Job Options for Full-Time Nursing Students
Attending college is an expensive proposition. Here are a few job options for nursing students to consider in order to earn money and gain some valuable experience that will pay the bills and look good on your resume.
Nursing Student Advantage
Hospitals are notoriously understaffed and always looking for help, so, as a nursing student you have an advantage! You can help fill the hospital’s need and get on the job experience while getting a paycheck. With the demand for help so great, you can almost take your pick of the available jobs. Of course you won’t be paid as much as a nurse with a degree, but you will be paid more than at your local hamburger joint and gain valuable experience that will help you in your job search once you graduate.
The Mayo Clinic
As a nursing student your options are wide open. You can even work at the prestigious Mayo Clinic! The Mayo Clinic has jobs for nursing students in their summer nursing internship program. This is a paid internship program that offers a salary plus shift differential if you work evenings or the night shift. This type of summer job would certainly look good on your resume.
Summer Student Internships
Typical summer internships like the one at the Mayo Clinic offer an orientation program for your first week or two there. Often the orientation period is also paid. Throughout the internship you get to work alongside an RN and meet other nursing students from around the country. (See: Resource 1) Some summer internships like Mayo, even offer subsidized housing for their student interns.
Overseas Internships
In addition to learning internships there are travel internships where you can have a unique opportunity to help people around the world. Unfortunately, many of these jobs are as unpaid volunteers so if your primary concern is earning money to pay for your education this may not be the best way to go. However, if you are looking for an opportunity to make a difference in the world and gain some fantastic memories this may be the job of a lifetime.
Other Opportunities
In addition to the official student internship programs there are many opportunities in your local community. There are probably opportunities for nursing students in almost every place where there are sick or injured people. You don’t have to limit your search to local hospitals either. Nursing homes, clinics, Chiropractors, Dentists, and even veterinarians may have positions for student nurses.
An option you may not have considered is to get your basic EMT certification. This can often be done in a few short weeks. EMTs are in demand and earn good salaries and have to be able to start IVs and take vital signs. Although the salary is lower than for nurses many nurses have found it to be a lower stress more enjoyable option than their originally chosen profession.
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