PCT/Student RN, should I do it?

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Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could offer any advice as far as working as a PCT/Student RN while in nursing school. I am about 3 weeks away from being in my final semester of nursing school. I just interviewed today with like my DREAM hospital (would like to keep the name private) but it is a large teaching hospital/level I trauma center in the Chicago land area that I have always dreamed of working at. However, the pay is awful! Only $12.50/hr. and I don't know if it is worth it? I would be required to work 4 shifts/month or 32 hours per month, they do offer a lot of flexibility in terms of what shifts and how many hours your shift is (i.e. you can sign up for 4, 8, or 12 hour shifts). My program I am in is an accelerated BSN program and is VERY demanding so I'm nervous if I can keep up with all of this as I am starting 4th semester in a couple of weeks. We will have 2-3 clinicals per week, plus exams...Basically, I just to know if it is even worth it as far as getting my experience and getting my foot in the door and having a staff RN position there for when I graduate. So any thought/opinions are HIGHLY appreciated! :)

Thanks,

Confused nursing student! ;)

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32 hours a month? That's one shift a week. The pay is fair for around where I live.

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I would do it bc it's great for your résumé and adding experience BUT if it messes with your school work and it makes your perform worse in school then NO, bc ultimately school should come first right now.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I agree I would do it.

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Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it...even if it doesn't guarantee me a job there after I graduate I should still do it? I just want to do what's best for me right now in school; however, since I graduate in a little over 4 months, I also want to do what's best for my future career as a nurse as I have heard horror stories about new grads not being able to find jobs after they graduate? I just want a job somewhere in a hospital, really don't want to have to resort to working in a nursing home.

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Thanks for the input, I really appreciate it...even if it doesn't guarantee me a job there after I graduate I should still do it? I just want to do what's best for me right now in school; however, since I graduate in a little over 4 months, I also want to do what's best for my future career as a nurse as I have heard horror stories about new grads not being able to find jobs after they graduate? I just want a job somewhere in a hospital, really don't want to have to resort to working in a nursing home.

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I would definitely do it. I work 24hrs (2 12hr shifts) a week in a Detroit hospital and I LOVE it! You get a completely different perspective and will learn nursing from both perspectives. Plus, yh job placement you have after graduation is amazing! I haven't met one NA/PCT that had a problem moving to a RN position.

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I would do it!

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I would do it too! It will be stressful but get in super woman mode and manage the heck out of your time, in and out of school. I think taking an opportunity you always wanted (even though it's a not the preferred position) will get your foot in the door, get your name&face in the mind of the RN's and nurse managers and even ensure you a job in the future. If not a job it gives you experience in a hospital setting that you use for your benefit in future interviews.

Plus it seems most hospitals welcome their CNA's and PCT's moving up and are happy to hire them since they know their quality of work.

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