Health care jobs for college students (i.e. phlebotomy, pharmacy)

[browneyes124]

I am a pre med majoring in neuroscience. I have alot of volunteer experience in the healthcare industry but never had a job in it. I have a retail job now but I'd love to have a job that's healthcare related. I know a few people that work in a pharmacy as a pharmacy tech I think and as a phlebotomist and they were fairly young. I did some research and it said that you had to take certain course and go through training at schools that offered phlebotomy training to be certified... is this true? also do you think it would be hard to do the training while taking classes ( I have 17 credit hours this semester). Are those the only healthcare jobs a college student can get without having a degree yet?

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[Easonred57]

I am a pre med majoring in neuroscience. I have alot of volunteer experience in the healthcare industry but never had a job in it. I have a retail job now but I'd love to have a job that's healthcare related. I know a few people that work in a pharmacy as a pharmacy tech I think and as a phlebotomist and they were fairly young. I did some research and it said that you had to take certain course and go through training at schools that offered phlebotomy training to be certified... is this true? also do you think it would be hard to do the training while taking classes ( I have 17 credit hours this semester). Are those the only healthcare jobs a college student can get without having a degree yet?

I would lean toward something with more direct patient care than CPhT. I was a pharmacy tech for years, and it was not worth it. Low pay, very hard, fast-paced work, and for some people it doesn't really count as "clinical" even though it's healthcare-related. Sure, I learned a lot about medications and insurance and how to count by 5's really quickly. But I would go for something like phlebotomy, nurse assistant, medical assistant, etc. I took my CNA class as a night class while working full-time, and I managed it pretty well. I imagine it would be more difficult if you have a lot of schoolwork to complete in the evenings, though. Phlebotomy and CNA courses are offered at community colleges, usually, along with other certification courses. Do what feels right for you, and try to go into something you would be able to qualify for within your means (research the amount of time and resources it would take to get certified).

 

[browneyes124]

I was looking at my college site and apparently they do offer training in being nurse aide, clinical medical assistant, etc.. Did you like being a CNA? Do you think it did/ would help prepare for med school or being a doctor in general?

 

[Easonred57]

I was looking at my college site and apparently they do offer training in being nurse aide, clinical medical assistant, etc.. Did you like being a CNA? Do you think it did/ would help prepare for med school or being a doctor in general?

CNA work will definitely help prepare you for working with patients. It's hard work, but rewarding. Once you get good at wiping/changing/washing/feeding/turning/dressing/ambulating a patient, you can do anything. 🙂

 

[browneyes124]

is there a difference between a CNA and nursing aide/ assistant?

 

[Easonred57]

is there a difference between a CNA and nursing aide/ assistant?

Same thing. Certified nurse aide/assistant. After your training, you take a state exam for certification which allows you to work as a nursing assistant registered in your state.

 

[chiefscribejake]

Shameless name drop. I've learned a lot from it. My attending's always call my shifts "mini-residencies", but it sounds somewhat conceited now that I actually say it myself..

Anywho,
www.ScribeAmerica.com

🙂

 

[doc05]

If you're looking for experience to help with you med school application, I would not recommend a job as a nurse's aide, or a phlebotomist, for a college student. pay is low, it won't be enjoyable, and you won't get a feel for what it's like to be a physician.

you're better off getting involved in a clinincal research project, or shadowing, etc.

 

[genericpremedstudent]

Shameless name drop. I've learned a lot from it. My attending's always call my shifts "mini-residencies", but it sounds somewhat conceited now that I actually say it myself..

Anywho,
www.ScribeAmerica.com

🙂

Yeah that sounds douchey. How much does scribeamerica pay you for each post? Scribing is nothing like a mini residency. Anyways, I'd go for phlebotomy or CNA for the direct patient contact. It doesn't get more direct that sticking a needle in someone's arm.

 

[Grace184]

Yeah don't be a pharm tech. We make you do b*tch work and there is nothing clinical about it. Most states you don't even need to be certified and it's really annoying to be asked questions all day. Sorry to the good techs- because I've met many.

 

[Easonred57]

If you're looking for experience to help with you med school application, I would not recommend a job as a nurse's aide, or a phlebotomist, for a college student. pay is low, it won't be enjoyable, and you won't get a feel for what it's like to be a physician.

you're better off getting involved in a clinincal research project, or shadowing, etc.

I actually had a medical school admissions officer tell me last year, after my rejection, that the only thing my application was lacking was a patient-care certification/commitment such as CNA or EMT. So apparently it's at least recommended by one school. There isn't really any patient contact activity that will give you a feel for what it's like to be a physician, except being a physician.

Also, while clinical research and shadowing are important to have, they aren't quite the same patient contact hours. If that were the case, I would have several thousand clinical hours from working in a research lab. (Would be nice...)

 

[Gandyy]

Yeah that sounds douchey. How much does scribeamerica pay you for each post? Scribing is nothing like a mini residency. Anyways, I'd go for phlebotomy or CNA for the direct patient contact. It doesn't get more direct that sticking a needle in someone's arm.

Eh hold on now. I did phlebotomy for a bit. Depending on where you work, you can literally be turned into a urine drug screen specialist which is not what you signed up for.

I would do CNA and as "douchey" as the promoter above sounds, scribing is apparently still a pretty good pre-med experience.

 

[browneyes124]

I was reading about the duties of a medical assistant and it says they also draw blood sometimes so wouldn't that kind of be like a phlebotomist? I know I either want to do phlebotomy or medical assistance but idk which one. should I just go medical assistant because I heard there is a more demand for them and the training teaches you how to do alot of stuff including drawing blood?

 

[emraldragon]

I was reading about the duties of a medical assistant and it says they also draw blood sometimes so wouldn't that kind of be like a phlebotomist? I know I either want to do phlebotomy or medical assistance but idk which one. should I just go medical assistant because I heard there is a more demand for them and the training teaches you how to do alot of stuff including drawing blood?

I was a CNA and I would definitely recommend it. I will agree that you really don't get to see what it is like to be a physician, but it does show that you are willing to care for patients and work on a health care team. It is hard work, both physically and emotionally, and the pay is low, so I wouldn't recommend doing it forever for fear of burn out. But most of the best things I learned about caring for patients (and cropped up anecdotally in interviews and essays came from one of my two CNA jobs)

In answer to your question about med assistants, their duties vary by state, as do CNA jobs. In my state, CNAs could not draw blood but MAs could. In the state next door I have been told that there is virtually no difference between the two. The only reason I went for CNA instead of MA was cost and time. Sanford Brown and for profit "colleges" were the only ones with MA courses and they lasted for 9-12 months and cost a great deal. I was able to do a CNA certificate course at my local community college for about $800 in two months which was then reimbursed by the first job I got as a CNA (reimbursement is a law in my state I believe). If the circumstances (time & money costs) had been different I would have gone MA. They work more with doctors and do more cool stuff with needles (at least here in Penn's woods). But seeing as I was accepted even as a CNA, it all worked out.

Finally, there was a poster above who suggested shadowing and clinical research in lieu of CNA or phlebotamist. I agree you should definitely shadow and do some research if you can find it, both are important components of your application, but I don't think that either help you develop the skills to work with patient's as well as CNA would.

TL😀R = CNA =/= MA in all states, but sometimes it does. Research your state's requirements.

 

[hwheeler757]

This is a popular thread so I'm going to throw in a quick subject-related question... I volunteered at a hospital basically as a CNA but I'm not certified or anything along those lines. I did a variety of tasks with that position and was basically a CNA but I want to make sure it's not illegal that I was doing tasks without being certified

 

[genericpremedstudent]

Eh hold on now. I did phlebotomy for a bit. Depending on where you work, you can literally be turned into a urine drug screen specialist which is not what you signed up for.

I would do CNA and as "douchey" as the promoter above sounds, scribing is apparently still a pretty good pre-med experience.

collecting urine samples is still more direct patient contact than scribing.

 

[Gandyy]

collecting urine samples is still more direct patient contact than scribing.

Have you actually done DOT drug screen urine collections? It's really not.

I've done more than I can or want to count. The "patient experience" you get while doing drug screens is less meaningful than the customer-employee contact you get if you are a cashier.

Seriously, they spend more time in the bathroom than they do actually interacting with you.

Scribing is much more useful and pertinent IF you are a phlebotomist who mostly does drug screen urine collections.

Of course if you are a phlebotomist that mostly draws blood, then yea its a lot more direct experience than scribing itself.

 

[emraldragon]

This is a popular thread so I'm going to throw in a quick subject-related question... I volunteered at a hospital basically as a CNA but I'm not certified or anything along those lines. I did a variety of tasks with that position and was basically a CNA but I want to make sure it's not illegal that I was doing tasks without being certified

My best guess would be it depends on your state's regulations and what exactly you did. Getting people fresh water? No problem. Emptying Foley cath bags without charting patient's output? Maybe not so great. In my hospital volunteer job they asked the volunteers to feed patients without training them. This freaked me out because at my CNA job at a nursing home they had nursing students feeding one of my patients while she was mostly laying down and she began to aspirate. The nursing students should have known better, the volunteers had no way of knowing better and were a potential liability (in my personal non legal opinion). However, there seemed to be no actual legal problems with the volunteers doing this.

 

[hwheeler757]

Okay, luckily I haven't done much along those lines. I'll just watch what I include. Thank you!

 

[AKNP]

I have to agree that my experience as a CNA was well worth it. It was a fast process to get licensed (1.5 months total) and I was hired quickly afterwards too. And the facility I worked in was supportive of students and accommodated our school schedules. Where I live, CNAs are well compensated for their work because of the high CoL in the state. I've done a combination of long term care and sub-acute care, so the experience has been a great learning opportunity. Plus, it was great way to network and shadow with the physicians I work with.

Annnd as a side note, Scribing sounds like an excellent job opportunity, but unfortunately there are no scribe jobs in my community. 🙁

 

[genericpremedstudent]

Have you actually done DOT drug screen urine collections? It's really not.

I've done more than I can or want to count. The "patient experience" you get while doing drug screens is less meaningful than the customer-employee contact you get if you are a cashier.

Seriously, they spend more time in the bathroom than they do actually interacting with you.

Scribing is much more useful and pertinent IF you are a phlebotomist who mostly does drug screen urine collections.

Of course if you are a phlebotomist that mostly draws blood, then yea its a lot more direct experience than scribing itself.

considering that in scribing you aren't allowed any patient contact whatsoever, I still stand by my statement.

 

[Gandyy]

considering that in scribing you aren't allowed any patient contact whatsoever, I still stand by my statement.

I mean ok, but what I'm saying is the patient contact you get in doing drug screens is akin to almost nothing.

 

[genericpremedstudent]

I mean ok, but what I'm saying is the patient contact you get in doing drug screens is akin to almost nothing.

you agree that almost nothing > nothing. I don't know why you are still arguing with me about this. during my scribe training I was told we are not allowed to make any contact with the patient. how you are concluding that scribing is a better option for someone is seeking a job with patient contact is beyond me. and besides, just because you were made to work in drug screening doesn't mean that is what everyone's experience as a phlebotomist will be.

 

[Gandyy]

you agree that almost nothing > nothing. I don't know why you are still arguing with me about this. during my scribe training I was told we are not allowed to make any contact with the patient. how you are concluding that scribing is a better option for someone is seeking a job with patient contact is beyond me. and besides, just because you were made to work in drug screening doesn't mean that is what everyone's experience as a phlebotomist will be.

Yes, I think its best we stop arguing about this.