I've been so busy in the last couple of weeks that I haven't had time to post to or read allnurses.com as much as I used to.... was busy finishing up my old job and getting ready to start my new one.
I was hired a couple of weeks back as a nursing assistant (no "C" in the title yet - will be taking the state board sometime early in '10) but I will start tomorrow bright and early Monday morning. Excited and happy and yes maybe just a tad nervous, but looking forward to it.... I've never worked 12 hour shifts before - I did during clinicals in my CNA class earlier, but that's it, but I think I'll get used to it - will have four days off to recover lol
I'm doing this mostly for the experience, as I'm waiting to start nursing school (ADN for RN) also later in '10.
I've deliberately kept this under the radar and been quiet about it, but I had to tell someone, so all of you here are among the first to hear about it, outside of the hospital where I work
Just wanted to add - thanks to everyone for your words of encouragement. My first day on the job went very well - I was a bit nervous at first - nothing out of hand, just the normal "first day nervous" type of thing, but that slowly disappeared as we got busy. I now work in a PCU cardiac telemetry unit in a big-city hospital that is very busy and fast-paced... That's good though because any initial jitters were gone fairly soon and I got into things right away....
Thanks again everyone, and I'll keep all of you posted on what happens!!!!
Sounds encouraging, my first day of my first CNA job is next week and i am super nervous. I hope it goes well. Just curious, what did they have you do? Did you have to lift patients a lot?
The economy is tough right now but dont give up. I became a CNA in October and I have been applying for jobs but no interviews. I finally have an interview coming up and its at a hospital where i volunteer so maybe it helped to see it on my resume.plus volunteering is a good way to network and get to know people. if a job opens up in the dept you volunteer your resume will stand out b/c they already know you and even if the recruiter doesnt know you he/she may ask the hiring nurse if they know you or would want u to work for them b/c u already devote your time working there for free. You can also try asking someone to look over your resume, sometimes my resume has a mistake that i dont see but someone else easily recognizes, with hundreds of applications one mistake gives them a reason to throw your app in the trash. dont give up, many people are applying w/ the same problem. I believe you will get one soon. Good luck. Hopefully my interview goes well and i can finally get a job.
I just wanted to say also add a cover letter, you can include things you did on your clinicals for the cna class such as vitals, bedpan, partial bedpan,etc. they know u did it to be certified but it refreshes in their mind that you did it and remember doing it. I really hope you get something soon...we're on the same boat so i know how frustrating it feels to apply everyday with no response. the one that called me back for an interview actually got an application from me before.
Thanks again for your great tips and encouragement:). I think maybe it's because of my resume that why I dont get the job. So I have been fixing my resume all over again for days hoping it look good and can help me get a job soon.
I have a question: I kinda confuse, so do I list the tasks that I did during clinical to my cover letter or resume??
I actually worked for a large metro hospital as a security officer for the past three and a half years then took an accelerated CNA course through the hospital and a local community college. My advice is to apply for a job like transport, volunteer, etc. if you cannot get a nursing assistant position right away
Thanks again for your great tips and encouragement:). I think maybe it's because of my resume that why I dont get the job. So I have been fixing my resume all over again for days hoping it look good and can help me get a job soon.
I have a question: I kinda confuse, so do I list the tasks that I did during clinical to my cover letter or resume??
Hope your interview went well nrz2bee:)
You can always get someone to look over your resume for you. sometimes it has tiny errors that we dont notice but someone else can spot it easily. With the economy they get so many applications. They may throw your resume out for one little error. The cover letter is where you cover things you didnt get a chance to mention in your resume. You can put under the category certification where you got your cna certification and what date. In the cover letter you get the opportunity to show you know the skills despite lack of experience. In the middle paragraph you can put during your clinical week/weeks of your course you did skills, x,y, and z. EX: During my the clinicals at XYZ nursing home I performed skills such as changing bedpans, taking vitals,etc.
Sounds encouraging, my first day of my first CNA job is next week and i am super nervous. I hope it goes well. Just curious, what did they have you do? Did you have to lift patients a lot?
Well, I've been on the job now for almost two months since my original posting, and things are going OK. No, I haven't had to actually lift patients too much, but maybe more than some because I'm a fairly large sized guy, and one thing I'm good at is lifting LOL. Just remember that you should always have help when you are lifting or repositioning a patient, even I ask for help when I have to reposition a patient, and the nurses are more than glad to help. Be safe - back strain and back injuries are the biggest single cause of injury in our line of work. Most of what I've been called to do in this regard is more like repositioning the patient up higher in bed (they tend to slide down toward the foot of the bed after a while) and turning people that need to be turned every few hours because of the threat of decubitus ulcers. Mostly using the draw sheets and chuck sheets to move patients with the help of others...... Don't worry, you will do fine ;-)
You can always get someone to look over your resume for you. sometimes it has tiny errors that we dont notice but someone else can spot it easily. With the economy they get so many applications. They may throw your resume out for one little error. The cover letter is where you cover things you didnt get a chance to mention in your resume. You can put under the category certification where you got your cna certification and what date. In the cover letter you get the opportunity to show you know the skills despite lack of experience. In the middle paragraph you can put during your clinical week/weeks of your course you did skills, x,y, and z. EX: During my the clinicals at XYZ nursing home I performed skills such as changing bedpans, taking vitals,etc.
Thanks a lots for the great tip, I'll use it in my cover letter. I'm gonna turn in my Application, Cover Letter, and resume in tomorrow at this nursing home close to my house but they're not hiring right now:(, but they said I still can turn it in anyway.
Thanks a lots for the great tip, I'll use it in my cover letter. I'm gonna turn in my Application, Cover Letter, and resume in tomorrow at this nursing home close to my house but they're not hiring right now:(, but they said I still can turn it in anyway.
Dont let the fact that they say they are not hiring discourage you. A previous professor was giving me advice b4 I graduated. The professor said even when they say they are not hiring drop off your resume anyway. Whenever a spot opens up your resume will be there. This advice has worked for me. They told me they werent hiring but i should keep checking every week and apply and it paid off. Persistence is they key. Its tough right now but you will get something. You can look at different cover letter templates online to get different ideas. I wish you good luck. :)
pca_85
424 Posts
Good luck