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Hello All. I was wondering if anyone knew how easy it is for a first semester nursing student to get a job in a hospital as a cna or student nurse position? Would it be better to wait until after the first semester's clinical rotation? Thanks

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Specializes in E.R..

I don't know about the requirements where you live, but where I live you can't work as a Nurse Extern until you have finished your 1st year of nursing school/ or finished pharmacology. In the hospital where I work, you can't work as a CNA unless you are certified as a CNA. I don't know how much this helps, but I hope I provided you with a little bit of an answer.

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Where I live the first semester of a 2-year program is the same as your CNA and will allow you to start in the hospital.

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here there are many jobs that require "completion of Intro to nursing". That being said, I opted instead for a position that is not a nursing assistant position, but is in a hospital and has an understanding that I need flexibility for working around clinicals/test times etc. (I work as a receptionist evenings/weekends part time)

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

in my state you need to take a cna course and obtain a cna license to work as a cna. you cannot take x amount of nursing school for it to replace taking the cna course and passing the cna exam. however, even if this is not the case in your state, i still suggest that you should not wait until nursing school. work at the hospital doing anything you can so you gain exposure and a reputation.

work prn (as needed) if you must to start in order to have a flexible schedule. if you must work full-time for benefits, any job at the hospital will do, not just cna so long as you can work shifts and not deal with the typical 8-5 m-f job. also, once you qualify, apply for your hospital's nurse extern program.

working as a nurse extern is an excellent way to gain the necessary high-order clinical and critical thinking skills to supplement nursing school. in addition, being a nurse extern will make you a competitive candidate to be hired on as a new graduate nurse. in fact, usually nurse externs have a job before graduation unlike their classmates. i have already had three job offers by hiring managers and i have not yet applied. gl! :D

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here there are "nursing assistant" positions and seperate "certified nursing assistant" positions. The prior is generally geared specifically towards nursing students who are LPN/RN bound, and imo their way of inviting you in as early as possible in hopes that you'll stay once you get your RN. The hospitals here are very student friendly. But those positions are not going to be nearly as clinically intensive as say a CNA position, going by the job descriptions anyways.

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Specializes in LTC.

I work in a LTC facility as an aide...After I complet pharm. (3rd quarter, first year) I can become a nurse tech (pass meds, do treatments, ect.)...Until then I am stuck being an aide...LOL...STILL though I learn SO much...The nurses are more than willing to talk about the steps in what they are doing...I've had nurses show me how to change all sorts of dressings, change PEG tubes, ect...SO I feel going into nursing school I have SUCH an advantage!

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Hello All. I was wondering if anyone knew how easy it is for a first semester nursing student to get a job in a hospital as a cna or student nurse position? Would it be better to wait until after the first semester's clinical rotation? Thanks

It depends on the hospital/area. In my area, you can become a nurse tech after completing one successful clinical rotation. Some hospitals (like the Cleveland Clinic) require a med-surg rotation whereas other hospitals (like Akron Children's) just require a general rotation. The pay varies from hospital to hospital and it's like a CNA, but not. I plan on pursuing a nurse tech position after my first year of clinicals because I think it will really help me on practicing nursing skills while I'm not in school and it will help me prepare for the upcoming school year =)

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Specializes in LTC.
The pay varies from hospital to hospital and it's like a CNA, but not.

Really? Where I work...the pay is 3-4 dollars an hour more...BUT you do everything a nurse does except count the narcotics...you do have to work with a RN though.

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