HELP!

[brandn]

Hello!

I am very new to Nursing. I begin my pre-nursing courses in a few weeks and I really need a job! I have NO experience what so ever working in healthcare.

What is a good job for a nursing student while being in school? Specifically a job for someone who literally has no experience and wants to earn decent money.

Please help!

[doublehelix]

What other jobs have you worked before? your experience in other jobs can help you there... Do you have any other skills or education?

While I was in highschool I completed a healthcare aide program, so I worked fulltime as a HCA this year before going into nursing school (there was a waiting list.) I know some PCH's will hire uncertified healthcare aides, so you could look into that. Or doing private homecare, all companies pay different wages and some will hire uncertified healthcare providers, provided you do a couple days paid training. Most of it is housecleaning, not actual patient care. But you do get a chance to interact with other pts and do simple healthcare related tasks.

A lot of the girls I went to highschool with and took the HCA program, never ended up working as HCA's and instead stuck with waitressing. They claim on tips alone they can sometimes make more than my pay.

[brandn]

I have an Associate's Degree in Fashion Merchandising, I worked as a Visual Merchandiser and Store Supervisor. How do I apply for these positions? Do I just walk into a hospital, contact HR, apply online?

[doublehelix]

I have an Associate's Degree in Fashion Merchandising, I worked as a Visual Merchandiser and Store Supervisor. How do I apply for these positions? Do I just walk into a hospital, contact HR, apply online?

I live in Canada, so I don't really know how it works in the U.S... Our hospitals here require us to be certified in order to work as a HCA. You could always check it out, though!

But do a google search for homecare companies in your city, goverment or privately owned (Privates will almost always pay you less, just so you know, unless its a large and reputible company) and see what you can find. If the site is vague or doesn't have much information about applying, i'd go down there and ask to speak to someone directly about how you could apply to do Homecare and mention that you are a nursing student. Someone should be able to point you in the direction of how/where to apply for a position in homecare. Even if you just start off as casual, it gets your foot in the door, and being casual there's *always* shifts to be had!

I have a friend who is not a healthcare aide, but she works in a home for disabled adults and makes fairly good pay. Not as much as a HCA, but still good for having no education in healthcare. Do a google search and see what you can find as far as facilities go... I'm sure you'll find something! And it will be such a relief for you when doing your clinical, when you've already been around patients and families.