what do you recommend?

I'm a student also, but from what I've heard from my instructors and other students, the best way to get the experience you are needing would be to work as a CNA. I think the training program for a certificate is just 2-6 weeks long and can be obtained through LTC facilities, hospitals, the American Red Cross, and probably other areas that I'm not aware of. I plan on working as a CNA over my summer break and maybe longer. Good luck to you!

The secretarial position will require as much or more training and experience than the CNA. A medical secretary is not just any old sec. he/she has lots of responsibilities that a sec would not normally have and need a very strong background in med termonolgy, script writing, etc. He needs skills that most sec. do not have.

A CNA would be good. You might try a phlebotomy course if time is limited and try to get a job in that area. Plus it is a skill that will be useful in nursing.

It is OK to go to your first clinical clueless. It is pretty much expected. Even the CNAs surgery techs, philbotomist etc. who first start nursing clinicals are basically without a clue, they just act like they know something. But what they know has nothing to do with being there as a nurse.

I was a CNA. It was an insignificant advantage. For some it prooved a drawback if they were a CNA, EMT or some such because they thought they knew more than they did. Some of us had a hard time understanding why we had to learn certain things to the debth that nursing required because wwe honestly believed that we knew as much as nurses about certain things already but we had no clue the debth that nurses had to understand them.

The sstudents who did the best in my classes were not CNAs, EMTs, ssurgery techs, etc.

Originally posted by nursepru

OK, I don't have my CNA certification and I'm only up to A & P II for my prereqs. Basically I have very little hospital experience, other than being a patient myself or from my family members being patients. I want to get some hospital experience and start working FT in a hospital setting until I start Nursing school. What positions do you all recommend to get a good idea of how hospitals operate? I would love to do CNA work, but I don't have time to get my certification and I do not have enough experience. I've considered doing some kind of medical secretary work. What's the best way for me to gain experience? I just don't want to be totally clueless when I start clinicals...

Thanks :)

You might want to check with the nursing program about your CNA. My old nursing college now makes your CNA a prerequisite to nursing too.

Agnus,

I am new to this allnurses.com, in fact I just registered today, and all ready I have taken offense by what someone has posted. You.

CNA's/STNA's have something in common with nurses. They are often called patients aka Residents in some facilities.

There are helpful aspects of being an STNA before you enter nursing school and some that are not so helpful.

Mostly it depends on how you view your job title, the work you do, and how good you are at it and if you take pride in it.

STNA's who are great at their work, take pride in their jobs and are there to provide care for their "R" not just pick up a paycheck.

Your class was only one class out of hundreds of thousands across the globe.

I have a friend who never took an STNA class or anything, she worked at Kmart before she started her ADN program.

She failed her 2nd qtr by a 1oth of a point (she earned a C- in one of her courses), and had to retake that whole qtr over.

Food for thought. My psych professor who has a doctorate from Stanford, said that he does not refer to himself as DR. such and such and that he does not call dr's DR. He calls them by their name. Your title only refers to the amount of eduacation you have.

It does not tell anyone how well you perform your job, if you have empathy, or compassion, or the sacrifices and struggles you went through to earn it.

Keep that in mind before you dog other nursing professionals.

jules

The hospital that I work at have what they call health techs. It is like a nurse aide's helper. They do things like patient transport, pass ice, clean beds,etc... but no direct hands- on patient care.

They are called something different at every hospital. Maybe that would be the way to go.

Originally posted by nursecompassion

Agnus,

I am new to this allnurses.com, in fact I just registered today, and all ready I have taken offense by what someone has posted. You.

CNA's/STNA's have something in common with nurses. They are often called patients aka Residents in some facilities.

There are helpful aspects of being an STNA before you enter nursing school and some that are not so helpful.

Mostly it depends on how you view your job title, the work you do, and how good you are at it and if you take pride in it.

STNA's who are great at their work, take pride in their jobs and are there to provide care for their "R" not just pick up a paycheck.

Your class was only one class out of hundreds of thousands across the globe.

I have a friend who never took an STNA class or anything, she worked at Kmart before she started her ADN program.

She failed her 2nd qtr by a 1oth of a point (she earned a C- in one of her courses), and had to retake that whole qtr over.

Food for thought. My psych professor who has a doctorate from Stanford, said that he does not refer to himself as DR. such and such and that he does not call dr's DR. He calls them by their name. Your title only refers to the amount of eduacation you have.

It does not tell anyone how well you perform your job, if you have empathy, or compassion, or the sacrifices and struggles you went through to earn it.

Keep that in mind before you dog other nursing professionals.

jules

Well I guess you told me. You really put me in my place.

Perhaps, you should look arround and learn your way before you jump to conclusions.

This person was concerned as she has time constraints on her I was offering reasurance.

You are reading things into my post that I never said. But you are entitled to do that.

Jules,

Whoa girl...where did that come from? Angus was only offering insight and he was right on the money. I started out as a Unit Secretary, then CNA then Nurse Tech and now am a RN. I did not get the impression that he "downed" any job title or what they do. But the fact remains, he's right. The worst students in my class (14 years ago) were the EMT's and LPN's (please, no offense to anyone) who came with the idea they already knew it all. Mind you, not all EMT's/LPN's were like that. His only point, they expect you to be green when you get there.

Everyone who works in a healthcare setting provides a needed and valuable service...from housekeeping and kitchen food preparers to the CEO. If your job wasn't important, you wouldn't be there.

And to the original poster...don't stress and good luck. The knowledge and skills will all come in time and you will be great.

Kelley

Dang! I gotta change my online name. It is not Angus it is Agnus. You know the girl's name. (remember the movie Agnus of God) Easy mistake and no offense taken. I'm a girl. :chuckle

Agnus -- You messin' with us now?

That was "Agnes of God," no? Great flick, however spelled. (Maybe you meant the pronounciation was the same.)

BTW, I didn't take any offense at your response either.

Originally posted by LarryG

Agnus -- You messin' with us now?

That was "Agnes of God," no? Great flick, however spelled. (Maybe you meant the pronounciation was the same.)

BTW, I didn't take any offense at your response either.

Ah ha! that explains a lot. Well now I will have to Change it.

I am sooo sorry AGNUS!!! I feel like an idiot but I sat here and laughed at your remark til I about wet myself. I needed a good chuckle today...thanks.