I am a CNA with over five years of hospital experience as a float. I have been on all floors except OB/PEDS. I currently work in an OR but am looking to change my hours and get back into a more clinical setting.
I applied for a position on OB (same facility) and was asked to shadow. I accepted and understood the reasoning. After all, I had never worked in labor and delivery. So I went over there. Unpaid. For two and a half hours. While I spent most of the time truly shadowing, I did help out here and there as requested.
It took several calls and emails (within professional limits, mind you) to find out I did not get the job. I was a little frustrated but, hey, that's life. So then the HR rep and I start talking about alternate ideas.
She mentions more interviews and shadowing. That is when I spoke up. In a nice way, I explained that as OB was a new area to me, I was happy to shadow unpaid. However, as an experienced hospital aide, I did not see the benefit of shadowing in areas with which I was already aware. After all, I am a current employee of the hospital with a history of excellent reviews and plenty of experience. I am not some brand new CNA who has never held a position.
I mean, let's say I spend 6 hours shadowing. You can't tell me that I will stand there, arms folded, and never help out. Of course I will. For free. And that doesn't sit right with me
