Hospital jobs while in school.

[john.warren414]

Hi all,

My name is John Warren. I am a junior at Portland State University working towards a B.S in health studies/Pre Nursing so I can apply to a nursing program when Im done. My question is, Is there any jobs in the hospital that students like me can do to get basic experience? I am in a work study at the Portland VA medical center and they said we can work in any department we would like as long as they would have us. Apart from Army CLS training and working on a live patient on a deployment I have no experience or certifications. Also is there any certifications you do recommend getting while going to school.

Thank you in advance,

John

[RunBabyRN]

CNA is always a good place to start, and it doesn't take long to get certified. It'll give you some exposure to the nursing profession, and hopefully, some good connections for when it comes time to look for a job as an RN.

[john.warren414]

Thanks RunBabyRun I thought I might do that over the summer or maybe EMT-B and see where I land. Appreciate the reply.

[RunBabyRN]

EMT-B takes longer, you get paid less, and it's not nursing, which is why I would recommend CNA over EMT-B. Both would give you good skills, but CNA gives you WAY more exposure to nursing, and more skills that are applicable, even in the ED. The thinking of nurses and EMTs is very different.

[jackiei3]

Well here in AL, (It's that third world country to the east of Oregon and then a little south) You can work as a technician in hospitals if you have completed your first semester of clinical's. You have more responsibility than a CNA, and are paid better. Most hospitals prefer nursing students over CNA's because they can hire them after as nurses. As for getting your EMT, it's worthless unless you plan to be a ER nurse..even then I don't think it's a smart idea if you are in school for a BSN...it wont make much more money than a tech and it really doesn't make a difference if you will be out of college in two or less years.