10 Great Summer Jobs For Nursing Students
Written By:
Donna Reese
Donna Reese MSN, RN, CSN
Donna Reese is a freelance nurse health content writer with 37 years nursing experience. She has worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner in her local community clinic and as an RN in home health, rehabilitation, hospital, and school nursing. She utilizes her personal experiences to write from the heart to apply to her writing for various health publications, including BLOGS, newsletters, and educational materials and videos. Read Full Bio »» MSN, RN, CSN
Are you a nursing student looking for summer work? If so, you have come to the right place. Here, I answer the question, “What are the best summer jobs for nursing students? “.
Summer employment can provide you with valuable experience that can transfer to your nursing career for years to come. A health-related summer job may be just what you need to be sure that nursing is the right career for you. Certain work environments can provide insight into what type of nursing may interest you.
You may even enjoy your summer job so much that you consider working there once you graduate! Nonetheless, if you try one of the 10 great summer jobs for nursing students listed in this article, the experience is sure to enrich your nursing knowledge as a student.
What are the Best Summer Jobs for Nursing Students?
(The following are 10 great summer jobs for nursing students.)
JOB #1: Camp Nursing
About The Job:
Summer camps employ nurses to tend to sick and injured children who are enrolled in the program. In addition, camp nurses perform initial health screening (and lice checks at times) and distribute medication. As a
camp nurse, you may be responsible for students with diabetes and other chronic illnesses. Although camps seek RNs for these positions, many are willing to hire nursing students. Camp nursing jobs are generally difficult to fill, so directors are happy to consider nursing students for the position.
If you accept a camp nurse job, you must be aware of your responsibility. Make sure that another nurse or physician is onsite for support and guidance. As an RN, I worked as a camp nurse at a horse camp. There was to be a second nurse hired to give me a break, but the position was not filled. The director ended up hiring a nursing student to help me out. Since she was not yet a nurse, I remained onsite for breaks and was accessible by phone while the student kept an eye on the clinic.
Earning Potential:
Camp nurses make an average wage of $39/hour (ZipRecruiter). Your wage may be lower as a nursing student. However, the salary is negotiable and certainly worth some discussion. Don’t be afraid to speak up about your pay, as most camps do not have nurses lining up for the job, and the director may be anxious to employ you.
JOB #2: Nursing Assistant
About The Job:
Nursing homes, hospitals, and home health agencies are eager to hire nursing students as nursing assistants. As a nursing assistant, you will be assigned a floor or unit to provide primary nursing care for patients. You may need to work weekends and different shits.
Duties may include:
• Bed baths and assisting with bathing
• Changing of linens
• General tidying of rooms
• Feeding patients
• Bedpan and urinal duty
• Distributing water
• Monitoring intake and output
• Position changes
• Transfers
The summer after my sophomore year, I worked as a nursing assistant at a local nursing home. Although the job involved some less-than-desirable tasks (such as enema care), I spent my days learning about the human nature of the senior residents.
The job provided valuable insight into the aging process, chronic illness, and the need for dignity in these precious patients' final days. I discovered first-hand how death is part of the life process. I experienced some beautiful moments with the staff, family, and residents. During slow periods, both the residents and I enjoyed sitting together,
communicating, or just enjoying quiet companionship.
I learned much about life and nursing from my job that summer and value that experience. For these reasons, I choose a position as a nursing assistant as one of the great summer jobs for nursing students.
Earning Potential:
On average, nurses' aides make $18 per ZipRecruiter.
JOB #3: Babysitting
About The Job:
You may be surprised to read that babysitting is one of the great summer jobs for nursing students. However, you can capitalize on your nursing experience to land key babysitting jobs. Parents of special needs children and those with chronic illnesses love to hire nursing students to babysit.
Parents may post babysitting jobs in nursing school public areas or check with the program to see if there is interest from nursing students. With this in mind, be on the lookout for these prime sitting opportunities that pay well.
In my freshman year, I landed a babysitting job I found through the nursing department. The mom had 2 girls with diabetes who were too young to count carbs and give their own insulin injections. My job was to keep their blood sugar under control in addition to watching and entertaining them. The mom paid me well for my advanced medical expertise. This experience served me well as a young school nurse with 5 new diabetic children to teach about their condition and monitor during the day.
Earning Potential:
According to Sittercity, the going
rate for babysitters is $22/hour! This fee may seem astonishing, but as a nursing student hired to care for children with medical needs, you should expect top pay.
JOB #4: Companion
About The Job:
Working as a companion can be a very rewarding summer job for a nurse. Companion jobs typically involve older individuals who need company and minor assistance in their home, such as meal prep.
However, you can be a companion to a person of any age. I know of a young woman with a rare medical condition who uses a wheelchair. She enjoys having a companion close in age to do her nails and take her to local attractions. Those working with this young lady develop a meaningful life-long relationship with her and the family.
As a companion, you may also assist an individual in a long-term care facility, hospice, or other environment. Families and individuals may hire you directly (through an ad), or you may find employment with a home care agency.
As a companion, you will learn
soft nursing and life skills such as communication, organization, patience, and listening. Most of all, you will experience self-satisfaction as you positively contribute to the life of a senior or other person with exceptional needs. Being a companion is one of the great summer jobs for nursing students where you benefit as much as the person you care for.
Earning Potential:
Patient companions earn an average hourly wage of $15 (ZipRecruiter).
JOB #5: Private Duty Aide
About The Job:
The semester prior to graduating from my BSN program, I was fortunate to land a private-duty nursing job working with an older woman. A private duty aide position was one of the best summer jobs for nursing students, in my opinion, because the pay was excellent, and my responsibilities were minimal.
This lady’s daughter hired me for a 7 pm to 7 am shift. I was employed to ensure that she ate her supper (prepared by her private cook), took her meds, played cards, watched TV, bathed, and prepared safely for bed. I then sat outside her room, reading a book or doing my homework while she slept.
You may not be as lucky to find such a cushy private-duty job, but many of the duties in this role elsewhere are similar to this position.
A family or agency may employ you to work in a home, long-term care facility, or even private in a hospital. Private duty can entail any shift.
Earning Potential:
As a nursing student working in a private-duty nursing agency, your position will likely be an aide. A private-duty agency typically pays its aides an average of $16.15/hour (ZipRecruiter).
If employed independently, you may earn a higher wage due to your status as a nursing student.
JOB #6: Dietary Aide
About The Job:
One of the sometimes overlooked yet great summer jobs for nursing students is that of a dietary aide. Although working as a dietary aide is not nursing per se, you will utilize much of your acquired medical knowledge in this position. Your nutrition courses and classes will come alive while prepping, distributing, and feeding patients with dietary restrictions such as diabetes, heart disease, and feeding/chewing issues.
The lessons learned as a dietary aide will serve you well throughout your career as an RN. You will work during the day or early evening in this role and can find employment in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Earning Potential:
According to ZipRecruiter, an average dietary aide makes $14.85 per hour.
JOB #7: Lifeguard
About The Job:
Many nurses will agree that working as a lifeguard is one of the best summer jobs for nursing students. Lifeguarding is a prestigious job that has many perks. There is more to being a lifeguard than looking cute in your bathing suit and acquiring a fabulous tan. Although a summer working as a lifeguard can be fun, you will regularly apply your CPR and basic first aid skills in this role.
As a head lifeguard, you may get a chance to exercise vital
leadership skills as well as effective communication, which will be of value as an RN.
To become a lifeguard, you must first take a lifeguard course, which includes CPR. You then must pass a swimming and written test to earn the honor of a
lifeguard certification.
Earning Potential:
Per ZipRecruiter, lifeguards make $17 per hour on average.
JOB #8: Nursing Student Tutor
About The Job:
Although, as a tutor, you will not directly utilize your newly minted clinical skills, this job will help to keep your thoughts focused on nursing. In addition, tutoring helps to hone study habits and review essential nursing course content/knowledge. If you are an ace nursing student or excel in specific nursing class content, you can earn money tutoring nursing students who may be floundering.
My (brilliant) roommate in nursing school put herself through college, tutoring our classmates in biology courses and helping them write their papers. She was able to use her intellectual talent to help her classmates achieve while she enjoyed a steady income from her side business.
To find work, advertise through your nursing department or ask professors to give your name to struggling students. To be an effective
tutor, you may want to first do some research on the best techniques for successful tutoring.
Earning Potential:
ZipRecruiter indicates that the hourly rate for a nursing student tutor averages $20/hour.
JOB #9: Summer Nursing Student Intern
About The Job:
Working as a student intern is definitely one of the best summer jobs for nursing students. In this position, you will certainly extend your nursing knowledge, get hands-on experience with clinical skills, and add valuable insight into your future career. Working as a nurse intern is the ultimate summer job to gain prime clinical expertise.
In this position, you will be enrolled in a structured program where nurses mentor and supervise you. You will perform many of the duties of a nurse's aide, such as bed baths and taking vital signs. However, you may be permitted (with permission) to perform nursing skills such as catheterization and IV insertions under supervision.
Nurse interns and externs are typically students entering their senior year and employed in a hospital.
Earning Potential:
Per ZipRecruiter, a
nurse intern makes $17/hour on average.
JOB #10: Work for Your School of Nursing
About The Job:
Although you may not work directly with patients and utilize your clinical skills, working within your school nursing department has benefits. It never hurts to rub noses with faculty and get the inside scoop on the inner happenings in your program.
Plus, you will have the added bonus of proximity to the department’s practice dummies and virtual clinical simulators. Having access to equipment to practice IV and catheter insertion is the next best alternative to a live patient. You can perfect some of your skills in your downtime at the job (after asking permission). Most jobs are not rigorous, allowing you time to study if you are taking summer courses.
I once worked as a secretary for my BSN program department head. I made a lot of copies, sorted papers, and did basic typing. You don’t have to be a whiz at typing (I am not), but you need essential computer skills. There was not an interview, per se, for the job. I just filled out an application for student employment (
work-study) and was told I had the job. The faculty already know you and typically choose those who they feel will be responsible workers.
Earning Potential:
Schools typically do not pay summer student workers top dollar. Work-study jobs are federally funded and may not be negotiable. You will likely receive minimum wage, which is $7.25 per hour. Due to the challenge of finding workers at this low pay, some universities may be creative to increase wages for summer help.
My Final Thoughts
To answer your question, “What are the best summer jobs for nursing students?” I can attest that there are many fantastic opportunities out there for quality employment while on break. Each of these 10 great summer jobs for nursing students will add valuable experience that will enhance your career as a nurse. Many will benefit you in nursing school by giving you real-life scenarios to apply to your clinical training and nursing courses.
If you learn best through hands-on application experiences, consider one of the ideas for summer jobs in this article. You won’t regret it. I wish you the best in your training and future as a new nurse.
Donna Reese MSN, RN, CSN
Donna Reese is a freelance nurse health content writer with 37 years nursing experience. She has worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner in her local community clinic and as an RN in home health, rehabilitation, hospital, and school nursing.