Pre-Nursing hospital jobs?

[bluechick112]

OK. I'm a pre-nursing student attending a local community college in California. To gain hospital experience (and make a little money to pay for the enormous debt I'll be in once I go to nursing school), I enrolled in a C.N.A. program at Nightingale Nursing in San Leandro. I graduated the top of my class, however, I had idiotically scheduled my C.N.A. state board exam, TEAS, and NET test within three weeks of eachother. I then broke out in hives from stress! So I figured that the least important of the three tests was my C.N.A. test (since I'm not in dire need of the C.N.A. immediately) and so I cancelled it and will probably reschedule it for the summer (so I have time to study for it).

I also signed up to be a volunteer in the E.R. at John Muir hospital, which I've been doing for a few months now. However, I ended up quitting my job at an Elementary School in order to pursue a career as a C.N.A. and have no income at the moment (which is starting to prove unfavorable).

I was hoping someone could tell me of an entry-level, no experience (or little experience) needed job at a hospital to gain hospital experience. I'm really not concerned about the amount of money I'd be making since I'm not in a financial crisis or anything, but I'd really like to get myself comfortable in a hospital position.

I applied for a few jobs around here (I'm in the California East Bay Area) like techs, nursing assistant (even though I don't have my certification), secretary, etc. but haven't heard back from any of them--probably due to my lack of experience in the medical field. Quite the catch 22.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[bluechick112]

Yeah, I thought about taking a Phlebotomy course. In fact, I was going to opt to do that instead of my CNA. I ultimately decided on my CNA (mainly because it was cheaper) and, like I said, ended up putting off the state board test. I'd definitely consider taking a Phlebotomy course as well, but at the same time I know I'm going to learn Phlebotomy in nursing school and the way I see it...why pay additional money to take the class now? Thanks though!

[kathleenincal]

being a cna is not a waste of time. the cna program is now a pre-req for some colleges in california. as far as hospitals refusing to hire cna's ,that just shows that they would rather wear down the lvn's and rn's with those duties. not having cna's on a hospital floor is only taking away competent care. how can one expect lvns and rn's to handle 'all' the work without putting patients in harms way? cna's know patients alot better because they provide hands-on care and catch things that the lvns and rn's can miss; thus savings lives.

shame on any hospital that refuses to hire the 'grunts'.

[CNA1991, CNA]

Being a CNA in ANY field first looks better when you apply to hospitals; it helps you get a job because experience is experience. It would be a good idea to work in LTC or Home health because most hospitals in our area (I live by you, btw) want "experience" and are really stingy about it. I have heard of people getting hired straight into hospitals before, but they usually live in the middle of no where or just got REALLY lucky(it's very rare, and it's usually because of being friends with a hire up employee). I only know one person who ever got work at a hospital with no experience and it was because her best friend was a senior doctor. If you really want to get into a hospital with little to no experience, your best bet would be to get more certifications: ACUTE CNA certification is the best way to get "clinical experience" without already having it and be a more desirable candidate for hospitals. Most hospitals in our area(If not all) usually require BLS certification, and EKG certification looks nice, so does phlebotomy, and PALS and ACLS look ok and I guess it wouldn't hurt getting them even though they are "out of a CNAs scope of practice". Despite the lack of nurses, companies still want nurses with some sort of experience and being a CNA gives you an in for having a nursing job when you graduate. I had trouble even finding a job after graduating and I was happy to get a job. I would just say take any job you can and work your way up even if it's not what you want, because it will get you the experience you need to get a better job. Good luck:nurse:

[bad boy]

in CHINA, you will get you want, i am a Chinese boy ,i major in nursing, now i am still study in school, when I granduate ,i will go to a good hospital which is the school arranged. So i can get the experience in hospital , so China is a good choise , so come to China .:)