11 Part-Time Jobs for a Pre-Nursing Student

Pre-nursing students may need additional income or experience in the form of part-time jobs. They can still get jobs in the medical field before they have their nursing certifications. If you're a pre-nursing student looking for a part-time job, consider applying for a job in a hospital or clinic that doesn't require additional education. In this article, we discuss the benefits of a part-time job, 12 part-time jobs pre-nursing students can get and three tips for looking for a job.

Related: 7 Steps To Writing a Nursing Student Resume (With Example)

Benefits of part-time jobs for pre-nursing students

Here are some benefits of working a part-time job as a pre-nursing student:

Additional income

You can earn additional income while getting your degree by getting a part-time job. Additional income can make it easier to focus on your studies because you can afford transportation, food and rent. Working a part-time job may also help you avoid taking out as many loans because your job can cover some of your costs.

Related: 10 Summer Jobs for Student Nurses (With Duties and Salaries)

Build your skills

Working a part-time job during your studies as a pre-nursing student can help you build skills essential to working professionally as a nurse. Depending on the type of job you get, you can build skills like working with technology, interacting with patients and recording patient information. You can also build skills necessary for any job, like organization, time management, and teamwork. Your part-time job can contribute to building a strong career, regardless of your field.

Related: 21 Top Jobs for Nursing Students To Gain Job Skills

Gain experience

Some jobs after your nursing degree may require some experience in a specific area. You can use your jobs as a pre-nursing student to gain some of that experience. For example, if you want to work in a position that requires experience with kids, get a part-time job that includes working with kids. Then you can state that experience on your resume.

Related: How To Shadow a Nurse (With Steps)

12 part-time jobs for pre-nursing students

Here are some part-time jobs you can work as a pre-nursing student. For the most up-to-date Indeed salaries, please click on the links below:

1. Dietary aide

National average salary: $11.75 per hour

Primary duties: A dietary aid works with a dietitian to help them prepare food for the residents and patients of a facility. They may work in a hospital or a clinic preparing food, following specific procedures set out by the dietitian that follow health and safety regulations. Dietary aides may also serve the food to the patients, interacting with them and answering their questions. The aide may also record any nutritional plans for the dietitian and keep records of previous meal plans for easy reference. They can also help the dietitian provide information to the patients about how to make healthy diet choices.

Read more: Learn About Being a Dietary Aide

2. Hospital transporter

National average salary: $13.12 per hour

Primary duties: A hospital transporter works inside a hospital transporting patients. They help patients whenever they need to go somewhere, starting when they get out of their vehicles arriving at the hospital. They may also help them in and out of their beds. Transporters can also help move patients between departments in the hospital, like from surgery to their recovery room. When the doctor discharges a patient, a transporter may push their wheelchair to their car for them. They monitor where transportation equipment like beds and wheelchairs are so they can provide help whenever it's needed.

3. Summer camp nurse assistant

National average salary: $13.19 per hour

Primary duties: A summer camp nurse assistant works at a summer camp assisting the resident nurse. They may help tend to the wounds and illnesses of the children attending the camp. They can learn about how to interact with patients and what procedures to perform in specific instances. Nurse assistants can also help prepare the nursing station by stocking it with necessary medical supplies. They may provide safety training to the camp attendees, showing them how to use equipment or perform activities safely. They may also keep a record of all treatments the nurse performs at the camp.

4. Caregiver

National average salary: $13.57 per hour

Primary duties: A caregiver works in a nursing home or treatment facility, helping patients with their daily activities and ensuring they receive the care they need. Sometimes they make house calls to patients who are living at home. Caregivers bathe and groom their patients, helping them with dressing, using the toilet, and exercising. They can also help with essential food preparation, housekeeping, laundry and other basic errands. They record what medications each patient needs and make sure they're taking them in accordance with their prescription.

Read more: Learn About Being a Caregiver

5. Nursing assistant

National average salary: $16.27 per hour

Primary duties: A nursing assistant works in a hospital or nursing home, assisting the nursing staff. They may help gather medical supplies and ensure the nursing station is fully stocked. Nursing assistants can also help with patients, moving them as needed and helping them with their bathing and grooming needs. They may deliver food, administer prescribed medications to their patients, answer the phones for the nursing station, relay messages and answer questions for the team. Nursing assistants can also perform small procedures like checking blood pressure and heart rate.

Read more: Learn About Being a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant)

6. Orderly

National average salary: $16.51 per hour

Primary duties: An orderly or a patient services assistant works in a hospital, assisting with the needs of the patients in a specific ward. Orderlies monitor the ward, making sure it's clean and tidy. They also make sure the patients have everything they need, assisting them in moving or transporting them in wheelchairs if needed. They can monitor the patients in their ward before or after procedures, recording how their conditions are progressing.

7. Monitor technician

National average salary: $16.76 per hour

Primary duties: A monster technician works with machines that monitor the patient's vitals. They can work in hospitals or care facilities. They often monitor EKG or Cardiac monitors to record heartbeat patterns. Technicians look for irregularities in the patient's heartbeat or monitor reading, record their findings and share with the doctor to figure out the cause. They prep patients for the procedure, prepare the machine and administer the tests. They also clean the equipment and recognize when the machine isn't working correctly.

Read more: Learn About Being an EKG Technician

8. Occupational therapy aide

National average salary: $17.01 per hour

Primary duties: An occupational therapy aide works in an occupational therapist's office, providing support to their patients. They set up treatment areas for OTs to use. The clean and maintain the equipment, the office needs to provide treatment and call for repairs when the equipment breaks. They can also answer questions for patients about their treatment or the services of an OT. They may answer phones and help make the schedule of appointments for their OT office.

Read more: Learn About Being an Occupational Therapy Assistant

9. Research assistant

National average salary: $17.20 per hour

Primary duties: A research assistant works in a lab, helping with funded research at a university or hospital. They may prepare questions and summarize the results of the findings for their researcher. Working in a lab, they keep the lab clean and organized, and they maintain equipment and keep clear records of the research. Research assistants can also help with administrative work, like answering inquiries about the research, preparing progress reports, and logging data. Some tasks, like interacting with patients or primarily working in the lab, can depend on what kind of research they're assisting.

11. Phlebotomist

National average salary: $18.14 per hour

Primary duties: A phlebotomist works in a hospital or care facility, drawing blood from patients. Different medical tests that determine a patient's health can require drawing blood from the patient. Many people donate blood to hospitals and blood banks. A phlebotomist is a professional who draws the blood, ensuring that it's as painless, quick and effective as possible. They often keep patients calm and inform them of their progress within the process. They may ask the patient questions to like what their blood type is and if they have any illnesses.

Read more: Learn About Being a Phlebotomist

12. Emergency medical technician (EMT)

National average salary: $18.95 per hour

Primary duties: An EMT works in an ambulance, responding to emergency calls for medical assistance. They provide first aid to patients on the scene and transport them to the hospital for further attention if needed. They assess patients' conditions to administer treatment or inform the doctors when they arrive at the hospital. EMTs also keep clear records of all treatments they administer to notify the patient's doctor and insurance agencies. EMTs are responsible for having all the equipment and supplies they need in the back of the ambulance.

Tips for finding a part-time job as a pre-nursing student

Here are some additional tips for finding a job as a pre-nursing student:

Consider your schedule

When looking for a part-time job, consider your school schedule. You can find a job that offers part-time hours between your classes and study time without interfering. You can also communicate with potential employers that you're a student and may not be as available for schedule changes or additional shifts. Being honest upfront about your schedule can help you find a job that works and establish trust and appropriate expectations between you and your potential boss.

Align with your interests

If you have specific interests inside the nursing field, you can choose a part-time job that aligns with those interests. This can help you gain experience with patients and procedures that can improve your resume in the future. For example, if you're interested in pediatric nursing, you can get a job as a nursing aide at a summer camp. This job can give you experience working in a nursing environment with kids. Choosing a job that aligns with your interests and future career goals can help you develop your skills and increase the likelihood of enjoying your part-time job and making helpful connections for the future.

Reach out to your contacts

Reach out to contacts either from your nursing program or in your private life. You can ask mentors from your nursing program, including guidance counselors or professors, about part-time jobs they can recommend to you. This can be a good way to build your network and find out about opportunities you may not find on your own. Using your network can help you find positions that apply to your chosen field and interests.