Any ideas??

time2fly · Jul 15, 2007

I'm applying for LPN school for Sept of 08. They require you have some sort of health related experience. I am going to talk to my family doctor about volunteering in his office. Does anyone have any idea what I could do there?? Has anyone done this? Also, is there any other things I could do to get health related experience? TIA!

Have you thought about being a CNA? It's a great way to learn about what nursing will be like because you work directly with them and can learn all sorts of stuff from them.

Karencita1228 · Jul 15, 2007

I'm applying for LPN school for Sept of 08. They require you have some sort of health related experience. I am going to talk to my family doctor about volunteering in his office. Does anyone have any idea what I could do there?? Has anyone done this? Also, is there any other things I could do to get health related experience? TIA!

It wasn't a requirement for my NS, but a nursing advisor at my previous school suggested that I do some volunteer work at a local hospital. She said this would expose me to the working environment of nurses, and it would be a way for me to be sure that nursing is what I'd like to do for the rest of my life. I did some over the summer in L & D, and I loved it! I asked the nurses lots of questions, and I learned a few things about the system.

I filed a lot of papers, answered phone calls, escorted pts' families to rooms, and asked questions, questions, and more questions! I enjoyed the experience, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has never had any health related experience before.

2bRnKim · Jul 16, 2007

I agree that you go for your CNA. It doesn't take to long to get certified and you can do long term care or hospital work. You will be exposed to actual patient care and learn the lingo of the medical field. It will also boost your confidence being around patients and you will be ahead of all of the other nursing students in that since. Oh! You will also get a paycheck! That kind of medical experience is going to be more solid than volunteering, though if that is all you can do, than it's better than nothing. Some hospitals have shadowing programs- you just have to call around and ask. They ask you what your goals are in the medical field and will let you shadow medical personnel for a few days. (no pay of course.) Hope this helps.

Kim

KimmieKoo72 · Jul 16, 2007

I am a new LPN, and it also was not a requirement at my school to have previous experience. But like the other posters have suggested it would be a *wonderful* idea to get your CNA/STNA, some hospitals even have PCAs who don't have any certifications. I wish I would have had that experience behind me when I started school! Especially since you have a year until you start, that would give you plenty of time to get some experience! Good luck to you!!!!!!