Working during accelerated nursing school is not ideal because you’ll already spend 40 to 60 hours per week on your studies. However, if you need to work, a few part-time jobs for nursing students to consider include Certified Nurse Assistant, phlebotomist, patient transporter, clinic secretary and tutor.
As you embark on the path toward becoming a nurse, you may wonder whether it’s possible to keep working while in nursing school. Enrolling in nursing school is a major commitment that will take up most of your time. At Concordia University, St. Paul, we recommend that students in our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program refrain from working if possible. This will ensure that you have ample time to study.
However, some students may need to pick up a part-time job. If that’s you, there are several options for jobs for nursing students to consider, which we will discuss below. But first, let us explain why it’s best not to work full-time during nursing school.
Here’s why working during the ABSN program is not recommended. But if you have to work, learn what to look for in a job.
Nursing School Is a Full-Time Job
When students ask about working while in nursing school, it’s important to emphasize that an accelerated nursing program is a full-time commitment. ABSN students generally spend between 40 and 60 hours per week completing schoolwork, so that alone will keep you busy.
Wondering how to succeed in nursing school? Here are seven study tips from an accelerated nursing student.
Each student learns at their own pace, and it’s essential to give yourself enough time to absorb the material and manage your busy coursework and lab and clinical schedules while still maintaining balance in your life. Remember that the ABSN program is only 16 months — so it will fly by. Once you start your career, you’ll be well-equipped to earn a comfortable living as a nurse.
How to Find Nursing Student Employment Opportunities
If you need to work while in nursing school, finding a part-time job in healthcare allows you to gain valuable experience while studying nursing. Part-time jobs for nursing students do not typically advertise as “nursing student jobs,” so you must first research what types of jobs you qualify for and can fit into your school schedule.
You can review online job boards and healthcare facilities’ websites or find nursing student employment opportunities through word-of-mouth. Your school may even have a student job board with opportunities to work at the school, such as tutoring other students, or listings from approved employers.
Have to Work? 16 Jobs for Nursing Students to Consider
Most students opt to pay for nursing school through private funding, third-party scholarships and student loans. However, if you need to take on a job during school, there are a few principles to keep in mind.
First, make sure that it’s a part-time role with flexible hours. Communicate with your manager and confirm that you can prioritize school. Next, research each potential job opportunity in the medical field to make sure you meet all qualifications. Some of the roles we will explore below require certain degrees or certifications to apply, and learning whether you qualify in advance can help narrow down your choices. If you can, opt for a role within the healthcare sector, which will give you additional clinical exposure. Here are a few of the best jobs for nursing students:
Are accelerated nursing programs worth it? Consider these six factors as you decide whether it’s the right path for you.
1. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
One of the most common and beneficial jobs for nursing students is being a CNA. In this job, you’ll work directly with the registered nurses on staff and assist them with patient care duties. Working as a CNA exposes you to the workflow of a nursing unit. It also gives you experience interacting with patients and introduces you to some basic nursing tasks.
The responsibilities of CNAs include assisting patients with daily care and hygiene tasks, walking with patients, taking vitals and checking blood sugar levels.
2. Phlebotomist
Another job option for nursing students is working as a phlebotomist. Phlebotomists work for the lab within a clinic, hospital or other healthcare organization, drawing blood and sending it in for testing. You’ll become adept at drawing blood, a skill you’ll use on a regular basis as a nurse. You’ll also get to interact with patients and develop your skills at forming a rapport while delivering care — for example, by comforting patients who may be afraid of needles.
3. Patient Transporter
Healthcare facilities use patient transporters to move patients between various hospital areas. For example, transporters may move a patient from their hospital room to the operating room or help transfer a bedridden patient using a ceiling lift. You’ll encounter a variety of patients and become familiar with a wide array of units, which can help you narrow down what nursing specialty interests you.
4. Clinic Secretary
Working as a secretary at a healthcare clinic is a good way to gain experience on the administrative side of healthcare before starting your nursing career. In this role, you’ll talk with patients and families on the phone, check patients in and out of appointments and help facilitate insurance coverage and payment for health services.
5. Tutor
When considering remote jobs for nursing students while in school, tutoring is one of the most flexible options. Most tutoring can be done online, allowing you to work from home and schedule tutoring sessions according to your nursing school schedule. If you have expertise in a particular subject, such as biology or math, you can apply for a tutoring position to teach children, college students or adult learners.
6. Home Health Aid
Working as a home health aid is a good option if you want more patient care experience during nursing school and enjoy connecting with patients in their homes. In this role, you will travel to your patients’ homes, check their condition, help them with daily care and provide emotional support. This role can offer schedule flexibility, allowing you to visit your patients when your school schedule allows.
7. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
EMTs work alongside paramedics in ambulances to provide emergency services to people in the community. Working as an EMT is a great way to gain experience in a high-stress environment and become comfortable caring for patients in critical situations.
As an EMT, you’ll care for patients with injuries, those who have been in accidents, and those with critical health conditions like heart attacks and strokes. This experience will be valuable in your future nursing career.
8. Surgical Technician
If you want to become a surgical nurse, working as a surgical tech is a great option for a nursing school job. In this role, you will be trained to assist the surgical team with various operations. You will help prepare the patient, maintain the sterile field, hand off instruments to the surgical staff and clean the operating room between procedures. This challenging role requires skill to master, but it’s a good option for those interested in surgery.
9. Physical/Occupational Therapy Aide
Another role to consider as a nursing student is that of an aide for physical or occupational therapy. If you’re interested in rehabilitation and enjoy helping patients recover their strength after surgery, injury or illness, working as a therapy aide can be a rewarding experience. You’ll gain valuable patient care skills and learn strategies for motivating patients to keep working hard to achieve their goals.
10. Medical Scribe
If you’re a fast typist and a detail-oriented individual, working as a medical scribe may be right up your alley. This role consists of transcribing and entering healthcare provider notes into the electronic medical record system. In this role, you will gain familiarity with charting, and you’ll also learn medical terminology.
11. Monitor Technician
If you’re interested in a fast-paced role like a critical care nurse, a part-time job as a monitor technician will allow you to gain experience working in the intensive care unit (ICU). Monitor technicians closely review ICU patients’ heartbeats and electrocardiograms on monitors outside of the patients’ rooms. They must be detail-oriented and be quick to alert healthcare teams of changes or irregularities.
This job exposes you to the inner workings of ICUs while allowing you to hone essential patient assessment and detail-oriented skills. It is not as physically or mentally demanding as other nursing-related roles, making it potentially easier to fit into your nursing student schedule.
12. Summer Camp Nursing Assistant
A summer camp nursing assistant supports the nursing staff and provides basic and emergency care to the children and staff at the camp. This can be a great option if you are looking for a seasonal part-time job and are interested in pediatric nursing.
Becoming a summer camp nursing assistant can serve as an entry point to providing pediatric care. You will develop your bedside manner and critical thinking while learning to communicate effectively with children.
13. Dietary Aide
Sometimes referred to as nutrition aides, dietary aides prepare meals for patients in hospitals or long-term care facilities. They must pay close attention to each patient’s nutritional needs based on the instructions supplied by physicians while preparing food in a clean and safe environment. This can be a great opportunity to apply what you have learned in your nutrition courses to practice.
14. Orderly
Orderly positions make great jobs for nursing students because they allow students to gain more exposure to clinical settings outside of nursing clinicals. Orderlies are responsible for carrying out nonmedical tasks that are essential to the facility’s operation, such as transporting patients to other areas in the facility or cleaning. As an orderly, you would have a front-row seat to nurses and physicians providing diverse patient care.
15. Environmental Services Technician
Environmental services technicians are critical to the healthcare facility’s operation and patient safety. They are responsible for sterilizing hospitals, long-term care facilities and other clinical sites. This experience can be valuable to nursing students because it exposes them to the different elements involved in maintaining sterile environments, which they can carry into their practice.
16. Psychiatric Aide
If you are drawn towards psychiatric nursing, a part-time job as a psychiatric aide can be an excellent steppingstone. Under the supervision of the facility’s nursing staff, psychiatric aides care for patients experiencing mental health conditions while following the care plan provided by patients’ physicians.
This role allows you to gain more experience working in psychiatric facilities, where you can practice your bedside manner, clinical judgment, and other essential nursing skills. Your schedule will change every semester so having a flexible employer will reduce the stress of negotiating a different schedule for work every semester.
17. Pharmacy Technician
Nursing is a profession where you will be administering medications and managing dosages on a daily basis. While pharmacology is a subject that you will learn along the path toward your degree, the role of pharmacy technician gives you an opportunity to continually hone your skills and understanding. Medications (along with their interactions and side effects) and dosages are among the subjects that you can continue to improve in during the course of this role.
18. Dialysis Technician
Dialysis technicians work directly one-on-one with patients to provide care, operating dialysis machines and monitoring patients throughout their treatment. Working with dialysis patient populations can help to provide an insight on chronic illnesses, which you will encounter daily as a practicing nurse. The hands-on nature of the position can also help you to practice and develop your bedside manner, empathy and interaction skills.
Balancing a Part-Time Job with Nursing School
Nursing school is a full-time commitment; however, with proper time management, you can strike a balance. Organization is vital to balancing school with student nurse jobs. Review your courses, workload and work schedule at the start of each week, ensuring you set blocks aside to complete coursework and study. Keep track of your deadlines and prioritize tasks based on the time commitment, urgency, and schedule.
However, when you include a part-time job into your nursing student schedule, you potentially increase the risk of burnout. As you plan your weekly schedule, include some time for self-care. This can be anything from exercise to stepping outside or enjoying your hobbies. Even if you can’t dedicate as much time as you would like, small acts of self-care can be very effective in mitigating burnout.
It’s also important to remember to seek assistance when needed. At Concordia University St. Paul, you can contact your instructors for help or advice regarding coursework. You can also ask your support system for assistance in managing tasks outside of school and lean on your cohort members while navigating nursing school. You are not alone; sometimes, seeking support is the best way to avoid burnout.
Time management is essential to nursing school success. Read more to learn how to manage your time with these eight tips.
Nursing school should be your top priority, and if you feel overwhelmed by your work schedule, you may have to reconsider whether you have the bandwidth to keep a part-time job while studying to become a nurse. However, only you can make this decision.
Become a Nurse with Concordia St. Paul
If you’re ready to take the next step toward becoming a nurse, consider the ABSN program at CSP, available in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Portland, Oregon. If you have a prior non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 54 non-nursing college credits, you may be eligible for our 16-month program.
The ABSN program combines online and in-person learning to ensure you acquire the skills needed to become a registered nurse. Although it’s possible to work part-time during nursing school, it’s ideal to focus all your energy on succeeding in school so you’ll be ready to launch into a successful nursing career.
To learn more about how to start on the path to nursing at CSP, reach out to our admissions counselors via our online form. There’s a bright future ahead of you as a nurse!