Help Looking for Student Nurse Info

KatieJ91 · Jan 20, 2012

I am a nurse tech. It seems like you are doing all you can. Check job openings from time to time because it there is a position at the hospital it could be shown in the open job listings. It seems like most hospitals do not offer this kind of program. If you can't get a nurse tech position I would look for any kind of CNA work possible in a hospital you want to work for after school. After you have been there a while you could possibly bring up the possibility of getting that license and working under it. I am technically part of a resource team at the hospital.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2012

don't just email or leave one phone message and then expect them to drop everything and get right back to you. this is not like google.

when you contact them, get a name of who to see in a week for an update. if you don't get a name, go anyway. go. show your face. make yourself stand out from all those folks who think they deserve responses to their emails. dress professionally, in a good suit or dress, no sandals, no tank tops, hair nice, not sticking out from the half-done sock bun, minimal makeup and less jewelry. you want to impress them that even as a nursing student you have plans to be a professional, so look like one. if no one will see you when you drop in, make an appointment for a specific date and time, and arrive early with a copy of a resume without typos or smilies.

yes, it is hard to get a job. think of this as like your student clinical in that.

mdbaltazar · Jan 21, 2012

Thank you for your advice GrnTea. I actually have been leaving more than one message. I also did get through to someone to find out who the contact person is and have made efforts to contact them as well. I have faxed my resume to a couple of different ones per the suggestion of the office personal that I talked to. I am just seeking help in regards to if any one has any suggestions as to where to look.

mdbaltazar · Jan 21, 2012

Thank you HopefulKate for your response. I actually do work as a CNA & HHA. You are correct when you stated that most hospitals do not offer this kind of program because two different hospitals I inquired at are currently not doing it right now because they did not have a budget for it. I am trying to get a nurse tech position because that is where I will actually be able to get more hands on experience with the RN side of skills rather than just my CNA skills.

_firefly, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jan 21, 2012

Another approach might be to get other certifications that could get you work in the hospital so that you will already be on the inside. I was thinking phlebotomy, CNA, or even just volunteering. I was an EMT for a short time and really wanted to work in a hospital E.R. I applied for just about every patient related position available and ended up getting work as a hospital house orderly where I essentially transported patients and ran errands for most of the departments. It turns out that the person I was working for was put in charge of staffing the E.R. and called to offer me shifts as an HCA/tech in the E.R. The point is that your much more likely to get an open position when it is available if they already know you.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jan 21, 2012

Excellent advice. Get your foot in the door, so to speak, before you graduate. A new trend in hospital or facility hiring is to hire from within first (especially new graduate nurses who are already employed as a CNA or nurse tech during nursing school).