Nursing Home job questions

[Mirai Kangofu]

I'm a CNA, and I have a job interview tomorrow at another nursing home (Belmont Village on Holcombe in Houston, TX). I've had a bad experience at my current nursing home (St. Dominic Village on Holcombe in Houston, TX), such as chronic understaffing in a majority fully dependent care facility, a bad ADON, and low pay ($6.90/hr on second shift). I'm also a bit nervous since St. Dominic's is considered one of the best nursing homes in Texas (Heh, I know the truth. The retirement home for Priests and assisted living are nice, but not the nursing home, and I know about their dirty cost-cutting techniques), and I'm afraid that my situation and job will go from bad to worse if I go with Belmont. Belmont is right next door to my apartment, which eliminates the need to drive, and it's for profit, which means it probably pays more. How can I tactfully ask how the patient-to staff ratio is without getting a lot of pussyfooting, euphemisms, and half-truths in response? Can anyone in Houston please tell me what you've heard of both nursing homes?

Also, I've been trying to get a job as a CNA in a hospital. I've applied to the HCHD hospitals like Ben Taub and Quentin Meese, and to MD Anderson. I've been rejected via email from the HCHD hospitals for not having a year of experience, and I havne't heard from MD Anderson. Both are totally computerized, so it's hard to reach an actual person.

One thing that's setting off my radar is the fact that the job normally requires a year of experience, which I don't have. Does this suggest desperation to you all? Also, I've been called a couple times asking if I want a prn position, which to me, suggests understaffing. I know that all but the most expensive nursing homes have the same problems, so I'm not expecting anythign unreasonable.