Nurses-How to be a blessing as a CNA?

MurrR · Apr 9, 2011

Not a nurse, but I am a CNA..

At my last interview they flat-out asked me why they should hire me at one point. I said, "Because it'd be a mistake not to. I'm hard working, I want to become one of your best employees, and I want this job."

This was an appropriate response given the way the rest of my interview had gone. I had already proven I was more than qualified, had some experience, then it was just about being up front with the facts: I am an awesome employee, and even if I'm not perfect, and even if I need help, I'm worth the investment because I give it back tenfold in job performance.

Selling yourself is a lot easier when you're confident in your skills and your judgement - trust that you are good at this job, and you won't have any trouble letting them know that in whatever way suits your personality and the interviewer best.

Nursing school a year from now? I don't think they need to know. Say that you intend to become a nurse in the future, or if you want to be even more vague-but-corporate say that you have plans for "professional advancement in your current field." :lol: :) To some employers, it might be a downside that your attention will be divided in the future - don't let them think about it. Let them have the year to see what a great employee you are and then when you go back to school, they'll be happy to hang onto you.

Bbo.W · Apr 9, 2011

Thank you so much MurrR! I appreciate your encouragement!

Bbo.W · Apr 9, 2011

Also, I would like to get certification in phlebotomy, EKG, and as a Medication Aide. Which would be more helpful in LTC? Should I just express my interest in both and ask my interviewer which certification would be more helpful to *them* ? Do LTCF offer reimbursement for those types of classes? I ask because the Phlebotomy/EKG class is $850 and the Medication Aide class is $1500. I don't expect to be able to afford those classes on a CNA's pay!

Thanks again,

Beth

MurrR · Apr 9, 2011

Medication Aide, definitely. In LTC of any kind med pass is gonna be a primary duty on any shift for the person responsible for it.

felineRN · Apr 9, 2011

(1): I hate to start off rather blunt, but here goes: Don't call in sick repeatedly. Do not fear bodily fluids. Have integrity, if you couldn't turn Mrs. Smith, be honest about it (on that same note, if we ask something of you that you can't complete or aren't sure of, tell us!. Recognize that the nurses aren't just hanging out browsing google in the nurse's station, we're doing the ridiculous amount of documentation required of us. Be thorough and don't half a$$. Have a pleasant attitude and realize we are all a part of a team for the betterment of residents/patients.

(2): I think focusing on traits of integrity, reliability, and a willingness to learn will help you in an interview. The reality is that CNA turnover is high. It's a rough line of work, they need someone who they can rely on who has a backbone and can pick up on things quickly. They might ask you questions in regards to said traits (integrity etc...) and how you exhibited them in previous jobs. I was personally asked clinical questions in my interview a few years ago. Things such as ambulation techniques, dressing/feeding a stroke pt etc...

(3: ) I would be hesitant about mentioning nursing school in your interview unless it would greatly alter work schedules in the immediate future. You have to sort of read your employer. Are they hiring CNAs because they lack sheer numbers? or are they hiring because they want competent caregivers? If you are asked directly, I'd tell them. However, you might make mention that you plan on furthering your clinical knowledge/education and leave it at that.

Good Luck! It's a rough job, but remember, it will really help you as an RN down the road!

Le-Lee_FNP, MSN, RN, NP · Apr 9, 2011

see response below

Le-Lee_FNP, MSN, RN, NP · Apr 9, 2011

it sounds like you are a very positive and spiritual person. the fact that you are even asking how to be a blessing says a lot about your character. I am sure that you already are and will be a blessing to your residents and co workers by just being you. Go to the interview and just be very honest about your passion for superior patient care. Managers love that! Being a CNA is a tough job and takes a lot of compassion, but there is definately a need for good ones! I have met so many that hate their jobs and do just enough to get by. It is the same with nurses. It doesn't sound like that will be you. You will definately find that being a CNA will be helpful because you will learn a lot from watching the nurses you work with. Some things you learn might not be the most pleasant things and it will be an eye opener to the nursing profession. Never the less I have no doubt that you will be able to handle it. Good luck and post back to let us know how the interview went!

nursing6207 · Apr 9, 2011

I agree with FelineRN, a lot of times CNA's think we are sitting around doing nothing but in reality, we are required to do soooo much charting and paperwork. We have a lot of great CNA's on our floor, and we have a lot of complainers. Somehow, at 12 midnight when they are complaining they haven't charted a single vital sign, they r still out the door on time every morning.

Be proactive. When there's downtime, look for things to do to make the floor an overall better place to work. Granted, don't do this all the time bc downtime can be a good thing mentally for us all sometimes :) It's a very exhausting profession. But, to pass the time, I'm sure the VS machines could be sanitized or a sharps container could be changed. I work as CN a lot and I always look for things like this to do bc I feel like if I help the flow of the floor then everyone ends up less stressed in the end.

Learn to prioritize your care. This is somethiing they don't teach you but you can learn with time. For example, we have a lot of NA's that will say "I can't take that person to the bathroom because I am taking this one, or feeding this one, so on." I feel like a better response would be "could u see if the nurse can go bc I am doing this and can't get there right this second. If she's busy will you buzz back into the pt and tell them it will be a couple of minutes but I will be there as soon as I can." This way, you haven't thrown it off on someone else who possibly can't get there right that second and the pt knows you got the msg and is informed. As a nurse we can't say "sorry I can't deliver you your pain medication because I am changing or feeding another pt right now." I feel like as long as you work as a team and keep your patients informed of what's going on then ppl usually end up happier.

On another note, unfortunately, sometimes the harder you work the more some nurses will abuse you You will learn overtime who these nurses are.

Hope this helps and good luck :)

cecilsgirl · Apr 9, 2011

Don't tattle! I don't how much time is lost on NA's caring WAY too much what others are doing, and I don't have time to be a pre-school teacher and a Nurse! I know sometimes you have to, but most of the time you don't!!

taalyn_1, CNA · Apr 9, 2011

As a CNA, I would say this: Always make sure things are stocked in the patient's rooms for the next shift, if its shift change time and a resident's light is on.. answer it instead of waiting til after report is given. Do your best to make sure everyone is toileted/clean and dry and has fresh water before the next shift comes on. Also, be careful what you report to the nurses. Let me exlplain, They tell us in CNA class to report anything unusual to the nurse in charge. Well, the truth of the matter is most nurses are so swamped with paperwork and meds that they dont want to know that pt X has cloudy pee or has a hang nail. Now, if the patient is having troubles breathing, has CAD and swollen feet more than usual, or some other potentially life threatening issue then yes report it immediately. Otherwise save your "unusual events" for a time when your nurse is really just sitting around. You can give your nurse a mini report after things have slowed down a bit and fill her/him in then on the non-life threatening issues.

mazy · Apr 9, 2011

It might be a bad idea to mention your future plans in an interview -- unless they ask. You don't know what will happen in the future and things might change, and you also don't want them thinking that after they hire you you plan to leave.

I know that sometimes nurses can be very grumpy when CNAs come to them with issues but it's nothing to do with the CNA, just with the event. I really appreciate it when CNAs report things as they come up, it gives me the sense that I can trust them to be on top of issues that I may not notice and allows me the freedom to get through my responsibilities knowing that I can count on the CNA to be mindful of the little things -- which can sometimes turn into very big things. Hangnails and pimples and smelly armpits are the exception.

I don't like to find out about that stuff late and get stuck with a lot of unexpected paperwork and interventions just when I thought I was getting into the home stretch. Although I'm also going to say that I don't really like it when CNAs come to me upset about something and demanding immediate action. Just let me know, I'll figure out how to proceed.

I think in your interview you should say just what you said in this post, that you care about providing high quality patient care for the reasons you stated.