Where to find CNA jobs in SoCal? & Depressed rant...

[Noob_to_Nursing]

I just graduated and received my CNA certificate in southern California. Unfortunately, it's been REALLY HARD finding a job at a long term care facility. Is there a special website for finding jobs? I've tried Indeed.com mostly because it pulls jobs from all sites.

I keep hearing about this "registry" and I think it's this: http://www.apps.cdph.ca.gov/cvl/SearchPage.aspx

However, my name isn't on there because I just graduated. =( Everybody kept saying to me "OH, just get on the registry and then you'll find a job." The only jobs online are for hospitals, which I have no experience. I tried to get into Davita to be a PCT because the forums said that you didn't need dialysis experience but I've been immediately rejected for that.

I've looked at different Medical rating sites for long term care facilities as well to see what's around.

I'm getting really discouraged and that all that money I spent was for nothing and I'm quickly running out of money to pay the bills. *CRIES*

[Dawnski]

Hang in there....it took me about 3 months to find a job, and I was lucky enough to get one in a hospital. And that's with no previous CNA experience. Granted, I'm working the night shift, but I'm in a hospital. I never even got calls from any of the long-term places.

I was hired about a month after graduation, by a home health care agency. I kept looking for full time employment because the agency didn't have regular hours for me. One week something, the next two weeks nothing.

[Noob_to_Nursing]

Hang in there....it took me about 3 months to find a job, and I was lucky enough to get one in a hospital. And that's with no previous CNA experience. Granted, I'm working the night shift, but I'm in a hospital. I never even got calls from any of the long-term places.

I was hired about a month after graduation, by a home health care agency. I kept looking for full time employment because the agency didn't have regular hours for me. One week something, the next two weeks nothing.

Are you in Southern California? There are very few jobs available in long term care facilities (and I've called over 40 LTC facilities).

In any case, I decided that the calling wasn't working and would go ahead and apply in person even if they said that they were not hiring but I could fill out an application. So I go to this one place, I'm a new grad so bear in mind my certificate hasn't even been sent to me but I have proof that I passed both the Written and Skills exam for the State of California...

Anyway, they tell me there is going to be a test when I apply. I get there, dressed professionally, with all of my documents and ready to go! I noticed that there is one lady taking the test in the lobby...hair unkempt with jeans, sneakers and a plaid long sleeved shirt.

UNFORTUNATELY, I can't even APPLY because I don't have the actual certificate. I even made color copies of my documents for them to keep. So, this applicant, who probably didn't even bother to look presentable for an interview, will get a job there because she "knows someone". It just makes me SO ANGRY!!! And very discouraged as well.