landing an ICU job

[cd365c]

I am curious about what are some great strategies to land a competitive CNA job. I am a nursing student for the next three years, and I would love to start working in the cardiac ICU at my local hospital. But as anyone knows, these jobs are very competitive.

I thought it may be a good idea to go and visit the floor. Then, I would introduce myself to the manager and tell them that I am interested in a position on their floor as a CNA. But, both my mom and my sister proceeded to tell me that it is a bad idea. What do you all think? It is near impossible to get in contact with the HR at this hospital (they only call you when there interested).

What other strategies put you in a good possibility of landing the position? Anything that I can do to get there, I will try to do!

[funtimes]

In some ways the less acute the setting the more responsibility a tech might have, as you will have fewer RNs helping out so the techs become more important. This is why I have often felt CNA LTC experience is in some ways more valuable than hospital tech experience if you are going on to Nursing because it teaches responsibility better than working in a hospital. When I worked in LTC it was up to me to figure out how to get everybody washed up, dressed, fed, toileted, cleaned up, respositioned, and ready for bed, and to recognize and report it if something wasn't right. In LTC if the CNA doesn't do it, it doesn't get done. The RNs aren't really going to pick up the slack, you barely saw them, and other CNAs have their own people to take care of.

In a hospital, especially in the ICU, the techs are in more of a supportive role.