Would anyone advise doing Nurse Tech on the weekends while in Nursing School?

1. i received a job offer from one of the local hospitals, working in iicu every other week-end. part of me would like to take it being that it could be a wonderful learning experience and they said that they would work around my schedule. the other part of me already feels stressed out from school alone. has anybody done this and was it a benefit?
2. 

   About blackberry4eva

   Joined: Dec '06; Posts: 43; Likes: 3
   student

   11 Comments

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3. 
   Dec 9, '06

   Specialty: ICU/PCU ; Joined: Apr '06; Posts: 487; Likes: 119

   I worked as a tech in ICU while I was in nursing school, and I do agree that it was a huge learning benefit- I know I learned a ton of valuable info. Also, it didn't hurt to be working there when I was job hunting, they offered me a position! I start Jan 8th.
4. 
   Dec 9, '06

   Occupation: student Joined: Dec '06; Posts: 43; Likes: 3

   thanks for the advise and congradulations on graduating!
5. 
   Dec 9, '06

   Specialty: ICU/PCU ; Joined: Apr '06; Posts: 487; Likes: 119

   :mortarboard:
   
   wow, it sounds so great to hear those words! you'll get there, and I'll congratulate you when you do!
   
   
6. 
   Dec 9, '06

   Joined: Oct '01; Posts: 9,619; Likes: 14,057

   Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Take the job. Having to work on the weekends will force you to manage your time better and get your studying done during the week. It can be done and will be good for you!
7. 
   Dec 9, '06

   Occupation: Adolescent psych Specialty: Adolescent Psych, PICU ; Joined: Feb '03; Posts: 2,164; Likes: 384

   I would take the job, the experience is just too good to pass up and it will definatly help you out in the short and long run. What you learn at your job will also help you with your school work.
8. 
   Dec 9, '06

   Occupation: Medical Specialty: Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1 ; Joined: Nov '05; Posts: 2,257; Likes: 366

   A lot of the students in my fundamentals class work as techs -- either during the week (overnights) and/or weekends....they all seem to be doing very well and I'm highly jealous of how comfortable they are in clinicals in the hospital environment...for some of us not accustomed to working with patients so "hands-on", it's been a real asset for them!!
   
   I've started submitting apps for unit secretary and other positions in the local hospitals....figure anything will help!! And they're also rotating weekend schedules....I hear that the hospitals have been very accommodating to the students in our class with working with our class schedules!
   :Santa1: Good luck!!
9. 
   Dec 9, '06

   Occupation: staff nurse Specialty: Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics ; Joined: Mar '05; Posts: 1,783; Likes: 108

   I started working after my first year of nursing school. I had the first year to adjust to the curriculum and time management skills needed to become a successful nursing student. The second year I was better prepared to implement my newly learned skills and excercise my beginner's critical thinking skills. I took an extern job in ICU and another in Med-Surg. Two different animals!!! I liked ICU better because I was always one on one with a nurse, I got a better idea of the patient's diagnosis and plan of care because we monitored them more closely, and I got to experience things that many of the other nursing students did not. On the Med-Surg floor, I was always assigned a CNA load with about 10-15 patients, was unable to perform/perfect any nursing skills, and didn't get to learn very much about my patient's conditions or treatment plans. But I can give a bath in about two minutes! haha. My ICU experience has been PRICELESS! It has built my confidence, improved my clinical performance, helped me score higher on my tests...I would go for it!
10. 
    Dec 10, '06

    Joined: May '06; Posts: 769; Likes: 214

    Yes, I worked as a tech during nursing school and it was definitely a benefit. I think you'll find that you'll learn WAY more this way than by sitting in a classroom. As long as your schoolwork won't suffer, I say go for it!
    
    Best of luck to you!
11. 
    Dec 10, '06

    Occupation: Registered Nurse Specialty: Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU ; Joined: Aug '05; Posts: 1,721; Likes: 160

    Go for it.
    
    I worked as a CNA before school and it has made nursing school a breeze. I have so much less stress in clinicals because I have had 30 patients at a time and I know time managment.
    
    I used to do things as a CNA and now I know why I am supposed to do them as opposed to just doing them by default.
    
    I have a job as an extern now on a cardiac floor and if nothing, I know all I need to know about CHF and I learned most of it from the nurses on that floor.
12. 
    Dec 10, '06

    Occupation: RN Specialty: Med/Surg ; Joined: May '05; Posts: 690; Likes: 111

    I agree. I worked as a tech during school. I got to do all kinds of skills I never got to do in school, I also got to observe things I did not see in school and learned a lot. I truely feel that most of what I know I learned working as a tech. It is hard in school. It's hard to learn things as opportunities do not always arise but working....they arise. Good luck to you!!!
13. 
    Dec 10, '06

    Occupation: Medical Device co. Specialty: 10 year(s) of experience in Critical care, cardiothoracics, VADs ; Joined: Nov '05; Posts: 1,470; Likes: 48

    Yes!!!!!!!! Do it!! What a great way to get experience and get your foot in the door at the same time!

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