How do I get an Interview for CNA w/ Online Applications?

I will be starting my second year of an RN to BSN program this fall and I am certified as a CNA II right now. All of my nursing friends have told me that I need to have some work experience as a CNA to get hired as an RN in a hospital. Not that it's required, but it helps with experience and also to get my foot in the door at a facility. The problem I'm having is all that hospitals in my area (suburbs of Charlotte, NC) have online applications. I have been submitting applications but have not received any calls for an interview. Is there a different way to go about the application process? What would happen if I take my resume to the HR department of a hospital to try and put a face with a name? Will someone take my resume? Will they chat with me at all to see what I'm looking for? Any suggestions? Thanks!
Hi Bumblebee, how's it going? have you had any luck? I ran into the same problem. I ended up going to the HR department directly (a couple of times) but didn't feel that was much help. After the third time, I was told that most managers are probably wanting to have someone with experience so they wouldn't really consider me. I got the feeling my resume wasn't being forwarded to any managers. So I decided to go straight to the hiring managers myself. My first choice was the ER so I went over and asked for the manager. I was dressed up and had resumes in hand. I told her that I had applied for a job but felt the process was a bit impersonal so thought I would come and introduce myself. Her words to me: "You are very smart". She asked me what my plans were and I told her I was in nursing school but have the summer off. She asked if I wanted something for summer only and I said no. She asked if I had any experience in the ER. I said no but I'm a quick learner, hard worker and willing to learn. She asked if I wanted a tour of the ER. I said yes. After about an hour, we said goodbye and she gave me her direct line to call her if I didn't hear from the hiring manager. I sat down right there to write her a thank you note, handwritten. That was on a Friday afternoon. I called her back on Wednesday around 4 p.m. and left her a VM saying I hadn't heard anything yet. She called me the next morning and left me a VM saying she had forwarded my resume with her recommendation to the hiring manager and that they were contacting Nurse Recruitment. By the following Wednesday, I received an email from their HR department requesting an interview. I meet with them all next week for my interview. They asked me for a minimum of 2 letters of recommendation. I think that's a good sign. I guess I'll find out next week.My recommendation to you: put a face to the resume. I had been submitting resumes online to 3 different hospitals for the past 8 months and this is the one and only in-person submission I've made, which resulted in an interview. Good luck! Keep me posted.
Thank you so much NCPhoenix for your advice! I will definitely try to put some of those suggestions into action for myself. I will keep you posted.
Great! Good luck!!!