Nursing Student Working At A Hospital

[JayPerez930]

Hello To All Nurses!

This will be my first topic as a new member.

Currently I am in nursing school at Kingsborough Community College and half way through the curriculum. I am currently working at St. John's Riverside Hospital in Yonkers, NY as a tech aide for the MRI department while attending school. What I wanted to know is if it will be easier to attain a job as an RN at the hospital I am working at or any hospital, given that ill have experience in a hospital already.

[Lori215, RN]

I worked as a CNA (for 6 months) before nursing school and then what they called a "nurse extern" in the ICU during third and fourth semester of nursing school. I also did my fourth semester preceptorship (or practicum) in ICU. After graduation I landed an RN position (in a different hospital) in neuro ICU.

I think it helps them to know that you have SOME idea of what goes on in a hospital/unit and you're not going to take a job and quit a year later because you hate it! It also gives you more experience to draw from during your interview which is great, and most interviewers want to hear situational stories and how you resolved them. I wouldn't trade my experience for the world! I think it helped tremendously in my case. :)

[justawannabe93]

Depends. It definitely does help to have health care experience in general, but it is so common for nursing students to work as aides or techs during school now that it really isn't that big of a 'wow factor' for prospective employers once they graduate nursing school. As others have said, you'll be able to apply for job postings from the internal side and will already have an established record as an employee (needless to say, make that record shine! Never be late, always work to get great performance reviews!)

I work PRN just as a front desk staff at the hospital I want to work at, but floating has helped me make so many connections. I often 'float' to one clinic for months at a time while employees are out on maternity leave, FMLA, etc. during my school breaks and I have had two job offers now, one by a doctor himself because their office RN was retiring right around when I graduate and one offer from the whole medical group manager who was looking to also fill an RN position around when I graduate in December. Of course, I don't want to start off in clinic nursing because I want to really work on my skill set on the floor for a few years first, so I have graciously turned down these offers but the point is network yourself wherever possible and whenever possible! Build a good reputation/relationship with anyone and everyone that you come across. Good luck OP!

[Xlorgguss]

It definitely depends on where you are at. All of the students that just graduated from my ADN program found jobs (or so I was told). I know plenty of my fellow peers that don't have any experience besides clinical. Has working as a tech helped me? Absolutely! I take every opportunity I can to learn. I ask questions. In my free time I tag along with a nurse just to observe. I try to watch them start IV's, ask about lung sounds, etc. Make the most of the opportunities! Despite having two semesters left I basically have my job lined up if I want it. My floor has offered jobs to all of the per diem techs that have wanted it. I work full time and have a good reputation. Working in the hospital can't hurt. You already have connections.