amc911

I got SO lucky that there was an opening I found on the hospital website and I knew someone who worked at the hospital so I had an employee referral which scored me an interview. Do some networking or try to volunteer at the hospital you want to work at to get to know people! Its sad to say that sometimes it really is true its not what you know but who you know!

I am in the chicago area and the LTC where I did clinicals hired us before others since we had experience and they want to help out the students who helped them. Trying to get a job in a hospital is almost impossible with no experience unless you know someone. I was lucky to know an Asst Director who put in a good word with HR they pulled my application for a HUGE pile to call and interview me. Wow them in your interview if you get that chance I did and they said they are more then willing to train the right person - they were looking more for a good attitude then experience now I am starting in two weeks a PCT position in L&D exactly where I want to be!! Dont quit on your dreams - Good Luck!!!

I got my CNA training this past summer, I was hired by a hospital but they are calling me a PCT and will be training me to do EKG/Phlebotomy, Scrub in for C-sections and other on job training. Pay if $11 starting with no experience I get an additional $1 for working 3-11pms

Best bet is to try and gain experience in LTC, though you may be lucky to get a hospital job. I got my hospital job that I start in two weeks because I knew someone that put in a word with HR to have them actually look at my resume and call me for an interview. If it wasnt for that they would have never called me. Many of my friends from my CNA class are getting jobs at LTC facilities while they go to nursing school (which they will pay for -where i did my clinicals told us they would pay for nursing school) Good Luck!!!

I completed my CNA training this past summer and just got hired by my local hospital as a PCT for L&D (chicago area) - they told me that they do on the job training for EKG/Phlebotomy and will be training me as well to scrub in for C-sections! Good Luck!!!

Dont leave work experience blank I too had no healthcare experience but almost 20 yrs Office Management Experience in my interview at the hospital they were actually impressed with my work experience and ethic even though I had no healthcare experience. I just finished my CNA program this past summer and will be starting at my local hospital in L&D in two weeks - so dont give up!! Good Luck!

I completed my CNA this past summer and start my job in Labor and Delivery in a few weeks. If it wasnt for my friend that already works at the Hospital and put in a good word for me HR would have passed by my resume with no experience. But they really liked me in my interview and said they wanted the right person with the right attitude and they will train me for all I need to learn. This is exactly where I want to be so hopefully when I complete nursing school I will be able to continue in L&D! Good Luck!!!

I understand your nerves I start my 1st day of class tonight and my stomach is just turning w/nerves, excited, unsure of what to expect etc - start my clinicals at end of month I bet I will be a mess! Good luck! Please share how your 1st day went for all of the other newbies :)

All the above advice is correct, you should definitely go the 6 wk CNA route, check your local community college I had friends when I was in high school take it then so you can start at anytime. I will be 35 in a few weeks and I am in a CNA course now because I want to go into Nursing School so if you decide Nursing is not for you - you are still young and have time to change your mind, I am doing it at 35 so dont feel like you have to have Life figured out before you are out of high school. If all the blood, guts etc are turning you off and you want to be in the "baby field" my friend is an Ultrasound Tech, it is by no means easier school wise / courses etc but seeing moms to be come in and see their child is a wonderful thing (I know this being a new mom myself) it is something to look into and research. Good Luck and try not to stress out too much everything will fall into place :)

I was also told by many of my RN friends as well to become a CNA first and actually some RN programs in my area actually required that you are a CNA first! I think the experience will be very helpful!!! :)

I also quit my job to follow my dream, I am starting a 6 wk CNA program June 6th and cant wait! I have been wanting to do it for years and realized I am not getting any younger so w/an 8 month old and a husband in college also I am biting the bullet and hoping in a few yrs I can get into nursing school and become an RN! I dont want to look back and think I wish I did it! I am going through my community college and it is $800 and then books etc so it will be approximately $900-$1k - I was told some Nursing Homes will pay to train you and then you can get paid to work/train while you are there if that is something you can find in your area! Good Luck!!!