Previous CNA experience needed for PCA in Hospital?

[dreamcatcher17, BSN]

Hi all,

I just got my CNA certification in CT from a Red Cross and the only job that accepted me was an assisted living facility. I applied to major hospitals (Yale New Haven, Bridgeport, Middlesex, L+M, Hartford) and none of them responded.

Many of the apps said I needed 6mos+ experience, is that really true? Many of my CNA classmates know employees at these hospitals (as do I) and were pretty certain they would be working at hospitals as their first jobs. Regardless, I plan on applying in a few months to a hospital again to see if I can get in, at least per diem, and work in both places. They pay $5-6 more per hour so naturally it'd make more sense to work there.

Thanks for reading! Please tell me if I am being ridiculous in my expectations, or if I should negotiate a raise if I am doing well at this facility. I'm getting a Health Science BS in May and will take a year off before applying to accelerated BSN programs around New England.

-dc17

[verene, MSN]

Where I live it is very common for hospital to require 6 months to a year of prior CNA experience before looking at applicants. I got in with 1.5 years of working CNA experience and 2 years experience volunteering on the unit I applied for. I know others who've made it in with less, but it's not easy.

Do not discount your time working in assisted living. The flow of the work is a bit different, as is some of the skill set, there are things I did in ALF that I never have to do now at the hospital and things at the hospital I never saw in ALF. I picked up a lot of soft skills in terms of patient/staff interaction, very strong time management, and work the ability to work independently that have served me very well in my current hospital job.

You can try negotiating a raise at your current facility after 6months-year of service but expect that you will still be paid quite a bit less than a hospital position.

[dreamcatcher17, BSN]

Wow, thank you so much for your response! This has helped my nerves quite a bit. Very grateful to have a job, and the nursing staff under whom I'll be working seem fantastic. Glad to know that this path I'm taking is the norm :)

[Littlebit22]

My frst job in Healthcare was a PCA position at the hospital I currently work at. Getting the position wasn't easy but I did have experience in said hospital from clinical's during nursing school. I was also very persistent with my applications, everytime my application was filed but now hired I would submit another one. I think after a while they hot tired of seeing my name so they called me in for an interview.

[moretonel]

From my experience and talking with others, hospitals are not likely to hire PCTs/PCAs with little experience. I'm a 2nd semester LPN student (with clinical experience in skills other than ADLs) and worked as a CNA in LTC for 1.5 years - when I applied for a PCT position at a hospital; they contacted me for an interview 3 weeks later (I was hired). I know CNAs at the LTC I work who put in several applications over several years at the hospital and has never received an invitation for an interview. There are plenty of CNAs who apply for hospital positions - what stands you out? I also took an EKG Tech class at the community college.

[ZoeFrecn]

It is true that hospitals would prefer to hire people with 6 months or more experience. It makes sense, although the change of pace in assisted living or LTC is different, you really do get all your basic skills downs pat and then some. I agree with verene that you will pick up a lot of skills in assisted living that will help you be an amazing PCT/CNA in a hospital setting.

The only people I know who got a hospital job straight off the bat were people who had volunteered at the hospital prior to applying. Be persistent in applying, drop by and see if you can speak to hiring managers (Mondays and Friday are the best as they usually have less meetings). If that doesn't work I would recommend volunteering. This will let you do some professional networking and give you a foot in the door. I would also recommend going to a job fair.

For me, the nurse I worked with at LTC transferred to a hospital and I stayed in touch. She put in a word for me and I was hired.