resume. I am looking forward in a +ve way. Once again thank you one and all.