Jobs for a pre-nursing student w/ no healthcare exp.

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Hello,

I just joined allnurses.com, and this is my first post.

I am planning to start either an accelerated BSN or a CNL program in Jan or Spring '09 & am currently completing prerequisites for the programs I'll apply to. I will complete the prereqs in early August & plan on working f/t from then until I begin whatever program I end up in.

My question is: What type of job should I pursue?

I have absolutely no work experience in a health care. Ideally, I would like to find something that would prepare me to succeed in nursing school (and beyond) while also giving me some badly needed exposure to the world of nursing.

I realize that nursing (and nursing school) is a serious commitment, and that I am woefully ignorant when it comes to nursing & working in health care. So, I would like to make the most of this opportunity to educate myself & get my feet wet before embarking on the next phase of this journey.

For what it's worth, I decided to go into nursing about 8 months ago, and there is not a specific area of nursing that I know I want to focus on once I am in a program. I live in NYC, and imagine that there are a lot of different possibilities here.

I hope I haven't written too much or posted in the wrong place.

I'd appreciate your thoughts & recommendations. Thank you.

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I have no idea what your skills are, but there are plenty of entry-level jobs you could apply for at a hospital, just to get your foot in the door. One that comes to mind is if you have any computer skills you could be a unit secretary for a while. That way you can see what happens on a day to day basis while still earning money. The bonus is a lot of hospitals have programs to give non-nurses a leg up in their education if they pledge to work there when they are done.

Or you could do some volunteer work and get some patient experience as a transporter while working a non-healthcare job. That's my suggestions, not knowing what you can do.:twocents:

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Specializes in no specialty! (have to graduate first!).

Get certified as a CNA or a phlebotomist if you can. Go to a hospital and see what positions they have that are entry level. Try being a scrub tech. You don't have to be certified in anything. You just go through normal job training. (At least that's how it is in my town). Also, consider volunteer work.

I took a phlebotomy course and I LOVED it! I didn't like the CNA as much but it will definitely get your feet wet.

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Thank you both for your replies. I plan on looking for opportunities in one of the large hospitals near me (Columbia Presbyterian). I assume they'd eventually ask me what I was looking for specifically & I wasn't sure how to answer that aside from saying that I'd do anything that would prepare me for nursing & nursing school.

I have read that being a CNA is one option to consider, and it makes sense to me. But I have also been told that it may be a discouraging turn off to the world of nursing. Working in a Dr.'s office in an administrative capacity was also suggested, but I don't know if that would prepare me for what lies ahead.

Volunteer work was also a consideration, but I really need to earn some money before heading back to school next year.

Thanks again.

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Specializes in no specialty! (have to graduate first!).

Try working and doing a little volunteer work. I say this because nursing schools love to see volunteer work. And it doesn't necessarily have to be healthcare related. I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity once. It was awesome! It was one of the best experiences I ever had. Definitely the most rewarding experience.

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Specializes in bachelor's in Spanish seeking a BSN/MSN.

I think becoming a CNA would be really beneficial...you'll get hands-on healthcare experience and get to see what nurses do. When you're fresh out of CNA classes, it'll probably be easier to get a job at a retirement home or other facility than a hospital.

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I just got a job as a med tech. in a nursing home.

In NC the test is free for med. tech and you can become certified in no time.I think this will help me with pharmacology when I start the RN program in the fall, at least that is my HOPE anyway. I dont have any exp. in the nursing field either, so I had the same train of thought going into this job, just give me something to get my feel wet and become comfortable around patients.

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