What can I do while in nursing school to increase my chances of getting hired?

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · May 31, 2015

If you find that you can work and go to school, then get certified asap as a CNA and find a job working as one. A lot of hospitals hire CNAs as nurses once they are licensed. Some people can work during school, other's find that they can't....either way if you get certified you can work summers at the very least and it can really be a huge help to get a job.

NurseyNursington · May 31, 2015

Definitely get certified as a CNA and try to get a job in a hospital. Nearly all my classmates who were CNA's at hospitals during nursing school were offered RN jobs after graduation.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Jun 1, 2015

The students who are actively recruited are those who have already proved that they "fit in" on a nursing unit. They blend in with the rhythm of the unit. They pay attention. They notice when someone may need an extra pair of hands. They're always busy- Doing what needs to be done without having to be asked, no matter how 'menial' the task. They empty trash cans, help turn patients, fetch clean linen & supplies, answer call lights, offer to empty suction canisters . . . you get the drift.

They don't take up space around the desk, chatting with fellow students about social activities or school assignments. By deliberately aligning yourself with the staff & adding value whenever possible (rather than simply hanging around with the other students), you will stand out. Make sure that those staff nurses know your name & that you're very interested in working with them.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 1, 2015

1. Try to get some "experience" in your area of interest -- by working as a CNA, volunteer, etc.

2. Take advantage of any opportunities to do your school projects, papers, etc. on topics that relate to your field of interest. A lot of students approach each class with an attitude of "Just do what I need to get a decent grade in this course. It doesn't matter what the topic of my paper/project is as long as I get an A," etc. The smart ones use school projects/papers as a way not only to learn more about their primary area of interest ... but also to demonstrate a long-term interest in that field. So take advantage of opportunities to work on student projects that can be supporting items on your resume later. Look at the broader, longer-term perspective to use schoolwork as an opportunity to develop and document your growing knowledge and long-term interest in a specialty that interests you.

3. And as a corollary to #2 ... keep in mind that not all experience is viewed equally. You want to get high quality experience in reputable places that relate to your desired field. In other words, working in a LTC facililty as a CNA won't do much to get you a job in a NICU as a new grad ... but a student project in neonatal assessment might be of more help. But that same CNA position might be invaluable in getting a job as a med/surg nurse, while the neonatal assessment project would not be of any help. See what I mean?

Good luck!

BlueDawnRN, BSN · Jun 8, 2015

Start working as a CNA, unit clerk, transport, or any other job in the hospital. Being a clerk is the reason I got hired. My hospital, and many others, only hires new grads who already work there. Otherwise you're not considered, not even if you volunteer, graduate cum laude, have certifications, etc.

BSN1415 · Jun 8, 2015

Definitely try to be a CNA. I know that around me, you are already eligible for some jobs at hospitals just by having one clinical rotation done, so you don't even need the certification. You can also look for positions called nurse externships. While you are at clinical, you should definitely try to make relationships and be helpful to the nurses. Networking with other nurses is extremely valuable.

tickle_my_NCLEX · Jun 12, 2015

Congratulations on getting in to nursing school! Get ready for a fun roller coaster ride that will challenge you and bring out your best qualities as a person. It's great that you're proactively thinking ahead to strategies for obtaining your very first job.

What everyone has said so far is true: becoming a CNA (I would like to chime in, too, and echo the suggestion that you avoid LTCs) and volunteering will open doors for you. I would like to pass along my experience as a nursing student and my unorthodox strategy of getting my first job that involved almost none of these. A little background first: the program to which I applied was an accelerated second-bachelor's BSN program, so everyone already had a degree in something else. Many had also worked in healthcare for a few years or had degrees like a BS in Biomedical Science, BS in Neuroscience, BS in Biology, etc. When I applied I had zero healthcare experience (with the exception of a CNA license--but I never actually worked as a CNA) and my first degree was public relations. :)

I decided that if I was going to succeed, I would need to pioneer my own path to a job. After the first couple of months in the program, I joined my local chapter of a specialty nursing org as a student ($20, yo!) and regular attended monthly meetings. I met all kinds of nurses working in the field, nurse executives, floor managers, etc. Can I tell you? They were so excited to see someone young and fun coming to the meetings with an interest in what they do. I was welcomed with open arms; it felt like coming home. Truth be told, I did volunteer at one event that they hosted, so it was not just smiling and shaking hands. The org members would regularly inquire about my classes, clinicals, graduation date, and this experience led to a job.

I want to be extremely honest about this experience -- it took several hours per month attending meetings, jotting down everyone's name in a notebook, trying to remember where everyone worked. I also graduated in the top 20% of my class, so I worked hard on my studies as well and I'm not sure how much that factored into it. I want to stress that I always spoke about my interest in the field at the meetings and that I NEVER asked anyone about a job (I think this is very important).

Caution: When I mentioned what I was doing to other classmates who had worked as CNAs for years, I was met with a little discouragement and ugliness about my efforts. I'm not sure if it was jealousy or regret, but I'm the kind of person that ignores negative Nancys and I doesn't let their opinions stop me. I would just keep your outside networking strategies to yourself if you don't want to to hear about the "right" or "wrong" way to do something. OTOH, my instructors fully supported my efforts.

I am probably the exception to the rule, but this strategy worked well for me. I think there's more than one way to get somewhere and I want to encourage you in your efforts no matter HOW you decided to break into the field! Good luck and keep us updated! :)

BertG77 · Jun 12, 2015

I'm a CNA and am beginning my 2nd of a 3 year BSN program. I got my CNA over the summer before I began nursing school, through a kind of expensive, rapid paced program offered by a local private institution. I just sucked it up and figured it was a worth while investment and I feel like it has been. It's enriched my knowledge and experience during clinicals and has helped me to acclimate to the vibe and culture in the hospitals and interact with patients. The places I've worked also get excited when they find out I'm in nursing school. They share more patient info with me and go out of their way to show me things. They also constantly joke around about the RN job openings that are available as if I'm in a position to apply! I laugh and say,"I still need a couple years to complete my program!" But it's cool that they seem to think I'd be a good candidate for working there. Just go for it and get your face and name out there, ask every silly question that enters your head, be curious, have fun.