Working and school

Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B · Jan 15, 2017

I can't imagine why you would take a pay cut for more work, and conversely less study time. The only argument for it I could think of would be networking at the hospital you would be wanting to work for after graduation. I think that this could be accomplished in other ways if you set your mind to it.

daisy8762 · Jan 15, 2017

I would not work as a tech if I had a choice. I been working as a tech for 6 years and working as one makes you hate healthcare, because the nursing staff is so hateful and belittling to CNA's. The pay suck, but you will get a lot of on the job experience. That will show you if nursing is the job for you.

barcode120x, RN, NP · Jan 17, 2017

I been working as a tech for 6 years and working as one makes you hate healthcare, because the nursing staff is so hateful and belittling to CNA's.

Keep in mind, it depends on where you work where this happen. Not all hospitals and facilities treat the ancillary staff like this.

It depends on what you wanna do as a nurse. If you are looking to becoming an ER nurse, I think keeping your current EMT position is just fine. Throughout school, just get to know the ER nurses, charge nurses, and keep in frequent touch with the management of ER departments of the hospitals you go to. This is key on getting a job. Having background as an EMT already is great experience for healthcare/medical field so even if you are not looking to becoming an ER nurse, this experience should still serve you well. Though, it would not hurt to move into the hospital working as ancillary staff such as a CNA, ER tech, etc as this would definitely put you at your closest to getting a job within that hospital. I would not switch jobs if the newer job would cut time on your studying and homework for nursing school. If it's a pay cut but good hours, why not. It's not like you are aiming to be that hospital tech forever. Your end goal is becoming a nurse after all.

Artsy_RN · Jan 17, 2017

Having EMT experience is great on your resume, so you already have that under your belt. With that being said, I would consider trying to get a tech job in the ER or on the floor so that you are already working in the hospital when you graduate nursing school. Most hospitals will hire new graduate RN's that currently work in the hospital as Tech's or CNA's ahead of new graduate RN's with no hospital work experience. (at least mine does)

Working as a Tech also allows you to basically shadow RN's all day and watch how they prioritize, delegate, and cluster care.

MrChicagoRN, RN · Jan 18, 2017

It sounds like you have a pretty good setup as it is. Why change?

You probably come in contact with a lot of hospital staff every day. I'd suggest you start networking with them so they at least know who you are, and that you are training for nurse licensure. Be the EMT they really like and they may keep you in the loop for future opportunities

Shawn91111 · Jan 20, 2017

I am in the same situation. Going to school and work full time as a mainframe analyst, but have a good amount of downtime for studying etc. I have thought about getting into a field closer to nursing, but the pay would not be as good, nor allow me the downtime.

foggnm · Jan 22, 2017

That's an old myth. Do the 'tech' work so you can experience the dirty side/ADLs of nursing. But you'll get plenty of time doing the dirty side of nursing when you become a nurse, because you end up doing just as much crap detail as a tech (or all of it if you work in the ICU). Just keep working as an EMT during school, especially since it allows you to work on your homework.