If you stumbled onto this page, you’re likely a nursing student working hard to balance it all: You want to ace your courses, stand out in your clinicals, and still manage to pay your bills at the end of the day. Perhaps you’re hoping to kickstart your career in healthcare early, too, and start building a professional network while still in school. There are many reasons to work your way through nursing school, but finding the right job as a nursing student can be tough.

Between coursework, clinical rotations, and personal responsibilities, your plate is already full. It can be tempting to take any job that fits your hectic schedule. But what if the job also contributed to your future career prospects?

Below, we’ll go over some good jobs for nursing students and how they can benefit you. No matter where you are in your education, the right position can help you transition from student to registered nurse seamlessly.

Can you work while in nursing school?

Many people need to work while in nursing school, so rest assured that you are not alone. Earning a paycheck is vital for many students. On top of this, healthcare employers recognize the value of a nursing student early on: They see someone who’s dedicated to a career in patient care, someone who is eager to learn, and will often hire them for entry-level positions.

Working while in school is possible, albeit difficult. It’s important to find a nursing program that is flexible and understanding of your needs. Some nursing schools, like Goodwin, will allow you to take part-time courses so you can balance work and school without overloading yourself. Many programs will also offer online or hybrid course offerings to adapt to scheduling demands.

Here are some key benefits of Goodwin’s flexible Nursing program:

• You can complete an associate degree in Nursing in as few as 20 months on a part-time format
• Both day and evening classes are available, and clinicals have day, evening, and weekend options to accommodate busy schedules
• You can still work full-time or part-time while completing your nursing degree

To find success as a working student, the key is to choose both a job and an academic program that are sustainable in supporting your goals.

Learn about the flexible nursing programs at Goodwin University.

Great nursing student jobs to help your career

The best jobs for nursing students are ones that will help you manage your current responsibilities and benefit your future career. Most of these jobs are within the healthcare field and will make your transition to working as an RN that much simpler. They’ll expose you to patient care, documentation, teamwork, and real-world clinical environments.

Here are several great job options to consider as a nursing student:

1. Certified nursing assistant (CNA)

CNAs are invaluable healthcare workers, and one of the best nursing student jobs, for a couple of reasons. On one hand, the job offers a lot of hands-on experience, which can help you in your clinicals later on. Additionally, becoming a CNA can happen in a matter of months — you’ll just need some brief training and certification under your belt.

As a CNA, you will assist patients with activities of daily living. You’ll help with activities like bathing, dressing, eating, and mobility. You may also monitor vital signs and report any changes to their care team.

Working as a CNA can help you develop a great bedside manner from the start. Experience as a CNA is often highly valued in nursing programs and is a great addition to your resume when you’re ready to start work as an RN.

2. Patient care technician (PCT)

Patient care technicians support nurses in the healthcare system. As a PCT, you’ll take vital signs, draw blood, assist with patient transfers, and record patient information. This job leans more technical and a little less hands-on than a CNA. You’d likely work in a hospital setting in a unit like the emergency department or medical-surgical floors.

You’ll get a ton of great exposure to hospital procedures and workflow. It will give you a great understanding of how these units function. This familiarity with hospital systems can help make your transition into a career as an RN that much smoother.

Learn how to become a patient care technician or assistant here.

3. Medical assistant

A medical assistant typically works in clinics and physicians’ offices. In this job, you’ll have both administrative and clinical tasks. You might handle more office management tasks, such as scheduling appointments, managing medical records, and preparing patients for exams.

You’ll have the opportunity to refine your bedside manner, communication skills, and organizational prowess. This role is often popular with nursing students due to its regular schedule. Many nursing schools will have nighttime classes, which makes the daytime schedule of a medical assistant optimal. Plus, becoming a medical assistant can happen in a matter of months.

4. Phlebotomist

Phlebotomists specialize in drawing blood for lab testing, transfusions, or donations. This role offers more opportunities to develop technical skills and patient communication.

It’s also great exposure to needles and blood. This experience can make your clinical rotations that much easier because of your previous work, demonstrating to hospitals that you’ve consistently invested in the healthcare industry.

Learn how to become a phlebotomist here.

5. Home health aide

The role of a home health aide is similar to that of a CNA, but not in a clinical setting. You’ll support patients with daily living activities, prepare meals, and serve as a companion to patients who often live in isolation.

This is more of a personalized caregiving role than some of the other positions. You’ll spend extended periods of time with one patient. You’ll get to know your patient well and detect subtle changes in their health, which will be invaluable information for their care team.

6. Work study student employee

FAFSA offers a work-study grant to qualifying students. It’s federal aid that allows students to work part-time on campus. These positions are often great for students as the university prioritizes their class schedule over their work schedule. They might not be healthcare-related, but they are often quite flexible and accommodating for college students.

Why program flexibility makes all the difference

Part-time, flexible nursing programs allow students to spread out their coursework, maintain income, and continue caring for their current responsibilities while reducing the risk of burnout. Nursing school is rigorous. Without flexibility, the pressure can be overwhelming.

Choosing the right academic structure is just as important as choosing the right job. When your program supports working students, you are more likely to succeed both academically and financially.

How Goodwin University supports working nursing students

At Goodwin University, we prioritize student success. Get the flexibility and support you need to start and finish your nursing degree.

With our part-time program designed for students like you, who need to work while in school, you don’t have to choose between making an income and earning your degree. You can do both.

Plus, Goodwin offers one of the lowest tuition rates among non-profit, private universities in Connecticut. Our goal is to make nursing school as accessible as possible for you, with 3 class starts per year and no wait lists for enrollment, either.

Learn more about Goodwin’s nursing school to see if we have a program fit for you and your needs.