Non-CNA Jobs You Can Work While You're a Student - Page 4

Great article! I worked as a housekeeper before transitioning to CNA. I just think it adds to your life experience and you get to know what it's like to work different positions in the hospital. You can become a very multifaceted individual. I just passed NCLEX and am waiting to transition into my first nursing job.

There have been various nurses I've worked with that said they used to work in dietary/EVS/sterile processing/linen/transport/CNA. It helps immensely when you're trying to network. All the important people see your face and if you do a good enough job at what you do, they will remember you.

Since I was a housekeeper and now an aide, I will say I got closer to the unit managers as an aide as opposed to being a housekeeper. You're more useful to them because if you're per diem like I am, you can float and really help other floors out when they're short. When I was a housekeeper, I was noticed and recognized but only up to a point.

However, it can serve as a stepping off point and you can hopefully "climb the ladder," potentially easing the difficulty of trying to get an RN job after graduation. In general, most places will try to hire from within, you have a slightly better chance being an internal candidate. On the flipside, just remember with how bad things are for new grads, no job is guaranteed until you get that job offer.

I never thought me being a CNA equated to having an RN job "in the bag." I'm hoping to get called for an interview on our surgical floor and I also have a meeting with our recruiters for our new grad program. One of my classmates kept bragging that she was guaranteed a job on her floor where she works as a unit secretary but she has yet to be hired. I would never go around saying stuff like that.

I agree!!! In my area, Southeastern PA, just about all of the jobs that deal with patients (unit clerk, non-certified nirse asst., etc.) want at least a year of experience in medical or hospital setting, which I don't have. It seems as if those jobs are pretty "teachable" imo, but the hospitals aren't willing to teach! But again, I am in a large city, so maybe that's why.

Thank you for this article. It seems that nursing students often get stuck with the CNA jobs. I am glad to know there are other options!

Medical Assistant in a doctor's office type setting can also be great experience, although it probably won't give you as much of a "foot in the door" for an RN job as working as a CNA would. I also second what someone else said about working as a unit secretary. I have known a handful that got hired in their same facility immediately after graduating.

Okay thank you @ Miiki I just applied for a position waiting for a response. Thanks

Im a CNA in pre-nursing, I have already crossed trained into a monitor tech and got my medication aide. I have to say, I already have a ton of experiance under my belt, and while working with RN's I learn so much, they explain everything to me. I know when Im actually in nursing classes I will do well...not to mention the confidence I will have during clinicals. I recommend becoming a CNA!!!

Oh I forgot to metion that I was already offered a RN position for when I graduate. I already have a job secured =] Im so happy!

Before I got accepted into nursing school, I went to school to become an MA. Currently I work in a hospital in the lab. I was interested in going to CNA route per diem once I move to PA for nursing school, but to get trained and certified costs a lot of money and I am focused to saving money for school/my own place right now. I won't have the time or money to do so. Where I live in NJ, they have PCAs that don't require experience or certifications...hopefully I can find a hospital that implements PCAs or PCTs. I've heard of some places taking current nursing students on as CNAs after they've finished med-surg...is that still true?

Good day:

Can anyone share what their resume looked like when they were in nursing school applying for these types of positions?

Thank you.

Here's a personal info removed copy of mine. It's gotten me a couple of jobs so I did something right.

Notice that it is one page.

I just noticed that one of my job descriptions doesn't match its title. That's what I get for starting to change something and not finishing. It never made it to a potential employer like that. Haha