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It’s really not that deep. I never worked in healthcare prior to becoming a nurse. You have plenty of time to get used to it. That’s what clinical and your first job is for. Don’t worry about getting on anyone else’s level. The program isn’t intended only for current healthcare workers. They will teach you what you need to know. You will have plenty of opportunity for practice of skills.
You'll probably have better luck in a more urban area. I live in northeast Ohio and just looking at Akron General (which is a Cleveland Clinic hospital) and Akron Children's, there are tons of tech, patient access, and unit secretary postings.
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2mo
Totally get it. I’m planning on just working as a nanny during nursing school, and I know lots of people who delivered pizza or did non-healthcare jobs while getting their degree. I think we’ll be fine!
I love love love love AGMC if you have any questions!
Everyone I know who works there absolutely loves it! My heart is set on pediatrics, but I’m hoping I have some clinicals at Akron General.
If you don’t mind- what school are you at?
Actually- Dm’d you instead! I’ve done clinical at every single Akron area hospital so if you have questions… let me know!
I’m a bartender, nurses love to drink. I ask them questions when they come in and they try to get me to come work with them as an aide all the time. Can’t afford the pay cut but maybe try a different avenue. Nursing homes love weekend warriors too.
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2mo
You are supposed to feel that way! You feel like you know nothing because it’s true! That’s why you’re there.. to learn the things! Have you considered hha? It’s mostly cleaning and showering your patient but it’s hands on. “Stress centers” are interesting too. Private doctors office, dentist, physical rehabilitation, small towns are hard af but usually your best bet is to show up and ask a place if they’re hiring for anything. Even if you’re just delivering meal trays at a nursing home you’ll know the second a position you want opens up.
Don’t panic you’ll be fine hospitals provide residencies for new nurses. Everyone was green at some point
I’m not currently planning to work in the hospital until I become an RN….
And that’s perfectly fine and not uncommon.
My advice is to look into home health as they need a lot of people. I used to be a personal care aid and you could also look into respite care. Your job isn’t super medical but you will get used to be around patients. Good luck!
I definitely wouldn’t panic if it’s your first semester of nursing school. I didn’t get my first PCT/CNA/hospital job until 3rd semester, exactly a year before graduating. On top of that, I was also able to find a “student nurse” position/externship is offered at a lot of hospitals and although some are just for the summer, experience is experience and most of the time it’s paid.
Things will change you’ve finished your first year…. That’s when they start looking at student nurses fire CNA or PCT positions. But to be honest…if you don’t have to work while in school….don’t. CNA and PCT experience don’t mean much unless it’s years worth of experience. Nursing is vastly different, I’d focus more on school and studying but that’s just me.
Maybe you can get your foot in the door through your experience in clinicals. That's how some of the students in my cohort became CNAs while going to school. Just like you may have heard, treat clinicals like a job interview. Doesn't have to be where you land as a nurse, or it can be, but it can also be somewhere you could temporarily work at.
I didn't have healthcare experience either though and gets easier and less intimidating. Of course there are a lot of benefits of having healthcare experience, but I guess ONE benefit of learning it all in nursing school is that you learn the "right way" aka textbook way to do things, which comes in handy for exams. Even through clinical experiences, I have to remind myself that just because I see it in clinicals doesn't make it the "NCLEX perfect world way" lol.
Can you start with an administrative job to work your way in, then switch to a tech. Seems like hospitals always need registrars. When I worked in the ER, a lot of the techs did it this way.
Don’t panic you’ll be fine hospitals provide residencies for new nurses. Everyone was green at some point
Here, you can get a job as a tech as long as you have a pulse. Which ends up not always being a good thing. Like others have said, don't overthink it. You'll be fine!
If you are already in nursing school, focus on nursing school and worry about the rest later. If you have extended break, see if you can get a CNA job at a nursing home, or non profit agency. But again, focus on nursing school so you will make it till the end.
I started from a retirement home and then hospital
I live in a decently rural area in Indiana. Everywhere here is hiring. Are there no positions? Would one of your professors review your resume?
Do you NEED a job? If so, then what about at a clinic/nursing home/rehab/group home if finding one at the hospital is difficult? Or even volunteering at those places? My cousin worked as a bartender during nursing school. Despite the normal imposter syndrome people feel immediately after graduating, she feels more confident and comfortable now. My current professor worked in sales selling jewelry prior to nursing. So if money is tight, and you need to work, I would just get whatever job that comes your way that won't interfere with studying and classes.
Utilize your clinical/lab/and extra help with the professor as much as you can. Find times to practice or practice on family/friends when learning head to toe assessment. Verbalize steps you would take to do procedures or practice explaining procedures to them as if they're patients.
If you can't move. Then find a job in a non-hospital setting.
Im confused. Youre in your first semester and already looking for a job? It is actually not hard at all, nurses are always in high demand. Having worked at three different hospitals, each one was always looking for nurses. I think it will be easier to find a job when you get the liscence.
Are you trying to work while in nursing school? Or just trying to line one up for when you graduate? I guess I’m confused but my program is full time accelerated so no time to work & focus on studies, I have no hospital experience aside from what I’ll get from school and have full hope I’ll get a job when I graduate.
Are you looking for tech jobs? My hospital (in Alaska) is hiring anyone with a pulse for tech jobs, even offering certification to people without any experience.
Move. I promise you if you moved to MN you'd get hired in a nanosecond. Any hospital. Or hell - move to Canada! You'll def get a job then!!!!
I would not panic. Jobs in the hospital are not as easy to find. It gets easier when you get you license and start looking for jobs as a new grad.
I would look to see if nearby hospitals are offering externships. Many offer paid time for nursing students and this often transfers over to a tech/aide job until you finish.
You also should be using this time to do what you can to make yourself stand out when it comes time for new grad RN jobs.