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Hi everyone! My name is Mike and I'm a 23 year old student. I just spent my last $500 getting my Florida licence to become a CNA ( Test prep, driving there, scrubs, and other materials, etc). After several weeks I finally recieved my CNA licence in the mail. For the last 2 weeks I have been applying at every possible place I can think of. Hospitals, LTC facilities, cna pool companies, etc.

NO ONE HAS EVEN CALLED ME BACK.

I'm this close to living on the street. Am I doing something wrong? Am I looking in the wrong places?

When I was researching a career in nursing, all my sources lead me to belive nursing is growing and getting a job in nursing, especially bottom-of-the-ladder jobs like CNA, was relatively easier than most other types of work.

I want to be a productive member of society and help others. Can someone help me? please?

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Sorry to tell you that there is no nursing shortage. Just search at top right of this site... you will find thread after thread dealing with the subject. 100's of new grad nurses without jobs as well as seasoned nurses without jobs. It's a bad time. CNA jobs are probably harder to come by due to the economy as well, and the fact that RNs take those jobs sometimes because there are no RN jobs. Especially new grads, and those who were CNAs thru school, cannot leave those jobs for RN jobs. There is no normal turn around in some areas.

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health, Hospice.

If you have filled out applications and returned them, then I would call the facility and ask to speak to the DON, introduce youself, SELL YOURSELF...THIS IS YOUR CHANCE. When I first started I could not find a straight shift, but was WILLING TO DO AN OVERLAP SHIFT....did that for a short while, then got the ft when it was available. In this market you have to sell yourself.....

good luck

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Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.

I know it sounds extreme, but many are moving across state lines to get a job. If you are not tied down, maybe it could work! Try looking into other cities/states to see what their area is like jobwise.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

Mike, the job market basically sucks right now... and has for quite some time. You were fed a line regarding the ease with which jobs can be obtained.

I don't have any good answers for you but you should certainly focus on every SNF, LTC, assisted-living facility, Alzheimer's facility, etc that is within about 100 miles from where you live. Hooking up with an acute-care hospital is difficult to the point of impossible.

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As already mentioned, it depends on where you live. Most hospitals will not hire you until you have a little more experience. Do you have any friends or people you know that currently work in assisted living or nursing homes? Sometimes I feel like internet posting replies never even get seen and having someone put in a good word for you oftentimes is the best way to get a job. Yes, there is a nursing shortage but I don't think this shortage extends to CNAs, from what I've seen. Good luck!

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
Yes, there is a nursing shortage...
No, there's not.
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Keep applying and give it more time. It took about a month for me to get a call for my current job. Have you been applying in person?

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try looking on www.craigslist.com in your area under medical and health jobs....I see dozens in most areas all the time.

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There are still cities with Nursing shortages...don't give up, you may need to relocate if need be

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

You could apply for lift team. :) Try that! They would like a lift team member to be a CNA. Good luck.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Operating Room.

I agree with the above post.. you can apply for lift team too! Also, in this economy it is ESPECIALLY important to GO into the places that you are applying and introduce yourself and hand them a resume... and if you have any experience in any field where you performed a "customer service role" make SURE you play that up in your resume!

It is a VERY tough job market out there to say the least... and the way I got my job is by using every single "connection" I had in the healthcare industry. I called friends, asked if they knew if their facility was hiring or who I could go talk to... and ABSOLUTELY walk into those facilities and introduce yourself!! ALL of the other new nurses I got hired with did just that!

Good luck to you and be persistent! :)

p.s. as a new grad RN I can tell you that there is NO nursing shortage in southern CA

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