The Pros and Cons of Working in Healthcare as a Nursing Student

1. You Gain Hands-On Experience

Getting practical experience is one of the best parts of working in healthcare as a nursing student. One or two clinical rotations a week can only teach you so much, especially when students are limited in what they can do. In a patient care tech or aide role, you’ll get familiar with patient care, medical equipment, and the hospital’s daily workflows before you graduate.

Working in a healthcare setting can also reinforce what your coursework covers. This can make you a more well-rounded nurse when you enter the workforce. In fact, some employers prefer candidates with real-world exposure. So, having a healthcare job before school ends may give you a competitive edge when applying for full-time nursing positions.

2. You Build a Professional Network

Your first healthcare job is often a great way to network with professionals who can support your career. From seasoned nurses to hospital administrators, the relationships you build now can lead to mentorships, strong letters of recommendation, and even job offers after graduation.

You could also learn more specifics about different specialties and career paths through your network, which might help you decide where to focus your nursing career. Plus, interactions with professionals can help you better understand what qualities you value in a boss or workplace when looking for a full-time role.

3. You Strengthen Your Time Management Skills

Juggling work and school forces you to develop strong time management skills. Between shifts at your job, assignments, and clinical rotations, you have to prioritize your tasks and work efficiently.

Unsurprisingly, these are essential nursing skills because managing multiple responsibilities simultaneously is part of the job. The workload can be overwhelming at first, but many students develop lifelong skills and discipline that make life after school much easier.

4. You Earn Money to Pay for School

Tuition, books, and living expenses add up, and working while you pursue a nursing degree can lower the stress of paying the bills. The right job can even come with benefits beyond your hourly paycheck. Many healthcare employers offer tuition reimbursement, scholarships, or sign-on bonuses for student employees, which can add up quickly.

Likewise, having a job can make the time between graduation and passing the NCLEX or starting your career a bit easier. It allows you to focus on passing your boards or finding the right employer without stressing about getting a job right away.

5. You Gain Confidence and Skills

Perhaps the biggest benefit of working in healthcare as a student is the confidence you can gain in your abilities. Whether it’s talking to patients and their families or getting comfortable in a fast-paced environment, your job could prepare you for clinicals and your future career. The more exposure you have to real-world nursing tasks, the more confident and competent you could feel when transitioning into nursing after school.

1. You Risk Burnout and Fatigue

Nursing school alone can be exhausting. Adding a job on top of it can put you on a fast track to burnout if you aren’t careful. Long shifts, studying, and clinicals leave little time for rest. Likewise, you might feel pressured to take extra shifts even when you don’t really have time for them.

Many students who also work struggle with sleep deprivation, stress, and mental fatigue, which can affect academic performance and overall well-being. While working a healthcare job can be a good idea for some students, it’s not right for everyone. It’s essential to recognize when your to-do list becomes too much to handle.

2. You Have Less Time For Studying and Self-Care

With work and school competing for your attention, it’s easy to fall behind on studying. Assignments, exams, and preparing for clinicals demand a lot of your time, and a part-time job in healthcare can make it difficult to keep up. Not having enough time for self-care can also affect mental and physical health, leading to problems like anxiety and exhaustion.

3. Workplace Stress Can Be Overwhelming

Healthcare environments are fast-paced and emotionally demanding, regardless of whether you’re a nurse or a nursing student in a temporary position. Dealing with sick patients, emergencies, and a long list of responsibilities can be overwhelming, especially while adjusting to the field.

The stress from work may also spill over into your academic performance, making it harder to focus in class or prepare for exams. If your job’s environment is too intense, it may do more harm than good and leave you feeling stressed more often than not.

4. You Might Have Trouble with Scheduling

Many healthcare jobs require long shifts, weekends, or overnight work. This can make it challenging to coordinate work with your class and clinical schedules. Medical facilities often have stricter scheduling requirements than part-time retail or office jobs, which may limit your ability to adjust your hours when needed.

Some employers will work with you to coordinate a schedule with your school responsibilities, but not all. Before committing to a job, ensuring your manager understands the demands of nursing school and offers flexibility is crucial.

5. You Might Not Be Able to Get Involved on Campus

Going to nursing school isn’t just about lectures and clinicals. Many nursing students find fulfillment in joining student organizations, volunteering, or participating in leadership activities on campus.

Working long hours in a healthcare job alongside school often makes it hard to get involved in these valuable extracurriculars. Instead of attending a guest lecture or participating in a club event, you might be stuck at work watching everyone else have a good time. Ultimately, if work consumes all your free time, you might miss opportunities to grow personally and professionally.