NAR / Caregiver Job via Temp Agency

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Hi, I'm new here in this allnurses.com. :) I'm hoping to get some answers, insight and advice...

I'm currently an NAR and pending to take my NACES (CNA) exam this upcoming Friday 10/28. Well, just recently, I was quickly hired onto a medical staffing agency which happens to hire caregiver companions. I was surprised as my shifts that they are giving me are as short as .5 hr. (30 min) !! Which I was shocked. I'm earning $10/hr and sometimes the clients are 11 - 16 miles away and I get 22 mi/gal.

Anyways....is this common? Since this is a temp agency, I haven't really had the chance to meet any other caregivers / CNA's and talk to them about their experiences. This is my first time sort of shifting into the nursing / medical field. I've been an administrative assistant before and was earning close to $16/hr. This is quite the pay cut which I knew would happen but I'm just shocked that my work had sent me out for a half hour job that one day...

I need the experience per se for school as I plan to get into an LPN program but the job is not very cost effective.

What should I do?

My CNA instructor who is a RN, works at this same staffing agency but obviously as an RN so I figure this must be a good company to work for. Another RN I spoke to said that she had been with the same staffing agency for 5 years! I just can't survive on $10/hr working 2 hr shifts here and there. I worked about 3.5 hrs this past week.... Please send over some advice and or insight into this! Please and thank you!!! -Nurse Newbie:)

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I'll be honest. I do not promote home health care for CNA's because we do not get paid nearly enough to cover our expenses. On the contrast, I recommend finding a long term care facility near by. Hit the yellow pages and call around. I bet you will find something.

Oh, and welcome to Allnurses, We hope you become an active member and enjoy our community!

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Thank you for your insight into this. I will probably do this very short term until I'm done with my math class (pre-req for the LPN) and then look for employment at an assisted living facility or LTC.

Thank you!

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