There is no time like the present to start gaining experience in healthcare. With an in-demand profession such as nursing, it may seem like you should be able to walk off the stage with a diploma into your first nursing job, but this isn’t always the case. Even in a competitive hiring market, nurse managers still prefer experience when reviewing applications.
This is where a full or part-time job with relevant experience for a nursing student can help. While nursing school can be a fully engrossing undertaking in and of itself, there are enough benefits to working that most students who do report it as worthwhile. Not only can jobs for nursing students help pay the bills, but they can be a big difference maker on your resume and your future career.
The 7 Best Jobs for Nursing Students Looking to Build Experience
There are more opportunities than ever in the health care field for nursing students looking to gain experience while helping to fund their studies. We’re sharing seven of the best jobs that offer a great mix of relevant experience and flexibility for the busy schedules of nursing students. Ultimately, the right job for you is going to come down to factors such as the specialties you’re interested in, the opportunities in your area, your level of previous experience and education, and your school schedule.
1. Orderly
It may be a common term, but many people may not be entirely clear on what an orderly actually does. Orderlies are attendants who typically work in a hospital, carrying out essential nonmedical tasks for patients while ensuring order of the facility. An orderly can do anything from cleaning, to responding to calls, to escorting patients to different areas of a hospital or facility during a typical day.
For nursing students, this can establish experience by learning about basic patient care, how medical facilities function, and being able to watch nurses in action every day. This is a perfect entry level job that typically requires minimal experience beyond a high school diploma.
2. Transporter
Transporter is another fantastic entry level medical operations job. As the name suggests, transporters help to move patients throughout the hospital or other care facilities. Whether it’s on a stretcher, bed, wheelchair or other conveyance, transporters perform an essential duty while getting to interact with people from all walks of life.
Anyone looking to gain basic experience caring for people in a medical setting can find being a transporter to be a fulfilling job. Transporters are trained on-the-job and do not require any additional educational certification and experience.
3. Monitor Technician
With monitor technicians, nursing students will find a role a little further up the experience and skills curve. Monitor techs are trained to read and observe medical equipment, particularly electrocardiograms (EKGs) and other devices that give vital signs. Nurses looking to specialize in cardiac care, intensive care, trauma, or similar areas often start out as monitor techs.
Requirements for monitor techs may vary. Some jobs only require you to be a high school graduate and will train, while other employers ask for certification in EKG monitoring.
4. Phlebotomist
If you were to ask any nurse and they’ll tell you one of the most important, and challenging, skills to have is being good with needles. There’s no substitute for practice, and by working as a phlebotomist, you can get plenty of experience in finding veins and skillfully inserting needles for blood draws or intravenous catheters (IVs). This job can be especially great immersion therapy if you’re trying to get over any squeamishness in this area.
Phlebotomists work in a variety of settings, including labs and blood banks, to draw blood and help to process the samples. Additional duties include labeling samples, updating and maintaining records, and ensuring a sterile environment — all of which are key skills for any nurse. Phlebotomist is a great entry level job that can be gained with either minimal certification or even through on-the-job training, depending on the employer.
5. Environmental Services Technician
In this day and age, a clean and sterile environment is more important than ever for the safety of patients, medical workers, and any visitors. Environmental services techs carry out this critical function, working to clean and sterilize hospitals, nursing homes, rehab facilities and other sites.
Any nursing student with minimal experience who wants to help ensure a safe and sanitary environment for patients should consider any open positions in this area.
6. Dietary and Nutrition Aide
Also called dietetic technicians, nutritional aides help facilitate the nutrition and health of patients by preparing meals. This is a fantastic way to learn about the nutritional needs of a wide variety of patients, including low-sodium, cardiac, diabetic and renal diets. Nutritional aides can learn how to read and interpret nutritional instructions and restrictions as given by physicians.
In most cases, this is another job that nursing students should be able to obtain with a high school diploma and minimal experience.
7. Home Health Aide
There are a wide range of both full and part-time jobs in the home health field. In addition to nurses, a home health aide, such as a personal care aide, can work in a home setting performing a variety of important functions for patients. From helping around the house, providing respite care for other caregivers, or helping with meals, home health aides do a lot. Home health employers can usually work with the flexible scheduling needs of nursing students while offering rich opportunities for patient interaction.
Many home health agencies require basic certification and training in CPR and first aid, but typically do not have specific educational or experience requirements.
Contact Care Options for Kids for Home Health Care in Florida
It can be hard to balance time between work, home, and caring for a child or loved one. That’s why the team of skilled professionals at Care Options for Kids is here to help. We have been enforcing precautionary measures and following the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for COVID-19 to ensure the safety and health of our clients and employees.
Our home health care services offer one-on-one support in the comfort of home. We are always looking for loving and competent nurses to provide customized care for families — from a few hours a day to around-the-clock supervision.
Applying for a position with Care Options for Kids is quick and simple. Our online application process eliminates the need to come into a local office until you are ready to meet with our Director of Nursing. Your application, resumé, license, and CPR card are all uploaded online. Care Options for Kids provides services in counties throughout the state of Florida. We make it as easy as possible to join our team. Call today at (888) 592-5855.
