10 Best Jobs for Nursing Students in Need of Extra Income

Nursing students can get a job even while they are still studying. And in this post, we compiled the best jobs for nursing students. 

The pandemic has affected many nurses and health care facilities. Because of Covid-19, many hospitals are experiencing a shortage of nurses. Thankfully, nursing students help out with other jobs that hospitals need.

Why Should Nursing Students Get a Job?

Having a part-time job as a student nurse is helpful in your career. For one, it enhances your skills as a future nurse. It also allows you to work alongside actual healthcare workers and get first-hand experience on what it’s like to work like a pro. Your work experience is also valuable once you apply for nursing jobs in the future. So, what kind of jobs can you work for as a nursing student? Here are a few:

1. Phlebotomist

A phlebotomist is a person who draws blood from patients that need to be tested for donations or procedures. As a student nurse, you can work as one. Blood is collected from patients to be analyzed for illnesses, the effectiveness of medication dosage, and evaluate nutritional levels in the body. 

Nursing students can work in this position and gain valuable healthcare experience while interacting with patients. A phlebotomist can earn around $12.50 to $17.70 per hour, which is very helpful as a college student who wants extra spending money. 

2. Orderly

One of the best jobs for nursing students is being an orderly. An orderly is someone who helps sanitize various rooms and equipment used. They also provide help for patients who need wheelchairs and other equipment required for mobility.

An orderly also helps transport patients or escorts them to various treatment rooms like X-rays or wheel them in for surgeries. According to PayScale, orderlies make around $8.96 to $16.81 per hour if you want to work in a part-time position. 

3. Certified Nurse Assistant or CNA

Nurse assistants provide help for nurses during critical situations [1]. Usually, nurse assistants can work in healthcare facilities, camps, schools, hospitals, etc. Most of the time, this job involves working with young children and are often offered in pediatric facilities. Depending on their working facility,  CNAs can earn around $13.00 to $16.00 per hour. 

4. Home Health Aide

A home health aide is an essential job for nursing students interested in working as private nurses in the future. This job allows nursing students to work with patients within their homes and provide assistance. Usually, patients are disabled, injured, mentally or physically ill, and confined at home.

One of the main jobs for nursing students working in this position is to work with a nurse who supervises the patient’s care. Home health aides can help you hone your nursing skills, and you can earn around $9.00 to $12.00 per hour. 

5. Monitor Technician

As monitor techs, you get to work within the Intensive Care Unit and monitor patients’ heart rates. Your job is to watch for irregularities or patterns and alert the nurse or physician on duty. This job is an excellent opportunity for nursing students interested in cardiac care or planning to work as cardiac care nurses. Monitor technicians can make $16.00 to $20.00 per hour. 

6. Transporter

Another job that nursing students can apply for is being a transporter. A transporter gets to see the logistics involved in transporting patients from one part of the facility to another. To qualify, all you need are excellent communication skills, being personable, and being someone who enjoys interacting with patients receiving care. 

One of your primary responsibilities includes working with other nurses and physicians to help transport patients to their procedures or examinations. A transporter typically earns around $9.00 to $15.00 per hour, not bad if you are a student looking for part-time work. 

7. Hospital Clerical Worker

As a hospital clerical worker, your job is to work with different healthcare officials, patients, and healthcare providers. One of your jobs is to encode doctor’s orders in the electronic system, answer patient questions, answer phone calls, and provide other secretarial duties. A hospital clerical worker earns $11.00 to $19.00 per hour if you are interested in working as one. 

8. Caregivers

One of the best jobs nursing students can try being a caregiver. A caregiver is someone who assists patients who need a companion. Their job is to help patients go to their appointments, report changes in their condition, and assist with their medication and meals. And if you are interested in working as one, a caregiver can earn around $9.00 to $15.00 per hour, depending on the client. 

9. Dietitian Aide

Another exciting job for nursing students is being a dietitian aide. If you are interested in preparing meals for patients, this is an excellent way to learn about it.

Patient meals often come with physicians’ orders, and dietitians prepare them. Your job is to make sure that patients follow the guidelines as ordered by their doctors. Dietitian aides make about $8.00 to $12.00 per hour.

10. EMTs or Emergency Medical Technicians 

Nursing students seeking an exciting job can work as emergency medical technicians [2]. They are the first to respond to emergencies and evaluate and treat patients as they are transported to hospitals. Among your responsibilities include administering oxygen, CPR, or providing interventions to sick and injured people. As EMTs, you can earn around $16.80 to $21.00 per hour. 

Your Takeaway

Nurses and nursing students alike do not stop learning. There is always something new to do and situations to gather experience from. And if you are a nursing student, the chance of learning different skills from these jobs can help you. Now that you know what the best jobs for nursing students are choose the one you want to pursue. We hope that our list has helped. Good luck!