Good idea to keep job in hospital while in RN school?

3 Hi
just wondering your thoughts re school and hospital job? I understand that New RNs are having a hard time getting jobs. Do you think its easier to get a job if you already work in the hospital(as a technician) ?

God Is Mighty
YES!!!

I second that!! YES! The only people in my nursing class who had nursing jobs after graduation were those who already worked in hospital systems.

The people with experience in my class had the toughest time finding jobs. But, if you can manage to pick up a job, do it. Once you have your RN license and are no longer considered just a student, you will find that you will not be considered for the "no experience necessary" type jobs. If you become, like the thousands of other new RNs who are taking 3+ years to find jobs now (doesn't mean you won't find a job much sooner), you will at least maybe be able to hold on to a hospital job a little while after you graduate. Some places will automatically fire you once you get your RN license tho, it varies by facility and state. If you were to get a job where you did registrar work, or work as a tech for an MD who has offices within the hospital, that might be better if you can, that way you probably could keep the job for as long as you would be needing it for income while you look for an RN job. Different scenario - different rules. It all has to do with you getting a license and being held to the highest extent of practice under that license. You would cause the hospital legal gray area problems should they keep you on as a tech if you are an RN (this is the reason for firing).

Quote from netglowThe people with experience in my class had the toughest time finding jobs. But, if you can manage to pick up a job, do it. Once you have your RN license and are no longer considered just a student, you will find that you will not be considered for the "no experience necessary" type jobs. If you become, like the thousands of other new RNs who are taking 3+ years to find jobs now (doesn't mean you won't find a job much sooner), you will at least maybe be able to hold on to a hospital job a little while after you graduate. Some places will automatically fire you once you get your RN license tho, it varies by facility and state.If you were to get a job where you did registrar work, or work as a tech for an MD who has offices within the hospital, that might be better if you can, that way you probably could keep the job for as long as you would be needing it for income while you look for an RN job. Different scenario - different rules. It all has to do with you getting a license and being held to the highest extent of practice under that license. You would cause the hospital legal gray area problems should they keep you on as a tech if you are an RN (this is the reason for firing).

So then, here is what you need to do. Find out from the techs you meet at clinical if the hospital highly considers techs for RN jobs. In the olden days this was automatic. But as you see, it really depends on the facility. Ask around. If you ask administration they will always say sure of course we will consider you...blah blah. Never ask an instructor or a hospital administrator. Ask the minions for the truth.

Even if you don't get hired where you work as a tech that experience will benefit your job hunt....plus it will give you additional experience in a patient care environment.

At the hospital I work at almost every new nurse I have worked with was a tech/aide/pct either at the facility or another one...experience is a plus no matter what. Very few got a job w/o experience unless they had a "connection."

The best way to get a job in these parts is by working at the facility as a tech or aide. Most of those folks had jobs lined up when we graduated in 2010.

The answer to that is...YES

It is a great idea to work in a hospital during RN school. All the hospital aides I graduated with this year got jobs within the hospital they worked. Also, they already were use to the hospital setting and such and had much better transitions. I 100% wish I would have been an aide during school

As long as it doesn't have too much of a negative impact on your grades, it's a great idea. It's healthcare experience, networking, and makes you an internal candidate for RN positions. However getting hired as a RN where you worked as an aide/CNA is no longer the guarantee it used to be, so don't rely on that alone to land you a new grad job...it does boost your chances, but don't neglect the job search either.

Yes! Yes! Yes! Everyone I graduated with that already had a hospital job transitioned into RN roles and here I was working at Starbucks all through school and can't find a job in a hospital to save my life. If the people you work with in the hospital like you and would speak very highly of you to hiring managers you are one step ahead of the rest of us. I wish I would have known this a couple of years ago If you can swing it with school work and your outside life I say go for it.