What do you do right now?

Knorremeisje · Mar 17, 2008

I'm a Monitor Tech/CNA at Banner. I currently work PRN and pick up one to three shifts/week. I finish my last pre-req this week! But am already working on the co-req's. :) I hope to get in soon!

Amburgerz12 · Mar 18, 2008

I have found that it is extremely difficult to get a job at the hospital with no prior experience. I have been working admin for over three years now and have continually applied for their admin positions, patient registrar positions, and for the Unit secretary positions. I have been told by other employees at the hospitals that with my previous experience in the office that I would be more than qualified to do such work. It would really be great to get a job at the hospital and possibly start getting experience in the field. Any advice?

West Valley · Mar 18, 2008

I have found that it is extremely difficult to get a job at the hospital with no prior experience. I have been working admin for over three years now and have continually applied for their admin positions, patient registrar positions, and for the Unit secretary positions. I have been told by other employees at the hospitals that with my previous experience in the office that I would be more than qualified to do such work. It would really be great to get a job at the hospital and possibly start getting experience in the field. Any advice?

I am in the same boat. I have applied and can only get hospital admin positions which offer no flexibilty. I have interviewed for serveral registrar positions but I was told that they chose someone with experience doing registration. When I interviewed the other day the lady said that office admin work is a bit different than hospital registration or unit secretary work. But I am still trying and still looking into the phlebotomy or unit secretary programs.

Good Luck!

mel236 · Mar 21, 2008

I too have found that it is difficult to get into any hospital position. I did however just land a job as a PCA. My experience has been that it is all who you know, not so much what you know or how long you have been doing it. I filled out over 15 applications for different positions with Banner online and was turned down for every last one of them. My suggestion is to go in to the facility you want to work at and let them put a face to a name, if you have friends that work at a hospital ask them to put in a good word for you. I was shocked to see how hard it was to get a job even after I put on my resume that I am a current nursing student, given the significant shortage.

To get back to what the original question is, I am a certified pharmacy tech and work 24 hours a week (fri - sun). I am a block II nursng student and attend class m - th. I decided to go into nursing because as a young girl I always said I was going to be a doctor, nursing is much faster!

Amburgerz12 · Mar 21, 2008

I too have found that it is difficult to get into any hospital position. I did however just land a job as a PCA. My experience has been that it is all who you know, not so much what you know or how long you have been doing it. I filled out over 15 applications for different positions with Banner online and was turned down for every last one of them. My suggestion is to go in to the facility you want to work at and let them put a face to a name, if you have friends that work at a hospital ask them to put in a good word for you. I was shocked to see how hard it was to get a job even after I put on my resume that I am a current nursing student, given the significant shortage.
To get back to what the original question is, I am a certified pharmacy tech and work 24 hours a week (fri - sun). I am a block II nursng student and attend class m - th. I decided to go into nursing because as a young girl I always said I was going to be a doctor, nursing is much faster!

I totallly agree that is is mainly who you know and not exactly what you know. But I think that is how a lot of businesses are ran around here. Guess you just have to deal with it and hope for the best!

litaphoenix · Mar 21, 2008

a friend of mine works at one of banners in sun city as an unit coordinator. she took a health unit coordinating course at Gateway CC. and got hired right away after she got certification. her sister was the same case. they had no experience or whatsoever.

so, i went to talk to the counselor at Gateway myself. he told me that even while you are at a hospital, doing your clinical as a part of the course program, they offer you a job because they've already gotten to know what kind of person you are. so some people get hired before they finish the courses.

my friend is working 3 days a week of 12hour-shift, while taking some pre-reqs at a comm. college. if she picks up an extra day, she gets $100 or200(i forgot)bonus just to show up.

the course is an one semester long, offered both at boswell and gateway. estimated prpgram cost is $1430 including books, DPS fingerprint card, and drug testing.

he also told me to start taking HCC130, HCC145, and any 1 credit BPC/CIS computer course(if you've taking some IT class before, you might not have to) while i wait to be accepted for fall.

West Valley · Mar 21, 2008

a friend of mine works at one of banners in sun city as an unit coordinator. she took a health unit coordinating course at Gateway CC. and got hired right away after she got certification. her sister was the same case. they had no experience or whatsoever.
so, i went to talk to the counselor at Gateway myself. he told me that even while you are at a hospital, doing your clinical as a part of the course program, they offer you a job because they've already gotten to know what kind of person you are. so some people get hired before they finish the courses.
my friend is working 3 days a week of 12hour-shift, while taking some pre-reqs at a comm. college. if she picks up an extra day, she gets $100 or200(i forgot)bonus just to show up.
the course is an one semester long, offered both at boswell and gateway. estimated prpgram cost is $1430 including books, DPS fingerprint card, and drug testing.
he also told me to start taking HCC130, HCC145, and any 1 credit BPC/CIS computer course(if you've taking some IT class before, you might not have to) while i wait to be accepted for fall.

So you decide HUC instead of Phlebotomy? I also put in an application since I didn't get the position I applied for at that hospital. Boswell always has HUC positions open so I would imagine they will scoop you right up. That's awesome.

southernbelle319 · Mar 25, 2008

I currently work as a CNA at the VA hospital here in Tucson Tues-Sat days. I'm not in school yet, as I'm awaiting to go to my new tech school for my job in the Air Guard. I recently re-enlisted after being out for almost 3 years and switched careers. Once I get back from that I will be able to start school again. I'll be starting with my pre-req's. Slowly but surely I will finish. I know it will be a long road with everything else going on in my life, but I will make it :). For now, I'm loving my job and I love working at the VA! :)

Prettypinkbubbles · Mar 25, 2008

I work full time in the financial industry, and I am a mother to 2 young sons. Banking is not what I want to be doing, I've just become comfortable doing it, and it just kind of fell in my lap and pays the bills. It was my childhood aspirations to be a nurse, so I'm taking the steps to make it happen. I've already finished all my prereqs and am rotting on the Maricopa Community Colleges waiting list. :banghead:

Amburgerz12 · Mar 26, 2008

PrettyPinkBubbles, how long have you been on the list? Have you thought about Banner or maybe getting your pre-reqs done for ASU?

Just curious :-)

Prettypinkbubbles · Mar 26, 2008

I've only been on the list since January, so I can't complain (too loudly) yet. I've looked into the Banner Fellowes program, but they require you to be enrolled in the full-time accelerated program which I cannot commit to due to my work schedule. I provide the sole source of income and medical insurance benefits for my family, so I am limited to enrolling in one of the part-time nursing school options. I have however looked into the ASU curriculum and am planning on taking a few evening classes in preparation for my BSN in the mean time. How about you, what is your status?

Amburgerz12 · Mar 26, 2008

I actually was just accepted into the full-time program at EMCC, I start in the Fall! I've heard the part-time program is a great program too, so Good Luck!!