working as an aid while in school

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Has anyone gotten a nurses aid job while in nursing school? I'm thinking of getting one on weekends to make up for what I'll be losing when i start nursing school.:banghead:

Specializes in Obstetrics.
Check out my other post: 33 and starting over.

Which forum is that post in?

And I know the one CNA advertisement on the school's website there's a $500 sign on bonus and benefits, but I don't know what the rate is.

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I've been a nursing assistant for almost 3 weeks and I'm a pre-nursing student as well. I was trained for for free and I work 3 12-hr shifts per week.

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Specializes in Obstetrics.

Where were you trained at, a hospital or LTC center? And did you become certified?

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I would definitely recommend picking up an aide job while in school!! In my area, there are about 5-6 major hospitals, including two level one traumas. My nursing school does clinicals at all of theses hospitals so I have had a general orientation at most of them, which looks good to HR. I would call and speak to HR directly and let them know that you are in nursing school. Hospitals love nursing students as Nursing Assitants, especially after your first med-surg clinical.

I work, two 8 hour shifts every other weekend. This brings in about $325 a month. Pretty good for college money. All of the nurses on my floor are really cool to the Nursing Assistants, because they remember what it was like to be in school. If we have a slow night, they always ask me if I want to do some extras--start IV's, foleys, suction (all with direct supervision of course :) ) just so i can get some extra practice. Also, if im all caught up on my stuff, they have no problem if i crack the books open during downtime (better than gossiping or surfing the net, right??).

YOu get so much more comfortable interacting with patients, and gain so much confidence going into your next clinicals. Trust me, the clinical instuctors can tell who has a Nursing Asst job and who doesnt--not good or bad, just is.

Hope this helps!

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Specializes in Obstetrics.

I think I'm going to get a job as a nurses aid, I have been talking to my friend that works as a CNA at a local LTC home. I still have to e-mail him and bombard him with questions lol. But that's more or less for my own personal knowledge not so much to help decide whether or not it's something I want to do.

I would like experience in the health field before going into nursing so that I can get a feel of whether or not it's the right field for me. Even though it's not the same work, it will still, as the previous post mentioned get me comfortable and confident when interacting with patients. And getting the knowledge from the RN's would help too :]

Would you recommend working at a LTC home or a hospital? I haven't started nursing school yet, I won't start nursing classes until (hopefully) Fall 2009. However, the LTC home where my friend works will train you and you take the certification test through the red cross. I don't know if a hospital is willing to do that, are they?

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Where were you trained at, a hospital or LTC center? And did you become certified?

I was trained at a hospital and I don't have to be certified. If I work at a different hospital or a LTC center, I would have to be certified.

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I took my CNA class this semester while doing pre-reqs. The class was each Saturday 8-4:30, for 10 weeks. It is a really easy class, so it didn't really have any effect on myother classes.

The schools around here also offer it 2 nights/week for 3-4 hours/night.

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i am trying to get a job as an aid while going to CCAC but i am not certified as an aid, hopefully i will get a job at a hospital that will train me, i dont have the money to get certified

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Specializes in Obstetrics.

Fatima, I see that you are in PA, in PA if you receive a job within 12 months of becoming certified your employer must reimburse you for the cost of your training (on a prorated basis). And look into Nursing homes, most of them will train you and PAY for you to take the test and only make you pay (for the test only not the training) IF you fail. .. That is how I'm doing it. Also after your first clinical semester in nursing school you are able to work as a "CNA".

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thanks!

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Specializes in Obstetrics.

You're welcome, do you need a list of places in your county that do have nurse aide programs available?

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You're welcome, do you need a list of places in your county that do have nurse aide programs available?

yes that would be extremely helpful, I live in Allegheny county. :heartbeat

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