Is it possible to get a job at a hospital as a new CNA?

[CUBritt08]

I just became a certified CNA in Colorado and I am curious as to whether or not hospitals are willing to hire newly certified CNA's. After looking at multiple job sites online I have found that many hospitals require 1 or more years as a CNA and the only places that are willing to hire new CNA's are nursing homes. I have nothing against nursing homes but I would really like to work in a hospital setting where I could get a bit more experience since I plan to go on to nursing school. Also, I'm not sure if this makes a difference, as far as experience in concerned, but I also have a bachelor's of science from the University of Colorado in Integrative Physiology and was a member of the Timmy Foundation which trains students in clinical triage and goes on a medical mission to South America every year where we worked with doctors and nurses and practiced what we learned throughout the year. Thank you in advance to anyone who has any information - I really appreciate any advice or feedback I can get :redpinkhe

[binzbee]

Yes, i was hired as a new CNA at a hospital, but I was fired 3 a few weeks into working there because I didn't catch on quick enough. They don't provide much training(3 days where I was) and I didn't get to do much at my CNA externship, so the workload that they expected me to be able to handle was way too much without any experience. If I could go back and do it I probably would have rather worked at a nursing home for a few months to get experience before trying to handle 9 patients on a telemetry unit at an understaffed hospital. I think theres a reason why a lot of hospitals don't hire new CNAs: because it's hard! But, of course this is just my experience at that particular hospital with those particular managers/preceptors, and you could have a very different experience. I would recommend mentioning all of your experience and your degree when applying because they might consider you because of that even though you don't have experience as a CNA. I think they have Banner hospitals in CO, and I know they hire new CNA's so you could try looking on their website for openings. I hope this helps a bit - Good luck!

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

Agree with the above. It's important to have strong CNA skills already in place when you start on an acute care unit. Aside from your two or three days of orientation, nobody has time to train you beyond that. The other CNAs are busy, and the nurses are busy. You need to be able to hit the floor running and do what you need to do without a lot of supervision.

Also, nothing beats a nursing home for gaining CNA experience. Nursing home residents need good care too, and you will be exposed to a lot of people with chronic progressive problems while also getting your feet wet as a CNA.

[CUBritt08]

Thank you both very much for your input- I did decide to apply to a few nursing homes but I also applied to a few CNA jobs at hospitals that are not acute-care. Most of them were in Med-surg and the hiring managers said that if I am hired they take their new CNA's through a week long training/orientation program. I really appreciate the great advice!

[jakeb]

I got my first job as a CNA just about one year ago at the University of Utah. I had a week of class orientation and about 4 weeks of preceptor training on the unit. It helped immensely. I now know so much and it has really put me ahead of the competition in Nursing school!! Apply, apply, apply. And personally drop your resume by. It will impress. :)

[winterallsummer]

Did you take CNA classes before becoming certified?

[CUBritt08]

Yes, I took a 6 week course through Front Range- I am fairly certain that in Colorado you have to go through a Nursing assistant training course before you are even allowed to take the state test to become certified.