Job Question

[azide10]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Little background
I’m taking prereqs, volunteering, shadowing and all that good stuff. In terms of employment, over the last 3 summers and winters I have worked at a group home for developmentally disabled individuals where I would help with safety, de-escalation, bathing, ADL’s, and community integration. Now that I have graduated I need a job while continuing to build my application. I was hoping to become an EMT-B and while I haven’t specifically asked, I did not realize and have a feeling that my area is very saturated. But my town does need EMT volunteers so I will most likely go that route, not only for my application but because it is something I seriously want to do.

I have some other ideas but am looking for opinions as to what would be most beneficial for my application.
I see a lot of PT aide positions available which would offer me a lot of flexibility and possibly allow me to take one more class per semester than I intended. The pay isn’t great but not terrible either but would this give me clinical or patient experience? I feel like it may count as iffy experience at best.
I could work as a mental health worker at a mental health facility for children, adolescents, and adults. Inpatient units that work with psychiatrists, NP’s, nurses, social workers, ect. The responsibilities of the position include: patient safety and de-escalation, supervise patients in one to one care, help with ADL’s, and document patient care in a medical record. This job by far pays the best. Long shifts but allots a decent amount of study time during the shift due to various reasons. Also if it matters it is affiliated with a medical school.
I could work FT where I have been working summers/winters. Not sure if the pay would improve at all, it is in the range of the PT aide position from what I was making. I love working there but also feel like a change would be nice.


Would any of these offer something to my application that the others won’t? I’m leaning towards the mental health worker position because I imagine it counts as patient contact experience and pays well, among various other lesser important things. Does that sound right? Or do none of them really do anything for my application and I should look for something else? I’m trying to avoid needing to get some more schooling for a job like CNA because my schedule is already pretty packed. Maybe try contacting my local hospitals for basic jobs or universities for research positions? Just be thankful I'm not working at a Wal-Mart? Whichever I choose I will be doing for at least 2 years and hopefully be able to save up a small but decent little stash.

Thanks in advance.

 

[illegallysmooth]

Little background
I’m taking prereqs, volunteering, shadowing and all that good stuff. In terms of employment, over the last 3 summers and winters I have worked at a group home for developmentally disabled individuals where I would help with safety, de-escalation, bathing, ADL’s, and community integration. Now that I have graduated I need a job while continuing to build my application. I was hoping to become an EMT-B and while I haven’t specifically asked, I did not realize and have a feeling that my area is very saturated. But my town does need EMT volunteers so I will most likely go that route, not only for my application but because it is something I seriously want to do.

I have some other ideas but am looking for opinions as to what would be most beneficial for my application.
I see a lot of PT aide positions available which would offer me a lot of flexibility and possibly allow me to take one more class per semester than I intended. The pay isn’t great but not terrible either but would this give me clinical or patient experience? I feel like it may count as iffy experience at best.
I could work as a mental health worker at a mental health facility for children, adolescents, and adults. Inpatient units that work with psychiatrists, NP’s, nurses, social workers, ect. The responsibilities of the position include: patient safety and de-escalation, supervise patients in one to one care, help with ADL’s, and document patient care in a medical record. This job by far pays the best. Long shifts but allots a decent amount of study time during the shift due to various reasons. Also if it matters it is affiliated with a medical school.
I could work FT where I have been working summers/winters. Not sure if the pay would improve at all, it is in the range of the PT aide position from what I was making. I love working there but also feel like a change would be nice.


Would any of these offer something to my application that the others won’t? I’m leaning towards the mental health worker position because I imagine it counts as patient contact experience and pays well, among various other lesser important things. Does that sound right? Or do none of them really do anything for my application and I should look for something else? I’m trying to avoid needing to get some more schooling for a job like CNA because my schedule is already pretty packed. Maybe try contacting my local hospitals for basic jobs or universities for research positions? Just be thankful I'm not working at a Wal-Mart? Whichever I choose I will be doing for at least 2 years and hopefully be able to save up a small but decent little stash.

Thanks in advance.

When you say PT aide positions, do you mean physical therapy aides or part-time nursing aides? If it is the former, I don't think you should go this route if you have better options.

I would go with the mental health position, but are you interested in mental health/psychiatry? You also don't need a CNA cert to work as an NA or MA in many places. Some offer on-the-job training including blood draws and EKGs, especially in ERs.

 

[drdolot]

When you say PT aide positions, do you mean physical therapy aides or part-time nursing aides? If it is the former, I don't think you should go this route if you have better options.

I would go with the mental health position, but are you interested in mental health/psychiatry? You also don't need a CNA cert to work as an NA or MA in many places. Some offer on-the-job training including blood draws and EKGs, especially in ERs.

As long as you have an interest in what you are doing, it will be fine. All of those options provide good exposure, as long as you take advantage of the learning environment and explain in your interviews why you chose the field and how it relates to medicine. Go for whatever you are more interested in.

 

[TexasPhysician]

I would do the mental health thing. I am a little biased, but since it is associated with a medical school, that will definitely add something.