Working as a Per Diem CNA to get experience?

U.S.A. Maryland

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Hello fellow Marylanders. I am interested in going back to school for nursing (already have a bachelors degree). I would love to work as a CNA to get some experience, but I don't want to give up my full time job (I need to pay the bills and eventually pay for nursing school) just yet. Do you know if it would be feasible as a newly licensed CNA to get hired per diem anywhere? And would you suggest a hospital or a long term care facility (or maybe some other location I haven't thought of yet!). Thank you.

Hello fellow Marylanders. I am interested in going back to school for nursing (already have a bachelors degree). I would love to work as a CNA to get some experience, but I don't want to give up my full time job (I need to pay the bills and eventually pay for nursing school) just yet. Do you know if it would be feasible as a newly licensed CNA to get hired per diem anywhere? And would you suggest a hospital or a long term care facility (or maybe some other location I haven't thought of yet!). Thank you.

I'm currently searching for jobs and going for interviews right now, so I can give you some insight. They are not that many per diem cna jobs , those that are available require experience. Even getting a part time/ full time cna job is going to be hard because the employers knows you are not going to be there for long as a nursing student. I would highly suggest a nursing student job after your first semester of nursing school because that job is usually per diem.

If your regular job is one of those M-F jobs, I'm sure you can get a part-time job on the weekend. Just tell them when you want to work and see if they will work with your schedule.

I am a CNA and in the second year of my BSN. My first job as a CNA was actually as a home health aid, through an agency. Later I found another agency and interviewed well with them and they were willing to place me at a hospital with very little clinical experience. I do believe my BSN clinical experience helped a lot, as well as I'm am articulate, well presented person. So far I've had nothing but great experiences and am working over 40 hours a week while on summer break. I told the agency that I'll only be available on weekend one my semester begins and they are cool with that. So, based on my experience it is possible and I highly recommend it. My current CNA work has strongly validated my choice in pursuing nursing.

Thank you for the responses everyone!

I got my CNA on June 15th and applied on the 16th and was hired on the 18th at a assisted living in columbia. I don't have any experience apart from 1 semester of BSN down. Many of the people hired with me were PRN. PRN at my facility is every other weekend or you can pick up shifts as you'd like

Job is not bad at all since its assisted living. Just help residents get dressed, feed some of them, and the occasional diaper change. Lots of folks are students and here to learn.

Specializes in L&D, Mother/Baby.
Later I found another agency and interviewed well with them and they were willing to place me at a hospital with very little clinical experience.

Do you mind sharing the agency name and know if they hire RNs? I'm looking for per diem work now...

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