"Acceptable" minimum amount of time to stay in one CNA position?

caliotter3 · Aug 2, 2012

Unfortunately, there are not a lot of options for a CNA. You will find yourself looking at different LTC facilities, home health, or one of those elusive jobs in an acute care setting. Your opportunities broaden once you get a nursing license.

cnydiac · Aug 2, 2012

Most jobs that offer training like that have a mandatory time you have to stay at the job as a CNA before you can get another job. When I first got my CNA license, I had to stay at the facility that trained me for 6 months after getting certified before I was able to find a new job.

gypsysoul27 · Aug 2, 2012

Thanks. Ideally I'd like to stay there for a year to gain a decent amount of experience and show that I can hold a job, but I've never worked in health care before and I'm nervous about working with the elderly and the type of work I'll be doing in general. When I was there for my interview I overheard one resident yelling at an aide and telling her she didn't know anything and threatening to kill her. Obviously I know that's not a serious threat. I just don't know how I'll handle hearing that kind of thing on a daily basis. It's one thing to say 'don't let it bother you' and another to actually not let it bother you.

ctmed · Aug 3, 2012

Calliotter is correct, CNA does have limited opportunity and low pay. However, as I have posted on other threads, there is also work on psych wards, hospice, home health, sitting, and a couple of others.

Technically, you can supposedly work in a clinic or in restorative or therapy, but these are considered "lay out" (though do not fall for it.. these guys work, too!) jobs due to the fact of limited exposure to poo. Also, in my experience, most of the CNAs that get these jobs know someone or are in the "clique". Worse, whenever there is a public announcement on job boards, a hundred CNAs apply. Although if you say you are going for COTA, PTA, OT, or PT they sometimes hire these guys regardless of experience. CNA would just be a feather in a cap.

Sometimes if you are in nursing shcool, the college counselor can hook you up with better tech jobs, too. But this depends on the quality and reputation of the school.

That said, the going standard seems to be 6 months NH or 1 year hospital. However, I can see situations where it may be worth looking into new jobs before 6 months if the place you are in has low morale or bad culture. No sense getting fired and having to deal with that on an interview if you are in a place with disrespectful treatment or where you are not a good fit.

mstearns09 · Aug 3, 2012

Your facility will likely require you work for them for a specified amount of time in order to keep your training free, otherwise, you may end up paying them back for the cost of your training.

You have to learn how to tune out what residents yell at you; oftentimes, it isn't the resident's actual personality to yell things but the disease which causes them to yell at you or be violent. It's a skill you learn with time.

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · Aug 3, 2012

Are you asking how much experience you need before you can find another job or how much time do you need to spend with any single job. I've had 3 jobs as a CNA, my first I stayed for a year, the second one...well I was private duty and I found my own client and stayed until they needed to be placed in a nursing home (family decision) so 6 months and this last job I've had for 3 months, but I get no hours so I've been looking for a job anywhere else. In total I have about 2-3 year experience and that's enough time to apply to acute care settings and actually be considered. I would suggest getting a full year of CNA experience in LTC setting before applying to hospitals or LTC facilities with better reputation. I tried to apply to places after getting 6 mos. experience and I didn't get a single call back. I applied with having more experience and places that wouldn't even call me before have offered me jobs. If you can tough it out at a LTC job for 6 months, you could probably find a job in another LTC setting and just state that you're looking for a job with better pay.