Not sure what medical job i should get while waiting for RN

[Superus]

i'm debating cna, phlebotomy tech, and ekg technician.

i want something that can give me experience in the field but also a job when i finish training. honestly, i don't know if i could handle being a cna. i was talking to a er nurse and she told me that was a dirty job. i just want something that looks good when i apply to schools but also give me experience as well.

any suggestions?

[cbcle]

I spent years as a CNA during nursing school. I absolutely hated it. It is completely humiliating work, you get treated like dirt and your wages are a joke. However, it did make nursing school seem like a breeze. You see a lot, you learn a lot, and you'll be a lot better off than your friends who have no healthcare experience. Looking back, I can see that it really did open a lot of doors for me. Phlebotomy's a great way to go too. It's 'cleaner' work, you get lots of experience at venipunctures, which most nursing students never get, and the pay is usually slightly better. Whatever you decide, take advantage of tuition reimbursement programs that come with a work commitment. That way, when you get your RN license, they are kind of obligated to keep you on as a RN even if the job market is bad in your area. Good luck to you.

[aztova]

Being a CNA is a very dirty job. The clinicals are done at a LTC facility which I have no desire working at so it really turned me off from nursing. I am coming back around to the idea but the atmosphere was AWFUL. Plus it is really hard work with crap pay. I wouldn't recommend the job to ANYONE.