New CNA with questions.

sum07 · Aug 31, 2007

Hello,
So I just passed my state certification exam, and I currently am interviewing with an assisted living place in the chicago suburbs, very close to where I live. However, I am trying to figure out if I should take the job part time or full time. Right now I am applying to medical school, filling out pesky secondary applications which means writing outrageous amounts and plain outrageous essays. Its hard to stay motivated to write all these essays ugh, I digress In any case I really want to work in a hospital, because I ultimately picture myself working in a hospital once I get my MD (crosses fingers). However, I know that I probably need some experience to get my foot in the door because my bachelors in biology counts for crap sadly enough. I'm wondering if I should take a phlebotomy course and then reapply for more hospital jobs or if I should just work a couple months as a CNA at this assisted living place and then apply for hospital jobs? The whole reason I'm not working in a laboratory with my degree is because I want to make an outstanding physician with more than just the brains, I want to have heart and some real experience. I also want to be able to have the respect for nurses that comes from sort of being where they have been. Its just that I cannot seem to find a way to work in a hospital at all, so what can I do to get an interview? If all goes as planned then I will only be off for this year, so the clock is ticking. What should I do?

I have a friend who got accepted to OHSU and another who got an interview at the U of WA. The one that got accepted to OHSU majored in Spanish and did a spring break thing where he went into rural WA and observed the clinics. My other friend who got the interview had a BS in Bio and worked as a student in a Biochemistry lab. The Univ of WA likes students who have worked in labs.

Now I'm not sure if either of them did extracurricular medicine-related activities, but I do know that both of them were multi-cultural. Now no one knows what schools look for in applications to make them decide to give an interview - each school differs. But if I were you, I would work part-time and spend the rest of your time shadowing doctors or from various disciplines - make sure it's a profession you really want to get into. Also, try to get a recommendation from one if you don't have on already.

casi, ASN, RN · Sep 1, 2007

If you don't need to work full-time don't work full-time. Once you get into med school life will be insanely crazy, so it's best to take is slow now. I honestly would take the assisted living job and take extra course-work. It may not be a bad idea to find someplace to mention in your application that you are currently appying to medical school. I know I got a hospital CNA job with the two magic words "Nursing Student."

ShyGecko · Sep 1, 2007

During our CNA class a lady from the college came to talk to us about their other programs, and she said that a LOT of premed students sign up for the phlebotomy class to get their foot in the door at a hospital. That would probably be a good route, unless you can use your CNA to get in. Did you get any Acute Care training in your class?

SemiCharmedShoe · Sep 1, 2007

During our CNA class a lady from the college came to talk to us about their other programs, and she said that a LOT of premed students sign up for the phlebotomy class to get their foot in the door at a hospital. That would probably be a good route, unless you can use your CNA to get in. Did you get any Acute Care training in your class?

I've been reading a lot of posts and I have to say Illinois is not the same. My certification exam was a very simple multiple choice exam. No I didn't get any acute care in my class it was very basic. In any case, I am thinking I might want to get phlebotomy training, but I don't have time to get it from one of the very accredited places because they are 2 semesters (yikes). Like I said, I am hoping to start med school next fall of 08. My other problem is I need to save up my money for school, so I know that around here hospitals pay better than LTC and I want to earn and learn as much as possible. I'm thinking I should just take this assisted living job for right now. She has morning shifts available and night shifts. I am pretty good with staying up till all hours, so I'm thinking I should take the night shift. I'm sorta miffed as to how many hours I should ask for though. I need at least 20 to qualify for health insurance. Now that I'm not a full time student, my mom is about to kill me for not having health insurance. Thanks and any insight into how many hours I should work would be really appreciated. I don't want to burn myself out, and I've never worked the night shift or done anything like this before. I worked in a laboratory on fibroid research for two years during undergrad so this is very different to say the least. I'm not gonna lie I am pretty scared right now, between not being at college anymore, applying to med school, and getting my first real job in a completely new field.... :uhoh3:

ShyGecko · Sep 1, 2007

Ahh okay, see our school is the only in the region that offers acute care training in addition to LTC training, so I thought I'd ask. We actually did our clinicals in a hospital, which is where I applied at today and will hopefully get the job on the same floor I did clinicals on. My suggestion, then, would be to take the phlebotomy course, but 2 semesters is an awful LONG time. It's only one month here, but M-Th. I'm not sure what to do, then. Can you maybe work in LTC for 6 months, then apply at a hospital and work there for 6 months to get the experience and better pay before starting med school?

As for how many hours to work, that really depends on how much your body can handle. Can you handle working three 12 hour shifts, and having 4 days off to recoup and do whatever else you need to do? That might be a better way to do it, rather than 5 8hour days...if that is even possible where you are applying. Three days on, four off would give you the time to rest and get your essays done, but still give you the close to full time hours and pay that you need.

anglenurse2b · Sep 3, 2007

Hi, just a little side note, I work now in a hospital as a CNA/TECH and this is full time. I also attend college and I am now on my last class and have applied for nursing clinicals, which I will know about sometime next month (Oct) if I got in. There is nothing wrong with working in the field in which you are going into, really it is a blessing that I chose to do so because it has helped me so very much along the way. I met a gentle-man that was head of a few different departments and he knew that I was wanting to become a nurse so he sent me to classes to become a unit secretary, IV tech, etc. you never know who you may run into that will help you along the way so never give up on a job. Take the job in the nursing home and still apply at the hospital, say a prayer and leave it alone, the rest wil be taken care of. Hope this helps some.

Anglenurse

Irene joy · Sep 5, 2007

That's what I'm doing when my class is over in nov. I will apply at all the hospitals but also apply at a couple ltc places. I think it really does depend on how badly the hopitals need people at the time that you're applying. Good luck!

ari3sdog · Sep 12, 2007

Get much education as you can. Grab the opportunity whenever you can. If you like it slow, its ok too. But remember, this is not a race.

Word of advice "It's better to be here, now than later" "It's better to learn as you progress rather than learning but not progressing"