Student Nursing Job Ideas?

[ashlenicole265]

:heartbeat So, I found my passion in nursing but nobody told me about the $$$ I'd have to shell out or the mental issues it would cause lol only joking... partly. Welp, I originally intended to quit my job until I got well suited on my path. I just started my OB clinical and lecture. I've finished both my Foundations and my Adult Health I classes and clinicals.

But I'm having a terrible hard time finding any type of job that coordinates with what I'm learning. I've tried calling nursing homes and assisted living homes but no luck. I'm not really wanting to jump into the hospital. (Too soon!) Can anyone suggest some ideas of places nursing students might have more luck in looking for job?

[rmkelly]

You know, some hospitals will help with tuition in exchange for a time commotment. My most recent employer paid cpomplete tuition.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Home health care agencies maybe? In my state, nursing students can apply to challenge the CNA exam if they've completed one clinical rotation. You might have better luck if you have CNA certification.

[Essie Marie]

Not sure if this applies in your situation, but where I am from and in the BSN program, after one year of nursing school, you can work as a care aid; and after two years of nursing school, you can be an ESN (employed student nurse) or you can take LPN challenge test and work as an LPN. I chose the ESN route since that is closest to my actual goal; it is v good experience and the pay is moderately less than a starting RN's wage. I hope this helps.

[Anastasiak]

How do I find a student nurse job? I don't see any posts on job sites for nursing students? I live in Los Angeles.

[IzzyKat23]

I know how you feel, I also am jobless and in school (although hopefully not jobless for long). If you don't have a CNA see about testing for it and maybe one of your nursing instructors can check you off on or knows someone who can check you off on the clinical skill set area.

As for finding jobs...I almost think folks in nursing programs have an edge! I am still in the pre-req phase and only have my CNA (got it this past spring) and don't start till fall 2010 but I want to get experience (and moola is always nice too!!!) so that is why I want a job. In my many searches though I have found that if you go to hospital sites and look under jobs/employment I see that most of them are reserved for nursing students only or they give prevalence to those who are in nursing programs and have had at least one clinical rotation. It says this under skills required. Not sure it is like that everywhere and at all times but all of them around my area are like that. We also have a ton of nursing programs in our area though. Good luck in your job search!

[Essie Marie]

In reply to Anastasiak: I went to region's website (the hospital I work at is one of several hospitals which make up a region). I would suggest looking into some hospitals that you are interested in working at, and then finding out which region they belong to, go to the region's website. I found the information for "Employed Student Nurses" under something called the Practice Start program. In LA, it would probably be called something different. Hopefully, your area has something like that b/c I've found it to be a great learning experience and it's helped me pay my tuition. Good luck and I hope that helps.

[foreverLaur]

You can work as a nurse aide, patient care assistant, patient support assistant, patient care tech, etc. Most require STNA or completion of med/surg rotation. They like to hire student nurses and will work around school schedules.

[Anastasiak]

Hi Essie and foreverLaur,

Essie, I think the region website and ESN/Practice start program is only available in Canada. Or at least, I couldn't find a region website for Los Angeles. Although, I will continue looking for something in California.

ForeverLaur,

Can you recommend any job sites that are good for finding med/nursing jobs? I am searching google for those job titles and am finding limited results in LA via portals like indeed.com and simplyhired.com

Thank you both for your replies.

[Viruz]

Hello, I have been lurking on this site and finally registered. Anyhow, I am finishing my BSN and wanted to say that you can get your CNA certificate as a nursing student. I think if you have one two complete semesters of nursing school you can test out. Thats what I did.

I just got mine but I havent been able to find a job. Hope that helps.

[foreverLaur]

It seems like you'd be better off just doing a Google search for hospitals near your area and then apply directly their those websites. Everyone I know applies through the hospital websites for the hospitals they are interested in working at. There are three major hospital systems in my city and I just applied to every single job posting on any website until I got a job.

I have used websites like indeed.com, monster.com, and careerbuilder.com and there is rarely anything legitimate on there.

[ShortStackRN]

I know you said you aren't looking to jump into the hospital yet, but it might not be a bad idea to go ahead and look into it. I am a senior nursing student, currently working as a Senior Patient Care Tech at the local teaching hospital. The job works around my schedule and has been a very rewarding experience. Taking a job in the hospital as opposed to home health or a nursing home is good for a few reasons: a.) if you are looking to work in a hospital after you graduate, you will learn A LOT about the way things work b.) the job will help you get the foot in the door and introduce you to a lot of people that you will be working with in the future, and c.) it will help you tremendously when you start you med/surg rotations in the hospital...you will be better oriented to the situation and could be a huge asset to yourself and your clinical group. My jobn has taught me EXACTLY how crucial the PCT is to the health-care team, and exactly how hard my job will be when I graduate. OH and some hospitals will pay your tuition in return for a year or 2 of work after you graduate! GOOD LUCK!!