Please help a lost soul

Nurses General Nursing

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So, I am in a rough position and need some help from some of you already working in the hospital.

I am a pre-nursing student with 2 semesters to go before I go into the program. Unfortunately I was not able to get any classes this Summer, and I am currently unemployed and penny-less. With this said, I am desperately looking to find a 3-4 month health care based program that will allow me to find work in a hospital. I've been on this computer for the past 10 hours trying to figure out which entry level jobs are available in a hospital as well as what certifications are available on a 3-4 month training. All I have come up with is Transporter - Which requires a BLS certificate(Which I have). Other than that I saw Patient Tech.- Which requires a CNA certificate(Which I don't have - I took a CNA course last Summer, and had to drop it 2 weeks before my testing grrr!) So I decided to apply for the few Transport positions, and I guess I'll see what happens. What I have also been seeing is Monitor/Cardio Tech. - Which requires a basic EKG course. At this point I've found a 4 day course for $250 here in L.A. but, the thing that scares me is the fact that the terminology is new to me, and the course is accelerated. Is this Monitor/Cardio Tech. position a tough one? Should I Find an Acute Based CNA course and take it along with the EKG? Should I add a Phlebotomy? Or will I be fine with the CNA and EKG? What do I need to get a job in a hospital so that I can A) Work B) Get experience C) Get out of this hole I've been in for the past few years and live my life again.

Please help me, I'd truly appreciate it. Also, Please list any other certificates or trainings I can take for approx. 3-4 months to get me in the hospital, aswell as any entry level job titles. Also, If you all know of any Acute based CNA programs in Los Angeles/San Bernidino County let me know.

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If you are food stamp eligible, you should be training eligible....

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/ct/rp/cna.asp

You may be able to get CNA training at a "nursing home" free and quick.

'CNA only' schools tend to be cheap and quick (weeks not months).

Good luck in your endeavors.

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

You might be able to apply for the monitor tech positions as well and get the training on the job. EKG classes are usually available at all hospitals.

Tait

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

before you invest more time and money, talk to HR people. In my facility we hire people as monitor techs then train them free ourselves.

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Check with some of the larger nursing homes in your area. Some of them may offer free or even paid training (minimum wage while you're taking classes) in exchange for a short-term commitment to work in their facility. When bigger facilities have a hard time finding good CNAs, it's to their advantage to grow their own staff, so to speak.

(If you find such a program, make sure to ask what happens if you have to leave before your service commitment is up. Would you have to pay back the entire cost of your training, or would the amount be prorated according to the amount of time you fulfilled?)

We don't live in your area, but this takes place all over the country. One of my daughters was able to find paid training (with a six-month obligation) and has worked as a PCA for several years. Now she is married with a child and is going to school in the fall for healthcare massage therapist. Her years as a PCA have given her lots of really good background in patient care.

I wish you all the best.

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Specializes in ICU.

I'm a cardio tech, and I got all my training on the job, after I was hired. I've since taken some classes outside the facility of my own choice, but everything I needed was provided and paid. It's worth a shot!

Basic dysrhythmia and EKG interp are a little overwhelming at first, but once you know it, you know it. Experience is key. You should be fine with a short course, or on the job training! :) Best of luck!

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Thank all of you for replying to my post. I think I will just apply to the positions and explain in the cover letter that I am scheduled to take an EKG course, and maybe that will be enough interest to atleast hire me and train me for free. Once again than you all.

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in many states you do not need a cna classes to take state test to become certified, you can simply challenge the test. this is what i did.

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