[goodgalpal]

Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts/suggestions or helpful info for me. I'll give you a little background info and let it go from there:

I am 29 yrs old and have a degree in Psychology and a current job in a non-healthcare field. I am taking my last pre-reqs for nursing and will be applying to nursing school in May 2009.

I've heard that it is a good idea to "get your foot in the door" by doing CNA type work, and that some places will also pay a portion of your schooling to become an LPN or RN if you are a CNA etc, at their facility.

Can someone please tell me what they know about getting a job in the medical field that has this opportunity? I would appreciate any "leads" that anyone can offer me, as I am VERY NEW to this whole concept and if you know of any places that offer this I would love to know.

Also does anyone know if I should volunteer since I have no experience or if I could be hired in "off the street"

Thanks so much in advance!

[RN2B73]

I am pretty much in the same boat as you I have completed all of my pre-reqs and co-reqs and am on the waitlist for my nursing program. I currently volunteer at the hospital near me because I too have no medical background and figured it could only help. I've been trying to find a job for months working in any one of the local hospitals around but I haven't had any luck. The only advice I can offer at this point is be persistent and if you think you'd like to volunteer then do it. You're not only doing something that will I'm sure benefit you somehow in the future but you're doing something good for others as well. I get to work with patients in a non-medical capacity. I'd much rather be doing a little more hands on to prepare me for my future but oh well. Best of luck to you

[typhanie78]

Originally Posted by goodgalpal

I am 29 yrs old and have a degree in Psychology and a current job in a non-healthcare field.

Hi, I was just wondering if you have your associates or bachelors in Psychology? I'm currently going for my Bachelors in Psych at Baker (while taking pre-req's for the Nursing program as well) I've just always been interested in Psychology so I want to get both degrees just to please myself. LOL

What type of jobs have you been able to find with a Psych degree? I'm just not sure what I would be qualified to do once I get that degree.

Also I agree with the above responder. Just apply to the hospital website for some jobs or even go up there and tell them you'd like to volunteer just to get your foot in the door and some experience.

[goodgalpal]

My degree is a BA. It is a 4 year degree. There is not a whole lot you can do with it! If you want to do social work, you can but the options (and pay) are limited. I did work with PDD/NOS children for about 2 yrs and made around $12/hr as a SUPERVISOR. Very low pay in my opinion. I then got a job in "counseling" but it is not mental health counseling like I would have wanted to do. PM me if you need more info but I don't want to post it here.

Anyway, I have 2 more pre-req classes left before I can apply to nursing school! YEA!!! Now I need to figure out how to get "experience"

[beth66335]

Originally Posted by goodgalpal

Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts/suggestions or helpful info for me. I'll give you a little background info and let it go from there:

I am 29 yrs old and have a degree in Psychology and a current job in a non-healthcare field. I am taking my last pre-reqs for nursing and will be applying to nursing school in May 2009.

I've heard that it is a good idea to "get your foot in the door" by doing CNA type work, and that some places will also pay a portion of your schooling to become an LPN or RN if you are a CNA etc, at their facility.

Can someone please tell me what they know about getting a job in the medical field that has this opportunity? I would appreciate any "leads" that anyone can offer me, as I am VERY NEW to this whole concept and if you know of any places that offer this I would love to know.

Also does anyone know if I should volunteer since I have no experience or if I could be hired in "off the street"

Thanks so much in advance!

Doing CNA work will help you learn basic pt care, and make you more comfortable around pts. I was a CNA for 4 years before starting NS and I got my certificate through the American Red Cross. Around here hospitals know what a good program they have, and I had a job before I finished the course. It took 5 weeks and then I took a state test. I think you can work as an aide after your 1st semester of NS but you probably wouldn't be certified w/o the testing. You can still work most areas of the hospital except ICU/CCU and maybe Cardiac (That's how it is where I live) but it is good experience anyway, I wasn't scared when I started clinicals like some of my fellow students because the environment was familiar.

[JillianRN2B]

Unless you really need to work, I would suggest holding off until the 2nd semester of Nursing school. I had zero medical background and was working in retail when I started Nursing school last Fall. I just worked part time at that job during the first semester.
They teach you the basics of patient care in school and you are eased into it pretty well in the first clinical. After that first semester, you can get a job as a nurse extern, student nurse tech, or student nurse associate. All will be really flexible with your class schedule and all pay well (more than a CNA, and you get to do more)
Also, because CNA's are certified, I imagine you would have to pay money for the class. Probably not worth it, because before you know it you will be learning it in nursing school, and trust me, by the time you are done with the first year, those CNA type duties will be the last thing on your mind!! You will be trying to pass some tests on very intense information.

Good luck to you,
Jillian

[JillianRN2B]

Originally Posted by beth66335

Doing CNA work will help you learn basic pt care, and make you more comfortable around pts. I was a CNA for 4 years before starting NS and I got my certificate through the American Red Cross. Around here hospitals know what a good program they have, and I had a job before I finished the course. It took 5 weeks and then I took a state test. I think you can work as an aide after your 1st semester of NS but you probably wouldn't be certified w/o the testing. You can still work most areas of the hospital except ICU/CCU and maybe Cardiac (That's how it is where I live) but it is good experience anyway, I wasn't scared when I started clinicals like some of my fellow students because the environment was familiar.

Just a side note, my study buddy for nursing school had taken health careers vocational class in high school, and had worked as an aide before starting nursing school and she was still scared to death of the first day of clinicals!!

[SerenityRN2b2010]

Not sure if guys are aware of this or not, so I am posting the info anyway.

After you have completed your fundamentals of nursing class you can fill out this form http://www.michigan.gov/documents/ci...pt_59252_7.pdf

to be exempt from CNA training. Then all you have to do is take the certification test and get your CNA cert. This way you will have that so you can get a job in a nursing home or hospital as a CNA while you wait for a job as an extern.

You must currently enrolled in a nursing program to qualify. Check it out, it may be something to look into.

[John20]

You actually don't need to fill out any paperwork if you have already been accepted into nursing school. I work at a hospital as an aide (not certified, but I get paid the same and have the same responsiblities) and I have not even started my nursing program yet and have no prior health care experience. The hospital checked my references to make sure I had been accepted then hired me and trained me on the job.

I also have a buddy who is trying to get into PA school who has been an aide in a different local hospital system for over a year. He had no healthcare experience (was an engineer for one of the big 3). He wouldn't take no for an answer and kept badgering HR departments until they gave him an interview. His hospital trained him on the job as well.

[SerenityRN2b2010]

Originally Posted by John20

You actually don't need to fill out any paperwork if you have already been accepted into nursing school. I work at a hospital as an aide (not certified, but I get paid the same and have the same responsiblities) and I have not even started my nursing program yet and have no prior health care experience. The hospital checked my references to make sure I had been accepted then hired me and trained me on the job.

I also have a buddy who is trying to get into PA school who has been an aide in a different local hospital system for over a year. He had no healthcare experience (was an engineer for one of the big 3). He wouldn't take no for an answer and kept badgering HR departments until they gave him an interview. His hospital trained him on the job as well.

You do have to fill out a form to be exempt from CNA training to sit for certification as a CNA. Also, those in hospital training jobs for nursing assistant are hard to find right now and getting your CNA certs with no experience couldn't hurt to boost your chances. I have been applying to all my local hospitals and even not so local and still have yet to be called for a job as a nursing assistant. I have no experience and I have been accepted and am registered for nursing classes for Fall. No calls, no nothing. I am taking the CNA test after I complete fundamentals so that I will at least have my CNA certification which will hopefully set me apart from other applicants who do not have it.

If you don't mind saying, what hospitals did you and your friend have no problems getting hired at with no experience? This information couldn't hurt.