Working in the hospital while being a student

[jpeters84]

I still have a year left of nursing school but I was lucky enough to get a nurse aide position at a really amazing hospital. I start on Monday and I'm really nervous because I've only ever functioned in the hospital as a nursing student during a clinical. I wonder what it's going to be like to transition from nursing student to worker. I am also concerned because I've only ever had two patients where now I'll have many more, not to mention that I've been two months out of clinical and feel like I'm a little rusty on my clinical skills. My longest clinical was 6-8 hours with breaks and now I have 12 hour shifts which just seem so long. If you've worked in the hospital as a unit secretary, nurse aide, tech etc. while in nursing school what is that transition from student to worker like? Any advice?

[intuition]

I transitioned from worker to student. I felt the previous positions as unit clerk and CNA really helped through nursing school.

[mtt633]

I just got home from my hospital CNA job.:nuke: You'll do fine....we spend most of our time doing vital signs, blood sugars, EKGs, etc. We aren't responsible for the mountains of info and paperwork that go along with those 2 patients in clinicals so having more patients doesn't seem that bad (to me, anyway). Sometimes I would like to know more about the patients I am working with but I have to remember I am wearing my "CNA hat" and not my "nursing student hat". I try to enjoy the fact that I can just soak up new info at my own pace. I try to learn something new every night I am there and if I am struggling with something in school it is a great place to ask questions and learn. You'll love it....hospital CNA work and nursing school make a great combination! Good luck in your new job!

[r0b0tafflicti0n]

I transitioned from worker to student. I felt the previous positions as unit clerk and CNA really helped through nursing school.

Same here, well, kind of. I started in healthcare jobs, and am working in a ER tech job and am starting nursing school (long-ish story) next month.

So I think that it will definitely benefit me/be easier than being a student.

[crazyNursingStudent1]

I have been working as a tech/wc in a hospital for over 3 yrs and i have 1 year left till i graduate:yeah: It has helped me alot. Just try to learn as much as you can

[VM85]

its complelety different than being a student. as an aid you are not responsible for a patient- the nurse who delegates tasks to you is(and shes responsible for you too!), although obviously you need to keep every patient safe and act as if you are responsible for them. but you dont do any nursing procedures(since you are not the nurse) other than assisting with positioning and bathing and transferrring a STABLE patient- take it as experience though. I dont recommend doing anything out of your job description though, even if a nurse says its ok. If something happens, you may put your future licensure at risk. Id ask what is expected of you and if you are unsure at any time afterwards, just ask. I do however think it is a great way to learn to be comfortable and to communicate with patients and get a feel for how things are in that setting. You will get to see a lot of different things and if your lucky and have a cool nurse thye can explain things to you and let you watch a bunch of different things which will enforce everythin from school- it will click much easier i think. And as for thee hours, like anything youll get used to it with time. Good luck!

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I never did it myself, but our instructors kept telling us that if we do work during school to remember that at work, you're NOT there as a nursing student but as a CNA/aide/whatever and to remember your scope of practice. Also, don't let other staff talk you into doing things that aren't in your scope--e.g., if you're hired as an aide, don't fall for someone saying "oh, but you're a nursing student, so you can do X and Y for me, right?" Especially if X and Y aren't in the aide's job description.