Not using CNA Cert after getting it?

[windmill182]

I am getting my CNA Cert in two weeks. Im doing this for the experience as it is not needed for my nursing program. Now if I pass I will be certified in October. However, I already have a job that pays well and works with my school schedule. So I wont be looking for work as a CNA until its gets closer to starting my nursing program which could be months after I am certified. Will this make it harder to find work you think? Since I'll be getting my CNA months before I plan on using it? I really have no choice though. This is the only time period to get it that works with my schedule. :wink2:

[BreatheFree]

I think it will. It can be tough finding a job as a new CNA and I think it would be even harder finding one when you haven't worked as one and finished class months ago. That's just my opinion. Good luck!

[windmill182]

See thats what I thought too, but who knows. Maybe it would be smart to at least work as one a day or two a week? Is that even possible?

[BreatheFree]

I currently work per diem on the weekends. I am only required to work one weekend a month (Saturday and Sunday).

[ShantheRN, BSN, RN]

I started my first CNA job almost 5 months after getting certified. Granted, it took me nearly that long to find a place willing to take a newbie. It's possible, but you need to remind yourself to be patient :)

edits to add: I only searched for hospital jobs, because I didn't want to work in a nursing home. LTCs would be more likely to hire new CNAs.

[iwillbnrn1day]

i think it will use it. It took me like 3 months to find a job in Ohio.

[kitte22]

i think it will be harder to find a job, i have been a cna for a while, where i live you can work without a certificate for 6 months so i had a cna job before i even had my cert (granted this was 4 yrs ago). not sure when your nursing program starts, at my school it started in august and the cna stuff was in the first semester, if this is true with your school and you are getting ready to start i would work part time or per diem as a cna most places work very well with school schedules. it's a great advantage to be a cna before you go farther into nursing! it helped me a ton!