LTC wont' hire me!

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Ugh I am getting so jaded and I haven't even found a job yet, lol. I have my CNA in a different state and have applied for reciprocity here. I was told over the phone that I could apply for positions at LTC facilities as a CNA while awaiting reciprocity. So several interviews later I've been told that since I am awaiting reciprocity they can just hold my applicaiton till I get my in state certfication! At least they think I am hireable, lol.

So in the meantime there is a home health agency that is willing to hire me as a CNA. There is also an ALF that made me an offer as a caregiver (none of the SNFs use caregivers). So which would look better on my resume in the future once I have my CA reciprocity and can actually be hired by the facilities? Being an actual CNA through home health (does this count towards the six months of experience acute care and hospitals ask for)? Or being a 'caregiver' at a assisted living facility that might later hire me as a CNA, the particular facility has very few CNAs and mostly 'caregivers'.

Any advice or similar experiences is appreciated!

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When I had my cna it just took a piece of paper to switch states but I live on a border between two states. I was hired and the facility did all the paperwork for me. I work as a nurse in home health now and I find that the people my agency works for are more acute than the people living in alfs. You could always ask the companies how the acuity is of the populations you serve.

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I'm in CA and they want three forms and a $80 fingerprint/background check! Then it takes them up to three months to process the forms. I know they got the first one back from my original state since the DOH told me they sent it over but they have not acknowledged receiving it. I have plenty of time to wait and will be stoked to work as a CNA in three to four months from now!

I guess what I am really wondering is if working through a HHA is considered as time towards the six months to one year of CNA experience that the hospitals ask for? I would rather work with more acute patients then able bodied ones so I can utilize the skills that I do have. I worked with a HHA before I moved and it was with very able people and I was basically treated like a maid which I was kind of diappointed about!

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My hha I work for is all subacute pediatrics. They use nurses and cna's. Have you looked into hospice? Around here that goes for the 6months to a year too. I would ask both the hha and the assisted facility what is the acuity of patients/residents they care for. Then you know if you will have a situation like you had before.

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Specializes in ER, Med-surg.

Home Health Care is not considered acute care. When I am interviewed at hospitals and LTC facilities they look at me like I have 0 experience even though I've had some pretty difficult situations and have done staffing at nursing homes and hospitals. and I hear they treat you the same way if you've worked at an ALF, BUT an ALF is a single location with a more consistent schedule.

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I'm not actually sure what type of staffing the agency does. It is Interim Healthcare, I think it is the only agency in town so I assumed it is home health. I hope some of the staffing is at facilities! So does home health only count as experience if it is hospice care?

Thanks!

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So I had orientation with Interim today and it was really disapointing. They said they have no shifts for me but I am hired!?!? So basically I am still unemployed:( I'm getting so discouraged I think I'm going to start applying for regular jobs next week! Hopefully things will change!

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Specializes in ER, Med-surg.

I just interviewed at a health and rehab facility (I don't know if it's considered LTC, but it's the same type of work) and I got the job. The DON was pleased that I had staffing experience through my agency. It's nothing to get hired at an agency or though Home health. There have been weeks were I didn't work a single hour because they didn't have enough patients for the amount of CNA's and nobody needed any CNAs at the nearby facilities.

I would definitely keep applying. Even if you're only making $8.00/hour it's a consistent $8.00. Good luck to you. Keep your chin up, you'll find something.

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Thanks! All of the facilities are saying I have to wait for my CA reciprocity which might take three months! When I called and initially filled out the applications I was told it was okay and to go ahead and apply with my out of state certification. I guess that even though I am qualifed to apply according to the state; the facilities have policies against hiring me while I wait. I called the assisted living facility that offered me a position back and they all ready filled it. I guess I will keep applying for 'caregiver' jobs even though I'm a CNA. I hope I don't get booted off this forum since I'll just be working as a non certified caregiver;)

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Specializes in ER, Med-surg.

After you get your caregiver position you should also ask if you could move up to CNA in the facility after you get your licensure, that way you don't have to hop jobs.

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So the home health agency called me in today to assign me shifts. When I got there the lady told me they had weekends open and that was it! I specifically said I was only able to work on weekdays or a regularly scheduled well in advance weekend shift on occassion. They made me drive ten miles and wait a half hour to tell me they finally had an opening and it was for this Saturday and Sunday! They should have looked at my application that said I was avaliable week days or better yet mentioned on the phone they had weekend shifts only instead of telling me to come in to get an assignment. Okay sorry, it's been a rough week I just had to vent!

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Specializes in ER, Med-surg.

I've had that happen to me in both home health agencies I worked at. I specifically asked for time off on the weekends, and all I was offered was weekends. I took what I could get. Get you experience in home health and then move on as soon as possible. I got a job at a LTC facility and I didn't realize how many bad habits I picked up for doing home health. A lot of people also sign up with two agencies at a time so that they always have work.

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