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Would it be beneficial for me to work in a healthcare setting for experience while in nursing school, or would it be better to fully focus on my studies to succeed in the program?
I will be finishing my pre-reqs soon and planning to attend Wayne State's nursing program. and I feel like working at a healthcare unit would give me more experience, but I feel like again that would be too much. I want more advice on that or how I can balance if I do work and go to school. Since I do need the money to pay for my classes.
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5 answers
Updated
Katherine’s Answer
Working in a healthcare environment is a great option for anyone looking to go into medicine. Not only will you have the chance to make money as a college student, but you can also gain so much experience just by observing those around you. Depending on what field/specialty you want to get to, there are a lot of good options. CNA (certified nursing assistant) is a good general catch-all. Most in-hospital healthcare settings need CNAs. I can't speak for all hospitals/offices, but for the most part CNAs will monitor patients, be a scribe, and assist nurses/doctors as needed. It's a great way to make connections and get feelers out for the medical world (also a great place to get references from). Another CNA equivalent is EMT (emergency medical technician). An EMT can work both in an ER and on an ambulance. Ambulatory medicine has been a great way for me to get patient care hours and I have learned so much that I wouldn't have otherwise. In the hospital, emergency departments will use EMTs in a very similar way to CNAs. If you are specifically interested in Emergency Medicine, I would absolutely recommend this route but, I am a little biased. At the end of the day, there are so many great options out there. Good luck!
Thank you for giving me advice.
Malak
Updated
Nicolas’s Answer
Hi Malak,
I agree with the previous answers. Medicine is a hands-on experience and getting in on the ground level is a great foundation. Getting your CNA and going to work in the healthcare setting is a solid choice, and most of the exceptional RNs I know started that way. I have been a paramedic for 24 years, after being an EMT for 4 years, and am now in RN school. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to healthcare. The bulwark for our patients is dedication to care and patient advocacy. The very best way to develop these skills is to get hands-on experience. Books teach you how to pass tests, experience teaches you how to do the job.
Best regards,
Nicolas Pino FP-C
Obtain your EMT and work part-time
Or Obtain CNA certification and work part-time
I agree with the previous answers. Medicine is a hands-on experience and getting in on the ground level is a great foundation. Getting your CNA and going to work in the healthcare setting is a solid choice, and most of the exceptional RNs I know started that way. I have been a paramedic for 24 years, after being an EMT for 4 years, and am now in RN school. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to healthcare. The bulwark for our patients is dedication to care and patient advocacy. The very best way to develop these skills is to get hands-on experience. Books teach you how to pass tests, experience teaches you how to do the job.
Best regards,
Nicolas Pino FP-C
Nicolas recommends the following next steps:
This was super helpful, thank you!
Malak
Updated
Julia’s Answer
Hi Malak,
If you feel like you can manage your time and workload with the pre-reqs, I encourage that you work to get hands-on experience, because the world of medicine is more than what you will read in your textbooks. I have a pharmacy technician who has been working with me for almost a year and she is in nursing school right now. She still works around her schedule as they change every quarter for her program and she has found that it helps her with her clinicals especially. If you are interested in working as a pharmacy technician, retail pharmacies are always hiring and sometimes they have a program where they will pay for a certain amount of your tuition (as reimbursement for a certain amount of time working for/in the company) as long as it's healthcare related -- if I'm not mistaken, I believe CVS has a program like this for technicians and nursing is one of the programs they will reimburse tuition for. They will train you on the job and will work with your schedule when you start nursing school, but be sure to check with them if you decide to apply (they can also check with HR on this).
Another option you could look into is becoming a CNA or patient care technician at a local hospital if they are hiring for the position. I would also recommend researching some nursing homes or assisted living facilities near you to see if they may be hiring for these positions, if not similar ones. If you are having trouble finding a nursing related position, you could also consider a housekeeping job or a dietary aide job at a nursing home. These are underrated positions that could still get your foot in the door, and I think it's worth to explore if anything. You never know what opportunity this could actually get you in the long run. Be sure to check with Michigan state laws to see if you need to be certified for these jobs, sometimes some places don't but it varies.
Ultimately, time management is something that you will learn based on your schedule and how it works best for YOU. It's doable but definitely a learning curve because time management looks different for everyone. Just be sure to remember that your academics will always be more important than work, no matter the money. Your success in the program and clinicals will get you far, but your work experience will only help you so much along the way.
I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Best of luck on your journey!
If you feel like you can manage your time and workload with the pre-reqs, I encourage that you work to get hands-on experience, because the world of medicine is more than what you will read in your textbooks. I have a pharmacy technician who has been working with me for almost a year and she is in nursing school right now. She still works around her schedule as they change every quarter for her program and she has found that it helps her with her clinicals especially. If you are interested in working as a pharmacy technician, retail pharmacies are always hiring and sometimes they have a program where they will pay for a certain amount of your tuition (as reimbursement for a certain amount of time working for/in the company) as long as it's healthcare related -- if I'm not mistaken, I believe CVS has a program like this for technicians and nursing is one of the programs they will reimburse tuition for. They will train you on the job and will work with your schedule when you start nursing school, but be sure to check with them if you decide to apply (they can also check with HR on this).
Another option you could look into is becoming a CNA or patient care technician at a local hospital if they are hiring for the position. I would also recommend researching some nursing homes or assisted living facilities near you to see if they may be hiring for these positions, if not similar ones. If you are having trouble finding a nursing related position, you could also consider a housekeeping job or a dietary aide job at a nursing home. These are underrated positions that could still get your foot in the door, and I think it's worth to explore if anything. You never know what opportunity this could actually get you in the long run. Be sure to check with Michigan state laws to see if you need to be certified for these jobs, sometimes some places don't but it varies.
Ultimately, time management is something that you will learn based on your schedule and how it works best for YOU. It's doable but definitely a learning curve because time management looks different for everyone. Just be sure to remember that your academics will always be more important than work, no matter the money. Your success in the program and clinicals will get you far, but your work experience will only help you so much along the way.
I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Best of luck on your journey!
Thank you so much, will look into that for sure and helped make my decision.
Malak
Updated
Maureen’s Answer
Malak,
Absolutely beneficial for you to work in healthcare while getting your nursing education, yes, yes, yes! I worked as a nursing assistant in the Emergency Department of a large Chicago, IL medical center on the night shift every other weekend. This job gave me exposure, skills, and opportunities I wouldn't have gotten in a non-healthcare part-time job. Then upon graduation, I became an RN and was interviewed and got my dream job in that very same ED.
From a classroom perspective, it's hard to discuss clinical situations if you have never cared for patients. So, the nursing instructors/professors share their stories but you will have experiences to share or at the least discuss and question. Having a job in healthcare can solidify your decision to remain in healthcare. (Some of the nursing students I in my class realized nursing was not for them and left nursing before graduation. By having a job in the field, you can decide early if nursing is for you.)
Good Luck,
Maureen
Absolutely beneficial for you to work in healthcare while getting your nursing education, yes, yes, yes! I worked as a nursing assistant in the Emergency Department of a large Chicago, IL medical center on the night shift every other weekend. This job gave me exposure, skills, and opportunities I wouldn't have gotten in a non-healthcare part-time job. Then upon graduation, I became an RN and was interviewed and got my dream job in that very same ED.
From a classroom perspective, it's hard to discuss clinical situations if you have never cared for patients. So, the nursing instructors/professors share their stories but you will have experiences to share or at the least discuss and question. Having a job in healthcare can solidify your decision to remain in healthcare. (Some of the nursing students I in my class realized nursing was not for them and left nursing before graduation. By having a job in the field, you can decide early if nursing is for you.)
Good Luck,
Maureen
Thank you, Maureen for the advice.
Malak
Updated
Mark W’s Answer
Hi Malak,
Hands-on experience is invaluable. You will quickly learn that there is a difference between the textbook example and the real world. When your schooling is complete, you will be able to transition to the working world easily because it will already be familiar to you. Also, you will have the opportunity to form relationship that can help throughout your career.
Good luck,
Mark
Hands-on experience is invaluable. You will quickly learn that there is a difference between the textbook example and the real world. When your schooling is complete, you will be able to transition to the working world easily because it will already be familiar to you. Also, you will have the opportunity to form relationship that can help throughout your career.
Good luck,
Mark