Question for RNs from a student.

First off, congratulations on getting in to your top choice!

Right now, even volunteering in a hospital does not open doors. It may give it a crack, but there's not enough jobs going around for new grads. In my area, some hospitals will only let you volunteer doing candy-stripper-type duties, such as passing out magazines and books. It's been hard to find a place that will let me volunteer and have hands-on experience with the patient. It's not impossible, but it's harder than I thought it would be.

Do you need the money during school? If you do, you could always stick with the current job you have to get an income. Then, if you have the time, you can volunteer if you want.

Good luck!

Thanks! Thanks for the input, too! So if I understand correctly, you're saying even volunteering won't give my resume much of a boost to the rest?

I do need the money [single mom, full time school, part time work... yeah, I'm rockin' it =p] That's all I'm seeing, too, information desks and gift shop type duties. I could attempt to get a PCT position at a hospital and really get my foot in the door, but I'm concerned about the pay cut I'd be taking as well as more demanding hours as my school demand also increases. I feel kind of darned if I do darned if I don't... for right now, what's best for my son and I is to stick with what I have. In thinking long term, it'd be best to get into a hospital now and work my way up... but would a more demanding hospital job affect my grades and therefore NOT be ideal for my long term goals? UGH! I'm so confused...

we are expanding our hospital by almost 100% within another year. We will be hiring new grads, but that is not the case everywhere. We do not accept volunteers in patient care areas due to risk of infection or HIPAA violations. However, we do hire nursing students prn (sometimes). So you just have to get on the phone and call around or go visit facilities' HR departments.

I'm all for taking the bird in the hand. For instance, it's really hard to get into a hospital as a new grad, but say you had a BSN with a couple years of hospice experience -- that's a different deal and you might not have trouble getting into acute care. Would your company consider hiring you as a new grad? If that's the case, I would be very tempted to accept that offer.

I got right into psych after I graduated and every one of my friends that I have managed to get hired has continued to send out applications until they get into their preferred area. It's a lot easier to job hunt while you're employed and the money sure doesn't hurt!

Stick with what you have. Volunteering gives you zero visibility in the hospital to management and other nurses. I vaguely notice we have volunteers, but I would never recommend one for a position because I don't know them at all. And frankly, I don't have time to chat with them. Your fate will not be sealed if the only job you can get as RN is with your current company. That will be far better than not working at all.

I think any hospital HR would view paid CNA experience (in hospice, LTC, wherever) as trumping volunteer experience, even if int was in a hospital. Really I don't think the "experience" of being a volunteer counts for much. At most you'll be pushing wheelchairs around and fetching ice waters. What *may* come from volunteering is some good connections....

I truly appreciate all the input, thank you! What I'm faced with is: get a position as a PCT which means a pay cut and rigid hours, or stick where I am as a CNA with flexible hours and higher pay. The ONLY reason I'd make a change would be for the hospital experience. I was hoping to have the best of both worlds by sticking where I am and volunteering in a hospital but it certainly sounds like that doesn't even scratch the hospital surface, so to speak. Still not sure what to do but at least that's one more option crossed off my list.

Classicdame when you say you sometimes hire prn nursing students, doing what exactly? Duties similar to a PCT?

Classicdame when you say you sometimes hire prn nursing students, doing what exactly? Duties similar to a PCT?

I've seen listings like this of prn nursing students. Their duties seem like a PCT.

The best thing for you to do is keep your current job while going to school. I don't believe that having worked in the hospital as a nursing assistant or similar position gives you any advantage over what you are doing now. School is difficult enough without having to worry about your job, so stick with a sure thing.

My nursing school assisted in getting us in as new grads into the hospital. If you need money I'd stick to what u have because nursing school is very demanding and u would have time to study on the job.