Pre-nursing student... What's your job??

[peacelovestar]

This summer, after this semester, I'm going to look for a job that will make me feel more confident in a medical type setting- as to better prepare myself for nursing school and eventually becoming an RN. Being a CNA is always a possibility, but the training never works with my schedule of being a fulltime student.

My friend is a unit secretary and just got accepted into nursing school. She said she would never be a CNA because they get the worst work, but she would definitely do anything else in a hospital to get a better idea of what being a nurse is like. She suggested becoming a Unit Secretary.

I really have no experience in the medical field so I'm not sure where to look first.

Anyway, just curious what kind of jobs you guys, as pre-nursing students, have right now? Are they nursing/medical related?

While in nursing school I really don't think I want to work at a hospital (overkill) so I'll probably just keep my 10 hour a week "mall job" for some social interaction.

I'm also going to volunteer at a hospital here, for 4 hours a week for a few months. Another friend did it and said it was just a nice experiene for her. Any hospital volunteers out there?

[erin1205]

I took an eight week course through a local vo-tech school to get certified. It was about $600 dollars (including books) but we (my class) had a government grant that paid a little over half of each students tuition!

[OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN]

I've been a medical office assistant/secretary for over 11 years. I've always wanted to be in the health care field and it's the closest I could get without being a nurse right out of high school.

One job, I was an asisstant to a dermatologist. I would prepare instruments for biopsies, hand the doctor the instruments, blot blood, bandage the wound afterwards and go over postop instructions. I would also remove simple sutures (which was my FAVOURITE). I always knew I wanted to be a nurse, but after doing that job, it confirmed it for me :).

I currently work 3 days per week for a podiatrist, but it's all desk work and not very exciting.

[live4rachael]

I'm active duty military but will separate when I am ready to apply for nursing school. No medical job per se. However, I do volunteer every weekend at the local Children's Hospital in the NICU & Special Care Nursery. I LOVE it. I mainly just hold and feed and diaper the babies but I also get to watch the nurses and learn a ton. I certainly recommend volunteering to anyone, even if you can't do it often.

[NurseJeanB]

I have worked over 20 years for a bank. I work full time in a corporate account reconcilement center. It isn't medical related, but hey it paid the bills and made it possible for me to go to school at night to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. It even paid for my classes. I definitely took the long route but it allowed me to wait until my son was 10 before I left him at nights to go back to school. I am now one class away from completing my prereqs. (physiology) and I am just waiting to hear back from the two schools I applied to for their BSN programs. I am told I have to wait until end of May beginning of June. (Oh so long... ) I have volunteered years ago as a candy striper and more recently I was a volunteer caregiver for the elderly. Even when I get into a nursing school it is a 2.5 to 3 year program. I going to be a little long in the tooth by the time I am a nurse.

[FlyMurse, BSN, RN]

Hi!

I'm currently a Dietary Assistant in a Nursing home, but I hope to become a CNA over the summer when I move to Arizona. It's a great job, and you get a lot of interaction with the residents. In fact, sometimes I find myself doing the CNA's job. My goal is to be a hospital CNA, but I found a Nursing home that would pay for my classes, but I'd imagine I'd have to work there for a bit before transfering to a hospital. Good luck!

Jeremy

[Ready2BRN]

I recently just completed my training with the red cross. It was about $400 and they offered full time (during the day) and part time (at night) classes. I decided to take the class just because I knew it would be a great intro into the world of nursing. Don't get my wrong.....the idea of cleaning up poop and vomit makes me nauseaus , but hopefully that's only a small part of the job. Maybe you could also look into a home health aide program at your local tech school....

The nurses that taught my class actually told us which nursing homes NOT to work for. So, I'm applying to an LTC that was recommended to me by several different people. Volunteering is a great idea....that's what solidified my decision in wanting to become a nurse. I wish you the best!:wink2:

[CilliansMommy06]

I am a stylist and am going to stay working where I am until done with school which it is a 2 year program (full time). Once I am done and take boards and get into a hospital depending on the shift is depending wheather or not I will stop doing hair.

Amy

[RN BSN 2009]

I spent some time volunteering at nursing homes

[Kim O'Therapy, BSN, RN]

Hey,

i am a pre nursing student and i am in my last three classes before nursing school...being a cna has many benefits it may be gross but hey nursing can be very gross at times... i have seen so much as a cna that i would never see as a secretary...my nurses let me do lots of stuff and i get to be there when they are doing the assessment on the pts...also as a cna you get to go on diff. units in the hosp. and in that way you can get a feel for the area and see if you might want to work there after school...esp specialty areas for example i already know i will have a job waiting for me on my mother/baby unit after school...

Please keep in mind that after your 1st semester of nursing school you will be able to work as a nurse tech/cna....well this is just my 2cents

good luck

coco

Same story here. I work weekends and holidays as an aide while I'm in RN school. I've been a CNA for about 6 years. The hospital I work at "prefers" to hire BSN students; however, since I work there they would hire me with my ADN. Just a note to the OP: If you feel it is beneath you to do any "gross" work, you may want to consider another career choice. I can honestly say that being a CNA has greatly improved my clinical experiences.

[MB37]

I'm a bartender, and have been since before and after getting my first degree. You might think the jobs have nothing in common, but the ex-bartender-turned-nurses that I know are who spurred me towards going to nursing school. I'm sure my people skills as well as my multitasking abilities will come in handy in any nursing job I will ever have, and I can't afford the pay cut to work as a CNA.

[Jegra]

I have been working in a hospital for the past 5 years, but in purely non-patient related jobs. First I was an editorial assistant for a liver surgeon who write a lot of journal articles and book chapters, and currently I am the secretary to two psychiatrists. I learn about the workings of a hospital, but unfortunately do not get any patient contact except over the phone!

[Sapper41]

I work at a wildlife center on our campus. I handle birds of prey like hawks, owls, falcons and a golden eagle. It is awesome but has nothing to do with medicine.