Nursing student-cant find a job

EaglesWings21, ASN, RN · Apr 28, 2013

I am a first semester ASN student in Indianapolis and the job search is tough here too. I just finished my first semester of clinical rotations and also volunteer at a hospital. I have had one interview at a hospital for a patient sitter/tech position and I also have an interview next week for a patient transporter position but I have been applying for a PCT position left and right. The only advice I can offer you is email the HR recruiter a copy of your resume and cover letter and briefly state in the email why you would be a desirable candidate. Unless you know somebody, you basically have to make them pull your application to get a chance unless you are just lucky and your application is one of the ones they even look at. Good luck; wish me luck too. I want some patient care experience and a job this summer! Lol.

runsalot · Apr 28, 2013

Network. talk to other nursing students and nurses.

PCTJon · May 2, 2013

It might be easier to secure a job first in a LTC/nursing home. Also it REALLY helps to have a awesome cover letter. In the cover letter, be specific and do your research. Instead of "to whom it may concern", address the HR recruiter or nurse manager. Add that you are excited to work in a top ranking hospital, or in their newly expanded oncology dept., or with a healthcare team all your professors tell me are awesome. This possibilities are endless. Good luck to you!

ChrisNZ · May 4, 2013

It's hard to get jobs these days. I don't know how much my experience can relate to you since I'm not in America.

But I had to start at the bottom, work my way up to having a hospital job. I started off in community care, then to an aged care hospital (which was very hard work) and finally after 12 months of applying I got an interview for my hospitals own internal agency.

I now work in a 700 bed hospital. Moving through almost every speciality (except the Gynaecology & Childrens wards). The long hard journey to getting this job was so worth it, especially those weekends you work in Emergency ect :)

It's also important to remember that with your clinical practicum experience, the hospitals want someone who is a PCT/Nurse assistant. Not a nursing student. It doesn't sound like a big thing because they may seem similar, but it is important to create boundaries between the two roles and to let those employing know that you can do that.

funtimes · May 4, 2013

Getting hired as a PCT is really hit or miss, so you have to assume you WONT be hired in and go to plan B while still trying. Plan B would be to become a CNA and work in LTC, or else get a job outside of health care.

I was experienced as both a CNA and EMT, had letters of reference from previous employers and healthcare instructors, I also had phlebotomy training and a 4.0 GPA at a community college taking some hard math and science classes. I applied countless times for countless positions at numerous hospitals and never so much as got a call back. Finally I was hired in at a LTC facility attached to a hospital which belonged to the same union as hospital support staff, and after doing a year in LTC I applied for an open position as a hospital CNA. They literally had no choice but to give me the postion, so I got it. I worked as a CNA and eventually got into a tech position.

Were the people hired in as techs without going my route more qualified than I was? Hell no. For the life of me I coudnt find any rhyme or reason why some people got hired over others. Obviously you have those who are related to or friends with influential people who already work there, but beyond those I have no clue what Human resources is thinking when they pick one candidate over the other. I've had no troubles as a tech and im probably considered one of the most reliable and hardworking people there, and its not like I was old when I was applying. So why did I never get any call backs and why do so many others have the same problem?

Based on what I've seen, the best way to get hired in as a tech is to be related to someone within the hospital with influence, be young, cheerful and bubbly. Being qualified is WAY DOWN the list, if its even considered at all.

NICUmiiki, DNP, NP · May 7, 2013

Have you gotten certified as a CNA even though you are a nursing student? You shouldn't have to take a course, but maybe a test. The hospital I work at requires me to maintain my CNA even though "Nursing Student/ER Tech" is my job description.

Also look for Nurse Tech and Nurse Intern jobs. They may be under "Nursing" instead of "Nursing Support"

It's hard to get a PCA/PCT/Floor CNA job around me as a student because the hospitals are looking for full-time, long-term employees that will be easy to schedule and can pick up shifts instead of students who will be picky about their schedule and will graduate in 1-2 years.

rporter342 · May 8, 2013

When it came to me getting hired as a PCT/CNA it was like when I applied to nursing homes I had to dumb down my resume and goals to look more attractive. For me it wasn't about the money but the experience and I had another full time job as a bartender. It took over a year to even get that job (nursing home). I applied to every hospital and got no call backs because I didn't have at least 6 months of patient care experience.

And Miiki is right....it seems as though in certain areas the hospitals are not willing to take a risk on nursing students because the investment is short term. I just happened to luck out that the hospital that finally hired me is into investing in their staff so when I resubmitted my application I highlighted my goals and how I would be an asset to their company. I finally did get hired at the hospital. I only had to work at the nursing home for a month. The job isn't as close to home as I would like but its a temporary setback.

Don't give up looking for a job. It seems that there is a shortage of PCTs in certain states and Atlanta, Georgia is one of them. They are always hiring here. Oh and look for student nurse extern positions. Many hospitals have them (mine does). Sometimes they only open up once or twice a year. They are PRN positions so that they can be flexible with your schedule. Full time/part time is ideal because of the guaranteed hours and flexibility but PRN positions pay up to 50% more to compensate for that. Applying for jobs during the fall/winter time is idea because hospitals become very short staffed during that time for various reasons (vacations, flu season, high hospital census etc.)

Good luck in your search!

MommaTy · May 17, 2013

It's very tough when they know you are a nursing student. It means they will only be hiring your for 1 year, then they have to hire a new CNA/PCT. Good luck

green34 · Jun 13, 2013

When it rains, it pours. Seriously. Whenever I needed to find a job, it took like a month to get called and then when one wanted me, 3 or 4 other places wanted me. In my area, they prefer nursing students. However, you do need to up play strengths. Any customer service experience?

Also look at other positions like unit clerk, clinical associate, nurse tech, nursing assistant, patient transporter, nurse extern, etc. Look at any possible job and see if you qualify. Once you get your foot into the door, it may make it easier to get other positions later on.