working students.... valuable experience vs. pay/flexibility

[rmolander]

I have a serious decision to make in the next few months, I need some advice!

I've been working as a CNA with a hospice agency for over a year. Hospice is okay, I don't love it, but I do love the company I work for. They respect me, treat me well, pay me well, are super flexible about school, etc. Buuuut I have an opportunity to accept a position as a PCT in a local hospital in January. It would be a pay cut of $2/hr and the hours are rigid. The only reason I'm considering making the switch is because I know how hard it is to get a hospital position as a new grad (my eventual goal is acute care NP) and this could get my foot in the door as an internal candidate.

What would you do?

[LAJJmom, ADN, ASN, CNA, RN]

That is a tough decision. When I got my CNA license, I planned on trying to get a job (wherever I could) and get some experience to make sure nursing is where I really wanted to be before I spent all the time and money trying to get into nursing school. I landed a job at a hospital full-time. They have been very flexible with school, but it's only 2 days a week (3 in the summer) for my pre-req's. Now I got accepted into a ADN program that will be quite time consuming and I am not sure I can keep up my full-time schedule (3 days, 12-hour shifts). I love my job. I love the people. Everything. I will lose my insurance if I drop below part time (2 days, 12-hour shifts). But the ultimate reason I went back to school was to be an RN, not a CNA. So, I am going to see if I can try part time but I think I will end up being PRN. I want to keep my foot in the door because I would love to work at this hospital. It is close to home, I had 2 of my 4 babies there and it is just a great place to work. We will see what happens. It is a tough decision because you want the job to help you but not take away from your schooling which is the most important part at this point. Good luck with your decision.

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

I would always go for experience related to your long term goals, you could always fall back to an agency at a later date if it does not work out at the hospital. The local hospital is most likely the same one you will be doing clinicals etc, would give you an edge, just let them know you are in school for nursing, if you have not already. If you did and they still hiring you thats a good sign that after graduation you will have a job waiting, possibly even have them pay for your BSN...agencies are good, but in reality they are dead-end jobs.