How to get 1 year of hospital experience before finishing nursing school?

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I'm applying for nursing school I've been reading a lot of threads about new graduates having difficulties finding jobs without 1 years worth of hospital experience. I was wondering what is the best way to get experience in the hospital while in nursing school?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Sorry - the "experience" that they are looking for means working as a licensed nurse. So, there's just no way to get it until you have a license. Some facilities will give partial credit for LP/VN experience... but not unlicensed experience.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Yup, what she said. The one year of experience they are looking for is licensed RN acute care experience. Your best bet is to get your foot in the door with an externship position at a hospital while in school. It won't count toward the experience but will move you closer to the front of the line for getting interviews for an internship after graduation.

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In your hometown, there may be some hospitals that have student nurse programs(student nurse assistant) after your very first clinical, check into that. It's like an introduction to the health care setting, I don't know if it counts for experience since you are not licensed but it doesn't hurt to ask your local hospital.

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