Working while in school

[RNSuzq1, RN]

I left my part-time job after being accepted into a Full-Time Nursing Program that begins next week (the hours for the job were 9am-2pm, so it wasn't possible to do that and go to school). The hospitals in the area won't hire you as a Nursing Assistant unless you have a CNA License (very long waiting list for CNA courses, so that's out of the question). We have 3 children, husband works nights at a local hospital - so with school and studying, the only time I'll be able to work is weekends.

School is paid for, but I have to bring in some income to help with bills, groceries, etc. I'd love to do some sort of work in a hospital and was wondering if hospitals ever hire Nursing Students for positions that don't require a CNA license. Does anyone have any brilliant ideas/suggestions for part-time weekend work I could do while in Nursing School?

Thanks for any help you can give. Susan

[Paleobug]

The hospitals in my area have nurse apprentice positions for nursing students who have completed their first semester of nursing school. The pay is usually better than for CNAs.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

The hospitals in the area won't hire you as a Nursing Assistant unless you have a CNA License (very long waiting list for CNA courses, so that's out of the question). I'd love to do some sort of work in a hospital and was wondering if hospitals ever hire Nursing Students for positions that don't require a CNA license. Does anyone have any brilliant ideas/suggestions for part-time weekend work I could do while in Nursing School?

Thanks for any help you can give. Susan

Susan, this doesn't help RIGHT NOW, but you may be able to be hired for a CNA position after you've had a semester of clinical experience - it's often considered equivalent to CNA training.

Otherwise, there should be other opportunities at a hospital - dietary (food service), patient escort/transport, & patient registration are some that I can think of that still need people on the weekends. Hope something turns up! :)

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

Yes, patient registration and other clerical work might be something you can do in the hospital setting. Also, every once in a while, something out of the ordinary comes up that might fit the bill. For instance, part-time activity assistant in a rehab. When I was in your position, I applied for and was offered that position. All that was required was an outgoing sunny disposition and a willingness to interact with the patients.

Keep checking online with your local hospitals' career links and look out for these rare finds. It might interest you to know that only two weeks into my first semester clinical, a few of us were offered jobs as techs at the hospital where we were doing our rotation. It can happen that fast.

[khrissi17]

Do you all think I should continue working as a CNA in Nursing school or wait after my first semester and then start working again as a Student Nursing Assistant after my first semester of clinicals?? Cause I thought I would be able to start the program (20 credits/5 classes) this semester and work 16hr/wk the max but do you all think??