I'm frustrated...

[confuzzledwife]

Hi everyone. Where to begin? I am a new CNA as of 2/2010. We were told in class that the demand for CNA's is so high that we could basically pick and choose our own schedules. This came from our instructor who is DON at a nursing home... she told us this repeatedly. I've appllied to that and every other nursing home within 1/2 hour drive of my home. I did get hired 3rd shift weekends at the very last place I applied at weekends, which ended up being a 40 minute drive.

Because of my husband's "off" work schedule and having a young child w/ special needs at home, one of us always has to be here for him. My husband's schedule is Tues, W, Th, F, Sun 12:30 PM- typically 10-11 PM... but he has mandatory overtime which means there are nights he sometimes doesn't get in until after midnight. This is not a HUGE deal, since I have a 16 year old here at home for the hour or so, and my special needs child is asleep, but he's total care and I just can't have "anyone" watching him while he's awake.. and we don't qualify for any sort of help in the home through insurance.

I showed my availability on my job applications as "anytime" Monday and Saturdays, then 3rd shift 11-7, I absolutely can't do 2nd on the nights he works, and I wrote that I was available on 1st from anytime in the AM until 2 PM to be home for my son after school. Well, because every nursing home hires on a 7-3 3-11 11-7 schedule, no one would consider me for anything else, matter of fact, one lady said she'd hire me on the spot for 1st if there was some way I could be there until 3 PM, well I can't. And I'm getting frustrated. I even spoke to my son's school to see if there was any after school care for him but there's nothing.

As I looked into my options, I realized I could do home health, I found many places that say they'll work around MY schedule. PERFECT! Until I called them up. They said I need at least a year of experience. How would I get a year of experience without being given a chance? I'm so confused, frustrated and upset over this. I found a homemaker company that pays very very little- but I think right now it's my only option right now- I could have done this without paying for a CNA course. Another issue I ran into is that I live on the state lines bordering CT/RI/MA. I found a home health agency in the bordering state that would hire me with no experience, but they said I'd need to get reciprocity. OK no problem! Or so I thought. I was wrong! My name is still not on the CT nurse aide registry, it's going on 2 months. I contacted the college and was told it could take 60 days to get on the nurse aide registry! (They never told us this in class), and in order to get reciprocity in RI I need to have my license in hand! This could be another month. Then in order to get reciprocity in RI, I have to go through a lot of paperwork, get a passport photo, get a record check in a town an hour away, pay more fees I wasn't expecting to pay, and then wait "approximately" 30-60 days! I had no idea things would be this difficult! Oh, and the CNA class I took didn't offer CPR classes, but in other states it's mandatory, which means I have to pay an additional $85 to take this class.

Has anyone else had these problems? I was a CNA so many years ago, about 12 years ago when I lived in RI, NEVER had a problem with finding employment or anything. I guess it's the area where I live. I'm in my 40's and don't have time or extra money to keep taking different courses- I was going to enroll in the patient care tech program to up my chances of getting into a hospital which is what I really wanted.. but I spoke to 2 women who did that program and can't get hired in a hospital... so I'm not gonna waste another dime on training that won't get me anywhere. I'm so upset over this, I feel misled by the instructor. I also found out they now include CPR classes in the CNA courses they offer, for the same price I paid!

Also, would a homemaker job qualify as experience towards a HHA job? Probably not.

[caliotter3]

Go back to your old school and see if they will allow you to take the CPR class. Meanwhile get the homemaker jobs so that you are getting experience, references, and income. If you can force yourself, take the course to get a HHA certificate to help you get HHA jobs with the agencies. After you have been working at the homemaker/companion jobs for over six months, the agencies should be willing to hire you into HHA/CNA positions. Sorry to hear you are going through this, but you are not the only one. You just have to make certain that you are one of those who weathers the storm and does not give up. Good luck.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

So no place will hire you to work just Mondays and Saturdays? Mine probably would. What about PRN positions? Your 16-year-old son can't watch your other kid for an hour after school? Hmmm what else. If you could just work those 2 days for a while you might be able to get someone on 2nd shift who works those days to come in early for you on a regular basis. Some people need the money and wouldn't mind an extra couple hours a week. Oh and what about the Family Medical Leave Act? Have you looked into that?

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

By the way I sent you a PM although I'm not sure if you have to have a certain number of posts to get it.

[nursel56]

If your instructor told you that you could pick your own schedule in the sense of 3 hours here, 5 there, etc. within the parameters of normal facility shifts, whether 8 hr or 12 hr, then she did indeed mislead you.

It would be quite rare for this to happen, because staffing has to fill up the random holes in the schedule only an hour or two long, which is difficult to do. I was going to suggest hiring someone to cover that 1 hour your special needs child is home alone with your 16 yr old, too. I am also curious as to why your 16 yr old couldn't stay with your younger child for that period of time.

Best of luck-- you are not alone at your surprise and discouragement over the difference between what the schools tell them, and reality shock of the real world.