Where did you find your first job after becoming a CNA??

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& how did you find your first job...word of mouth, careerbuilder, through your school? Thanks!!

Specializes in Geriatrics/home health care.
You're most welcome, ma'am! :specs:

Incidentally - if it seems like I'm going over the top on the explanations (figure at least 80% of my previous post was likely old news for you) what I try to do on informational posts is give as complete an explanation as I can on the assumption that other CNA's may be reading this. Not intended as an insult - chalk it up to me being a frustrated wannabe teacher.

Take care,

----- Dave

You are so not! Don't you change, you are so helpful on post!

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Specializes in Geriatrics/home health care.
I went to a Home Care job fair sponsored by Red Cross where I got my training. There were 12 companies and I chose to interview with Visiting Angels because they are local and made a good impression. Happily I was hired and I like the office staff and have worked with stellar caregivers on mutual cases.

Furthermore, I have been blessed with wonderful clients and families for the most part.

I work for them too! I think it's the best home health company to work for. In my are, they have the best pay rates, great hours, and I serve wonderful clients.

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I put in an application to my local nursing home. They hired me, trained me and took me on after I was certified.

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I got my first CNA job at one of my city's largest hospitals working on a med/surg floor that also treats oncology and psychiatric patients. It's a pretty wild place with a very high level of acuity, but it's a great learning experience. I applied at several hospitals directly through their websites, as well as at the local state psychiatric hospital. I got interviewed for this position and at the psychiatric hospital (they had SIX immediate vacancies and pretty near begged me to take a position, seems people don't stay long there). I'm so glad I took this job. It's a great experience, they'll pay my entire nursing school tuition, I'm virtually guaranteed an RN job there when I graduate, and we do self-scheduling, which is really nice. Benefits are great, and there's always overtime available for those who want it. I feel so lucky to have gotten this job as my first CNA job, even if the work itself is difficult, we have high patient loads, and a very high level of acuity. I'm learning so much!

If you want a hospital job, don't give up. Look on their websites and apply directly.

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...If you want a hospital job, don't give up. Look on their websites and apply directly...

Oh, absolutely! It never hurts to try for what you really want - just be aware that it may take some time to get there.

In my case - well, it finally happened. I go in for orientation on Thursday for a paid CNA position. It's on-call, probably pays peanuts (haven't even discussed salary yet) & it's in an LTC - but, at least I'm on the scorecard now. And - with some months of salaried experience under my belt I'll now be in a MUCH better position to get my foot in the door in a full-time capacity, either at the LTC facility or in an area hospital.

2 years & 9 months of unemployment is finally, FINALLY over! :w00t:

----- Dave

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Specializes in ER, Med-surg.

I got my first job in Home Health Care. It was a little scary at first, but I got so used to it I couldn't work anywhere else comfortably. I tried a job at a "Nursing Home", night shift. I was the only one there and there were not nurses or other CNA's. I was so uncomfortable that I quit the next day (I live in a right to work state). I quit my home health job after moving away to school and am now helping a friend's godson take care of his mother. My mother actually got me my first CNA job, she was out to eat and saw the home health agency, I had been looking for a job for 4 months, and she got the application for me. I was reluctant to apply because I didn't want to work in home health, but after getting no interviews I applied and got the job. It was my first real work experience.

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What kind of facility?

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The LTC facility I work at was where I did my clinicals as a student. I still had to jump through hoops to get the position, though, and it took three months before it was offered to me.

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My parents both worked in the hospital i was hired at, so that helped get my foot in the door. I worked in the Neuro ICU for a year and got out of there to work at a different hospital. It was nice seeing the unit both my parents worked at.

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