Part-time jobs in Nursing Field

[Aspiring33]

Hello everyone,

I am interested in applying to part-time jobs related to the nursing field. I do understand that most jobs require you to have some sort of nursing/medical license and that volunteering at hospitals is the best way to go. I am interested in applying to an accelerated nursing program once I graduate from my current university. I was originally accepted into nursing school, but was dismissed during my second semester due to two grades of 79.99%. The passing score was 80%. With this said, I do have 1 year of experience as a nursing student on the labor and delivery, NICU, medical-surgical, and behavioral health units. I have experience giving medications, shots, performing activities of daily living, inserting Foley catheters, performing independent medical exams, and charting in the EHR.

I currently volunteer at a children's hospital and I am also an intern at a clinic. I am interested in applying for a part-time job as a medical assistant or some sort of hospital job that is patient-care related. I would appreciate any advice you could give me on this!

I also did post this in another forum, but posted it here as well for advice from nursing students.

[verene, MSN]

Your nursing student experience is not going to be enough to get you a patient care job. You will need some sort of additional training or certification e.g. CNA certification. Also please note that you were not "conducting independent medical exams" during nursing school - this is the scope of the physician not a nursing student. I'm assuming what you mean is that you conducted nursing physical and mental status assessments. I note this mostly because if this is how you are describing your experience you'll want to use the correct terminology on a resume, cover letter, or interview so as not to overstate you experience.

You may want to look into CNA certification or PCT training. Both are relatively inexpensive and quick pathways to certifications that will allow you to work in healthcare. Realize that in some areas hospital jobs are extremely competitive and you may end up working in long-term care or another setting for a year before having enough experience to apply for a hospital job.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

" I do have 1 year of experience as a nursing student on the labor and delivery, NICU, medical-surgical, and behavioral health units. I have experience giving medications, shots, performing activities of daily living, inserting Foley catheters, performing independent medical exams, and charting in the EHR. "

This is not 'experience' you can put on a resume. These are school activities, and not paid employment. Verene gave you good advice above.

Also- you may not use 'nurse' as part of your username if you are not one.

[Aspiring33]

Is it a policy not to use "nurse" in my username? I included it because I am aspiring to be one and have tailored my experiences towards the nursing field. I didn't know that it was an issue and was not implying that I'm a nurse or hold a license.

I also do think I am able to list these experiences on my resume as volunteer activities. It shows that I have some knowledge/familiarity in the field as a student nurse. I did check with a nursing advisor and she said my resume was fine since I listed my experiences under the title of student nurse.

[Aspiring33]

Yes, that was what I meant by independent exams. Thank you for correcting me on that and for your feedback!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Is it a policy not to use "nurse" in my username? I included it because I am aspiring to be one and have tailored my experiences towards the nursing field. I didn't know that it was an issue and was not implying that I'm a nurse or hold a license.

I also do think I am able to list these experiences on my resume as volunteer activities. It shows that I have some knowledge/familiarity in the field as a student nurse. I did check with a nursing advisor and she said my resume was fine since I listed my experiences under the title of student nurse.

Yes, it is clearly stated in the Terms of Service you agreed to when you started your account here.

[CelticGoddess, BSN, RN]

Is it a policy not to use "nurse" in my username? I included it because I am aspiring to be one and have tailored my experiences towards the nursing field. I didn't know that it was an issue and was not implying that I'm a nurse or hold a license.

I also do think I am able to list these experiences on my resume as volunteer activities. It shows that I have some knowledge/familiarity in the field as a student nurse. I did check with a nursing advisor and she said my resume was fine since I listed my experiences under the title of student nurse.

It's against TOS and in some states, it's illegal to use the title unless you are licensed.

As far as the rest: No, it is NOT experience. This is not something you did independently. You did it as a student. When you graduate from nursing school and go to get a job, that "experience" will also not count.

[S7ud3n7_Nur53]

It depends on what state you are in, but there are unlicensed nursing support/patient care positions in some hospitals here. For example some of these job postings state: "Acceptable qualifications; CNA cert, EMT, 1 clinical semester completed in nursing school." Apparently many people from my school work in these types of unlicensed patient care positions. They are called several different things like Patient Care Assistant, Student Nurse, Nurse Technician, etc.

[Castiela]

On your resume, under your schooling, you can put activities you have done in clinical but I wouldn't put that under experience