How do I work in a hospital while Iam earning my pre-requisites for my ADN....

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The problem is I havent been accepted to a nursing program yet. I havent even applied because I need to take some pre-requisites( in Jan. 2009 I will start classes) before I apply to the Nursing program. I want to work in a hospital while Im earning my pre-requisites for an ADN. How do I get a job at a hospital? I abhor my waitressing job and want to get my foot in the door at a hospital ASAP. Any info or advice would be wonderful!

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Have you considered getting your CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant)? There are many programs available. You can start by contacting your local Red Cross. They offer a good certification program with includes clinical hours in hospitals and nursing homes for practical experience. It will help you decide if nursing is truly the career for you.

Many nursing homes and hospitals will pay for the cost of the class in return for your agreement to work for them for a specified period of time.

As a CNA, you will learn how to help your patients/residents with their ADL's (Activities of Daily Living). Yes, this includes going to the bathroom. You will learn to do vital signs, blood pressure, make occupied beds, etc. It's a good learning experience.

Being a CNA is not a glamorous job, but being a CNA is an important job. A good CNA acts as the eyes and ears for the RN's & LPN's she works under. If you take your job seriously, you can be a real asset to a medical team and a true advocate for the patients in your care.

Hope this helps!

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Specializes in 0 as RN, 3 in ICU and Tele as Tech.

I just wanted to add, some nursing homes and hospitals offer on the job training for CNA certification so you may want to try to look into that. Also, I would suggest maybe taking a phlebotomy or EKG course at your local community college and get certified as a phlebotomoy or EKG tech... those two schools will be valuable once you are in nursing school. Knowing how to draw blood ahead of time and read heart rhythms could be way beneficical in the long run and will most def get your foot in the door also. That's my :twocents: HTH and good luck with whatever choice you make! :up:

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Thank you so much! You both have helped me out a lot! I just found a CNA program at a local college that takes a little over a month to complete and its under $700.

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