...best jobs while in nursing school.

Nursing Students General Students

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...just wondering with the students out there. what are, or where the best jobs that you or people you know have kept as nursing students. It would be cool to put up an article to inform.

Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.

I worked as a Paramedic while I was in school and the experience I gained was invaluable, but unless you are certified, that would not be an option for you. Getting a nursing job can be very competitive so if there are any openings within your heath care systems either tech or CNA postions I would say go for that so you will already have your foot in the door when you graduate. Good luck :nurse:

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EMT-B. I'm a Vol. FireFighter/EMT and PRN ALS service EMT-B and work full time as an ER Tech. Being an ER tech get's you hands on experience with IV's, splints, casts, you see a little bit of everything. Not all is drama or trauma, but you can learn a lot if you want to. ER tech jobs are everywhere!

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I agree that paramedic would be better! But I'm a EMT-B right now and not wanting to spend extra time in school when I'm almost an RN!

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-Flexible hours.

-Little real responsibility.

-Everyone needs to shop... so you can build your network there.

-You interact with a wide variety of people.

Why wouldn't you believe me?

Ha! I don't believe this for one second, :lol2: :lol2:

Meeting sales goals, crummy schedules, full flex schedules (even at part time), rude people (found everywhere, though), responsibility with money, having no job security, no sympathy from employers that you are a student...need I go on. Can you tell I HATE retail?

I currently work at a residential facility for the mentally ill and it is awesome. I can study and do homework and since I work 2nd shift, it's easy peasy.

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Specializes in CTICU/CVICU.

Definitely if you can, getting a CNA job is best. You really get a good experience and get to see a lot of things while in school. Don't get me wrong..it is HARD work! But, totally worth it.

I worked as a nursing assistant on a cardiac floor for a year before networking my way to a ER tech position. I like this position a LOT better...no more wiping butts and feeding patients!

I also work as a substitute teacher, which I also recommend. Good money, fairly easy (if you like kids) and major flexible.

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Specializes in Case Manager.
Ha! I don't believe this for one second, :lol2: :lol2:

Meeting sales goals, crummy schedules, full flex schedules (even at part time), rude people (found everywhere, though), responsibility with money, having no job security, no sympathy from employers that you are a student...need I go on. Can you tell I HATE retail?

I currently work at a residential facility for the mentally ill and it is awesome. I can study and do homework and since I work 2nd shift, it's easy peasy.

Yeah I was completely kidding about this retail post. I HATE retail also, but they'll hire the easiest... I've tried getting these "nice" jobs to coincide along with school but to no avail.

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I work at starbucks :) on the weekends.... freee caffeine!!!!!!!!!!!

haha, good one. well good to know all the different jobs out there. It looks like most where care givers (baby sitters and such) and CNAs/techs. Others in retail. Cool info. Might make for an article. maybe 2 :)

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Right now I work as a diet clerk in the dietary office at a hospital. I like the job because I'm interested in nutrition, and it has pretty good hours. I work the dinner shift (4-7 p.m.) two nights a week and do 2 10s on Sat & Sun every other weekend. So I still get two weekends off a month, and the weekends I work are fairly laid back and slow paced. There is a good four-hour chunk of time where I can get some studying and homework done, which is great. This was my "foot in the door" position with this hospital so I'm hoping in a year I can transfer into a patient tech job.

I've worked retail, and especially if you can find a good company to work for and can get some leadership responsibility, it is good experience just learning how to deliver good customer service while juggling a thousand other things at once (like nursing right?!). And the discounts can be helpful :)

What exactly is a dietary clerk? My local hospital is hiring for something like that and I applied for it. What do you do exactly?

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Specializes in Acute Care, CM, School Nursing.

I would say the best job to have while in nursing school is a CNA or PCT at a hospital. I did the 3-11 shift per diem while I was in school. It's good to get used to dealing with patients, plus the nurses knew I was a student so they showed me lots of stuff.

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I'm working as a cardiovascular tech while in school. I loooove it. There's tons of opportunities to learn, it's a fairly laid-back job, I have great hours, and I have awesome connections with nurses, docs, and staff in my hospital (and most importantly: nurse managers) since I've worked here over two years now. My evening shifts are an awesome mix of patient interaction (routine EKGs) mixed in with assisting the cardiology fellows with research and a little excitement -- I'm on the rapid response and code blue teams. It is the perfect place for me to network and learn leading up to my nursing career. I'm fully confident that if there is an RN opening in this hospital when I finish school I will have a huge advantage over other applicants - I know all the nurse managers and have awesome in-house references. The more I read on this forum, the more I realize how invaluable this is. :)

I really want to know about cardiovascular tech program.

How long is the program and would you able to find a job after completion easily? and how much they earn hourly?

I looked up to one school and their program is for 18 months, $ 18,050 fee including uniform and books...please help me.

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Specializes in ICU.
I really want to know about cardiovascular tech program.

How long is the program and would you able to find a job after completion easily? and how much they earn hourly?

I looked up to one school and their program is for 18 months, $ 18,050 fee including uniform and books...please help me.

I didn't go through a program. I started at my hospital as a CNA on a cardiac floor. I thought cardiology was really interesting, so when I had the opportunity to take a basic dysrhythmia class after about a year as a CNA (offered for free through my hospital's education center), I did. I thought it was fascinating, and I did really really well on my post-test...so when my nurse manager got my results she suggested to HR that I transfer to a monitor tech position. So I worked as a monitor tech for a year, getting really good at rhythm recognition and learning as much as I could. Then when one of the EKG techs put in his 2 weeks notice, he recommended me to fill his position since we had talked about rhythms and he knew I knew my stuff. So I transfered to EKG. After working as an EKG tech for a year, my manager put me up for a CV tech job, which is just cross-training in stress lab and cath lab.

Now there are programs at community colleges that will teach you all of these things, but the ones in my area are about the length and expense you mentioned. I am personally all for getting a job at a hospital doing something entry-level and then working your way up. It has worked really well for me.

Pay is going to vary a lot by location and department and experience. Starting pay is highest for cath lab techs (in Oklahoma - at my facility, about $15/hour), and lowest for EKG techs (at my hospital about $10/hour). As for job availbility, look at any local hospitals' websites at their job openings page - almost all hospitals post job openings online...see what is out there. I personally would probably have never gotten the job I have now without starting as CNA and showing initiative and competence at learning more.

Good luck!

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I didn't go through a program. I started at my hospital as a CNA on a cardiac floor. I thought cardiology was really interesting, so when I had the opportunity to take a basic dysrhythmia class after about a year as a CNA (offered for free through my hospital's education center), I did. I thought it was fascinating, and I did really really well on my post-test...so when my nurse manager got my results she suggested to HR that I transfer to a monitor tech position. So I worked as a monitor tech for a year, getting really good at rhythm recognition and learning as much as I could. Then when one of the EKG techs put in his 2 weeks notice, he recommended me to fill his position since we had talked about rhythms and he knew I knew my stuff. So I transfered to EKG. After working as an EKG tech for a year, my manager put me up for a CV tech job, which is just cross-training in stress lab and cath lab.

Now there are programs at community colleges that will teach you all of these things, but the ones in my area are about the length and expense you mentioned. I am personally all for getting a job at a hospital doing something entry-level and then working your way up. It has worked really well for me.

Pay is going to vary a lot by location and department and experience. Starting pay is highest for cath lab techs (in Oklahoma - at my facility, about $15/hour), and lowest for EKG techs (at my hospital about $10/hour). As for job availbility, look at any local hospitals' websites at their job openings page - almost all hospitals post job openings online...see what is out there. I personally would probably have never gotten the job I have now without starting as CNA and showing initiative and competence at learning more.

Good luck!

are u online? can I ask you more questions plz..

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