How can I get health care experience as a pre nursing student?

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All of the nursing programs in my state, ADN, BSN, and Diploma, are governed by a single credentialing agency. Basically, all of the prerequisites for every program are identical. Admission to a nursing program is awarded by a point system. It goes something like this:

Points For Prior Degree:

Prior associates degree = 1 point

Prior bachelors degree = 2 points

Prior masters degree = 3 points

Points for A&P Grades (Entire Sequence GPA):

C = 0 points

B = 3 points

A = 5 points

5 points will be awarded to applicants who have completed the prerequisites by the deadline.

Prior Health Care Experience:

Prior paid health care provider (LPN, CNA, EMT, etc) = 5 points

Prior volunteer experience providing health care (hospice, LTC, pet thersapy, etc) = 3 points

1 point will be awarded to applicants reapplying from the prior year.

3 points will be awarded to applicants withing the school district. (I can get these)

Up to 30 points will be awarded to outstanding proctored essays. (I'm confident I can get these too. Writing is my bag)

The people with the most points, best grades in the science courses, and good GPAs will move on to being interviewed.

I've got plenty of time before I apply in a year or two, but I'd like to know how I can get a paid health care job to boost my point total. Thanks.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Become a CNA, classes are generally about 6 weeks

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You have quite a few options, here are just a few!

1. Physical Therapy Aide (I do this in the Acute sector and it is really fun and I get great exposure to EVERYTHING, Other than acute is pretty boring but that may just be me)

2. CNA (Nursing Aide: Depending on your state you can challenge the exam or take a quick course and qualify to take the exam- It is the dirty work of nursing but you will get great experience)

3. Volunteer with the hospital ( I volunteer with the Neuro ICU, I get to see all sorts of interesting procedures that will give you great perspective on your future role as a clinician)

Volunteering in the ER is a great gig too, talk to the Volunteer Manager of a local hospital and they should be able to line up something for you. Good luck!

Chuck

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Let me just say that the one thing I wish I did before I started nursing school is become a CNA. The first half of your first semester is basically training to be a CNA. You will actually be certified at the end of the semester. You will start out doing CNA work in clinical. Let me tell you if I was a CNA before I started I feel things would have been a lot smoother than they were. If you have never worked in any healthcare, simple things like washing your hands and putting on gloves take a lot of work. Did you know there are like million steps to wash your hands and put on gloves and you need to do it perfectly. It is not easy turning someone, dressing someone or even feeding someone or operating a hoyer lift when you have never done it. If I had already had these skills I would have a lot more time to study all the other nursing stuff like medications, diseases, acid base balance etc. If you become a CNA you will have a leg up on your studies and will feel more comfortable in clinical and lab. Not to mention you will shine. So many people told me to do it before I went to school and I didnt listen now I wish I did.

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Tech jobs are the most obvious but the nurse secretary can be an option. Going into NS as a tech will bring you friends and respect going in because it is more than most ppl have going in to NS. It seems like a step down but, it is really an assest to have something medical in your backpocet to give u an edge, socially. social exceptance of classmates is a major perk, know that much more than a student devoid of any medical experiece, but politics are so much more than u would think in NS. It an issue if your the type that needs acceptance of people to feel comfortable ( something u will learn about, caled Maslow's needs & love and belonging). Whoever does have some form of medical experience is a respected classmate. It is really kind of silly because they really don't have much more knowledge than a novice but is a way to get excepted in a group.

I don't know about shadowing, it may help but u may only get one day of shadowing and end up with sitting in a meeting somewhere unstead of seeing any action on the floor.

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Tech jobs are the most obvious but the nurse secretary can be an option. Going into NS as a tech will bring you friends and respect going in because it is more than most ppl have going in to NS. It seems like a step down but, it is really an assest to have something medical in your backpocet to give u an edge, socially. social exceptance of classmates is a major perk, know that much more than a student devoid of any medical experiece, but politics are so much more than u would think in NS. It an issue if your the type that needs acceptance of people to feel comfortable ( something u will learn about, caled Maslow's needs & love and belonging). Whoever does have some form of medical experience is a respected classmate. It is really kind of silly because they really don't have much more knowledge than a novice but is a way to get excepted in a group.

I don't know about shadowing, it may help but u may only get one day of shadowing and end up with sitting in a meeting somewhere unstead of seeing any action on the floor.

The teacher are happy too because they will want u to take some leadership to help them out with the other students. The main thing is u need some sort of angle to be liked and if ur fellow classmates like u, the teacher likes u and if the teacher likes u then u win, u get a better grade and an easier time in school.
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Specializes in med surg/cardiac.

I worked as a cna/secretary through school. It helped greatly with being able to talk to doctors and read thier writing; being familiar with charts, medications, procedures, etc. You could also train as an EKG/telemetry technician. I think that is about 6 weeks if you are interested in cardiac. It wont help much in school. I think we only talked about heart rhythms for about 2 weeks.

Another option is to work in transport, taking patients from xray/ct/etc. Usually you dont need any training. This will probably meet your extra point needs and give you a little bit of experience.

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