Volunteering and work experience for someone interested in an accelerated BSN

[lemonlove]

Hi everyone!

I've been lurking on this forum for awhile. I'm currently working on my B.A. in psychology and have recently become interested in nursing. My college does not offer a nursing program, so I'm looking to accelerated BSN or entry MSN programs.

I'd like to gain some relevant experience and I'd love some ideas of where to look and how to get started. My local hospital has a small volunteer program that only admits students once a year, as there are many premed students from my university trying to volunteer there. I looked into volunteering at some hospitals while I'm home over summer in the greater bay area, but most require 6months- 1year commitment.

I'm feeling a bit stuck and would love some advice about creative ways to get experience. I currently have an internship working as a classroom aide for students with disabilities, so I have some experience with vulnerable populations.

I've also seen a lot of application require payed, direct patient care experience and am wondering if anyone has ideas about how to get this?

Any advice for me would be appreciated!

[WCSU1987]

You can always be a psych tech Some require an Associates degree, some a bachelor's degree, and some an LPN CERT. Usually if they do make decent money while working with patients.

You can facilitate group's, do med education, interview patients, set up treatment plans, do admissions, blood work, EKGs, vitals, blood sugars, chart on patients, and so forth depending where you work.

[verene, MSN]

Look into volunteering with a hospice agency or at a nursing home. I volunteered with a hospice agency before nursing school - I loved it and learned so many valuable lessons from the experience. It even lead to a pre-nursing school CNA job.

Easiest patient-care jobs to get would be CNA, Home Health Aid, or EMT.

[Lipoma, BSN, RN]

I was recently accepted to an ABSN program and many of the interview questions were related to previous/current clinical experience.

My advice to you would be to see if there are ED/ER Tech positions available in your town. If they are see, what the requirements are for applying to the job.

I have worked as a nursing assistant and although I value the experience, I have learned way more working as a MA in regards to patient care (and medicine) as compared to a nursing assistant.

[lemonlove]

What's the difference between an ER tech, an MA and a nursing assistant? I'm particularly interested in positions that don't require a certification since I'm still trying to finish my first degree

[lemonlove]

Volunteering at a hospice agency is a great idea! I considered that when I was looking for volunteer work related to psychology as well.

[Lipoma, BSN, RN]

What's the difference between an ER tech, an MA and a nursing assistant? I'm particularly interested in positions that don't require a certification since I'm still trying to finish my first degree

An ER Tech (usually a nursing student who has completed at least one clinical rotation, a licensed CNA, EMT-B, or Paramedic depending on the institution and their requirements) OR if no certification, must have adequate experience working in a health care facility.

An ER Tech is essentially an entry level health care professional who works in the emergency department under the direct supervision of a medical provider and a registered nurse. They may have the title of patient care tech, nursing assistant, CNA, etc (they're all synonymous). Regardless of title, duties may includes taking accurate vital signs, venipuncture, bed side care, aka assisting the higher ups with whatever they need.

I have worked as an uncertified nursing assistant on a med-surg unit (got the job using my EMT-B license) and all I did was take vitals, ADLs, collect urine specimens, empty foleys, and brought specimens to the lab. It was routine and got boring.

I wanted to challenge myself so I used the experience and my EMT-B license once again to get a medical assistant job in an urgent care setting. I'm still in this role and everyday is different which I value. I am doing everything the physicians won't do. Blood draws, injections (IM, SQ, ID), administering meds (PO), giving nebulizer treatments, verbally prescribing meds per protocol, submitting and tracking labs, suture/staple removal etc. My scope as a MA greatly exceeds that as nursing assistant and an EMT-B's (never worked a day on a rig).