Job alternatives to CNA- needed desperately??!!

allthingsbright · Jul 18, 2004

Try for a unit secretary job on a floor you are interested in! You will learn a ton, and when the facility finds out you are a student, they'll try to get their claws in you to become a Tech. Other areas always need clerical types-xray, lab, er. What about phlebotomy? I think thats what I would do-learn to stick and draw blood, learn all about lab tests, and the money is much like or even above CNA money. You have to take a certification course, but they are pretty inexpensive. My school offers an ob scrub tech cerification thats really short and looks cool too. A scrub tech might be something you'd be interested in?

Can you talk to someone at your school in Allied Health? they may have some resources!

Good luck!

Trauma Columnist · Jul 19, 2004

What about medical transcription?

jaimealmostRN · Jul 19, 2004

I got some great expirences as a phlebotomist before I began school. Some places require a certificate (like a month or less long class at a cc) or they just train you on the job. The pay is usually a little higher than a PCT/tech salary and it helps you learn some great skills (pt interaction, finding veins) that will help once you are a nurse.

zambezi, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2004

I agree with the phlebotomy choice. Also a monitor tech in a critical care or tele unit (this job can also double as a unit secretary...) The cardiac and ekg section of nursing school will be a lot easier with this skill learned!

Achoo!, LPN · Jul 19, 2004

what about a residential aide at an assisted living facility?

nontrad1964 · Jul 19, 2004

Lots of facilites need housekeeping and laundry people, although the pay is less than some of teh other mentioned positions. I have worked and watched as a CNA in long term care and think I would much rather enjoy those jobs over the CNA position. A lot less back stabbing people in those departments and the people actually smile at you and say Hi. They even get all their allowed breaks. I guess that is why when reading the want ads all the places are constantly hiring CNA's and rarely advertise for the other posisitons. Dietary would really suck too.

I see lots of posts from people getting the CNA but unless you have some really great staffed facilites in your area, I would not do it. My goal when I obtain my license is to not work in LTC unless things dramatically change from now till I get my licesnse.

Berta · Jul 20, 2004

I am a student too and work as a CNA at a hospital. One of the duties that I sometimes have to do is "sitting" with a patient. It is actually a position that the hospital hires people for and pays them about $9 per hour. All they do is sit in the room and make sure the patient stays in bed and doesn't pull out any lines or such. The sitter does no patient care. The sitter can read, study, watch TV, etc. When I have to "sit" I use it as study time. It really works out quite well. Yesterday, I had to sit for 7 hours. I look at it as being paid $11 hr to study. :rolleyes:

The down side is that you CANNOT leave the patient alone for any reason. Nor can you sleep. You must get coverage to go to the bathroom, breaks or lunch. :uhoh21:

Overall, its a pretty good deal.

tonicareer · Jul 21, 2004

Where are this month long phelobotomy classes in Indiana? In my state you after to have an AS degree to do it! That is 2 years of study!

Daisy9739 · Jul 21, 2004

Before I went to Nursing school, I was an EMT for 9 years. Most classes are about (depending on your area and school you choose eg. private vs. a college) $600 and are only about 6 months. And I'll tell you I learned a lot. The experience alone was worth it. What's great, is you can always work part-time, full time, per-diem, I would pick my own shifts. Some like to work 24 hour shifts or 3, 13 hour shifts and some work just 5 hours on Sat. The flex is great and the experience is priceless. And if an ambulance is'nt your thing, many ER's will train you as their tech, I worked for an ER, that trained me in Foley's, phelbotomy, EKG's and a host of other duties. Check it out, just a thought.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jul 21, 2004

I might also throw out that you don't HAVE to work in health care in your interim job. Ultimately, once you get your license, you'll have a nursing job regardless. There's nothing wrong with waiting tables.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2004

I hear you questioning your decision to become a nurse because you don't want to do CNA work. This is not unusual. Several clinical instructors at my school have warned students against taking aide type jobs for that very reason. Remember that there are many more happy hunting grounds and opportunities for growth in nursing than the backbreaking though necessary work of the CNA/aide.

There are lots of good ideas presented here. I might just research some on my own.