Working in a Hospital

[magladde]

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Helllo everyone I had a question. As a rising college student interested in medical school I was encouraged to get some clinical experience. Given my current economic situation I was looking for a paid job and I decided to get a job as a Certified Nursing Assistant level 1. I was recently hired at my local hospital which is exciting. I was curious if there was anything I could be doing which would help me gain experience at the hospital besides just working in a clinical setting? Has anyone worked as a CNA before and regretted it?
Anythoughts would be welcome,
Thanks!

 

[jm192]

I'd recommend taking a semester before you go into that, to see what you can handle. When the extra workload comes in from the job, you'll have some idea of what you can handle.

Clinical experience is very important. And CNA will definitely get you that. And you'll get paid for it. Some people work, and do clinical experience separately. Killing 2 birds with 1 stone is always good.

 

[Cypher321]

Helllo everyone I had a question. As a rising college student interested in medical school I was encouraged to get some clinical experience. Given my current economic situation I was looking for a paid job and I decided to get a job as a Certified Nursing Assistant level 1. I was recently hired at my local hospital which is exciting. I was curious if there was anything I could be doing which would help me gain experience at the hospital besides just working in a clinical setting? Has anyone worked as a CNA before and regretted it?
Anythoughts would be welcome,
Thanks!

CNA might not be glorious but it certainly provides you with valuable clinical experience that is necessary for medical school plus you can see if the medical environment is right for you. Keep up the work and remember to keep your eye on the prize. Also...

On behalf of the SDN Board of Parks and Tourism, Welcome to the SDN forums and enjoy your stay!

 

[Doctor246853]

Helllo everyone I had a question. As a rising college student interested in medical school I was encouraged to get some clinical experience. Given my current economic situation I was looking for a paid job and I decided to get a job as a Certified Nursing Assistant level 1. I was recently hired at my local hospital which is exciting. I was curious if there was anything I could be doing which would help me gain experience at the hospital besides just working in a clinical setting? Has anyone worked as a CNA before and regretted it?
Anythoughts would be welcome,
Thanks!

Ok Im at work right now lol (downtime) at Parkland and Im a "c.n.a." They only call you cna's in nursing homes and rehab centers you get to do more than just change diapers in major hospitals your called a PCA or PCT. You got it good now, as long as your not in a nursing home you good. You can shadow any speacialty, network with residents and medstudents (if your in a teaching hospital) and you get paid a ok amount for undergrad ($12-$16 plus shift diff). Its not RN money but thats more time out of school to get 😉. Learn from the job, learn terminology, ask questions, network, learn the role of the other professionals and how they interact. I work 5 days a week 8 hours a day and go to school full time on my two days off, so its doable.(But I dont care about hanging out with friends so...) But have fun if you have any questions ask🙂 P.S. the only regret I have is you may not get the respect from other staff because you are at the very very very bottom of the pole in the mediacl world. Just swallow your pride and remember its part of the game and you gotta earn it. 😎

 

[magladde]

I'd recommend taking a semester before you go into that, to see what you can handle. When the extra workload comes in from the job, you'll have some idea of what you can handle.

Clinical experience is very important. And CNA will definitely get you that. And you'll get paid for it. Some people work, and do clinical experience separately. Killing 2 birds with 1 stone is always good.

As much as I would enjoy that I have already quit my job managing a fast food restaurant and I need the money. Plus my course load isnt that bad (14 hours).

I guess what I was asking if there are things I can learn from the staff which could help me out. The nurses I work with are all very nice and talk to me about things but I have to be the one to bring the questions.

 

[magladde]

Ok Im at work right now lol (downtime) at Parkland and Im a "c.n.a." They only call you cna's in nursing homes and rehab centers you get to do more than just change diapers in major hospitals your called a PCA or PCT. You got it good now, as long as your not in a nursing home you good.

Yea I am working in a rehab facility right now. But hey its a foot in the door I guess

 

[Doctor246853]

As much as I would enjoy that I have already quit my job managing a fast food restaurant and I need the money. Plus my course load isnt that bad (14 hours).

I guess what I was asking if there are things I can learn from the staff which could help me out. The nurses I work with are all very nice and talk to me about things but I have to be the one to bring the questions.

Is it a level 1trauma hospital or more than 500 beds? Just curious. Alot of nurses I talk to kinda pull me in the area of nursing (think crna or np). Many will be bias because they been a nurse for many years so they mean good. If you really want great advice hang out more with other premed pca's, medical students and residents. Ask doctors for advice instead of nurses, you can get a more detailed answer in many cases. Now that you in it will be easier to watch surgeries and tag along.

 

[Doctor246853]

Yea I am working in a rehab facility right now. But hey its a foot in the door I guess

Oh ok yeah thats where I started.. Nursing home, acute rehab center, local hosptial then major hospital. Your on the right track. When I was at a rehab center I asked the doctors questions when they came (which wasnt that much) so you will have alot more time spent with nursing staff. Continue with your studies and work there for the experience then apply to a teaching hospital. Theres not really anything your gona learn form a nursing home or rehab being a premed but its more of a stepping stone. So stay there they apply at a hospital.👍

 

[jm192]

As much as I would enjoy that I have already quit my job managing a fast food restaurant and I need the money. Plus my course load isnt that bad (14 hours).

I guess what I was asking if there are things I can learn from the staff which could help me out. The nurses I work with are all very nice and talk to me about things but I have to be the one to bring the questions.

I'm sure there are things you can learn from working with the staff and just by spending time with the patients.

I think most of it is stuff you more or less know, but from time to time you get lucky and really have something driven home for you.

I think it's a fine job for clinical experience.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

I would much rather go with being a phlebotomist. You'll just be taking blood, and you won't have to clean up pooh like CNAs do. 👍

 

[mvenus929]

Ok Im at work right now lol (downtime) at Parkland and Im a "c.n.a." They only call you cna's in nursing homes and rehab centers you get to do more than just change diapers in major hospitals your called a PCA or PCT.

Based on your other post, I guess you consider anything more than 500 beds a 'major hospital', but my hospital just got up to 350 beds and we still call them CNAs. Just so you know.

I would much rather go with being a phlebotomist. You'll just be taking blood, and you won't have to clean up pooh like CNAs do. 👍

I went with phlebotomist because I didn't want to do the grunge work of a CNA, and you get to see more of the hospital. CNAs usually work in one unit, so they get familiar with the type of patients on that unit. Phlebs work the whole hospital, can get called down to the ER, etc, plus gain the extra education of being in the clinical lab.

 

[Doctor246853]

Based on your other post, I guess you consider anything more than 500 beds a 'major hospital', but my hospital just got up to 350 beds and we still call them CNAs. Just so you know.



I went with phlebotomist because I didn't want to do the grunge work of a CNA, and you get to see more of the hospital. CNAs usually work in one unit, so they get familiar with the type of patients on that unit. Phlebs work the whole hospital, can get called down to the ER, etc, plus gain the extra education of being in the clinical lab.

Oh thats cool..I was just saying because all the jobs I ever had in a big hospital calls cna's PCA or PCT's because not all PCA/PCT are licenced cna's. Some are emt's but most are nursing students about to be done with their RN. Out of about 20 PCA's I work with Im the only cna and a few are medstudents (work on their breaks for extra cash) and nursing students. I know alot of phlebotomist's and feel like we interact more with the doctors and residents than they do. They come in, take the blood, then more to the next room. We have to assist the residents, students and nurses with procedures here and you get to get a looot of info. Hey your hospital may be different Im just talking about mine. Oh and I came from a 350 bed hospital (MCA in Arlington) and yes I dont concider that a major hospital compared to the 550+ bed hospitals its a big difference and alot more exposure to things. I do think phlebotomy is a good choice but all the premeds and medstudents "I came across" where PCA's or EMT's.😉

 

[magladde]

Hey thanks for all the responses. I was really just worried that it was too much plain grunt work and not really clinical experience (like phleb, or ecg tech)!