What can I do before I go to a nursing school?

Right now I'm still working toward a bachelor's in biology, planning to eventually get a master's in nursing. I have 9 (soon to be 12) units of early childhood education. What are some jobs I can get that will help me in my (future) career as a nurse? I've taken the ECE courses because I thought I might want to be a nurse who specifically works with children (although I'm not sure if nursing has that kind of option), but I'm basically still at a loss. I'd volunteer, but with rising gas price, I really would prefer some kind of job that actually pays.
Get your CNA certification and work as a CNA. It will give you a head start in nursing school and many nursing schools like previous health care experience so you have a better chance of getting accepted. I was a CNA part time for 2 1/2 years while I did pre reqs. The first semester when we learned basic skills in the lab such as bedmaking, bed baths, pt. tranfers etc I already knew how to do efficiently and well, so I could concentrate on learning how to do a foley, NG tubes, vents. Then the second semester I was very well organized and always on top of my pts compared to my friends who had no health care experience, since I learned organization by having many pts as a CNA. I also finished bedbaths and all that stuff faster because I had lots of practice before school. It also helped me in lecture because I had worked with heart failure, MS, cancer, diabetes, COPD, Alzheimer, etc patients. I learned alot on the job because I always asked nurses questions about the diseases. I got a good all around experience by working in a nursing home. The work was HARD but I definitely had a huge leg up.Hope this helps.Janis
At the risk of sounding like a snob, I'd rather not work as a CNA. I'm still a full-time student and I probably should concentrate on my classes than try to get a certificate for a job that will only be temporary. My mom is also against me being a CNA. She said it'd be a waste of time for me and I wouldn't be able to handle the things that a CNA is required to do anyway.Thanks, though.
Just remember there isn't always a CNA to do the gross stuff, so you will have to be able to handle doing what a CNA does.
Quote from whowhoAt the risk of sounding like a snob, I'd rather not work as a CNA. I'm still a full-time student and I probably should concentrate on my classes than try to get a certificate for a job that will only be temporary. My mom is also against me being a CNA. She said it'd be a waste of time for me and I wouldn't be able to handle the things that a CNA is required to do anyway.Thanks, though.
ok i may be off on this but if you're pursuing a master's degree in nursing, wouldnt it be better to do your undergrad in nursing?what kind of master's in nursing are you looking to obtain?