RN's what was your occupation while in nursing school?

[mzsuccess]

I live in Nc and here they have CNA ll and the program sounds interesting. The job description is a basically more advanced training than a cna 1. I know it isn't all about money but I want to be comfortable while in school and not so stressed. I had bad experiences as cna 1, in a LTCF and it just turned me off. I was so tired and stressed I couldn't get work done. A Cna ll is kinda like pca/pct. Alot of hospitals and hospices are hiring for them. My thing is I can't find the pay rate and difference in pay from cna 1 to cna 2? The program is $700 and is for 8 weeks.. does the sound like it's worth it? what did you do while in nursing school?

[klone, MSN, RN]

I worked at home as an editor/proofreader, I owned my own herbal business, and in my last year, I also worked as a nurse extern in L&D.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

@meanmaryjean did you ever work at a LTCF while an LPN, I feel like that's the only choice if I tale LPN and I don't want to work at anymore LTCF.

I did for a bit. But what you probably don't realize is that I was an LPN from 1977-1980. Probably before you were born, and LPNs were common in hospitals. Like I said, I was the CHARGE NURSE as an LPN.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I worked as a security guard... I'm not an RN yet nor am I working in that capacity... but it was a job that helped get me through school.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I had been unemployed during the 12 months I attended an LVN program.

I worked full-time as an LVN at a nursing home while attending an LPN-to-RN completion program.

[workingmama77, BSN]

I worked evenings as a unit secretary on the same unit I now work on as an RN.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

I was a cashier/stock person/ floral clerk at Kroger. Then I was a CNA for a short time in a nursing home. Then I was a nurse extern.

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

I worked for a nursing staffing agency. It was a well paid phone job interfacing with the nursing supervisors at the hospitals and the agency nurses. Stressful and the shift hours were weird(day shift started at 4am, worse than any overnight!) but otherwise not bad.

[ORNerd, BSN, RN]

I was a pharmacy tech during nursing school.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses

[Medic24]

Paramedic

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

I have had many jobs. I was an accountant and kept books and did payroll during nursing school; I took a test and obtained an insurance license and sold life insurance and college fund programs for a while. I was a customer service manager for 4 years. I taught in a business college for one year. I usually worked 6 days per week, and I had small children. I took the ADN route initially, because I only had to go part-time for 21 months. I took the few extra BSN fluff classes a few years later. (Off-topic, but this is why I don't understand why anyone would think an ADN nurse is under-educated; tons of us have far more schooling than just nursing school.)

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I think a person would make more money as a paid student intern, vs a CNA. I doubt hospitals would pay much more if any for a CNA II vs CNA I. Whatever additional training a CNA II would get you would get in nursing school. Why pay twice?

I worked as a secretary and hospital admitting clerk while in school so I had some familiarity with nursing and hospitals, but lacked the hands on experience a CNA/tech or intern would have. I believe that experience would have made for an easier transition, so I recommend it to others if you have the chance. I worked very briefly, a few times as a CNA at a nursing home and had a terrible experience because of the ridiculous staffing ratio's. It was such a bad experience I chose not to work as a CNA after that. The agency owner was a clinical instructor and it was obvious she was doing this to get her own workers. The nursing home I worked at closed down eventually because of the poor conditions.

[Caffeine_IV]

I was an LPN while in school for my associates.

I did work at home computer based stuff in PN school.