Healthcare experience

[ayden]

I think some schools require healthcare experience when you apply. What kinds of jobs should I look for? I am not a CNA, which is what I think most jobs with patients require. Should I volunteer at a hospital?

[Valasca]

There are a few ways you could go about getting your experience.

1. Become a CNA it is quick relatively easy and many long term care facilities will train you for free, there are also programs at CC's.

2. Become an EMT it takes longer, you usually have to be sponsered by a fire department and the school is longer than CNA school. I believe some fire departments will train you for free and there are also programs at CC's.

3. Volunteer at a hospital. It's free, it's quick training, and you can work as much or as little as you want. But keep in mind that if you go this route many schools have a minimum amount of hours that you need to have.

All are good choices. I went the CNA route. Good luck.

[catzy5]

There are a few ways you could go about getting your experience.

1. Become a CNA it is quick relatively easy and many long term care facilities will train you for free, there are also programs at CC's.

2. Become an EMT it takes longer, you usually have to be sponsered by a fire department and the school is longer than CNA school. I believe some fire departments will train you for free and there are also programs at CC's.

3. Volunteer at a hospital. It's free, it's quick training, and you can work as much or as little as you want. But keep in mind that if you go this route many schools have a minimum amount of hours that you need to have.

All are good choices. I went the CNA route. Good luck.

I didn't choose the CNA route because here you have to go to CC to get certified its a whole semester and full time. I can't devote a semester to that now.

However I have worked in a hospital, before I started this I was a Unit Secretary in ICU and loved it! It was my final push to go into nursing its what sealed the deal.

you get to see first hand what really goes on in nursing if you do that job which is pretty hard core in its self but after a few months I knew I wanted more patient contact and to be working the front lines with the nurses.

[DesertRain]

You could also become a "caregiver". Where I live the county has 1 day classes to get you to be a certified caregiver (which is kinda like a CNA with a smaller scope of practice.) You would work in LTC. Volunteering would also be good as you can choose which area you want to volunteer in but I know at my CC, volunteer work does not count as "healthcare experience." Here it has to be a credentialed title...ie. CNA, EMT, Med Tech etc...