Pre-Nursing Student looking for work.

[tburkhart]

Hello all! This is my inaugural post, and as a pre-nursing student planning on staring RN school in the fall, hopefully the first of many discussions i get to have with you folks for the next many years!

I am currently unemployed and looking for healthcare work. I am not having any success however. I had a member of our "careers" department help me with my resume so I don't think that is the problem. I am wondering if any of you think I should focus on specific roles when seeking employment.

Here is a little about myself (and may explain why I feel like based off of my past experience and a few other things I am surprised I haven't got a call back yet). I am currently 30 and spent the 10 years from 18-28 working in EMS. I started dispatching EMS shortly after my 18th birthday, and subsequently went to EMT-Basic school, followed by EMT-Intermediate and Paramedic school in the next few years that followed. I moved to Illinois (from my home of Oklahoma to live near my new wife's family) and decided to let my license go. All i have current right now is my BLS card (and my PHTLS card, but that doesn't really help in hospital).

I know most hospitals won't hire me as a PCT which is probably what I would prefer, so I have been focusing a lot on administrative/clerical jobs just to have something in hospital, and not like food service or something. I worked PRN in dispatch a lot, so i figured my in office experience might help with those types of jobs as well. I am just having no luck though... I am in Chicago so if you have any suggestions of where to apply, those would help as well. I know a lot of people apply for in hospital jobs, so maybe before even looking at my resume, without a degree of any sort i don't really stand out. I interview really well in person, so the fact that the whole world requires online applications these days doesn't really help me.

Any ideas would be welcome, my wife is the only one making any incom at the moment, and it is not exactly easy living on one income, let alone in Chicago.

Thanks!

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Thought about renewing your license? That would seem to be the best first step. Then you could work prn in EMS (and acquire some local references) while you look.

[Shagce1]

How about getting your CNA? Usually a quick class anywhere from 2-12 weeks and then work in a hospital as a CNA or possibly ER tech? CNA not the greatest pay, but would get you an income and possibly in the door in a hospital. You will probably need your CNA for nursing school anyhow.

[mvm2]

There are classes you can take that might help you get a pct job or even taking your CNA might help you find a job. Does it have to be hospital? CNAs work in many places and you would be in the medical feild