Entry Level Positions?

Published

Hello-

I'm a pre-nursing student, and I'm finishing up the second-to-last semester of prerequisites to enter the nursing program at the community college where I'm taking classes. I'm taking A/P 202 during the summer I session, and then it's just a matter of applying - and then the long wait. :/ In the meantime, I'm sick to death of working dead end jobs at restaraunts and the Wal-Mart corporation. They simply do not understand the workload of medical students, and are pretty unsympathetic to the few amount of hours that I cannot and *should* not work. I'm sure I'll be sued for slander for that, but alas, Wal-Mart is not the place for a pre-nursing student.

Back on topic, I was wondering if I have any options as far as entry-level employment at a hospital. A classmate of mine tells me that pre-nursing students finishing up their prereq's can be employed at hospitals, but I've had no luck with my online searching, and the Nursing department here at the college was less than helpful. If anyone could offer any advice, that would be great, thanks.

:confused: Jesse

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey, the truth is not slander, if they won't work around your work schedule, they won't do it. I would have ZERO hesitation to quit a job, with or without notice, if I was very clear to them about when I could work, how often I could work, and they scheduled me for more.

Work is a two-way contract....if they don't hold up their end of the bargain, you are under no obligation to be under one either.

Hospitals may or may not do it, I would ask around to other students and find out where they are working. The more hours that are available that a business is open, the more likely they are to work around your school schedule.

I wish you luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

If you are not already a CNA then get your CNA and apply at a hospital you are interested in in a department you think you might like to work as an RN. The schedule will likely be flexable and it will give you a chance to see an area of nursing up close.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Another option is Plebotomy - it seems a lot of nursing students around here do that to get on with the local hospitals. Its good to get onstaff in any capacity because then you may qualify for tuition reimbursement, scholarships, etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in none.
Another option is Plebotomy - it seems a lot of nursing students around here do that to get on with the local hospitals. Its good to get onstaff in any capacity because then you may qualify for tuition reimbursement, scholarships, etc.

I was thinking about getting my phlebotomy certificate while taking my pre-req's. you must have been on my brain.... LOL thanks. i will be taking my CNA this summer with med. Dosage and calculations. Do you think taking Phlebtomy will be too much?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Are you a full-time student? If so, maybe not too much. I haven't taken Pleb so I can't speak directly to how difficult the class is, sorry :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I was thinking about getting my phlebotomy certificate while taking my pre-req's. you must have been on my brain.... LOL thanks. i will be taking my CNA this summer with med. Dosage and calculations. Do you think taking Phlebtomy will be too much?

how do you get a phlebatomy certificate is this something you are taking at school? My miro teacher was just talking about this yesterday it was her job through school she said it was perfect because you usually finished rounds at 8am lol all drs want blood first thing in the am. It peaked my curiosity but I know nothing about it.

Another option is unit clerks/ Administrative assistants they have different names at different hospitals I worked as an AA in ICU for a few years great job you learn tons but no real direct patient care more care for the family and learning tests, meds and procedures.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
how do you get a phlebatomy certificate is this something you are taking at school?

At my CC its offered as a non-credit vocational certificate program, just as the CNA is. You take the two consecutive classes then do a clinical portion to get the 100 sticks required to sit for the exam.

No I haven't done the program, but in one of the science prep classes I took last year the prof was the one who taught the pleb classes and supervised the clinicals. My lab partner in the class was also taking the pleb class so they talked about it a lot - who had all their sticks in, etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was thinking about doing CNA before starting Nursing school since I'll have a year with just a couple of online classes to do. Dumb question- but are the phlem jobs through hospitals or labs, usually? Anyone know what they pay compared with CNA?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The discussions I overheard were re jobs at the local hospital, but that was because they were mostly nursing students trying to get on with the hospital. I just this morning saw a pleb job posting for a local lab, so apparently there are jobs at both types of facililties.

As for pay, I know at the local hospital the pay range for plebs is $10-14/hr. I would imagine that is slightly higher than what CNAs would make here.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion