New Grad RN no job thinking of being a CNA

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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So I graduated last May and I'm a licensed New Grad RN. I am having sooo much trouble finding a job here in California. When I moved I let my CNA II cert expire and now I'm wishing I would have held on to it. How do I go about getting my CNA license if I'm a RN? Do I have to take the test and all over again?

TIA

Have you tried home health agency,sometimes they are willing to hire new nurses especially those fluent in another language.

Yes I have and they want experience in the places I have went too also I'm not fluent in another language.

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I am not sure, but you might want to check with BON in your state. I am not sure that you can work as a CNA when you are an RN. Once I got my LPN, my CNA was null and void. But this varies from state to state.

Keep your head up and try to remain positive. I know its tough, but you will get a job. :redpinkhe

Thank you for the encouragement

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California is rough. The pay is high so, many nurses from all over flock to California for RN jobs. However, it is also going to have one of the most severe shortages in the near future. Alot of the state schools have been closing or reducing class sizes.

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Yes I have and they want experience in the places I have went too also I'm not fluent in another language.

Sorry to hear that.I graduated on May 2009 and couldnt find a job for the life of me.I was unemployed for many long moths.Recently my mom's friend suggested for me to try out this certain home health agency,they also asked if I'm fluent in any other language and luckily I am so it worked out well for me.But I feel your pain,I'm still looking for a hospital job,and also I will be doing flu shots for a flue clinic and pray a lot for the job market to open up for an unexperienced nurses such as ourselves.

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I am also a new graduate but I am an LPN. I live in New Jersey and I wish they told me while I was paying out of pockect to go to nursing school it would be this hard finding a job. I graduaed last July and I decided to go back to college to get my RN because I was having such a hard time with finding a job.

I was so stressed of hearing the same thing. You have no experience. Like are u serious. I am a new grad Hello! How can you get experience if no one will give you a shot! I just finally decided to relax and pray and so many doors have finally opened up for me. I just received a job as a med asst/caregiver. I also was hired on the spot at a LTC facility and I lso have an interview tomorrow.

My advice is just relax and keep on trying, someone will give you a chance. Definitely try places with a high turn around it may not be the best but it is a chance to get experience until you can find something better.

Best of luck 2 you! Trust me I feel your pain 100%

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I honestly don't know what to say to new grads anymore, the situation is that dynamic. I have seen a new grad snapped up by my manager, because she had been with us both as a terrific student; who worked full time as a CNA during her summers. We all knew how great she was, and did not want anyone else to get her! We were her second choice, but she was put on hold by her first; and we snatched her up! She will be a terrific asset to our floor!

Then there are the myriad marginal students we have seen pass through our unit; you know, the ones we just shake our heads at when we hear they are graduating in 2 months.

Some hospitals like to hire new grads regardless of experience because they cost less, as in ICU; they figure they can be a "staff nurse" in 6 months because they have had "training"; some hospitals won't hire them at all because they cost more in orientation. It is a very weird puzzle, and the picture is more complicated by people applying to nursing schools who look at it as a "fallback position" who really have no interest in nursing at all except as a means to a decent salary.

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You can't work as a CNA with RN license.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.
Yes I have and they want experience in the places I have went too also I'm not fluent in another language.

:hug:

I was just about to suggest relocating. I've heard how rough it is in CA...smh

Have you thought about applying for a position w/in the military hospital? Check out the teaching hospitals.

The military takes care of its own, so...I'm sure that they give preference to military wives.

When I was a student, my preceptors were all civilians.

At my last duty station...the civilians in my dept were all SPOUSES.

Have you gone to the Family Support Center? Every base should have one.

Also, have your husband go to his first shirt (if Air Force) or his First Sgt (if Army and Marine, I think) or the equiv if he's Navy.

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Specializes in Emergency Room.
What I'd like to know is how everyone was broadsided by this. You would think having their finger on the pulse of the job market is something intrinsic to nursing school administration/faculties. People who attribute all of it to cyclic downturns in the economy-- well I'm sorry but you're wrong.

In my eyes, this is a disaster, but maybe that's 'cause I'm biased and read about nurses mostly.

I agree, I spoke to RN students going through clinicals at my job and they were totally clueless about what was occurring with new grads not finding work, their clinical instructors and teaching staff were telling them anything... Graduated 09 still waiting for my first job..... What is stupid is that they will not even hire RN's to work in CNA positions if you do not have a CNA or tech certificate... Same with Medical Assisting positions.... I am not about to spend more money, more time on a less level of education when I have been trained and qualified to work in a much higher level of responsibility....

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

It will get better, but how much and when remains to be seen. Sorry you are going through this, though. One of the most attractive things to me about nursing was the fact that it was in demand. If I followed my true heart's desire, I probably would have gone for a degree in Fine Arts, or even history, but I didn't want something that you were in a pool of hundreds of applicants per job, and were at risk of lay-off in a recession. My tendency to be risk-averse with my main source of income won over my creative side.

Even though it's sort of trite to say, it is true that though the statistics look bad, it doesn't mean that any individual new grad is doomed to unemployment. I guess maybe it means nurses need to adopt some of the more creative job hunting strategies other fields have been using all along.

As to whether an RN can work as a CNA or an LPN or not, I see many blanket answer responses that are incorrect. Check with your individual state's BON to guide your actions in that regard.

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You can apply to an unlicense position. Once you became an RN it cancels/voids the other certificates, or license.s

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Specializes in Neurosurgery.
It makes me so sad to hear this but I know all too well the reality of it. The thought of having to take steps back after all the hardwork we devoted to becoming an RN makes me sick!! I am in the same boat as you, I just graduated in May and has been an LPN for 14 yrs and am having so much trouble also finding a job. Either they dont call you back or reject you or tell you that you need experience..uggh, hello I guess my 14 yrs as an LPN are useless!! I'm sorry..I'm venting but it is so frustrating!! :yawn:

Dear Cmmny:

If you have been working as an LPN in a hospital, please visit your Nurse Recruitment office because you may quality as an internal candidate for an interview.

Apply to your hospital RN-New Grad program and hopefully you land a position. Take care and Good Luck.

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