Becoming a nurse is highly rewarding and a great profession, but the process of getting your degree can be expensive. Between school and everyday life, nursing students face a lot of stress.
Fortunately, getting a part-time job can relieve a lot of students’ financial stress. While many students hold part-time jobs while working toward college degrees, most are in fields unrelated to their degree. As a pre-nursing undergraduate, working in the medical field is a great idea.
This not only helps you gain experience, but can strengthen your love of nursing and make contacts that could help you further down the line. All of these jobs are related to the medical industry, but depending on your preferred specialization or personal interest, one may be better for you than another.
One more great thing about finding a job in the medical field while you pursue your degree? Just about all of these jobs offer flexible hours. Medical emergencies and procedures don’t stop because it’s past normal working hours. That means that no matter when you are available, you are needed.
If you’re looking for a way to make money while going to school, keep reading for the five best jobs you can apply for.
1. Nursing Aide
If nursing is your passion, working as a nursing aide while pursuing your degree is perfect. There are a ton of different facilities that need nursing aides, including hospices, nursing homes and correctional facilities.
While you do need to be certified in order to take this job, the training only takes between a few weeks to a few months and can be completed while you take other courses. This makes it ideal for a busy student.
Working alongside a registered nurse and helping them with their tasks will be invaluable to a nursing student. Not only do you get to see what a registered nurse truly has to deal with on a daily basis, but you gain skills necessary to interacting with patients.
2. Caregiver
Becoming a caregiver is pretty easy. This job doesn’t require any special certification or training, but the duties associated with it will help you later in your nursing career.
As a caregiver, you won’t be expected to perform any kind of medical procedure. Rather, caregivers help their individual clients with their day-to-day lives.
Your personal duties will vary from client to client, but most require help with everyday tasks, such as meals, chores, errands and simply interacting with another person.
This job is great for people who enjoy helping others and seeing the results of their care. If you’re good with people and enjoy making personal connections, becoming a caregiver is highly rewarding.
3. Emergency Medical Technician
Getting a job as an emergency medical technician (or EMT) requires some training, but it can be completed in a matter of several months in most cases.
As an emergency medical technician, you will be expected to help out paramedics, as well as perform basic aid and prepare patients for emergency procedures.
Working as an EMT in an ambulance is not easy. It’s highly fast-paced and can be stressful, but it also provides some pretty amazing experience. This is especially true if your dream career is working in emergency rooms or urgent care facilities.
If you’re thinking about obtaining EMT training, keep in mind that it can be difficult, the training is rigorous and you may only be able to find volunteer positions. However, if you’re great under pressure and want to work in an emergency medical field, this may be the part-time job of your dreams.
4. Monitor Technician
Monitor technicians are responsible for being able to know what a patient’s heart is doing. This is highly important because they can tell when a patient is in need of further care and can direct an available nurse to where they are needed most.
Many places don’t require you to be certified in order to obtain this job. Instead, training on the job is very common. Don’t mistake this for it being easy work, however. A monitor tech must be able to both view and interpret data.
This job is ideal for students with a passion for analytics and strong ability to focus. Because monitor technicians have to oversee a lot of patients, this job can also help with time management skills and teach you how to juggle a lot of different responsibilities.
5. Phlebotomist
If you’re interested in lab work, consider applying to be a phlebotomist. This job isn’t just drawing blood or preparing a patient to have their blood drawn.
In fact, as a phlebotomist you would have a wide range of duties, including post-procedural care, helping a patient make sense of their test findings and providing a calming presence for those who are nervous around needles.
Most states don’t require certification in order to become a phlebotomist. Like monitor technician positions, much of the required training is done on the job. This makes it ideal for students who want to start working immediately and have an interest in working in a lab environment.
One of the best parts about working as a phlebotomist? There are many options to choose from in regard to where you work. Hospitals, blood donation centers and private clinics all hire phlebotomists.
Working while studying isn’t easy, but it’s sometimes necessary. If you find that you need to pick up a part-time job while getting a degree, you can’t go wrong with the above five options.
Not only are they perfect for giving you invaluable experience and forging strong connections with other people in your chosen field, but they also give you a better idea of what nursing (and interacting with patients) will be like.
No matter your passion, you’ll be able to find a rewarding position that will do wonders to prepare you for the road ahead.
DMG