Would you recommend job in hospital?

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 15, 2005

Have you thought about a Student Assistant type position? The hospitals here have these positions available, they are generally a min. of 12 hours per month (more if you want) and some will help you pay for school if you agree to work X amount of months after graduation. They float you all over the place so you get a wide variety of experience and you get to practice your clinical skills. You could probably find out more info by calling around to some of the hospitals and seeing what type of positions they have open for students.

Good luck!!!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2005

I was a CNA my last six months of nursing school. Because I had to work to pay the rent, I switched from being a Pizza Hut worker to a CNA and it helped me tremendously in my hands-on skills.

Lots of people work in some capacity while in school and do just fine. But if you don't have to work, heed their advice and concentrate on school.

acgemt · Feb 15, 2005

Working in a hospital is not a nad thing during nursing school...they are probably the ones that will be the most sympathetic when scheduling your shifts. It just depends on how many hours a week you work. I work 36 hours on the weekends in an ICU as a tech. While I know it is way too much to handle, it pays the bills. In addition, I am able to gain valuable experience that I have always been able to use in school. Hope this helps!!

LilPeanut, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 16, 2005

I just got a job in our Children's Hospital in the ED as a unit coord. It's a contingent job, so I set my own hours and I think it will work out really nicely.

manna, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2005

If you can afford to get by without working, I'd say it'd make your life much simpler. While the experience is great, the stress of multiple hours in class + multiple hours at work leaves little time for studying, family/friends, etc. In my program, there are very few of us who work and those who do say it's hell - but our classes/clinicals are very time/labor intensive.

If you are planning on working, I'd look for a student/tech type job - get much more opportunity and exposure that way as opposed to volunteering. There's also the option of working summers or doing an externship to get added experience?

Good luck! :)

TifRN2B · Feb 16, 2005

I work 16 hours a week as a tech. I can only say good things about my job. It has helped me feel more confident in my abilities. I get to do the assessments and charting, do procedures like foleys, dressing changes, and such. And I'm a float, so I'm exposed to all sorts of diagnoses. I think it's only helped me....and yes, It's 16 hours a week, but it's still learning. And they pay pretty good too. Techs make more than CNA's (at least here in ohio) and most of the time the nurses are really good about explaining the "why you do this" and "this is how you know that" type things.

I would recommend it if you are looking for a job while in school.

That's my 2 cents :)

Tif

tulipgirl71 · Feb 16, 2005

Thank you all for your replies. I feel a bit dumb, but what exactly is a tech? Is there certification or training required? Would I just be able to go in and apply for this type of position? I am only a freshman in a four-year BSN program, so I have very few practical medical skills.

I work 16 hours a week as a tech. I can only say good things about my job. It has helped me feel more confident in my abilities. I get to do the assessments and charting, do procedures like foleys, dressing changes, and such. And I'm a float, so I'm exposed to all sorts of diagnoses. I think it's only helped me....and yes, It's 16 hours a week, but it's still learning. And they pay pretty good too. Techs make more than CNA's (at least here in ohio) and most of the time the nurses are really good about explaining the "why you do this" and "this is how you know that" type things.
I would recommend it if you are looking for a job while in school.
That's my 2 cents :)
Tif

RedSox33RN · Feb 16, 2005

I'm thinking about working as an LNA (now that I've completed Nursing Fundamentals, they wrote a letter to the state licensing board for me) but just per diem. I'm wondering if I can work as a Pt. Care Tech, since I deferred my second semester of nursing school until next January. I'm just finishing A&P2, Religion and Micro now.

In any event, there are quite a few hospitals around that hire LNA's. I want to do that over nursing home care. Maybe if I get in with the "right" hospital, they will pick up some of my outrageous tuition costs as well! I'd probably have to work much more than per diem though.

Tony35NYC · Feb 16, 2005

Thank you all for your replies. I feel a bit dumb, but what exactly is a tech? Is there certification or training required? Would I just be able to go in and apply for this type of position? I am only a freshman in a four-year BSN program, so I have very few practical medical skills.

Some hospitals call them PCAs (or patient care associates), other places call them patient care techs, or nurse techs. The job is pretty much the same as a CNA because you assist the nurses with things like vital signs and basic patient care. Its not a bad idea to get a job like this in a hospital because doing all this patient care is a good way to begin to learn how to prioritize your time when you actually become a nurse.

LilRedRN1973 · Feb 17, 2005

I've been working in the ICU since December of 2003 (end of my first semester). I can honestly say that I've learned FAR more in that year of working than I have the entire time I've been in school. In fact, I would not have made it through last semester had it not been for the knowledge I picked up at work (I HATE to study....LOL). I won't even go into the advantage it's been being able to chart and be critiqued on it. My supervisor actually told me the other day that my charting is some of the best she's seen....and I'm still a student. That's because of all the suggestions, advice, and help I've gotten from my preceptors.

The best part? I already have a job when I'm done in May. I got my phone call today from Human Resources and my contract is in the mail! I'm so happy to not have to worry about that and it gives me that extra motivation I will need to get through this semester (they are trying to kill us, I swear).

I worked full time through last summer as an Apprentice Nurse and then I cut down to 2 days a week last semester. This semester, I'm only working one day a week because I really want to concentrate on doing well. Plus, I will only have about a month to take the NCLEX because my orientation is only 3 weeks long. If I haven't passed my board by the time my orientation is over, I can't work. So I will be studying for the boards throughout this semester as well so I can take my boards immediately upon graduation.

I recommend working in a hospital IF you can handle it. I HAVE to work for financial reasons, but the benefit of working in the hospital environment in the capacity of a nurse has helped me tremendously. I wouldn't trade the experience I've gained for anything!!

Melanie = )