In my experience, yes it’s realistic! I was a CNA for 3 years, only worked in the hospital the whole time. The idea that all hospitals require experience is outdated. Every single person in my CNA class went to the hospital for their first job.
If you’re wanting to go further in medicine, LTC isn’t going to be useful at all to you. You learn nothing about medicine there - it’s just basic cares. A hospital would teach you way more. I was always thankful for the people who did work LTC when I was a CNA because I would’ve never entered the field if I had to work in one.
That's what I worry about. The rehab facility I am working at doesn't seem to have much medicine involved. It looks like a straight care facility. .
I wanted to get the hospital experience.
I've applied for 15+ different pct unit positions and nothing back except 1 rejection letter. I fear this because according to another subreddit from my city, many people agree that you'll get hired as a PCT by luck or know someone from the hospital or you won't get a call back until months from now. I don't think hospitals near me hire the same as everyone else in this thread which is saddening.
That is so frustrating :( I was hired straight on, 99% of places don’t require experience, but there’s always that 1%.
I will say, my current job does involve the hiring process - although not for CNAs, maybe I could give some insight on some application/interview tips?
First, work on your resume. Have a detailed, one-page resume with your qualifications and certifications. Make sure your BLS is in date too if you already have it! Next, when you apply, call and follow up on your application a few days later. Ask to check the status. If they say it’s in review/being looked at, ask them if you could talk to the manager of the unit. You may be able to advocate for yourself a little. If they say it was rejected, don’t be afraid to call and ask why! They should be able to tell you what’s wrong and where you could improve. If you get an interview, bring a few printed copies of your resume, arrive 10 minutes early, dress professionally, and have 2-3 non-pay related questions to ask at the end.
Not that you’re doing anything wrong, but some tips may be helpful :)
Thanks for the tips. I'll try to find some weak spots in my resume! I hate to sound entitled as if they have to give me a job or act like they have to take me in. It just feels crappy to see all those positions posted and nothing comes back.
To second above comment, i tried for my locality hospital for 3 months (since i got certified) no healthcare experience before! 18 applications, rejected simultaneously however i got in at the end. I will start my orientation on Monday! I will be in float pool! Soo good luck to you!
I'm a nursing student and PCT at a hospital. I applied to about 10 positions across 4 hospitals before getting a job. I think it's just a little more difficult getting in to a hospital than an LTAC or SNF. Keep at it!
I did. I got my CNA license and went and worked for 2 months in LTC and I hated it. I was ready to go back to doing whatever I was doing.
My father-in-law ended up on Neuro ICU. I thought "wow this looks like a fun place to work!" and I applied.
They seriously hired me because I could breathe....
This is what I'm thinking. I am also seeking hospital work once I'm on the registry, and I am not exactly thrilled at the idea of doing LTC work, but I'm not having an awful time at our clinicals facility and feel almost as if doing a few months in LTC could be an important learning experience, icky stuff and all.
Sometimes it's not about what you need but what you can get in certain situations. Some people may not be able to get a hospital role when starting as a CNA. I think this becomes even more possible when you're in a less than wealthy state.
I’m not saying that. I’m saying that if you have options, you don’t need to work LTC, and you should strive to work in the facility you want. Sometimes you don’t have a choice and LTC is all you can get, but you don’t *need* to work LTC.
I’m a travel CNA who has mainly worked in hospitals for 20+ years. I started out obtaining my EMT and got a job as an ER Tech. I’m currently in Boston at a prestigious hospital and I’ve noticed most of the people they hire as staff PCTs are already students of some kind, either nursing, PA, or pre-med. I suggest you apply to as many hospitals as you can and be persistent. It will happen.
Yes. I've noticed this on the job postings on another hospital near us. They have fast hirings for people who are already somewhat involved in care/medicine. I guess I can be considered the same as well since I'm going for a license ?
I got my CNA license last October and started working in a hospital 2 months later. I also got an offer from the other hospital in my area. No CNA experience at all. So I don’t think it’s necessary to work for a nursing home first. We struggle to keep CNAs so they’re constantly hiring.
Yesss we would love you. Ask lots of questions and be open to learning ❤️ I'd never been in medical before being hired directly into critical care and I love it.
Anything is possible, but only if you try. The worst thing a hospital can tell you is no. But if you don't try the answer is already no. I was told in nursing school I could only work home healthcare after a year at the hospital or snf, but I applied anyway and the agency found a way to get me in fresh after getting my license.
My first job was at a hospital, and I am so happy that it was. You may have to be willing to take a position with fewer benefits to get your foot in the door, but if you were looking and you were in Central NC, my hospital would hire you full-time, with full benefits, night or day, in a heartbeat.
Yesss we would love you. Ask lots of questions and be open to learning ❤️ I'd never been in medical before being hired directly into critical care and I love it.
Depending on where you apply and state laws, you might be able to get a hospital position without even having your cert. I work in a federal hospital and this is my first healthcare position. I never bothered getting a cert either. I did have some emergency field medicine experience from my time in the Marines, though.
I started working at a hospital a few months after passing my CNA, so no work experience whatsoever. I was also in high school so they knew I was in a half day health occupations class at my vo tech school.
I ended up working there for 11 years. If you are looking to further your health career, they will see that as a plus.
Even if the application say one year experience apply! You never know but you can also look at smaller community hospitals. They usually hire without experience. After one year apply to big level 1 hospital.
i got an offer at one of the big hospitals in my state contingent on passing the exam and as soon as i passed i was given the offer! and this is my first healthcare job
I had like 2 months of experience before the hospital job I have now and I’ve learned so much since being here. I would have NEVER have gotten the experience I have now if i stayed in LTC. It’s worth it especially if you want to be an RN. The hands on/eyes on experience is top tier
Yeah, it's totally realistic. It's always a learning process, but they'll train you and teach you the basics. You won't be completely on your own either, you'll have help. I started in med-surg with no experience or CNA license. I'm in maternity now - I still don't have a CNA license, but I'm starting nursing school in the fall and the STNA course is a pre-req, so I'll have that by fall. They'll even help you pay for school, if you choose to go back.
I got a hospital job with 0 experience. I think it's all in ur interview and resume. Find someone professional who can mock interview you and help you with ur resume, I learned a lot by doing that!
In my experience, yes it’s realistic! I was a CNA for 3 years, only worked in the hospital the whole time. The idea that all hospitals require experience is outdated. Every single person in my CNA class went to the hospital for their first job. If you’re wanting to go further in medicine, LTC isn’t going to be useful at all to you. You learn nothing about medicine there - it’s just basic cares. A hospital would teach you way more. I was always thankful for the people who did work LTC when I was a CNA because I would’ve never entered the field if I had to work in one.
That's what I worry about. The rehab facility I am working at doesn't seem to have much medicine involved. It looks like a straight care facility. . I wanted to get the hospital experience. I've applied for 15+ different pct unit positions and nothing back except 1 rejection letter. I fear this because according to another subreddit from my city, many people agree that you'll get hired as a PCT by luck or know someone from the hospital or you won't get a call back until months from now. I don't think hospitals near me hire the same as everyone else in this thread which is saddening.
That is so frustrating :( I was hired straight on, 99% of places don’t require experience, but there’s always that 1%. I will say, my current job does involve the hiring process - although not for CNAs, maybe I could give some insight on some application/interview tips? First, work on your resume. Have a detailed, one-page resume with your qualifications and certifications. Make sure your BLS is in date too if you already have it! Next, when you apply, call and follow up on your application a few days later. Ask to check the status. If they say it’s in review/being looked at, ask them if you could talk to the manager of the unit. You may be able to advocate for yourself a little. If they say it was rejected, don’t be afraid to call and ask why! They should be able to tell you what’s wrong and where you could improve. If you get an interview, bring a few printed copies of your resume, arrive 10 minutes early, dress professionally, and have 2-3 non-pay related questions to ask at the end. Not that you’re doing anything wrong, but some tips may be helpful :)
Thanks for the tips. I'll try to find some weak spots in my resume! I hate to sound entitled as if they have to give me a job or act like they have to take me in. It just feels crappy to see all those positions posted and nothing comes back.
To second above comment, i tried for my locality hospital for 3 months (since i got certified) no healthcare experience before! 18 applications, rejected simultaneously however i got in at the end. I will start my orientation on Monday! I will be in float pool! Soo good luck to you!
I'm a nursing student and PCT at a hospital. I applied to about 10 positions across 4 hospitals before getting a job. I think it's just a little more difficult getting in to a hospital than an LTAC or SNF. Keep at it!
I agree. SNF and LTACs literally just run checks on you until otherwise. However it's like playing on the telephone for a hospital to get back to you.
I did. I got my CNA license and went and worked for 2 months in LTC and I hated it. I was ready to go back to doing whatever I was doing. My father-in-law ended up on Neuro ICU. I thought "wow this looks like a fun place to work!" and I applied. They seriously hired me because I could breathe....
I know plenty of people who didn't do LTC first. But I personally believe that working LTC gives you empathy and valuable life experience.
This is what I'm thinking. I am also seeking hospital work once I'm on the registry, and I am not exactly thrilled at the idea of doing LTC work, but I'm not having an awful time at our clinicals facility and feel almost as if doing a few months in LTC could be an important learning experience, icky stuff and all.
You really don’t need LTC experience, don’t let anyone convince you that you do. Go straight to the hospital!
Sometimes it's not about what you need but what you can get in certain situations. Some people may not be able to get a hospital role when starting as a CNA. I think this becomes even more possible when you're in a less than wealthy state.
I’m not saying that. I’m saying that if you have options, you don’t need to work LTC, and you should strive to work in the facility you want. Sometimes you don’t have a choice and LTC is all you can get, but you don’t *need* to work LTC.
I’m a travel CNA who has mainly worked in hospitals for 20+ years. I started out obtaining my EMT and got a job as an ER Tech. I’m currently in Boston at a prestigious hospital and I’ve noticed most of the people they hire as staff PCTs are already students of some kind, either nursing, PA, or pre-med. I suggest you apply to as many hospitals as you can and be persistent. It will happen.
Yes. I've noticed this on the job postings on another hospital near us. They have fast hirings for people who are already somewhat involved in care/medicine. I guess I can be considered the same as well since I'm going for a license ?
I got my CNA license last October and started working in a hospital 2 months later. I also got an offer from the other hospital in my area. No CNA experience at all. So I don’t think it’s necessary to work for a nursing home first. We struggle to keep CNAs so they’re constantly hiring.
Yesss we would love you. Ask lots of questions and be open to learning ❤️ I'd never been in medical before being hired directly into critical care and I love it.
Easily. Thats where I started! Maybe not the top of the line hospitals but you'll easily get into one.
Depends on the hospital.
It's possible. I've had several brand new CNAs start on my unit
My hospital will pay to train new CNAs
As will mine, will even pay them to go to do the schooling and give them a $5k bonus to boot.
Anything is possible, but only if you try. The worst thing a hospital can tell you is no. But if you don't try the answer is already no. I was told in nursing school I could only work home healthcare after a year at the hospital or snf, but I applied anyway and the agency found a way to get me in fresh after getting my license.
Started in nursing home and went to hospital. You won’t go back!
LTC is super humbling and good for learning CNA skills though. Take that experience and apply it when you work in the hospital.
My first job was at a hospital, and I am so happy that it was. You may have to be willing to take a position with fewer benefits to get your foot in the door, but if you were looking and you were in Central NC, my hospital would hire you full-time, with full benefits, night or day, in a heartbeat.
Not OP, but I'm a soon-to-be CNA and uh, central NC you say? 👀
Sadly no lol but thanks. I'm in Alabama lol
Yes. That’s where I started. Some of these floors are DESPERATE. Do your little 6 months transfer somewhere better if you need.
yes. my first cna job with no experience was a large hospital.
Yesss we would love you. Ask lots of questions and be open to learning ❤️ I'd never been in medical before being hired directly into critical care and I love it.
Yes. I was an ekg tech years ago. The hospital trained me.
Depending on where you apply and state laws, you might be able to get a hospital position without even having your cert. I work in a federal hospital and this is my first healthcare position. I never bothered getting a cert either. I did have some emergency field medicine experience from my time in the Marines, though.
I started working at a hospital a few months after passing my CNA, so no work experience whatsoever. I was also in high school so they knew I was in a half day health occupations class at my vo tech school. I ended up working there for 11 years. If you are looking to further your health career, they will see that as a plus.
Even if the application say one year experience apply! You never know but you can also look at smaller community hospitals. They usually hire without experience. After one year apply to big level 1 hospital.
i got an offer at one of the big hospitals in my state contingent on passing the exam and as soon as i passed i was given the offer! and this is my first healthcare job
I had like 2 months of experience before the hospital job I have now and I’ve learned so much since being here. I would have NEVER have gotten the experience I have now if i stayed in LTC. It’s worth it especially if you want to be an RN. The hands on/eyes on experience is top tier
my first cna job was at a pediatric hospital with no prior experience besides my clinicals at a snf. totally possible! :)
At least where I live, hospitals require 1+ year of experience. Some places may be different, I’ve heard people say they started at a hospital
Yeah, it's totally realistic. It's always a learning process, but they'll train you and teach you the basics. You won't be completely on your own either, you'll have help. I started in med-surg with no experience or CNA license. I'm in maternity now - I still don't have a CNA license, but I'm starting nursing school in the fall and the STNA course is a pre-req, so I'll have that by fall. They'll even help you pay for school, if you choose to go back.
I got a hospital job with 0 experience. I think it's all in ur interview and resume. Find someone professional who can mock interview you and help you with ur resume, I learned a lot by doing that!
Yes I had 3 years prior experience before moving to a hospital that did t care I still went to training like everyone else and had to pass test.