Good medically related part-time jobs for undergraduates?

[alparkeruab]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Does anyone have some good ideas for any medically related, part time jobs for an undergraduate? I'm trying to get a job next semester that will help me increase and diversify my medically-related experiences, but I don't have any ideas or know how to go about finding these kind of jobs.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[rajad10]

i just got a job as a surgical aide at the hospital...you're the OR bitch, but its great exposure and you get to be part of the team, which is always great

 

[haleyrockx]

You could take a CNA (certified nurse aide) course. Depending on what deparmtment you get hired in will determine your duties. It only takes a few weeks to take a course. If you do it, take one that is given at a hospital so you don't really have to search for a job. They usually hire those that take their courses and they teach you more than a basic CNA course.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Does anyone have some good ideas for any medically related, part time jobs for an undergraduate? I'm trying to get a job next semester that will help me increase and diversify my medically-related experiences, but I don't have any ideas or know how to go about finding these kind of jobs.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

EMT

or phlebotomist.

DO NOT BECOME A CNA. You don't want to change diapers all day.

 

[haleyrockx]

EMT

or phlebotomist.

DO NOT BECOME A CNA. You don't want to change diapers all day.

If you get on in the ER, you get to do dressing changes and stuff like that (depending on the hospital you may even get to do IV's and other LVN-type duties). That's why it is important to get trained by a hospital and not outsider school. I wouldn't really work in any other deparment, though.

It really depends on how much time and money you want to spend to get trained. CNA is the shortest but only worth it if you work in the ER or nursery or something like that.

 

[OSUdoc08]

If you get on in the ER, you get to do dressing changes and stuff like that (depending on the hospital you may even get to do IV's and other LVN-type duties). That's why it is important to get trained by a hospital and not outsider school. I wouldn't really work in any other deparment, though.

It really depends on how much time and money you want to spend to get trained. CNA is the shortest but only worth it if you work in the ER or nursery or something like that.

Oooh dressing changes.

I think I'd rather do CPR, extricate people from cars, bandage and splint fractures, and start IV's (EMT-B's can start IV's in some hospitals.)

It is very rare to find CNA's allowed in the ER, especially in trauma centers. Many low acuity ER's have CNA's, however. Obviously the only department that EMT's can work in is the ER.

Go with the EMT. I became EMT-B certified in 1 month of training at a fire department. You can work in the ER, work on the ambulance, or volunteer.

Medical school admissions committees love EMS stores.

 

[Pose]

Got my EMT, work in a busy ED. Phlebotomy, EKG, wound irrigation, splinting, foleys, CPR....The list goes on. It's a pleasant experience.

 

[haleyrockx]

Oooh dressing changes.

I think I'd rather do CPR, extricate people from cars, bandage and splint fractures, and start IV's (EMT-B's can start IV's in some hospitals.)

It is very rare to find CNA's allowed in the ER, especially in trauma centers. Many low acuity ER's have CNA's, however. Obviously the only department that EMT's can work in is the ER.

Go with the EMT. I became EMT-B certified in 1 month of training at a fire department. You can work in the ER, work on the ambulance, or volunteer.

Medical school admissions committees love EMS stores.

Where do you live?? The shortest EMT-B training I have been able to find in the Dallas area is a little over 2 months- and that is daily where you can't really be occupied with anything else. Also, several of the ER's here have CNA's employed. I've interviewed with some and the interviewers consider a CNA to be equivalent to an EMT-B. Of course, that actually isn't the case when you compare the training, but the ER's in the DFW area consider it equivalent. I guess it all depends on where you live.

Seriously, where do you live? I've wanted to become EMT-B certified for years but haven't found training that is short enough or less than $1000.

 

[haleyrockx]

Oooh dressing changes.

Dressing changes are better than changing diapers or changing bed sheets. I was just giving it as an example that is better than what a CNA does in other departments. I know it isn't a big deal, but it's better than the alternative. 🙂

 

[OSUdoc08]

Where do you live?? The shortest EMT-B training I have been able to find in the Dallas area is a little over 2 months- and that is daily where you can't really be occupied with anything else. Also, several of the ER's here have CNA's employed. I've interviewed with some and the interviewers consider a CNA to be equivalent to an EMT-B. Of course, that actually isn't the case when you compare the training, but the ER's in the DFW area consider it equivalent. I guess it all depends on where you live.

Seriously, where do you live? I've wanted to become EMT-B certified for years but haven't found training that is short enough or less than $1000.

I'm from Dallas. I took my course at DeSoto Fire Department. It was a 1-month course 8am-5pm during the summer. Most ER's in Dallas have a "tech" position, which is below the nurse. This can be filled by an EMT. It is rare for them to accept a CNA for the tech position, unless you are talking about a smaller hospital. I am almost certain that the trauma centers in the Dallas area do not take CNA's at all.

What hospitals have you found that take CNA's? Are there any larger hospitals?

There are plenty of pre-hospital jobs for EMT-B's in Dallas, where you will get more experience than in a hospital anyway, so it shouldn't be a big deal.

I didn't pay for my EMS training, because I agreed to work for a volunteer EMS agency. You should do the same.

 

[Hopeful_Doc]

pharmacy tech? i've been doing it a while and it give you a sense of different aspects of medicine

dont know how it will go over when put on my application. 😳

 

[OSUdoc08]

Dressing changes are better than changing diapers or changing bed sheets. I was just giving it as an example that is better than what a CNA does in other departments. I know it isn't a big deal, but it's better than the alternative. 🙂

It's better than other CNA jobs, but EMT is by far better.

 

[strawberryfield]

I work at a primary care (internal med) office... started out filing and answering phones 6 yrs ago... today I am a medical secretary/asst, I triage pts on phone/in office, call in prescriptions, order special studies, relay results to pts, have also learned how to develop xrays and run simple lab tests. Plus I got the opportunity to get good recommendations from the docs I work for. 😛

If you are willing to start out doing ANYTHING medically related, with some patient contact, and express your interest in learning more, a lot of offices will be very receptive to that! 😳

 

[dee1971]

I don't know how medically related you want, but I work online for a nutrition company that has lots of Doctors in it. They give online presentations, training, conferences. It means that I don't have to leave the house to work, its got me thru four years of school so far.
D

 

[haleyrockx]

I'm from Dallas. I took my course at DeSoto Fire Department. It was a 1-month course 8am-5pm during the summer. Most ER's in Dallas have a "tech" position, which is below the nurse. This can be filled by an EMT. It is rare for them to accept a CNA for the tech position, unless you are talking about a smaller hospital. I am almost certain that the trauma centers in the Dallas area do not take CNA's at all.

What hospitals have you found that take CNA's? Are there any larger hospitals?

There are plenty of pre-hospital jobs for EMT-B's in Dallas, where you will get more experience than in a hospital anyway, so it shouldn't be a big deal.

I didn't pay for my EMS training, because I agreed to work for a volunteer EMS agency. You should do the same.

The THR hospitals take CNA's. The position is called the same as all the CNA positions- Patient Care Tech. Basically, all of the Harris Methodist and at least one of the Presby hospitals do it. I know Baylor doesn't have a position in the ER unless you are either an EMT or Corps Medic. Of course Parkland and Children's require EMTs and I think Methodist does too. It seems like the only ones are those in or near the 817 area code. I think JPS does also- I know they have CNA jobs in the OR.
I think I found De Soto's somewhere when I was searching for the program earlier this year. I may look and see if they have any this summer. I was going to do the one at UTSW but it was basically 2 months long and around $1000. Thanks for the info. I'll look into it.

 

[PurpleHaze]

I was a scribe in the emergency room part time during the school year (18 hours a week) and full time in the summer. You get great clinical exposure and you're involved in the patient's treatment every step of the way (because you're doing all of the charting, ordering, etc.)

 

[LizzyM]

Oooh dressing changes.

I think I'd rather do CPR, extricate people from cars, bandage and splint fractures, and start IV's (EMT-B's can start IV's in some hospitals.)

It is very rare to find CNA's allowed in the ER, especially in trauma centers. Many low acuity ER's have CNA's, however. Obviously the only department that EMT's can work in is the ER.

Go with the EMT. I became EMT-B certified in 1 month of training at a fire department. You can work in the ER, work on the ambulance, or volunteer.

Medical school admissions committees love EMS stores.

And some adcoms find EMTs to be a dime a dozen. Rarely impressive. Limits you to ER & out of hospital work.

Dressing and diaper changes qualify double in the "smelling patients" department.

Good suggestions here.

 

[OSUdoc08]

The THR hospitals take CNA's. The position is called the same as all the CNA positions- Patient Care Tech. Basically, all of the Harris Methodist and at least one of the Presby hospitals do it. I know Baylor doesn't have a position in the ER unless you are either an EMT or Corps Medic. Of course Parkland and Children's require EMTs and I think Methodist does too. It seems like the only ones are those in or near the 817 area code. I think JPS does also- I know they have CNA jobs in the OR.
I think I found De Soto's somewhere when I was searching for the program earlier this year. I may look and see if they have any this summer. I was going to do the one at UTSW but it was basically 2 months long and around $1000. Thanks for the info. I'll look into it.

Fire departments will have the shortest EMT courses, followed by non-credit private agencies. Hospitals will be a bit longer. The college credit courses are drawn out and longer so you can actually get the college credit. The upside is that you will be able to put this on your transcript and it will count into your GPA.

I worked as a paramedic in Dallas County and Collin County, so my experience with positions in the ER are only in those areas.

 

[OSUdoc08]

And some adcoms find EMTs to be a dime a dozen. Rarely impressive. Limits you to ER & out of hospital work.

Dressing and diaper changes qualify double in the "smelling patients" department.

Good suggestions here.

EMT's may be a dime a dozen, but give me 1 EMT applicant, and I will give you 100 applicants with LESS medical experience.

 

[medhacker]

Dressing and diaper changes qualify double in the "smelling patients" department

Hi LizzyM, what do you mean by this?

BTW CNA is a tough job, particularly if you have to work with geriatric/psych population.

 

[LizzyM]

EMT's may be a dime a dozen, but give me 1 EMT applicant, and I will give you 100 applicants with LESS medical experience.

That might have been the case in 1999 but today about 33% of the applicants seem to have EMT. The value of the "medical experience" depends on what the adcom member values. Some want you to have had some face-to-face encounters of any kind, some want to see that you have had meaningful interactions with patients (talked with them, learned their point of view, got comfortable with the small talk that goes into a clinical encounter). One person seems to like applicants who have touched patients (rather than just shadowing & watching others) and I, of course, like to see applicants who have smelled patients.

I have never seen an adcom member put a high value on knowing how to insert an IV, give an injection or do an ECG. They do seem to like appliacants who have had experiences of putting others ahead of themselves and who have a clue what clinical care is all about. It seems to come down to "people skills".

 

[OSUdoc08]

That might have been the case in 1999 but today about 33% of the applicants seem to have EMT. The value of the "medical experience" depends on what the adcom member values. Some want you to have had some face-to-face encounters of any kind, some want to see that you have had meaningful interactions with patients (talked with them, learned their point of view, got comfortable with the small talk that goes into a clinical encounter). One person seems to like applicants who have touched patients (rather than just shadowing & watching others) and I, of course, like to see applicants who have smelled patients.

I have never seen an adcom member put a high value on knowing how to insert an IV, give an injection or do an ECG. They do seem to like appliacants who have had experiences of putting others ahead of themselves and who have a clue what clinical care is all about. It seems to come down to "people skills".

This may be IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, but I believe you are throwing out statistics like it was candy on Halloween. At my school, there are 1-2 EMS providers per class. In all of my interviews, I was the only EMS provider as well.

All I talked about during all of my interviews was my EMS experience. I'm not sure where you are getting your information, but it is indeed flawed.

 

[moto_za]

How much do EMT's get paid?

 

[OSUdoc08]

How much do EMT's get paid?

It depends on the area of the country. What part of the country do you live in?

It is highly variable.

 

[LizzyM]

This may be IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, but I believe you are throwing out statistics like it was candy on Halloween. At my school, there are 1-2 EMS providers per class. In all of my interviews, I was the only EMS provider as well.

All I talked about during all of my interviews was my EMS experience. I'm not sure where you are getting your information, but it is indeed flawed.

I see many, many applications each year. Many of these applicants have EMT training. If you are not seeing them in your interviews and in your med school class it seems to suggest that while many are in the "pool" not many make it to interview & matriculation.

Medical school can teach people to perform procedures. People who have done the procedure before (as an EMT, nurse, etc) are going to pick it up more quickly but that is not a measure of competence.

In requiring clincial experience, adcoms are looking for something far more global than the ability to perform procedures.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I see many, many applications each year. Many of these applicants have EMT training. If you are not seeing them in your interviews and in your med school class it seems to suggest that while many are in the "pool" not many make it to interview & matriculation.

Medical school can teach people to perform procedures. People who have done the procedure before (as an EMT, nurse, etc) are going to pick it up more quickly but that is not a measure of competence.

In requiring clincial experience, adcoms are looking for something far more global than the ability to perform procedures.

As far as clinical experience, you can't beat EMS, regardless of your opinion.

What school do you work for, so I can warn EMS professionals not to apply there? Thanks.

 

[Wackie]

What school do you work for, so I can warn EMS professionals not to apply there? Thanks.

Yeah, I'd like to know as well.

I see many, many applications each year. Many of these applicants have EMT training.

EMT training or experience? I know one concern of adcoms is usually whether or not the applicant knows what he/she is getting in to. An EMT with experience would have an extremely good idea of it. In EMS, you get the medical side, but there is also a bunch of political BS from the EMS system all the way down to who you work with. If you can survive as an EMT, then I'd imagine your chances of fairing well as a physician would be good since you've started to aquire the skills of dealing with it.


I'm in the DFW area. My course was about $600, but you have a uniform to buy ($100+/-). You'll also need to get a physical and drug test. PM me if you want to know where the course was. They might have a summer course which could be quicker.

I did it because I want to be involved instead of standing to the side, observing. I needed to get over a fear of sick/screaming patients so that I could learn when/if I'm observing. I needed to know IF I could get over this panic attack I'd get with sick/screaming patients. I wanted to know if I can keep my senses when the caca hits the fan. I also have to work while in school and can work weekends and odd hours. I still get nervous, but I'm working through it quite well and have impressed seasoned paramedics (if I may gloat a bit 😀 )
A tech job in the ER will pay better than transport (which is just about all an EMT-B can do in this area as far as riding the box). You may have to ride a transport service for 6 months in order to gain experience to be in the ER. I'm facing this right now and hope maybe my volunteer experience might sway them a little. Transport usually earns you about $9 an hour as a Basic. But, you can work a ton of overtime during the summers and they're used to working with student schedules.
You can "ride the box" in a 911 service while volunteering. I love the ambulance and hope I can get hired on at the hospital I volunteer at and volunteer with my little po-dunk town's EMS service. One of my skills instructors works for the fire department in the town I live in, so hopefully I can use that little connection.
Life will be good for this undergrad if that wish comes true.

For anyone interested in emergency medicine, I think doing some time in the field is extremely beneficial. As an EMT, you'll get yelled at about how you packaged a patient, or treatments you've done. There are doctors and nurses who don't know what it's like out in the field and even as a Basic, you might roll your eyes at them (or behind their back, lol) because they don't understand. It's not a slam on them, it's just that as an EMT, you learn things that doctors and nurses don't.
You'll learn how to get a general impression of your patients, which, from speaking with many, I've found there are a lot of doctors who don't know how to do this.
You'll get a head start on patient assessment. If you can't assess your patient, you can't treat them...no matter what your level of education. And there are many who can't do a good patient assessment!

Good luck! I'm not an adcom or anything, but I highly recommend taking an EMT course just for the learning experience 👍

 

[nick661806]

That might have been the case in 1999 but today about 33% of the applicants seem to have EMT. .

33% my ass. I go to a large state school and it is an event for me to meet another EMS provider. I second the question about which schools you work for so I can avoid wasting an application fee there.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Disregard post....

 

[LizzyM]

33% my ass. I go to a large state school and it is an event for me to meet another EMS provider. I second the question about which schools you work for so I can avoid wasting an application fee there.

My experience is, in large part, with applicants from top tier undergrad colleges and universities, not big state schools.

There are plenty of part-time jobs for undergrads that are medically related and don't require a $100 uniform and hours (and $) invested in training. There is more than one right answer to this question. I hope the OP has come away with lots of good ideas.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Disregard post....

 

[alparkeruab]

How much training is required to get a pharmacy tech job? How enriching/rewarding do you think this would be for a pre-med student?

 

[OSUdoc08]

How much training is required to get a pharmacy tech job? How enriching/rewarding do you think this would be for a pre-med student?

It depends on if you work in a hospital, or you are just another Walgreen's employee. You'll basically be a cashier at Walgreen's.

 

[Hopeful_Doc]

It depends on if you work in a hospital, or you are just another Walgreen's employee. You'll basically be a cashier at Walgreen's.

This is grossly exaggerated. I work in a retail pharmacy (full time the past two years and now part time while in school). I have done everything in the pharmacy, from inputing to compounding under the supervision of the pharmacist to catching errors from docs scripts,i know brand-generics like the back of my hand and what alot of them do(mechanism of action). I realize in some pharmacies where the pharmacists wish to keep the techs in the dark they may be treated as cashiers but in the one i work at as well as many of the other stores (same company different locations) the pharmacists are more than willing to teach you as much as you want to learn and the ones who dont are generally the older generation r.Ph.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

A tech job in the ER will pay better than transport (which is just about all an EMT-B can do in this area as far as riding the box). You may have to ride a transport service for 6 months in order to gain experience to be in the ER.

Interesting in how the area makes a big difference in your experience. It's exactly the opposite here. Everyone starts out in the ER and after 6 months they can orientate to the truck and start taking shifts. Money wise, an EMT-B makes the same regardless of if they're in the ER or on the truck.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Interesting in how the area makes a big difference in your experience. It's exactly the opposite here. Everyone starts out in the ER and after 6 months they can orientate to the truck and start taking shifts. Money wise, an EMT-B makes the same regardless of if they're in the ER or on the truck.

EMT's in ER's in Texas make several dollars more an hour than on the truck. The EMT scope of practice is also expanded in the ER compared to on the truck.

 

[nightowl]

Check into phlebotomy too. I trained on the job, so it was free, and the money's not bad. I know some hospitals require certification, but I was hired with absolutely no experience. I told them I was premed and they were happy to give me the opportunity to work in a clinical setting.

If you work at a hospital, you'll get extensive patient interaction and I have seen plenty of the ER, ICU, gastric/med-surg floors, step-down ICU, LD. It's great because you're not so limited and you can see what you like. Plus, you spend a lot of time in the hospital's lab and with the lab techs, so you have a chance to learn about all of the tests going on... If you ask q's you can learn a lot from the techs... 👍

 

[45408]

What school do you work for, so I can warn EMS professionals not to apply there? Thanks.

🙄 I was interviewed there, and I'm an EMT. It's obviously not a negative factor.

 

[OSUdoc08]

🙄 I was interviewed there, and I'm an EMT. It's obviously not a negative factor.

It's also not a positive factor, according to them.

 

[LizzyM]

It's also not a positive factor, according to them.

It is not "impressive" was my words. It is a positive in that it will cover the need for "clinical experience" but the heavens will not open and you will not be anointed and moved to the head of the line with flowers strewn at your feet.

 

[OSUdoc08]

It is not "impressive" was my words. It is a positive in that it will cover the need for "clinical experience" but the heavens will not open and you will not be anointed and moved to the head of the line with flowers strewn at your feet.

It's okay. I don't like flowers anyway.

 

[BradenDO]

This is grossly exaggerated. I work in a retail pharmacy (full time the past two years and now part time while in school). I have done everything in the pharmacy, from inputing to compounding under the supervision of the pharmacist to catching errors from docs scripts,i know brand-generics like the back of my hand and what alot of them do(mechanism of action). I realize in some pharmacies where the pharmacists wish to keep the techs in the dark they may be treated as cashiers but in the one i work at as well as many of the other stores (same company different locations) the pharmacists are more than willing to teach you as much as you want to learn and the ones who dont are generally the older generation r.Ph.

The pharmacy I work at is quite similar to this. I think working at a pharmacy is very beneficial because you learn drug names, interactions, etc. before you start school. Plus, from what I have been told, most schools don't go too in depth in this subject.