Nursing Student Looking For Hospital CNA/PCA/PCT Position And Struggling

vanillacupcake17 · Apr 26, 2011

Honestly, it is super hard to find a job as CNA while being a student. Staffers are looking for long-term employees who will work a lot of hours. I took a CNA course last summer (I am a 2nd semester soph. getting my BSN) and was applying like crazy. Before my class ended, I got a job as a sitter on a Rehab floor. Basically, I sat with pt.'s who needed assistance 24/7. There are NCT's (same as CNA) on my floor and there was a spot open and they finally gave me the position. I had been applying to different floors in MY current hospital for months and did not get anything. I feel like the only reason I did get the NCT position was b/c it was on my current floor and I had been working there for a year or so. Try a nursing home maybe? But don't be discouraged keep applying, or maybe also apply to unit secretary positions.good luck

thenameismac · Apr 29, 2011

In addition to what the previous poster stated, most places won't let you work as a CNA unless you have the certification. I know people who do what CNAs do but they can't get a job any place other than where they were trained because they don't have official certification. And what your prof might have been saying was the clinicals that you have taken already might be sufficient enough to just take the CNA state exam and not have to go through a separate program. I hope this makes sense and I hope it helps.

soxgirl2008 · May 11, 2011

Hospitals around here have a student nurse intern program that you can apply to after having done one semester of RN clinicals. Those jobs are very competitive and often get filled by CNA's who have worked at the hospital for a while. Other than that I've never heard of any other place hiring someone on as a CNA who did not actually have the certification

Sabr&Shukr · May 16, 2011

Background: I'm a nursing student going for my BSN. I'm a week and half (YAY) away from completing my second clinical (first med-surg). I currently work at a fitness center, but pretty minimal hours, and it's somewhere I'd like to get away from.
So, I've been applying like crazy to all five hospitals in town. For pretty much every position I can do. I can't work full time (I would like to keep a bit of my sanity =P), but I'm willing to work evenings, nights, weekends, whatever. I'd just like to get my foot in the door at a hospital and get some more experience.
I've only received one call about my applications. And, I totally floundered on the phone call and ended up getting the rejection email a day or two later.
I don't have my CNA, but profs have stated that the clinical experience we get should be equivalent. Has anyone ever gotten a job just based off their experience? Or have you done the whole CNA-challenge bothersome steps? Would it be worth it to invest a few hundred to have the certification, or is my schooling enough?
Also, any tips of ways to get my applications to maybe shine a bit more and give me a better chance would be appreciated! Thank you for your time and help!
(Mods, this is my first thread, so I hope it's in the right place and everything! =) )

Hey Suchansuch,

We're on the same boat. I'm also in nursing school. I just completed my first clinical rotation. I have been applying for about a month to all the local hospitals for those types of positions and have heard no feedback as of yet. I am a medical assistant and worked at a major local-area hospital for 2 years, and even that hasn't helped. My advisors said the same - They said as soon as you finish your first clinical rotation you can apply as a cna/pca. A lot of the jobs I have seen have said under qualifications: A certified nursing assistant or a student enrolled in a nursing program who has completed one clinical rotation. So it's definitely possible. I just think nowadays you definitely need connections to get in Anywhere.

Best wishes, and keep me updated if you find anything!

MedChica · May 24, 2011

You should be able to work as a CNA.

For nursing students, the first semester is the nurse air program.

At my old school...you just needed to get signatures and fax paperwork to apply for certification. It's something that the program directors and such have to do.

You didn't actually have through CNA classes. I'm not even sure that you have to take a skills/written test.

*shrug*

...and I know this because (while I was there seeking info on the program), they assumed that I was ALREADY a nursing student seeking my CNA cert and quickly shoved the paper at me to take to the Dean.

Wonder why your PROF's didn't tell you that...? Maybe the process is different....

...but no hospital's going to hire you w/o ceritification, i.e. nurse aide.

A nursing home would, though...

Sabr&Shukr · May 24, 2011

...but no hospital's going to hire you w/o ceritification, i.e. nurse aide.
A nursing home would, though...

Not true! I just had an interview yesterday (after a month of applying), and was hired. It's a nursing assistant position at a local-area Boston hospital. You just have to have patience. I'm not certified as a nursing assistant. They did like that I have m.a. experience, i.e. phlebotomy, EKG's, vital signs. But they will also hire and train on spot.

Also, the hospitals that are looking for PCT's, PCA's, or NA's are using the terms interchangeably. They are basically CNA positions, without having to be certified. Most of those jobs will state "Qualifications: Certified nursing assistant Or student currently enrolled in a nursing program."

I don't see how it would be fair to get 'certified' as a nursing assistant with only one semester of a nursing program without having to take the exam, which means not having to prove you learned the skills. Whereas, cna's learn the skills, and have to prove it by taking the oral and written exam to qualify them as 'certified.'

Either way, if you're a nursing student and have been applying for cna, na, pct, or pca positions. Don't give up! The HR generalist told me there's just so many applications, it takes time to get through them. Keep trying!

SuchanSuch · Jun 8, 2011

I did finally get a position as a PCA at a local rehab facility. I start soon and am super excited. Everything you all said helped boost my mood, so thank you!

HoneyDinkley · Jun 9, 2011

Honestly, it is super hard to find a job as CNA while being a student. Staffers are looking for long-term employees who will work a lot of hours. I took a CNA course last summer (I am a 2nd semester soph. getting my BSN) and was applying like crazy. Before my class ended, I got a job as a sitter on a Rehab floor. Basically, I sat with pt.'s who needed assistance 24/7. There are NCT's (same as CNA) on my floor and there was a spot open and they finally gave me the position. I had been applying to different floors in MY current hospital for months and did not get anything. I feel like the only reason I did get the NCT position was b/c it was on my current floor and I had been working there for a year or so. Try a nursing home maybe? But don't be discouraged keep applying, or maybe also apply to unit secretary positions.good luck

I thought about a unit secretary position, but they don't peform direct patient care, which is what most employers are looking for once we obtain our LPN and/or RN license. Every single place I've applied to wanted CNA's with experience. If you are lucky enough to get a job coming in with no experience, the pay is going to be lousy and the work environment is going to be lousy (speaking from experience)

jelly221,RN, MSN · Jun 16, 2011

Wow! I got lucky. I've worked as a Nurse Tech since right after I completed my 1st semester. I just called HR and asked if I was eligible to work as a CNA and they said no, but you can work as a Nurse Tech (student nurse). I interviewed the next day and started orientation a week later. I work per diem, and I'm completely in charge of my schedule as long as I work one day a week. They've been extremely understanding with my difficult classes in school, working less shifts and so forth.

I've had several friends with the same experience here in SoCal. My advice is to just call HR or better yet, dress professionally and just walk in.

Good luck!!

baldee · Jun 28, 2011

Wow! I got lucky. I've worked as a Nurse Tech since right after I completed my 1st semester. I just called HR and asked if I was eligible to work as a CNA and they said no, but you can work as a Nurse Tech (student nurse). I interviewed the next day and started orientation a week later. I work per diem, and I'm completely in charge of my schedule as long as I work one day a week. They've been extremely understanding with my difficult classes in school, working less shifts and so forth.
I've had several friends with the same experience here in SoCal. My advice is to just call HR or better yet, dress professionally and just walk in.
Good luck!!

Great idea! That was my plans, but was researching alternatives at the last minute. I did get a $895 suit for $282 incl. tax from a Dillards outlet store on Memorial Day, so that may help me with other academic credentials. Heck, you can't even find a number to call HR in 10 hospital networks here. I've blown half the summer already, but first things first! Thanks a lot.

:nurse: :nurse:

ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2011

You should be able to work as a CNA.
For nursing students, the first semester is the nurse air program.
At my old school...you just needed to get signatures and fax paperwork to apply for certification. It's something that the program directors and such have to do.
You didn't actually have through CNA classes. I'm not even sure that you have to take a skills/written test.
*shrug*
...and I know this because (while I was there seeking info on the program), they assumed that I was ALREADY a nursing student seeking my CNA cert and quickly shoved the paper at me to take to the Dean.
Wonder why your PROF's didn't tell you that...? Maybe the process is different....
...but no hospital's going to hire you w/o ceritification, i.e. nurse aide.
A nursing home would, though...

thats the complete opposite where i live. all nursing homes require you to be a CNA (many have there own classes, but you still have to take the state test), and most hospitals do not require certification. they may say CNA preferred, but not required. weird, i guess it varies from area to area.