Best job for professional w/ business degree wanting to enter nursing?

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Hi All,

First post and new here!

A little background for you - I got a Bachelors in Business in May 2004 and have worked as a sales professional since that time.

I found a school where I want to get my BSN, met with a counselor and I have 7 classes I need to take to be accepted. I resigned from my job last Friday and enrolled in 3 classes and will take the other 4 classes over the next year.

I am only in classes on Tuesday and Thursday. It is imperative that I get a job quickly in a healthcare field, ideally an 8-12 hour shift on M,W,F. I was declined in my application to be a Patient Care Tech, they stated they don't require certifications but prefer CNA or phlembotomy certification.

Considering my background and goals of attaining my BSN and working as an RN, what would be the best position for me?

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The cna course at community college in my area is 6 weeks. Class is two nights/week, clinical is on Saturdays. I've read here that there are even shorter classes in some other states and sometimes free, but around here it takes 6 weeks and you have to pay community college tuition which is no biggie coz it's affordable. Hospitals here also say the same thing - they don't require cna for pct positions but good luck getting hired without your cna or one semester of nursing school - it just doesn't seem to happen. So since you have some time take the cna class now and you can have your license and be ready to work by March or April.

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Hi heelhook80,

I agree with the above post regarding taking cna program; like you, I quit my full time job in the marketing field to become an RN and I am about to start school this spring. However, unlike you, I graduated 10 years ago so most of my classes need to be taken again.

I am in los angeles county, and cna classes usually runs between 6-20 weeks long, depending on where you take it. I have been applying in hospitals for any non-licensed entry level positions to no avail. They prefer someone with certifications, if not first-hand knowledge. I am now volunteering in some local hospitals to earn some experience while I am waiting for my CNA class to start.

Good luck on your search.

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I am planning on volunteering at a local hospital very soon.

How likely is it after volunteering for a couple weeks that you will be able to get a part time entry level job with the hospital?

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/should-i-become-273463.html

I am hesitant about becoming a CNA because of threads like the one above and since the courses around here are about $600 and 12 weeks long.

Basically I need income and since CNA cert isn't required to the schools I want to get into I figure I will try to volunteer and get an entry level hospital job out of that then if that doesn't work get a bartending or part time sales job, get straight A's and in my pre-req's and then go to nursing school from there.

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hi again heelhook80,

Around my area, you have to commit to a 100 hours of volunteering in the hospital, and I believe the minimum hour is 4 hours a day, then you get a certificate of appreciation from that hospital that you can include with your nursing application. I am guessing, maybe it will give you a better chance of getting a job eventually in hospitals.

Also, some hospitals in LA county have some programs for students that are currently taking their pre-reqs. I am not sure about your locations but you should call hospitals and inquire if its available.

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my update in case anyone cares - I'm going to take another sales job that will work around my class schedule. Work there stricly as a means for a better future and will leave whenever I get accepted into Nursing school.

I was willing to take a huge pay cut to get healthcare experience and get a hospital to pay for my school but I have tried for one month no to no avail.

I have a mortgage and other bills so I guess when I apply in December to the two nursing programs I want to get into my related healthcare experience will just have to be whatever volunteer time I can fit into my schedule.

I am disappointed I have a college degree and can't even get a job transporting patients but I understand the economy is tough and jobs fill up quickly so I will have to do something else.

I guess at least this way if I don't get into nursing school I will at least have a job that pays more than $10 an hour like most of the hospital jobs I've applied to.

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I am disappointed I have a college degree and can't even get a job transporting patients but I understand the economy is tough and jobs fill up quickly so I will have to do something else.

Im also a career changer with a BA in an unrelated field. I've come to learn that a college degree is a dime a dozen these days. I'm finishing my prereqs with students who have masters/phds and bachelors degrees. Unless you went to a top 10 school (im talking Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, etc) don't think your "business degree" is worth much. In my area, unless you have a hard degree in a field such as accounting, engineering or nursing, it doesn't seem like a BA/BS means much anymore.

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Im also a career changer with a BA in an unrelated field. I've come to learn that a college degree is a dime a dozen these days. I'm finishing my prereqs with students who have masters/phds and bachelors degrees. Unless you went to a top 10 school (im talking Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, etc) don't think your "business degree" is worth much. In my area, unless you have a hard degree in a field such as accounting, engineering or nursing, it doesn't seem like a BA/BS means much anymore.

Agreed. Although, interestingly enough, some jobs require you to have a degree of some sort, even if it isn't related to the job itself. My last two jobs have been that way. I think they just want to ensure that you have some basic knowledge. But like a friend of mine said, a basic 4 year degree is really the high school diploma of our parents generation.

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OP,

Don't feel bad about having a business degree that still is not yet appreciated in healthcare. Everntually it will pay dividends after you finish the BSN, put in a couple of years, and begin to think about the next step.

After 5 years in education and 4 in business (with an MBA), I am currently interviewing for several accelerated BSN programs around the country. Most of them did not shy away from inviting me despite my lack of healthcare experience. The most I could offer on my applications was 120 hours of peds hospital volunteer experience over a 6 month period and the completion of the required prereqs.

As far as gaining compensated employment in healthcare, have you looked into a sponsored CNA course? Typically you can find accelerated CNA classes that run 2-3 weeks full time, which then spill directly into employment at your sponsor's facilities. I know a couple of people who signed work agreements to receive free CNA training and certification in exchange for a 6 month or 1 year work commitment. And the combined training and state certification comes out to @ $1000. As well, both acquaintances are happy with the CNA pay, which is around $13-18/hr based on shift differential. You should contact some of the private institutions in your area and ask if any local healthcare organizations (hospitals, hospice, long term care facility) recruit candidates pre-graduation. There are usually a few understaffed places that will gladly pay the course fee in exchange for a guaranteed employee ready to work in less than 30 days.

Hope this helps....

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