Will CNA experience in LTC help get a nursing job after graduation?

luvtranscendsall · Aug 16, 2011

I don't know for a fact but I have heard that it will because you have prior healthcare experience. I am CNA, too. I hope that it will give me the edge over other applicants.

kenyacka · Aug 16, 2011

Thank you! It obviously can't hurt in the job search. It's just so competitive out there, that I want every edge that I can get!

happyinillinois · Aug 16, 2011

If your ultimate goal is the hospital, I'd work at a hospital. That way you will meet nurses and managers and give you a leg up on a new graduate program.

newway · Aug 16, 2011

I would try for a hospital job. Being CNA in a acute care is very different than long term care. I just have to ask why would you prefer ltc for CNA? I have worked both, and prefer the hospital setting. In LTC your responsibility is mostly toileting, and feeding, where in the hospital you can add to that specimen collection, vitals, EKG’s, and charting. In addition you will get used to the hospital routine, and be an internal applicant when looking for an RN job (a big plus)

That being said a hospital position is not the easiest to land without experience, and any CNA experience is better than none.

kenyacka · Aug 16, 2011

I never in a million years thought that I would want to work in LTC. However, after doing all of my clinicals, I'm really thinking I might want to do it. I really enjoy getting to know them and their family. However, being a nurse in LTC? Not so much. The only time I ever see nurses is when I walk by the nurses station. They aren't nearly as hands on as I would like to be. I don't mean for that to turn into a debate. I know that nurses work their tails off in nursing homes. It's just after doing nearly 100 clinical hours and never, ever seing nurses anywhere near the residents, I just don't think it's for me. I want to be doing bedside care.

I guess it does make sense. If my goal is hospital, then it just makes sense to go for a hospital job. I'll most likely have to work LTC for a good year or so before I can get a hospital job, anyway. It's a lot harder to get on without experience.

luvtranscendsall · Aug 16, 2011

I would try for a hospital job. Being CNA in a acute care is very different than long term care. I just have to ask why would you prefer ltc for CNA? I have worked both, and prefer the hospital setting. In LTC your responsibility is mostly toileting, and feeding, where in the hospital you can add to that specimen collection, vitals, EKG's, and charting. In addition you will get used to the hospital routine, and be an internal applicant when looking for an RN job (a big plus)
That being said a hospital position is not the easiest to land without experience, and any CNA experience is better than none.

For me, I always wanted to work in a hospital. I wasn't able to because when I became a CNA I had a 6 month old baby and then when he was 2 I had another baby. I knew that I would have to sometimes call out being a single mom so I kind of just been biding my time until my kids went to school, because I didn't want to burn my bridges at a hospital. Not saying that LTC work isn't a part of my reputation but it's easier to make your own schedule in LTC then it is in a hospital. Well I have one more week until both my kids will officially be in public school and I "officially" start nursing school (I took Intro to nursing and dosage calculations over the summer) and I am going to start applying for hospital jobs.

kenyacka · Aug 16, 2011

For me, I always wanted to work in a hospital. I wasn't able to because when I became a CNA I had a 6 month old baby and then when he was 2 I had another baby. I knew that I would have to sometimes call out being a single mom so I kind of just been biding my time until my kids went to school, because I didn't want to burn my bridges at a hospital. Not saying that LTC work isn't a part of my reputation but it's easier to make your own schedule in LTC then it is in a hospital. Well I have one more week until both my kids will officially be in public school and I "officially" start nursing school (I took Intro to nursing and dosage calculations over the summer) and I am going to start applying for hospital jobs.

That's exciting! Good luck!!! :yeah:

CharlieTaco · Aug 16, 2011

Being a CNA gives you no advantage in getting a job as a RN because of the difference of the roles. The advantage you get is that you will be considered an internal candidate and will get to know the managers who will be in charge of hiring you. This will give you a huge advantage over other applicants. So if you want to work in a hospital as a RN, you should be a CNA in that same hospital because your CNA experience will only give you an advantage in the same hospital. Good luck.

andreasmom02 · Aug 16, 2011

I'm an LPN... My friend who was a CNA during LPN school, landed a LPN job straight out of school and I didn't. I did not work as a CNA during school, and she did. I think the fact that she had any kind of medical field experience helped her land a job. So yes, I think it would be to your advantage.

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Aug 16, 2011

Nope!

It didn't help me get a job, but having hands on patient care will help you.

I worked as a CNA in a LTC for a year before being hired into a hospital as a CNA2 into the ED worked there while I was in nursing school, unfourtnaly it was a small hospital who decided not to hire new grads, and I had to go back to a SNF to get my first job.

WillowNMe · Aug 16, 2011

I worked as a cna before graduating as an RN, and I think it helped immensely. I at least was familiar with working on my own (IE:no clinical instructor) and communicating with other health care professionals. I wouldn't say it helped me directly get my acute care job, but it definitely helped boost my confidence which in turn shows in the acute care setting.

ETA: it doesn't hurt either to have the longevity on your resume, and it shows a strong work ethic to go to school and work at the same time.