good-paying jobs to have while in nursing school - ideas??

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Like many others, I'm independent and need a decent-paying job while I'm in nursing school. I had to quit my F/T job because I obviously can't work 8 hours M-F. Any ideas of jobs that'll pay the bills and require me to work only 2-3 days a week at most, while allowing me to study?? (whew!) I've already considered bartending/serving. Other ideas???

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Actually, I do. This is what I did and do when I am in school. I am a BHT (Behavioral Health Tech), (RRI) Residential Relief Instructor. All these 2 titles mean is that you work in homes that are in society with people who are SMI, recovering drug addicts, alcoholics, mentally disabled and so on. I studied at work, paid my bills, and kept going. This is what I suggest to everyone who is in school. Good Luck!!!!

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Specializes in Flight RN, Trauma1 CVICU STICU MICU CCU.

EMT/Basic. Work on an ambulance 2 24's a week. Plenty of time to study. 48 hours a week @ 10-12/ hr. Great experience for thinking on your feet. And when it comes to working in a clean, pristine hospital as compared to doing chest compression in the mud, you'll take everything in stride.

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I am a pharmacy technician. I work three 12 hour shifts Fri - Sun (school Mon-Thurs). It is good practice with things like the math and pharmacolgy also. At my hospital they usually start out at $16, plus shift differentials.

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A PCA (patient care assistant)/PCNA (patient care nursing assistant)/nurse technician. I'm currently a PCNA and I make $11.50/hr + shift differential and time and a half if you work on holidays...it's not a whole lot, but it's more than the $6.25 (or whatever minimum wage is nowadays) that I would be making somewhere else. Good luck!

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Specializes in ICU.

I worked as a CNA for an agency while I was in school. Could've been just my agency, but I got time and a half after 8 hours and nights were always time and a half. Upside, I was sent everywhere and saw and learned so much. You can call your own schedule working for an agency. Downside, I was sent everywhere and supplies and rooms and everything were different on each floor. Great experience.

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Do you have to have some kind of schooling to do this?

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I work at a restaurant that focuses on doing weddings. I am a wedding server and bartender. Since weddings generally only happen on the weekend days, I usually only work 3 days a week. The money is good, often up to $25/hour and no less than $16/hour. It does vary, but the work is pretty fun and the hours are pretty solid (I work 12+ hours sometimes on a busy day). I have been doing this for 7 years and I'm not burnt out yet. It is pretty physically demanding, but it'll keep you in shape for nursing, lol.

I do work at a nice venue on the beach, so I don't know how well other areas are, but most country clubs do weddings every weekend during wedding season (here in Florida, its fall-spring, but I would imagine its spring-fall in areas that get snow).

Restaurant work is usually very flexible. I choose to work the weddings because I like it more and the money is generally more consistant. It isn't a job directly related to nursing, but it utilizes many of the same aspects; you're taking care of people's needs, (however unimportant refilling a soda may be, lol), interacting as a team with both front and back of the house, and are constantly on your feet and moving.

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Why not unit secretary at a hospital? All you need is a GED or high school diploma. You can get 12 hour shifts a couple days a week. Look into hospitals in your area to see if there are any openings.

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