Need some advice for a CNA

vampiregirl, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2006

Good luck on your interview! Don't let it discourage you because you don't have any hospital experience. I'm sure that some things will be different, but I think that you'll find that somethings are the same everywhere you go. As for the nurses, most of the time if a CNA is a hard worker, willing to learn, respectfull to the nurses and other coworkers, and takes great care of their patient's, there's usually not a problem. Also, starting out as a CNA is great first step for nursing. That's what I did and I'm currently working on my nursing degree. Many of the best nurses that I've worked with have told me that they too started out as CNA's. I hope this answers some of your questions.

RN and Mommy · Apr 3, 2006

When I started working at my job at the hospital as a CNA 4 years ago I had never worked in a hospital before and I applied and had my first interview on Tuesday, second interview on Wednesday, and was hired on Thursday. They didn't look down on me because I had no hospital experience (I only had a year as a Med Aide at an Assisted Living facility). No, they don't expect you to know everything. Surely there is a training period. At my job it is 9 12-hour shifts for new CNA's. You learn a lot and the nurses are not mean by any means. They should understand that you are new. Just seek out direction from them if you are unsure about what to do and NEVER do anything you are unsure about how to perform. If you need help ask. Working as a CNA can be a very back-breaking job and you must ask for help and usually people are willing to help you. I think being a CNA and watching RN's work will definently tell you if you want to be a nurse or not! Good Luck!

tookewlandy · Apr 3, 2006

I hope I am putting this question in the right forum? I have an interview tomorrow for a local hospital as a CNA, and I am so worried because I have no experience in the hospital. Will they look down at that? Are the Nurses going to be mean to me or are they helpful? Will they expect me to know every thing? I am going for Nursing, but you all know about the waiting game. I also wanted to know if me starting out as a CNA will discourage my choice to become a Nurse. Any advice would be nice
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Just go there do your job and stay out of drama. I know one of the BIG things besides all the skills that we learned in my CNA class was to not get involved in drama with other co workers and as far as the nurses Just do the best you can take care of your patients, Sometimes nurses do go on a power trip meaning they like the fact that they are your supervisor and that gives them some power( not just nurses any job has people like that) and they will talk down to you, Just bite your tongue and do your job...Then come on allnurses and vent to all of us hehehe good luck

starnik14 · Apr 4, 2006

I just wanted to say thank you to you all that replied to my post. The interview went great! I just have to go take a health assement and Nursing assistant test and that will determine my eligibility for the job. Any advice for the test that they give? I hope it is just basic skills that I learned in my CNA classes???? I also will be working on the pulmonary unit first shift, any advice for that? I could choose that unit or hip replacement unit. Any difference as to which one I would do better at? Again thanks to all who applied, you guys really helped me build confidence for my 2 interviews. I just went in there and tried my best.