How do i gain experience and still pay my bills?

[tigers9281]

I am a BSN student and going to be getting my RN eventually. I work full time with a mortgage and bills to pay so i can not afford to take a full time job as an STNA or nurses aid. How do I gain experience in order to get my first RN job while still paying my bills. I go to school part time while working full time. Can one get a part time aid or STNA job with really flexible hours? Is it possible to get an RN job without any real clinical experience other than my school clinicals? I am hoping to go into ICU/CCU or something along those lines.

Dustin

[AnxiousStrawberry]

You could work weekends or work PRN. PRN would be your best bet. You would be able to pick up hours on school breaks.

[happy2learn]

You could volunteer at hospital for 2 hours a week. Granted you won't get the same experience, but you will have patient interaction, and you will be able to professionally network. Both of those will help you out a little bit.

I think working full time and part time, on top of school, is going to be way too much and your education will suffer. Don't do anything that will risk you failing out of school.

As far as getting a job as new RN/BSN... well, time will tell. Right now, competition is high and jobs for new grads are scarce. But the economy always bounces back so hopefully by the time you graduate, it will be better. Plus, the baby boomers will be hitting retirement soon, and we may have healthcare reform which would require the need for more nurses.

[TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP]

Get a CNA cert or EMT-B license and get a job working Part-time or PRN.

[RhodyGirl, RN]

You can definitely work part time as a student nurse intern. I'm also in a BSN program and was recently offered 3 intern positions; 2 were part time (schedule your own hours), and the third is full time for summer and part time for the school year.

Look at local hospital websites and check out what they have.