Need advice!

If you have the opportunity to work in a hospital in ANY capacity it will help, but working as a CNA would be really nice. Facility might even assist with tuition. Otherwise, my advice is to discipline yourself regarding study habits. Nursing school is hard. Your first objective is to pass.

Hospital CNA is the way to go. You will learn much, and it will go a long way toward getting a job IF you go every day, and go on time.

I agree that CNA or PCA is the way to go. All of the students in my nursing class who were PCAs had job offers during the last semester of nursing school. Good luck.

Kudos to you for thinking ahead. My advice is to search for any scholarship programs. Many of these programs are only available while enrolled in the nursing program. For instance, check with local hospitals who offer a contract upon hiring for paying your tuition. Its the best thing ever, you get guarenteed job placement and paid tuition. Another idea is to prepare a resume now (so what if it has little or no experience related to nursing), while you are in clinicals ask your preceptor or manager to keep your resume please (especially during your last semester). Speaking of last semester, many hospitals hire student in their last semster for "PCT duties". So take the job and get your foot in the door. Last but not least, NETWORK! Network with classmates (many already will have affilates in nursing), teachers, preceptors etc. And ask for recommendation letters as you pass your classes. Oh and keep track of names (especially in hospital clinicals) Find out who is the hiring manager while you are there! Most importantly, stay competitive and aggressive. There's many new grads, little room for hiring them. Best wishes. Wish I would've done these things

Clinicals can really be a two way street. Of course, focus primarily on the learning opportunities, but also think about "Could I work in this environment? Do I want to be in this type of setting?" Look at all of your clinical rotations as "extended potential interviews." Then keep your ears and eyes open for who key players are and see if you can find out what it takes to get hired there. Who is the hiring manager (at least a name and contact info)....what does he/she like to see in a candidate? Keep a list of the types of patients scenarios you experienced, skills you performed, assessments you did, etc. so you can speak to them in an interview. If you happen to find a good spot with a nurse hiring manager who is willing to give you contact information, ask if you can keep in touch with him/her once or twice a semester to let them know about your progress and anticipated graduation date and that your goal is to interview with him/her. And be ready to say what learning and growth opportunities you've had since the last time you were in contact. Good Luck!

Working as a CNA or PCT is absolutely invaluable in my opinion. Employers like to see that experience on new grad resumes. Even if you can get a job as a unit secretary that will help get your foot in the door.

I also highly suggest networking when you're at clinicals. Get to know the nurses and be helpful to them! If nothing is going on with your patient, don't just sit around. Be proactive and help answer call lights and go around and ask the nurses if they need help with anything. They will remember you for this and would much rather work with someone who is a team player than someone who just sits around all day and doesn't try to help out. Network with preceptors and nurse managers. This includes both in clinical and on the job (if you are working as a CNA or PCT). Just through networking alone I got offered 4 jobs (two on med-surg floors, one on an ICU stepdown and one on a cardiac stepdown/vascular ICU - unfortunately I had to turn them all down because I was moving!) so that proves that networking can be very beneficial to you!

Good luck!

Totally agree with the networking advice. Every really good job I ever had I got through networking. Make good friends with your clinical instructors. They are the ones most facilities want to hear from when it comes to references. Join the local student nurse association and get in there and do some work through it. Working as an extern is fantastic. Hospitals will try to hire their externs first, because they are already halfway through orientation when they graduate.

As others have stated, working as a CNA may help you get a job. It would certainly help you transition into your new role as nurse. As far as making you more marketable for a job? I don't know, it couldn't hurt though. The most important thing is to finish school. It's not worth compromising that in order to get CNA experience or do an internship. If you do clinicals at a place you would like to work then put your best foot forward, nurse and unit managers take note of students, believe me. My sister got hired on at a hospital because of her strong clinical performance (by students standards anyway) during school. That served her far more than anything else she could have done during school.

Some people can work and do internships through school and do fine and others cannot. And remember, many people get jobs unrelated to their educational background because they've shown the ability to learn and be dedicated to something for several years and that they will be able to learn their new job. Obviously you need a license to work as a nurse, but the same principle applies. Your psych degree will be an asset to you getting a job and I'd bet my neighbors annoying dog it helped you get into nursing school. Bottom line is to finish school however way you can/do. Don't overthink it.

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I found all the comments really helpful and insightful...I will definitely keep your advice in mind during school...:tku:

:)

I also highly suggest networking when you're at clinicals. Get to know the nurses and be helpful to them! If nothing is going on with your patient, don't just sit around. Be proactive and help answer call lights and go around and ask the nurses if they need help with anything. They will remember you for this and would much rather work with someone who is a team player than someone who just sits around all day and doesn't try to help out. Network with preceptors and nurse managers. This includes both in clinical and on the job (if you are working as a CNA or PCT). Just through networking alone I got offered 4 jobs (two on med-surg floors, one on an ICU stepdown and one on a cardiac stepdown/vascular ICU - unfortunately I had to turn them all down because I was moving!) so that proves that networking can be very beneficial to you!

Good luck!

Yes, I 100% agree with this too. I've worked several jobs (including my current job working with long-term ventilator patients) just because I knew the right people or I was friends with a friend of theirs. It goes a long way to make even just some contact with the right people (especially when other peers do not). Congratulations on getting into nursing school!

I agree with all of the previous advice, and just wanted to add -- I don't think it's necessarily a "one in a million" chance of getting a job in peds when you graduate. Try to get a CNA job in a peds hospital or on a peds unit if you can, and if your nursing program has a preceptorship or nurse extern program, see if you can do that in peds too. Your odds of getting a peds position on graduation will be significantly increased if you do this.

Sounds like you're on the right track thinking about this now -- good luck!