Male CNA seeking advice from a nurse

[manch]

I have a question I'm hoping somebody can answer. I'm male who has recently been certified as a CNA. Since the certification, I've struggled to find a decent CNA job. I pursued opportunities in home health care, but have been rejected because I have no experience. I was hired on the spot for non-medical home care, but I left because I wasn't receiving any relevant experience. As a last resort, I accepted a CNA position at a nursing home. I resigned there because the work situation was out of control, absurd, and intolerable. I haven't applied at a hospital because they do not accept inexperienced candidates.

I'm willing to do some dirty work to get nursing experience. However, there must be a better way than working in a nursing home. In my opinion, the CNA job market is paradoxical: opportunities abound, yet very few real options are available (unless you get nursing home experience).

I'm reconsidering nursing as a career choice because of this obstacle. I was wondering if I would encounter the same obstacle after completing my LPN/RN education at a technical college. My fear is that without experience, I would have a difficult time finding a nurse position.

Feel free to be honest and candid in your answer.

Much appreciated.

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

Please don't give up!!!! Try other places such as rehab hospitals. I have known them to hire newly trained people . Although you did not have good luck at the first nursing home you worked at , you could try another. There is always some drama and issues anywhere you work but geriatrics is such a rewarding area. After you get some experience you should have no trouble moving into the hospital. Good luck......

[stacyk556789]

Went through same thing... pretty much... Apply to hospitals. Tell them you are starting nursing program... like next semester. They'd love to keep you, hoping you'll stay after school. Good luck. Remember, it takes a couple months until hospitals respond to your application. (it's just my personal experience)

[will7678]

You will have no trouble finding a job once you get your RN degree. I am in my last semester (yeah!!!!!!!!!!!) and accepted a job offer back in September for an ICU position. Also like the previous poster said most hospitals would love a CNA that is going to nursing school (especially RN) because they hope that they will stay on at the hospital when they graduate. Plus many will help you pay your way through school. Also I recieved my job offer and work in management at a call center. So currently you have more health care experience than me.

[lauralassie]

I have a god child who is also in nursing school. She is also having a difficult time getting an aid job. I remember back in the 70's it was also tuff. It's not new. Just hang in there, can't speak for the future but I'm fairly well assured that there will be no difficulty getting a job as a nurse. Hang in there , it seems like you're doing something you like, don't let the obsticals hold you back. You'll find them in almost every profession.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I'm reconsidering nursing as a career choice because of this obstacle. I was wondering if I would encounter the same obstacle after completing my LPN/RN education at a technical college. My fear is that without experience, I would have a difficult time finding a nurse position.Feel free to be honest and candid in your answer. Much appreciated.

*** If your goal is to be an RN then why are you trying to work as a CNA instead of going to nursing school? Personally I don't really see how CNA experience is very helpful for an RN. I say that if you just have to work as a CNA better suck it up and work in a nursing home for a while. If what you really want is to be an RN go to nursing school.

As far as jobs after you are a nurse, opportunities are limited for LPNs with many openings being in nursing homes. Once you get your RN the world will open up for you. Get yourself into a nurse residency program at a hospital.

[manch]

I've actually been waitlisted for an LPN/RN program (for a long time now). Else I would be an LPN by now. From what I've seen, working in a nursing home isn't nearly as bad if you are an LPN or RN.

[hlfpnt, BSN, RN]

Most hospitals offer training espicially for new grad nurses...finding a job (of course, I can only speak for what I know in my area), fresh out of nursing school is pretty easy. Most places like new grads because they are fresh for training & don't bring any previously learned "bad habits" with them. If it's what you really want, why not go for the nursing? Sometimes facilities will hire you in a "tech" position after your first semester of fundamentals. You never know til you try! Good luck in whatever you choose.

[Scrubbs]

Manch,

I am a male RN that started out as a EMT/Paramedic. I also spent my time in the trenches at times as an clinical assistant (same as CNA). One option you might want to look into is an EMT program. It will give you a leg up in experience as well as round out your image in the interview process. I know it requires more work (probably six months), but in the long run I found that the time spent was well worth it. I did some time in nursing homes over the years, so I can appreciate your frustration.

[SteveNNP, MSN, NP]

What he said......

I would also recommend the EMT route or just wait until you finish your nusing fundamentals course, after which you can usually get a nurse tech or nurse extern job in a hospital setting. Maybe an assisted living facility or something like that would work for you for a while!

Stephen

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Most people have to 'pay dues', so to speak, so, you may have to buckle down and work in a nursing home for a minute to gain experience. It is hard for me to answer if nurses have the same experience while searching for jobs. I am received my LPN recently and had three jobs waiting for me since I received my license, and they all knew that I have no experience. The disadvantage I have is that I don't have much to lean on regarding experience, so, I have to do a great deal of reading. But, they took me. My job sponsored my education to become an LPN, so, they HAD to hire me. I work for two agencies, one with a pediatric trach patient (private duty at the home) and another with a nurse that occasionally sends us to army bases to draw blood and give vaccinations to the soliders before they are deported. It may be because they are desperate for nurses...there is a shortage of bedside nurses.

Would you consider doing volunteer work? That may be a great way to obtain experience. Also, if you choose to do volunteer work where you would like to be hired, you get a chance to see how things are, and the employer is already becoming more familiarized with you.

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

I'm not a nurse but am in nursing school. I got a job as a CNA and HATED it, I felt that I learned nothing (I got the job because I thought it would be really helpful for school when actually it didn't help at all in the least...and I did work in a hospital). So I resigned, it just wasn't worth my time. Like I said I only got the job not for the money but for experience and I just wasn't getting anything out of it.

Now I work as a nurse tech which is a different experience (blood draws, IVs, Foleys, etc under supervision). I work in the ER and LOVE my job now.

CNA work has nothing at all to do with nursing work and the nurses are too busy to really work or show me anything, and I was even busier running from room to room answering call lights and stuff.

I think CNAs ROCK! It is a HARD job that not everyone want to do.

[a1gm]

Wow, I'm a older male just getting started in a CNA training program. I have been taking care of 88yo father-in-law at home during the day while wife works. Decided to consider doing CNA for added income.

Manch's comments are not the sunny-side of things for sure. I wondered why there are so many jobs in the paper for CNA's and yet I have met many that say they are or used to be a CNA. At least I know what to expect now I guess.