Children's Hospital/12 Hour shifts while in nursing school?

Gompers, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2006

i'm a ma and i applied to children's hospital for a clinical tech position. i am in summer school until early august (so i can apply for the spring 07 semester) so the lady told me to call her back and we'll see about any openings then, since managers wouldn't give me a month off for school and driving a hour each way wouldn't be the best. i was wondering if anyone has worked full time at a hospital while enrolled in nursing school full time. she told me they have 12 hr shifts, so that's 3 days/week i'm guessing. would this be possible? i'm thinking i could work full time until i start and then switch to part time. or anyone who's worked/works at children's if you could tell me your experiences, if you like working there, etc.? that would be helpful too.

when i was in nursing school, the first couple of years were my general education and science classes - they were either m-w-f or tu-th. but once the nursing classes started junior and senior year, we had classes on mondays and fridays, clinicals on tuesdays and wednesdays, and every thursday we were completely off. it was like this both years. i had a classmate that worked full time (36 hrs/wk) by doing day-shift 12's on th-sat-sun. it sucked, yes, because she never had a single day off during the school year for two years. but she worked as a nursing assistant/patient care tech for those two years, got experience, and because she worked full-time her hospital completely paid for her nursing school!!! when she graduated, she had no school loans or debt at all.

Babynurse83 · Jul 15, 2006

right, i wanted to work to gain experience in a hospital and the tuition assistance would be a plus. i kinda planned a schedule looking at the past course catalogs, and i would be going to school 4 days a week, with 2 of those days being short. children's does have a scholarship where you work to pay if off, i'll look into that some more. not sure what tuition assistance you get when you work there, or if you have to work for x amount of time before you can qualify.

NURSET2007 · Jul 29, 2006

I Worked At Childrens Hospital And They Act If They Are So For You Getting Your Nursing Degree, But Just As Soon As You Ask To Go Part Time They Pull That Ol "it's Not Guaranteed That They Will Have Part Time.", And Even If They Do Its Up To Your Manager, So She Might Choose Not To Give It To You Because They Would Have To Inconvenience Themselves By Possibly Hiring Someone Else. I Would Say They Are Not That Flexible. It's Not Worth It!!!!!

Yarra · Jul 29, 2006

Where are you outside of Dallas? I am in Mabank and just got hired on at ETMC in Athens, with the same goal you have.

I will be working nights while I do my pre-reqs. TVCC has a weekend class that starts up in Fall of 2007, my goal is to get into that class, and work 4 days a week.

I was told by ETMC that they work with you on your nursing school sched. Plus they would even Pay for me to go to school (so I wouldn't have to work so much) PLUS pay for my education.

Are you near an ETMC? It might be worth looking in to.

Babynurse83 · Jul 29, 2006

i worked at childrens hospital and they act if they are so for you getting your nursing degree, but just as soon as you ask to go part time they pull that ol "it's not guaranteed that they will have part time.", and even if they do its up to your manager, so she might choose not to give it to you because they would have to inconvenience themselves by possibly hiring someone else. i would say they are not that flexible. it's not worth it!!!!!

thanks. yeah i was thinking the same thing, about the part time stuff later on. but right now i just want to get out of the job i'm in. it's a cna position, i have my ma certificate so they let me work there with some training. i basically want the experience working at a hospital. so other than that, how was the atmosphere at children's? did you work as a nurse?

Babynurse83 · Jul 29, 2006

where are you outside of dallas? i am in mabank and just got hired on at etmc in athens, with the same goal you have.
i will be working nights while i do my pre-reqs. tvcc has a weekend class that starts up in fall of 2007, my goal is to get into that class, and work 4 days a week.
i was told by etmc that they work with you on your nursing school sched. plus they would even pay for me to go to school (so i wouldn't have to work so much) plus pay for my education.
are you near an etmc? it might be worth looking in to.

no i guess i'm no where near you since i have no clue what etmc is, or where athens is. i live in the dallas metro area. your situation sounds good, how they'll work with your schedule. well good luck. i'll have to try and find something like that.

Yarra · Jul 30, 2006

no i guess i'm no where near you since i have no clue what etmc is, or where athens is. i live in the dallas metro area. your situation sounds good, how they'll work with your schedule. well good luck. i'll have to try and find something like that.

the main etmc hospital is in tyler. it's a bigger city, maybe you have heard of that.

depending on where you are in dallas, if children's is an hour from you, tyler might not be that far. but like i said, it depends on what part of dallas you are in. :)

lisasolely · Aug 4, 2006

There are many hospitals in the metroplex that would be willing to give you a shot if you applied. I worked full time while in nursing school, but I applied to several hospitals that offered flexibility in my schedule according to my school schedule. I took the one that offered the best rate/hours. I switched a few times while in nursing school, but its manageable. Dont allow them to think that you have no options. Give yourself those options as well, and good luck!!

TWU_Nurse2B · Aug 4, 2006

where did you go to school? j/c bc all the students i have spoken with stress not being able to work more than 8 hours a week. :uhoh3: did you go to nursing school for your bachelor's or associate's? if you did indeed work 40 hrs/wk while in school, what was ur life like while attending school f-t and work f-t? :idea:

Babynurse83 · Aug 4, 2006

there are many hospitals in the metroplex that would be willing to give you a shot if you applied. i worked full time while in nursing school, but i applied to several hospitals that offered flexibility in my schedule according to my school schedule. i took the one that offered the best rate/hours. i switched a few times while in nursing school, but its manageable. dont allow them to think that you have no options. give yourself those options as well, and good luck!!

hi,

i have applied to parkland, baylor, children's, and some other area hospitals for ma positions and patient care/tech. but with no hospital experience other than volunteering and my ma externship, many want experienced people. the only contact i got back was from children's, so i will give them a call back this week since i'm almost done with summer school at twu. i would like to work there since i want to be a nicu nurse.

vamedic4, EMT-P · Aug 7, 2006

Hi Babynurse...

I am a Clinical Tech..or whatever they're calling my job now...here at Children's in Dallas. Please PM me and I'll see if I can't help you get your foot in the door here.

vamedic4