Any Nurse Techs in RN nursing programs?

TheChair1 · Jan 29, 2011

I'd like to hear some responses on this thread too. I am currently in my second semester of a BSN program.

Krista Oxendine · Jan 29, 2011

I am a clinical tech in the emergency dept and have done this for 5 years. I wasn't in nursing school when I got the job. I had 3 weeks of classes Monday through Friday and 60 hours of clinical time offered through the hospital. Even if you are in nursing school they will probably require some kind of orientation and training for you that they should provide. Even a tech position should help you get a position once you graduate. After my first semester of nursing school I became a student nurse extern and they still required me to spend about 2 days in orientation. As far as what they look for in hiring just depends on where you apply and what their staffing is like. Some of my friends who are students with no experience are getting hired. Just highlight the clinical experiences you have had. Hope this helps!

taalyn_1, CNA · Jan 29, 2011

I am in my first semester of RN program and I took a BNA class right before classes started. I still have my certification to take though. As far as what they look for or what is expected, I dont know really. From my experience you are expected to work your A$$ off for very little pay, work extra shifts as much as possible and bend over backwards to please EVERYBODY!! lol. But seriously, they will just want to know you can make a bed, transfer someone safely and properly, give showers/bed baths properly, dress and change pts safely and will give 100%. In my area, if you have at least 1 semester of nursing you can take just the written part of the CNA/Nurse Tech test and become certified. Its awesome that as a Nursing student you are willing to work as an aide/tech. The nurses who have worked as an aide make awesome nurses from what i have seen. The ones who haven't, although knowledgeable and perfectly competent in passing meds, handling paperwork, or wound care, suck at teamwork and the everyday activities of pt/residents lives. Good Luck.

Strawberrygirl2 · Feb 13, 2011

I recommend working as a tech while in nursing school, I have heard it really helps. I works as a tech on a tele unit and not only can I do basic patient care with my eyes closed (not literally!), but I am constantly watching the nurses and asking them questions about their duties. Also, whenever nursing students come in to work with the nurses, I find that I am also able to help the students out a lot with the knowledge and skills that I have. This makes me feel like a will definitely have a foot in the door when I start nursing school. I am hopefully starting nursing school next fall and I am 100% positive that I will be more confident and quicker to learn than many of the other students. Also, nurses are always telling me that if there was one thing they did differently for nursing school, it would be to work as a tech. They all tell me it is SO MUCH HELP! :)

kool-aide, RN · Feb 15, 2011

I recommend working as a tech while in nursing school, I have heard it really helps. I works as a tech on a tele unit and not only can I do basic patient care with my eyes closed (not literally!), but I am constantly watching the nurses and asking them questions about their duties. Also, whenever nursing students come in to work with the nurses, I find that I am also able to help the students out a lot with the knowledge and skills that I have. This makes me feel like a will definitely have a foot in the door when I start nursing school. I am hopefully starting nursing school next fall and I am 100% positive that I will be more confident and quicker to learn than many of the other students. Also, nurses are always telling me that if there was one thing they did differently for nursing school, it would be to work as a tech. They all tell me it is SO MUCH HELP! :)

I agree, I'm a CNA in my hospital's nursing float pool and I work in three different hospitals on all the units that CNAs are utilized. My hospital calls us CNAs but it's the equivalent to a "tech" job. If you work on a med/surg floor they'll probably have you taking v/s, blood sugars, recording I&O, answering call lights, and assisting w ADLs... normal stuff..

I have learned SO MUCH in just my 2 short years as a CNA... I feel like I will have a DEFINITE edge in nursing school (I will hopefully be a BSN student next fall!)

In addition to using you as a tech, you'll probably be used as a pt sitter for confused pts. This isn't as fun as working on the floor but it's great experience.

I will also soon be trained to work in our cardiac tele monitoring room which will be awesome knowledge!

I LOVE MY JOB!! It's awesome.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Feb 17, 2011

But I was just wondering how many of YOU have actually gotten a Nurse Tech position with out any certification and just by completing 1+ more semesters of the RN program you are in???
Also, any suggestions/tips for those of you who are already nurse techs about how to get the job or what they might be expecting from you as a tech. THANKS!

I have. I did have some prior experience as a PCNA, though (patient care nursing assistant...basically a "glorified" name for a nursing assistant) - but only for four months. That + 1year of nursing school (because that is what my hospital requires) helped me land a job as a tech, along with letters of recommendation from instructors and also sending in tons of applications.

AFwife727, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2011

I'm currently in my 3rd semester of nursing school (RN-BSN). I just got a job as a nurse tech on a rehab floor (rehab for patients with hip replacements, strokes, etc.). In nursing school, I'm in class two days a week and in clinical one day out of the week. Clinicals consist of 12-hour shifts. I shouldn't be working more than 24 hours a week at my job, or two 12-hour shifts. Eek. AND I'm married to a man in the U.S. military! Hopefully it's not too crazy! I've never done that kind of work for such an extended period of time. But I'm taking it as preparation for when I'm an RN; you'll be better able to manage your time effectively because you'll have been there, done that. You'll get an idea of what works for YOU. It also enables you to get more hands-on with patients--YOUR patients. In nursing school, it's a lot of following your preceptor (RN) around.

meltnpointofwax · Apr 27, 2011

I'm about to finish my 2nd semester of nursing school. Only 2 more semesters to go after this! :yeah:I've been working as a nurse tech (we call ourselves ACP's here) for about a month and a half. I don't have my CNA certification. The only requirement was to be finished with the 1st semester of nursing school and to have CPR certification.

I work for a Magnet hospital here in Florida, a hospital that I would love to work when I'm an RN. The experience has been very good so far. It's not really helping me with my nursing skills, but it is helping me feel way more confident around nurses, doctors, and most importantly patients, during clinicals. My manager said he hires a lot of ACP's on as RN's from my school.

Recent RN grads that worked as ACP's got hired on into their hospitals. Other grads that didn't work struggled to get jobs. At least that's what I've seen with a lot of people I know.

Good luck finding a job. Get that foot in the door!

MiniBabyRN · Apr 28, 2011

I'm in my last semester of nursing school and I started working as a tech last summer. It has been a really great experience. I work for my hospital's registry, which means that I get to float everywhere (and make m own schedule!!). You will get to see and do a lot and become a lot more confident working in the hospital setting with a variety of patients. I also ended up getting a full time nursing job at this hospital for after graduation, even without having an externship, and I think having worked there really helped. Just make sure that you are not being required to work too many hours per week during the school year because you definitely need plenty of time to study!

I didn't need any additional certification beyond my time in nursing school for my job. My day usually consists of things like vitals, bed baths, ambulating and transferring patients, accuchecks, lab draws, changing linens, passing waters, answering call lights, etc.

Sabr&Shukr · May 24, 2011

I'm about to finish my first semester of an RN program and I was just hired yesterday for a nurse tech/assistant position at a local-area hospital. I don't have my certification as a nursing assistant, but I am a medical assistant. All of the nurses I talk with, especially my advisors, say that the best thing you can do is work as a tech/assistant before you graduate, so that you can gain some experience. It looks better if you have that on your resume' when you begin searching for RN positions after graduation. You don't have to go through the CNA course, but once you complete your first semester of a nursing program, you can sit in for the CNA exam to become certified. It all depends on what you want to do, and where you live. Best wishes on everything you do!

jeepjag · May 24, 2011

Like a couple others, I am in school as well and just got hired as an ACP. I am in my 2nd term of a 4 term ADN program. All that the hospitals in this area of FL require is successful completion of the first term of nursing school. I literally got hired yesterday, though. I do have a BS in Psych, but the only requirement was the successful completion of first term!