Does working during nursing school help new grads get jobs?

[moofy]

Hi all,

From these boards, I see that a lot of new grads have had trouble finding work as an RN. It sounds like even having a year or two of working experience makes a huge difference to potential employers. I'm currently a student and I'm wondering if I should start working as a CNA now so I'll have a few years of work to put down on my resume by the time I graduate. I know the jobs of RNs and CNAs are very different, but in the eyes of an employer, would a new grad with a few years experience as a CNA put one at a significant advantage over other new grads without any work experience?

Thanks for your help!

[ShiphrahPuah]

Absolutely. I graduated in May 2008, and I think everyone in my class who was already working in a hospital had jobs lined up early while I still know other students who graduated with me a year ago who still have not found work. It will make you stand out from all the other new grads. All the hospitals in my area that have specific new grad programs have posted on their websites that all their new grad slots for May 2009 graduates have been filled by internal hires. No matter what you do in a hospital (CNA, unit clerk, even ER registration which is what I did) will give you experience that will help you. You get a chance to show you are hard working, you learn the computer system, you meet lots of people on staff and have lots of possibilities for references, you get more comfortable with patients, and you get a feel for the workings of a hospital.

[SoCaliGirl]

What about volunteering somewhere? Do you think this is just as effective?

[JennNJ83]

I have no experience in the medical field, a little in behavioral health but thats it. I start nursing school in the fall and would like to obviously have an advantage from my cohorts when I graduate in 2 years, how do you get into the CNA or tech positions, what qualifications do you need?

[moofy]

At my school, they say that most hospitals will take you in as a CNA once you've finished your first year. Some of the local job openings I've looked up online do say they will accept students currently enrolled in an accredited nursing program in lieu of certification.

I'm still in my first year so I guess I'm not ready for that yet myself. I've heard that you can work for a nursing home as a home health aide, which is like a CNA, without any prior training or certification. I'm worried however that it won't be as valuable as experience in an actual hospital, because I'd like to work in a hospital eventually.

Thanks so much for all the advice, everyone!

[nursealanarae]

Definately. I did an internship my last year of nursing school and got my current job through there. All of my friends whom have jobs got their jobs from being aides on the floor.

[lsad78]

One word..YUP!...Definitely think about getting some hands on experience at the bedside...Nursing school (in my opinion) just doesn't prepare you enough for the "real" world of nursing...It also gives you and edge!...Good luck to you!

[86toronado, BSN, RN]

SoCali-

To answer your question about volunteering, in most hospitals, due to rules and regulations, volunteers don't get a whole lot of patient contact, and are relagated to filing, answering the phones, and possibly filling patient's water pitchers at the most