How do you survive until you get accepted to a school?

Hello Friends!

I am in a pickle and I was wondering if anyone has any ideas. As a PRE-Nursing student, how do you get your foot in the door at a hospital (and earn enough to live/pay rent/previous student loans)? I have an undergraduate degree in biology, but have been mostly working in high tech for 8 years and I am slowly chipping away at nursing school prerequisites. So it will be about 2 years before I will be able to apply to nursing school and I need to work full time until then.

I am currently getting certified in phlebotomy, but then what? All of the jobs I see say that you need 1-2 yrs. experience as a phlebotomist and I will only have a half dozen days of externship. I would love to get a position in a hospital or clinic, especially since some hospitals help you out with school in terms of debt forgiveness. I would especially be interested in anyone's experience in the bay area.

Thanks!