Student nurses: Earn 40/hr on COVID units?

Futurenpcm, CNA, EMT-I · Dec 22, 2020

If I still lived in southern california I would do it.

barcode120x, RN, NP · Dec 23, 2020

On 12/21/2020 at 6:39 PM, xshado said:

So I just got an opportunity from my school saying that they're paying 40/hr to student nurses to help during the pandemic and do "patient care services" through Kaiser hospitals in Southern California.

Is it worth it? What would you do?

I would definitely do it. Gets your foot in the door, experience and $40/hr is a lot. My guess most of your work will be CNA-like services. I would make sure you look into any fine print on that position. Make sure it's not like a set contract, or you have to work like 5 days a week straight or something.

ETA-RN, ADN, RN · Dec 29, 2020

Definitely go for it. Kaiser is a good company to work for but know every facility has it's own personality. Ask questions about what you will be doing. As much as I hear about the "nursing shortage" here in CA I don't see it manifesting. I have a ton of applications out since passing NCLEX in July and only a few interviews.

I have been offered a per diem "care assistant" position in the mid 30s that I've agreed to do. Hoping when they post their new grad positions in Jan it will make me a stronger candidate.

vince_reads, BSN, LVN, RN · Dec 29, 2020

In the Kaiser hospital where I work at here in Northern California, I heard that we are expecting 200 "student nurses". We were told that they will be assigned with an RN, and they won't have a patient load. In addition, we were told that they will be fresh "new grads" who haven't taken NCLEX yet or about to take it. It seems like they will help us here due to being short-staffed at times, and they'll be paid as well. I'm unsure when they'll arrive. But I will keep you posted once I have updates.

And to answer your question... YES, IT'S FRICKEN WORTH IT!

ETA-RN, ADN, RN · Jan 3, 2021

I'm interviewing next week for the LA "new grad" position. I have several questions to ask during the interview. Right now at my facility the ratios are crazy and we have long waits for ambulances on our ER ramp.

vimmie · Jan 3, 2021

I did a similar job in NYC in the Spring and Summer, worked as a nursing assistant while finishing school during the surge. Now I’m hired by the unit as a RN. Definitely worth it!

K.Rae · Jan 4, 2021

I jumped on it! I’m hoping it can count as clinical hours because they don’t have placements for us during our last semester. The pay is way too good to pass up (unless you don’t need the money).

Plus, it’ll give you a good idea of what it’s like at Kaiser and if you’d want to work there. And who knows, it could be a foot in the door.

From my understanding it’s not on a covid unit, and we may get to float through the hospital assigned to different nurses. I would also guess that at some point we’ll have a chance to get the vaccine if we’re working in COVID units.

I sent all my paperwork in and just waiting to hear back on my orientation! The app is closed now though.

ETA-RN, ADN, RN · Jan 4, 2021

Tomorrow marks seven years with Kaiser for me. I've enjoyed it. Not sure right now is the best time to gauge any employer due to Covid and how facilities are functioning. It is also not when you will learn "best practices" from a nursing standpoint. But you will be on the frontlines and look back on these times when things are better.