What job's can a pre-med student get at a hospital

[Dreaming big]

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Hey,

What jobs can a pre-med get at a hospital? What certifications are required?

 

[mvenus929]

CNA (CNA certificate)
Phlebotomist (sometimes a phlebotomy certification)
ER Tech (EMT certification)
Unit secretary
Scribe
Patient Transport

 

[Mediocrates]

I worked as an NA (nurse's aide) in college. The only cert I needed was CPR. I made like $0.50 less per hour than the CNA's (certified with a training course) but it was the same job.

I worked in a really small rural hospital with ~25 beds and a 5 bed ED. It kind of sucked because there was only one aide on at a time so I had to do everything myself.

It was super nice though because I got to do a TON of stuff like taking vitals, taking EKG's etc. I also was the tech for the ED so I got to see everything from emergent cases to hospice care.

Also, as the only pre-med aide (most were nursing) the MD's and PA's really made an effort to try and teach me things like reading EKG's and whatnot. Especially at night when there was absolutely nothing going on.

 

[Dreaming big]

CNA (CNA certificate)
Phlebotomist (sometimes a phlebotomy certification)
ER Tech (EMT certification)
Unit secretary
Scribe
Patient Transport

What does a scribe do?

 

[Ischiowhat]

Look into ER/ICU tech, EKG tech, other "tech" positions. Certification requirements, if any, vary by location and hospital. Look at the job listing sections of local hospitals, they'll list the reqiurements. Sometimes it is as little as a HS diploma. Don't be afraid to get some of the certifications though, like EMT, since they do open doors. You do NOT want to be a CNA, unless you enjoy wiping asses and getting bossed around by nurses. Don't bother with transport or secretaries either, might as well not even work in a hospital. Yea, transport sometimes assists with CPR at codes and stuff but generally it is just a lot of wheeling grannies around in chairs/beds.

 

[Doctor246853]

Look into ER/ICU tech, EKG tech, other "tech" positions. Certification requirements, if any, vary by location and hospital. Look at the job listing sections of local hospitals, they'll list the reqiurements. Sometimes it is as little as a HS diploma. Don't be afraid to get some of the certifications though, like EMT, since they do open doors. You do NOT want to be a CNA, unless you enjoy wiping asses and getting bossed around by nurses. Don't bother with transport or secretaries either, might as well not even work in a hospital. Yea, transport sometimes assists with CPR at codes and stuff but generally it is just a lot of wheeling grannies around in chairs/beds.

Why do ppl insist on giving bad advice? I think transport or unit secretary will lead to good hands on. As for the CNA as long as its not in a nursing home, rehab center or small hospital you will learn alot. Im at a major hospital and wipe a butt maybe once every three months or so (trauma patients). As for the bossed around part LMAO your joking right? GET USED TO IT!!! I dont get bossed around but I know what your talking about and EVERYONE gets it except for the attendings; it goes all the way to the top. cna/techs/medstudents/interns-->nurses-->residents-->attendings. Almost EVERYONE gets bossed around by their superior its just part of the medical ladder. I get to do alot and everyone respects me because how I carry myself and work ethics sooo I love my job.😀 Your advice is very misleading.

 

[Doctor246853]

CNA (CNA certificate)
Phlebotomist (sometimes a phlebotomy certification)
ER Tech (EMT certification)
Unit secretary
Scribe
Patient Transport

The medical students at my job or either ER Techs with EMT cert. or ER Techs with CNA cert. They work for extra cash on their breaks. You can have either one but Im guessing its easy to get the job from the outside with the EMT unless your working there as a CNA (PCA/PCT) on the floor and transfered. Thats the route I took.🙂

 

[mvenus929]

What does a scribe do?

They help out the docs in the ER. It varies on the program exactly how much they do. At my old hospital, they were called PALs (Physician Assistant Liaison).

Don't bother with transport or secretaries either, might as well not even work in a hospital.

I disagree with this. Unit secretaries have a fair amount of responsibility and require a fair bit of knowledge. They are responsible for reading physician orders and transferring those orders to the computer. They have to make sure that some orders weren't already done. Sometimes, they have to clean up the mess of other secretaries. It's a lot of work, and if you're a good unit secretary, everyone in the hospital will love you.

 

[Waggles]

Look into ER/ICU tech, EKG tech, other "tech" positions. Certification requirements, if any, vary by location and hospital. Look at the job listing sections of local hospitals, they'll list the reqiurements. Sometimes it is as little as a HS diploma. Don't be afraid to get some of the certifications though, like EMT, since they do open doors. You do NOT want to be a CNA, unless you enjoy wiping asses and getting bossed around by nurses. Don't bother with transport or secretaries either, might as well not even work in a hospital. Yea, transport sometimes assists with CPR at codes and stuff but generally it is just a lot of wheeling grannies around in chairs/beds.

Completely disagree. I'm a patient transporter and it is a wonderful job. Get to explore the whole hospital and because I work for the radiology department, I can sit next to doctors reading scans in my free time or have technologists explain to me what's going on during procedures like LPs and interventional rad. Also, if there's nothing to do I can study.

 

[Geekchick921]

I disagree with this. Unit secretaries have a fair amount of responsibility and require a fair bit of knowledge. They are responsible for reading physician orders and transferring those orders to the computer. They have to make sure that some orders weren't already done. Sometimes, they have to clean up the mess of other secretaries. It's a lot of work, and if you're a good unit secretary, everyone in the hospital will love you.

QFT.

I was a unit secretary for 2 years on a busy med-surg floor. I did not just answer the phone, though I did, as well as make calls to doctors for consults, lab results, requesting orders (I couldn't take verbals but I could put in the call), etc. I managed the charts (assembling, copying for discharge, disassembling). I entered vitals, patient information and handwritten orders into the system. I did some quality assurance stuff and did troubleshooting for the computers and whatnot. I ordered supplies, stocked the patient rooms, and kept the clean utility and med rooms organized, et cetera. I ran my unit like a well-oiled machine. Many of the doctors I worked with told me my floor was their favorite to come to in the hospital because of all I did.

Besides all the 'how the nurses' stations work' experience, I got to observe doctor or nurse to patient or family interactions daily. I was in patients' rooms a lot and often got to interact with the ones that weren't unconscious or just several demented. Plenty of the doctors knew I was planning on going to medical school and let me watch exams or bedside procedures (especially lots of thoracenteses). Occasionally, I even got to help, just as another set of hands to hold open a sample container or something but I standing right next to the doctor getting a first-hand view of what he was doing.

So yeah, Ischio has no idea WTF he's talking about. Unit secretary is a great job for a pre-med if you can find a position. 👍

 

[Doctor246853]

QFT.

I was a unit secretary for 2 years on a busy med-surg floor. I did not just answer the phone, though I did, as well as make calls to doctors for consults, lab results, requesting orders (I couldn't take verbals but I could put in the call), etc. I managed the charts (assembling, copying for discharge, disassembling). I entered vitals, patient information and handwritten orders into the system. I did some quality assurance stuff and did troubleshooting for the computers and whatnot. I ordered supplies, stocked the patient rooms, and kept the clean utility and med rooms organized, et cetera. I ran my unit like a well-oiled machine. Many of the doctors I worked with told me my floor was their favorite to come to in the hospital because of all I did.

Besides all the 'how the nurses' stations work' experience, I got to observe doctor or nurse to patient or family interactions daily. I was in patients' rooms a lot and often got to interact with the ones that weren't unconscious or just several demented. Plenty of the doctors knew I was planning on going to medical school and let me watch exams or bedside procedures (especially lots of thoracenteses). Occasionally, I even got to help, just as another set of hands to hold open a sample container or something but I standing right next to the doctor getting a first-hand view of what he was doing.

So yeah, Ischio has no idea WTF he's talking about. Unit secretary is a great job for a pre-med if you can find a position. 👍

👍 Everyone pretty much agrees on this. Take our advice and youll do fine.

 

[wolverinepwns]

CNA (CNA certificate)
Phlebotomist (sometimes a phlebotomy certification)
ER Tech (EMT certification)
Unit secretary
Scribe
Patient Transport

EKG tech / Monitor Tech (PM me if you have question, or ER tech)
Translator
Medical Records

 

[SlaskWroclaw18]

I am debating what job should I apply for at a local hospital as there are some vacancies.
1) ER Scribe (scribe america)
2) Nursing Assistant (CNA I assume)
-With the nursing assistant job, they have several departments open including telemetry, medical/surgery, Emergency Room, and ER.

Which one would be a better option?

 

[Plasticup]

edit: deleted

 

[kevster2001]

If you really had to do something like this, I would be a scribe. Do something that gets you a lot of close interaction with MDs so you see what their daily schedule is like. No one cares that you can draw blood or plug in an EKG machine. What's more important is that you know what doctors do on a daily basis so you know what you're getting yoruself into.

 

[mvenus929]

If you really had to do something like this, I would be a scribe. Do something that gets you a lot of close interaction with MDs so you see what their daily schedule is like. No one cares that you can draw blood or plug in an EKG machine. What's more important is that you know what doctors do on a daily basis so you know what you're getting yoruself into.

While I certainly don't disagree that a scribe job is probably the best as far as seeing what a Dr does, saying that phlebotomists or EKG techs don't get any experience other than that skill is a little misleading as well. You'll learn a lot about the department you work in. As a phlebotomist, I learned a heck of a lot about lab tests, how they're run and how they can be interpreted, what can cause error, etc. Now in one of my courses in med school, one of the learning objectives we were assigned was to figure out what can cause a lab test to come out wrong. I know that first hand, because I dealt with it front-line.

Techs also deal with a lot of different types of patients and have to really practice their bedside manner because they are doing something that the patient may see as unpleasant (phlebs more than EKG or respiratory techs). Those are skills that'll help you in the long run whether you end up going to medical school or not.

 

[SlaskWroclaw18]

I know there is no single answer for this but between CNA or ER Scribe, what is the better choice? I know that as a CNA I would probably get more clinical experience, patient contact but as an ER Scribe, I would probably see more and watch firsthand a doctor's workday. Is one of these jobs more favorable than the other?

 

[roseglass6370]

Positions vary hospital to hospital but there are tons where I work:

Unit Clerk
PSA ("Nurse's Aide")
Patient Escort
Phlebotomist
Pharmacy Tech
Medical Records
Surgical Tech
PNA ("Nutrition Services")

There are more too...I can't think of them all. I worked for 2 years in high school as a PNA and have worked a little over 2 years in college as a PSA. Check out listings online. 🙂

 

[SlaskWroclaw18]

If I were to work as a nursing assistant, what is the best department in a hospital to work in (for experience, clinical contact, etc.)?
-Surgical Services
-Medical/Surgery Floor
-Emergency Services
-Oncology
-Telemetry
-TCU

 

[Electronegative]

OR attendant.