how does a newly certified nursing asisstant find a job?

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hello i am very frustrated cna. i chose to become a cna because i needde the chance to make some money while i continue my education and become a rn. also, i thought it would help me be a better rn, because i would have the experience of working with patients.anyway i started school in january for cna and pct and i finished in june recieved my certification for cna in july.now when i look for jobs it seems everwhere that i look they want someone with 6 months a year or more experience. its truly frustrating because how can i get experience if i dont get the opportunity to work and get it!!!!!:mad:

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hello i am very frustrated cna. i chose to become a cna because i needde the chance to make some money while i continue my education and become a rn. also, i thought it would help me be a better rn, because i would have the experience of working with patients.anyway i started school in january for cna and pct and i finished in june recieved my certification for cna in july.now when i look for jobs it seems everwhere that i look they want someone with 6 months a year or more experience. its truly frustrating because how can i get experience if i dont get the opportunity to work and get it!!!!!:mad:

Networking can be a huge help. Are you in contact with other students? Will your instructor help you or be a reference? Have you considered home care? Do you have any relatable work experience, such as customer service or jobs that required you to deal with the public? Have you spoken to your school, they may offer resources. Unemployment may have services to assist you in finding a job. Sometimes the county offers these services.

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Sometimes, even if they say they want more experience, apply anyway. If they really need help they might give you a chance. It can help to talk to HR or the DoN in person, as well. If you make a good impression, they may hire you. Nursing homes tend to hire new aides more often than hospitals. When you don't have experience, you can't really be picky, so go ahead and apply everywhere. You'll find something, just be patient and persistent.

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I can't believe this is happening. I don't want to belittle our profession, but we are at the bottom of the nursing ladder. Our job is physically demanding, but it's not as highly critical thinking as RN's. It's not like we are too dump to understand basic training. I don't understand why no facility wants to hire us.

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Well, a lot of the problem is that jobs of all kinds are in short supply these days. The economy sucks, so more people are becoming CNAs in hopes of being able to find employment. More people fighting over the same number or fewer jobs leads to facilities preferring those with experience.

No matter what your career is, it can be hard to find a job. It's not specific to aides, trust me. I have two family members who have been unemployed for well over a year.

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My facility recently had bad experiences with several brand new aides - they hired 3 aides fresh out of their CNA class, and by bad luck, not one of the three had what it takes to cut it as an aide. Most new employees at my facility get two weeks of training - these trained for over a month and then STILL complained when they got put on their own, two walked out, and one persisted in pretending she didn't know how to change a brief by herself on a small resident after a month of clinicals and a month of training.

Now, my DON says she is going to be reluctant to hire new aides. It's unfortunate how hard it can be to get that first experience, but these are the kind of people who ruin it for the rest of us.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Make sure you cover letter and resume are up to snuff, if you don't have any connections, that is what is going to get you noticed. Then apply everywhere! I was a bit picky and only applied to hospitals, but this job doesn't support my family, so I could be a little more picky in my applying. Even so, I applied to jobs everyday, checked the job websites every day. At least with the big hospitals and healthcare systems, if you are not one of the first 20 applicants, you won't even be looked at. If it allows you to apply to a job more than once, do it. Apply to lots of jobs at the same facilities so they keep seeing your name come up. I used my CNA class instructor and my clinical instructor as references as well. I had no connections in the the hospital job I just landed, and the two places I did have an inside connection I never heard from, I am sure it usually helps, but it's not the end all be all. What I have gathered from other posters, is that a lot of nursing homes you can go apply in person and a lot seem to have had on the spot interviews going this route (so dress nice). Good luck, it will happen just might take some time!

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My facility recently had bad experiences with several brand new aides - they hired 3 aides fresh out of their CNA class, and by bad luck, not one of the three had what it takes to cut it as an aide. Most new employees at my facility get two weeks of training - these trained for over a month and then STILL complained when they got put on their own, two walked out, and one persisted in pretending she didn't know how to change a brief by herself on a small resident after a month of clinicals and a month of training.

Now, my DON says she is going to be reluctant to hire new aides. It's unfortunate how hard it can be to get that first experience, but these are the kind of people who ruin it for the rest of us.

Are you saying that the problem with brand new CNA is that they tend to quit afer a period of training and the one that stays is reluctant to work? Then all the money is wasted.

If that is the case, I'm sure that the facility that hires won't have to worry about me. I'm not too slow, but it may takes a while for me to process the information. I'm not born American; I'm an immigrant, so I can't be picky nor do I want to be picky. The question is will that facility or nursing home is willing to take risk to invest in me before they can have what I can offer them?

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That is just one of many reasons some places don't like to hire new aides, that's all.

But many nursing homes will hire new aides, just keep trying!

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thank you to all who replied to my post im not going to quit im going to take your advice and start in the nursing homes then volunteer in phlebotomy to keep and sharpen my skills and go from there. tell me what yall think.

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Specializes in CNA II/Telemetry Technician.

I have worked in LTC for 6 months and relocated to Florida. I'm having a hard time finding a job anywhere.

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I'm also worried about finding a CNA job after I get my certification. I've applied to over a dozen caretaker jobs (without certification) and haven't had any luck. I'm thinking of getting my CNA license so I'll have a better chance, but I know a couple of people who did the certification and can't find a job..so I'm kind of worried. But, just keep looking I'm sure someone will hire you.

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