Best Jobs for Nursing Students: Discover Recommended Part-Time, Hospital, Clinical & Remote Options

If you are preparing to start nursing school, we know that this can be an exciting, rewarding time, but it can also come with added stress, whether in terms of time or finances.

As you prepare for coursework, exams, labs, clinical rotations, family responsibilities, and commuting, you may wonder: “Can I work while going to nursing school, and if so, what are the best jobs for nursing students?”

Naturally, the answer heavily hinges on the schedule and specifics of your nursing program, as well as your financial needs, level of experience, and long-term nursing goals. Some nursing students benefit most from healthcare jobs that build clinical confidence, while others need a low-stress, flexible role that helps pay bills without draining the energy they need for school.

Knowing how important guidance is during this exciting yet potentially confusing time, both for our learners and the broader community, we prepared a comprehensive guide that breaks down the best jobs for nursing students by category: part-time jobs, hospital jobs, jobs with no experience, remote jobs, summer jobs, side jobs, and jobs for pre-nursing students. You will also learn how to choose a role that supports your education instead of competing with it.

At a Glance: What Are the Best Jobs for Nursing Students?

If you want a quick answer to which jobs are best for nursing students and why, consult the table below. Remember, you can find in-depth descriptions of each job below:

Should You Work While in Nursing School?

Naturally, you can work while in nursing school, and there are many opportunities for doing so, but you should also be realistic about it. Nursing school requires consistent study time, emotional focus, and physical stamina; a job can provide income, experience, and networking, but too many hours can increase stress and burnout.

Before applying, you should ask yourself some preliminary questions:

• How many hours can you work without falling behind?
• Does your future employer understand that your school schedule may change?
• Will the job help you become a better nurse, or will it mostly help you financially?
• Can you manage the commute?
• Can you reduce hours during exams, skills checkoffs, labs, or clinical rotations?
• Will the role expose you to healthcare in a way that supports your goals?

The answers to these questions help you get a broader picture of what you actually need from nursing students in terms of jobs, while also allowing you to set some boundaries and priorities. Rather than full-time work, many nursing students find it more realistic to search for jobs that are part-time jobs or pro re nata (meaning “as needed”, a model that allows you to pick up shifts around your class and clinical schedule).

There are many aspects to consider if you decide to study nursing and work in parallel. Find out more about working while going to nursing school and how to make it work.

18 Most Recommended Jobs for Nursing Students

Below are the 18 best jobs for nursing students. The list primarily covers bedside and clinical roles, but also includes various non-nursing jobs that may help you manage new living and accommodation costs with minimal strain on your time.

1. Patient Care Technician

A patient care technician, or PCT, is one of the best roles for nursing students seeking hands-on patient care experience. 

Role: PCTs often work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, dialysis centers, rehabilitation centers, and clinics, providing essential bedside care and bridging the gap between the clinical team and patients by assisting with daily activities, monitoring patients' vital signs, and providing crucial emotional support.

Typical duties may include:

• Taking vital signs
• Helping patients with mobility
• Assisting with bathing, hygiene, and meals
• Checking blood glucose
• Reporting patient changes to nurses
• Helping nurses with basic patient care tasks

Some facilities may allow PCTs to perform additional skills, depending on state rules, employer policies, and training. These may include EKGs, phlebotomy, catheter-related assistance, or basic wound care support.

Why it is good for nursing students: This job helps you get comfortable with patients, hospital routines, interdisciplinary teams, and bedside care. You can also learn how nurses organize a shift, prioritize tasks, communicate with patients, and respond when a patient’s condition changes.

Best fit for: Learners who want direct patient care and can handle a physically active role.

2. Certified Nursing Assistant

A certified nursing assistant, or CNA, is one of the most common entry-level jobs for nursing students. 

Role: CNAs provide essential care and support under the supervision of nursing staff.

Typical duties may include:

• Helping patients bathe, dress, eat, and use the bathroom
• Taking vital signs
• Repositioning patients
• Assisting with mobility
• Answering call lights
• Supporting comfort, dignity, and safety

Why it is good for nursing students: CNA work builds the foundation of bedside nursing. It can help you become more comfortable with patient communication, body mechanics, infection control, and activities of daily living.

Potential downside: CNA work can be physically and emotionally demanding. If you already feel overwhelmed by nursing school, consider whether this role will energize you or exhaust you.

Best fit for: Students who want a strong clinical foundation and direct care experience.

3. Nurse Extern or Student Nurse Apprentice

Nurse externships are among the best jobs for nursing school students because they are designed specifically for nursing students. These roles may be available after you complete a certain amount of nursing coursework or clinical experience.

Role: Nurse externs and student apprentices are paid, part-time or flexible roles that allow students to work in healthcare settings, helping with direct patient care and ancillary activities, under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse.

Typical duties may include:

• Assisting nurses with patient care
• Practicing approved skills under supervision
• Observing nursing workflows
• Supporting documentation or patient education within scope
• Floating to different units for broader experience

Why it is good for nursing students: A nurse extern role can help you bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world nursing practice. It may also help you build relationships with nurses, unit managers, preceptors, and recruiters before graduation.

Best fit for: Nursing students who have begun clinical coursework and want hospital experience that closely aligns with future RN responsibilities.

4. Medical Assistant

Role: Medical assistants work in clinics, physician offices, urgent care centers, outpatient facilities, and specialty practices. Some roles are more clinical, while others are more administrative.

Typical duties may include:

• Taking vital signs
• Rooming patients
• Updating medical histories
• Preparing exam rooms
• Assisting providers during appointments
• Scheduling visits
• Handling messages or documentation
• Collecting specimens, depending on training and employer policy

Why it is good for nursing students: Medical assistant work involves patient flow, outpatient care, chronic conditions, medication lists, and provider communication. It is especially useful if you are interested in primary care, pediatrics, women’s health, urgent care, or outpatient nursing.

Best fit for: Students who want healthcare experience outside the hospital setting.

5. Phlebotomist

Role: Phlebotomists collect blood samples for testing, donation, transfusion, or research. They may work in hospitals, outpatient labs, blood donation centers, clinics, or diagnostic facilities.

Typical duties may include:

• Verifying patient identity
• Explaining the blood draw process
• Drawing blood safely
• Labeling specimens accurately
• Maintaining infection control
• Comforting patients who are nervous about needles

Why it is good for nursing students: Phlebotomy can build technical confidence, patient rapport, attention to detail, and comfort with procedures. These are valuable skills for many nursing roles.

Best fit for: Students who want a focused clinical skill and regular patient interaction.

6. Patient Transporter

Role: Patient transporters move patients safely between rooms, imaging departments, operating rooms, emergency departments, labs, and other hospital areas.

Typical duties may include:

• Transporting patients by wheelchair, stretcher, or bed
• Communicating with nurses and unit staff
• Helping maintain patient safety during movement
• Learning hospital layout and workflow
• Supporting timely care coordination

Why it is good for nursing students: This can be a strong hospital job for nursing students with no experience because it offers exposure to different units without requiring advanced clinical responsibility.

Best fit for: Students who want hospital experience, patient interaction, and a potentially lower barrier to entry.

7. Unit Secretary, Unit Clerk, or Health Unit Coordinator

Role: Unit secretaries and unit clerks help nursing units run smoothly, often sitting at the nurses’ station and coordinating communication between staff, patients, families, and departments.

Typical duties may include:

• Answering phones and call lights
• Coordinating patient admissions, transfers, and discharges
• Updating records or charts
• Managing unit communication
• Supporting nurses and providers with administrative tasks
• Learning medical terminology and hospital processes

Why it is good for nursing students: This is one of the best hospital jobs for nursing students who want healthcare exposure but prefer less physical labor than CNA or PCT work. It can also help you understand how hospitals operate behind the scenes.

Best fit for: Students who are organized, calm under pressure, and interested in hospital workflow.

8. Medical Scribe

Role: Medical scribes help document patient encounters for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other providers.

Typical duties may include:

• Documenting patient histories
• Recording exam findings
• Updating charts
• Learning medical terminology
• Observing provider-patient communication
• Supporting accurate documentation

Why it is good for nursing students: Scribing can improve your familiarity with clinical language, diagnoses, symptoms, treatment plans, and provider reasoning. It can be especially useful for students who want to strengthen documentation and assessment thinking.

Best fit for: Students who type quickly, listen carefully, and want exposure to clinical decision-making.

9. Pharmacy Technician

Role: Pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies, hospitals, mail-order pharmacies, and specialty pharmacy settings.

Typical duties may include:

• Preparing medications under pharmacist supervision
• Managing prescription information
• Helping customers or patients
• Organizing inventory
• Learning medication names, dosages, and safety practices
• Understanding insurance and pharmacy workflows

Why it is good for nursing students: Nurses work with medications constantly. Pharmacy technician experience can help you become more familiar with drug names, common uses, dosage forms, medication safety, and patient questions.

Best fit for: Students who want to strengthen pharmacology knowledge and detail-oriented habits.

10. Home Health Aide

Role: Home health aides support patients in their homes. They may assist older adults, people with disabilities, or patients recovering from illness or surgery.

Typical duties may include:

• Assisting with bathing, grooming, and dressing
• Helping with meals
• Supporting mobility
• Taking basic observations, depending on role
• Providing companionship
• Reporting concerns to supervisors or care teams

Why it is good for nursing students: Home health work builds one-on-one patient communication, patience, empathy, and independence. It can also help you understand social determinants of health because you see patients in their daily environments.

Best fit for: Students who prefer one-on-one care and flexible shifts.

11. Patient Sitter or Patient Safety Attendant

Role: Patient sitters, sometimes called patient safety attendants, provide close observation for patients who may be at risk of falling, pulling out lines, wandering, or harming themselves.

Typical duties may include:

• Observing patients continuously
• Reporting changes to nursing staff
• Helping prevent falls or unsafe behavior
• Supporting calm communication
• Following facility safety policies

Why it is good for nursing students: This can be an entry-level hospital job that helps you observe patient behavior, mental health needs, safety protocols, and communication strategies. Some shifts may be quieter than others, but expectations vary by facility.

Best fit for: Students who are patient, attentive, and interested in safety, mental health, or hospital care.

12. Medical Receptionist or Clinic Scheduler

Role: Medical receptionists and schedulers work in clinics, hospitals, outpatient centers, telehealth companies, and specialty practices.

Typical duties may include:

• Greeting patients
• Scheduling appointments
• Answering phones
• Verifying insurance information
• Sending messages to clinical staff
• Organizing paperwork
• Supporting patient communication

Why it is good for nursing students: This is a good job for nursing students with no experience because it builds medical terminology knowledge, communication skills, professionalism, and familiarity with patient concerns.

Best fit for: Pre-nursing or nursing students seeking healthcare exposure without direct bedside care.

13. Remote Medical Scheduler, Medical Records Assistant, or Prior Authorization Assistant

Remote jobs for nursing students can be harder to find than in-person healthcare jobs, but they do exist. 

Roles: Common remote or hybrid options may include medical scheduling, patient intake, medical records, insurance verification, prior authorization support, and telehealth customer service.

Typical duties may include:

• Calling patients
• Scheduling appointments
• Updating records
• Verifying information
• Coordinating referrals
• Communicating with clinics, payers, or care teams
• Supporting telehealth operations

Why it is good for nursing students: Remote healthcare roles can reduce commute time and offer greater scheduling flexibility. They may also help you understand healthcare systems, documentation, patient access, and insurance processes.

Best fit for: Students who need work-from-home flexibility and are comfortable with phone, computer, and documentation tasks.

14. Tutor or Teaching Assistant

Tutoring can be one of the best side jobs for nursing students, especially if you are strong in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, dosage calculations, or general study skills.

Role: Teaching assistants primarily support lead instructors in classroom settings by helping manage large groups, grading papers, and reinforcing lessons. Tutors provide individualized, often one-on-one or small-group instruction to help students master specific skills and subjects or catch up on missed material.

Typical duties may include:

• Helping other students understand course material
• Reviewing practice questions
• Teaching study strategies
• Supporting pre-nursing students
• Working through campus learning centers or online tutoring platforms

Why it is good for nursing students: Teaching reinforces your own knowledge. If you can explain a concept clearly to someone else, you are more likely to understand it deeply yourself.

Best fit for: Students with strong grades, patience, and communication skills.

15. Summer Camp Nursing Assistant

Summer jobs for nursing students can be a smart way to earn money and gain experience without adding work hours during the most demanding parts of the academic year.

Role: Summer camp nursing assistants may support licensed nurses who care for children and staff at camps.

Typical duties may include:

• Helping organize basic first aid supplies
• Supporting medication administration processes under supervision and within scope
• Assisting with minor injuries or illness reports
• Communicating with camp staff
• Helping maintain health records
• Supporting children who feel sick, anxious, or homesick

Why it is good for nursing students: This role may be especially helpful for students interested in pediatrics, school nursing, community health, or family-centered care.

Best fit for: Students who enjoy working with children and want seasonal healthcare experience.

16. EMT or Emergency Department Technician

Role: EMT work or emergency department technician roles can offer fast-paced experience in urgent and emergency care. These roles usually require specific training, certification, or licensure, depending on the state and employer.

Typical duties may include:

• Responding to emergencies
• Taking vital signs
• Supporting patient transport
• Performing CPR or basic emergency care within scope
• Assisting emergency teams
• Communicating under pressure

Why it is good for nursing students: Emergency care roles can strengthen your confidence, assessment skills, teamwork, and ability to stay calm in stressful situations.

Best fit for: Students interested in emergency nursing, trauma, critical care, or high-acuity environments.

17. Dietary Aide or Environmental Services Technician

Not every hospital job for nursing students has to involve direct care. Dietary aides and environmental services technicians are important members of the healthcare team.

Roles: Dietary aides may help prepare and deliver patient meals while following diet orders, allergies, and safety guidelines. Environmental services technicians help clean and disinfect patient care areas to support infection prevention and patient safety.

Why these jobs are good for nursing students: They expose you to hospitals, patients, infection control, teamwork, and unit routines. They may also have fewer experience requirements than clinical roles.

Best fit for: Students looking for entry-level healthcare jobs with hospital exposure.

18. Server, Barista, Nanny, Babysitter, or Gig Worker

Some good jobs for nursing students are not healthcare jobs at all. If your main goal is flexible income, a non-clinical role may be the better fit.

Common options include:

• Server
• Barista
• Babysitter
• Nanny
• Front desk associate
• Fitness center attendant
• Library assistant
• Delivery driver
• Rideshare or gig worker
• Freelance writer or virtual assistant

Why it can be good for nursing students: These jobs may offer short shifts, weekend hours, tips, or the ability to work around classes. They can also give you a mental break from healthcare if you are already spending many hours in labs and clinicals.

Best fit for: Students who need income and flexibility more than healthcare experience.

Best Jobs for Nursing Students With No Experience

If you are just starting out and want to find entry-level jobs for nursing students, you have some strong options that not only help you pay your bills but also gain valuable hands-on experience.

Here are some of the best jobs for nursing students with no experience:

• Patient transporter
• Unit clerk
• Medical receptionist
• Patient sitter
• Dietary aide
• Environmental services technician
• Home care companion
• Front desk assistant in a clinic
• Remote medical scheduler
• Campus tutor, if you qualify academically
• Babysitter or nanny
• Server or barista

One important piece of advice is to highlight transferable skills when you apply, even if you lack experience in healthcare settings. Skills and abilities, such as customer service, reliability, communication, time management, empathy, bilingual ability, and attention to detail, all matter in healthcare.

Find out more about the essential skills to include in your nursing resume.

Best Hospital Jobs for Nursing Students

The best orientation for working while in nursing school involves finding hospital jobs that provide direct hands-on experience, helping you familiarize yourself with patient care environments before becoming a licensed nurse. 

Some of the best hospital jobs for nursing students include:

• Patient care technician
• Certified nurse assistant 
• Nurse extern
• Patient transporter
• Unit secretary
• Medical scribe
• Monitor technician
• Patient sitter
• Emergency department technician
• Dietary aide
• Environmental services technician
• Phlebotomist

When evaluating hospital jobs, be sure to ask about shift flexibility, PRN options, weekend requirements, holiday requirements, training, physical demands, and whether the employer supports nursing students.

These elements can directly affect your academic activity and the time you dedicate to learning. What is worth remembering is that many employers know nursing students are seeking these roles and will readily accommodate your educational priorities.

Best Remote Jobs for Nursing Students

Although harder to find, remote jobs for nursing students can be helpful when commuting is difficult or clinical schedules change. The best remote options are usually healthcare-adjacent rather than hands-on clinical jobs.

If your academic journey requires that you take up a remote job, consider searching for one of the following:

• Remote medical scheduler
• Telehealth patient intake representative
• Medical records assistant
• Insurance verification specialist
• Prior authorization assistant
• Remote medical scribe
• Virtual assistant for healthcare offices
• Online tutor
• Freelance healthcare writer (prior writing experience may be required)

Remember: just like online learning, remote work still requires discipline. Ideally, you will need a quiet space, reliable internet access, strong time management skills, and a schedule that does not conflict with coursework or clinical obligations.

Naturally, working a remote job pairs well with blended distance learning, as both options reduce your reliance on transport, help with accommodation, and eliminate time lost in transit. If you want an educational option that accommodates your schedule and current commitments, consider enrolling in an academic program at Nightingale College, all of which blend online instruction with in-person practical preparation and in-person preceptorship classes completed in one of the Supervised On-ground Field Experience (SOFE) areas across the country, to deliver certified, high-quality learning in the most convenient way possible.

Find out more about our academic programs and enroll today!

Best Summer Jobs for Nursing Students

Summer jobs for nursing students can help you earn money and build experience when school demands may be lighter. Seasonal work can be especially useful if you want to avoid working too many hours during exam-heavy semesters.

Some good summer jobs for nursing students include:

• Summer camp nursing assistant
• CNA or PCT summer shifts
• Patient transporter
• Phlebotomist
• Home health aide
• Medical receptionist
• Babysitter or nanny
• Tutor for science courses
• Clinic assistant
• Healthcare volunteer role (if you do not need paid work and want to accumulate experience)

Best Jobs for Pre-Nursing Students

Jobs for pre-nursing students can help you build your confidence up, explore healthcare, and strengthen your application without requiring advanced nursing coursework.

As a pre-nursing student, you should consider roles that develop communication, professionalism, compassion, and resilience, as these hese qualities matter in nursing school and nursing practice.

Here are some good jobs for pre-nursing students:

• CNA
• Home health aide
• Medical receptionist
• Pharmacy technician
• Patient transporter
• Patient sitter
• Medical office assistant
• Caregiver
• Tutor
• Volunteer at a hospital or community health organization (if you do not need paid work and want to accumulate experience)

How to Choose the Best Job During Nursing School

Whether you need to work or you want to join the workforce early, choosing the best job option as a nursing student should involve a series of clear steps.

If you want to ensure that you make the most of your educational — and professional — experience, use this simple 6-step framework before accepting a job:

1. Choose flexibility over prestige: while it is tempting, a prestigious hospital job is not worth it if the schedule prevents you from studying or attending clinical practice and delays your graduation. Look for employers who understand nursing school schedules and priorities.
2. Think about energy, not just hours: Two 12-hour shifts may make sense on paper, but needless to say, they will quickly become exhausting and unmanageable after a full week of classes, labs, and assignments. Always choose a job that leaves enough energy for school.
3. Look for per diem or part-time roles: Part-time jobs for nursing students are usually more sustainable than full-time jobs. Per diem roles may be especially helpful if you need flexibility and control over your schedule.
4. Ask about tuition support: Some healthcare employers offer tuition reimbursement, loan repayment assistance, or other forms of financial aid, as well as preferred hiring pathways for employees who are preparing to become nurses. If you require financial support as a Nightingale College learner, consult our Tuition & Aid page for more information.
5. Consider your future specialty: It may not be evident, but most jobs for nursing students will also prepare your for your future career. If you are interested in emergency nursing, an ED tech or EMT role may be a good fit. If you are interested in pediatrics, look for summer camp or pediatric clinic jobs. If you are interested in public health, community outreach, or home health, it may help.
6. Protect your grades and clinical performance: You should always prioritize your performance in the educational program, as this will secure your desired career. If your grades drop, you miss assignments, or you feel constantly exhausted, it may be time to reduce your hours or switch roles. Remember, there are always short-term workarounds for resources; however, a failing grade in nursing school can affect your long-term results.

How Can You Get a Job as a Nursing Student?

There are some standard steps you can take if you want to improve your chances of getting a job as a nursing student.

For starters, you should search beyond “nursing student jobs.” Try specific terms like patient care technician, student nurse extern, patient sitter, unit clerk, medical receptionist, phlebotomist, medical assistant, and patient transporter. You can use the list in this article to select a prospective student job, then find your desired one.

Another way is to check the career pages of hospitals or other healthcare facilities. Many employers will post job openings there before listing them on job boards. Alternatively, reach out to your school and student networks by asking faculty, advisors, classmates, alumni, and clinical instructors whether they know of flexible roles. Remember, most of your peers are or were in a situation similar to yours and can not only help you find a job but also provide valuable insights and tips.

Also, don’t be afraid to mention your nursing goals. Many employers may value applicants pursuing nursing because they bring motivation and interest. One way to showcase that and center your existing experience is to prepare a healthcare-focused resume. Include CPR certification, clinical experience, lab skills, volunteer work, customer service, leadership, and relevant coursework.

However, you should keep one thing in mind: always be honest about your schedule. Tell employers about clinical days, exam periods, and class times before accepting a role. This will not only ensure that you don’t get in trouble later on but may also result in leniency regarding your schedule. Finally, don’t forget to ask smart interview questions, such as whether other nursing students work there, how scheduling works, and whether hours can change during exams or clinical rotations.

One resource that you may find helpful is our guide to acing a nursing job interview.

How to Build a Strong Resume Even If You Have Little to No Experience

A well-built resume is the key to getting the job you want, which will not only support you throughout your learning journey but also open new doors in your future career.

Remember, even if you are applying for jobs for nursing students with no experience, your resume can still be strong. 

Here is what to include:

• Nursing or pre-nursing coursework
• CPR or Basic Life Support certification, if completed
• Skills labs or simulation experience
• Volunteer experience
• Customer service work
• Teamwork experience
• Bilingual skills
• Leadership roles
• Time management examples
• Any patient-facing or caregiving experience

Find out more about the essentials for building a strong nursing resume.

Turn the Right Nursing Student Job Into the Next Step in Your Nursing Career

The best jobs for nursing students can help you gain confidence, build patient-care skills, and better understand the healthcare environment. But a student job is only one step. If your long-term goal is to become a nurse, advance your license, or grow into a specialized nursing role, choosing the right educational path matters just as much.

At Nightingale College, nursing education is designed to help learners move forward while balancing real-life responsibilities. Through online didactic instruction, blended distance learning, virtual simulations, supervised on-ground field experiences, learner support services and resources, as well as financial aid options for those who qualify, Nightingale works to make nursing education more accessible, career-focused, and supportive.

Depending on where you are in your nursing journey, you can explore academic programs such as:

• Practical Nurse (PN) Diploma Program: A pathway for learners preparing to enter practical nursing practice and apply for PN licensure.
• LPN-to-ASN Program: Designed for licensed practical nurses who want to take the next step toward registered nursing practice.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program: A blended-distance prelicensure program designed to prepare learners to apply for RN licensure and take the NCLEX-RN.
• MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Program: A graduate pathway for BSN-prepared nurses seeking to advance to advanced practice with a family-focused scope.
• MSN Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program: A graduate pathway for BSN-prepared nurses who want to focus on advanced psychiatric-mental health care.

The blended distance learning system that allows you to complete theoretical instruction online and practical experience in one of the many Supervised On-ground Field Experience (SOFE) areas is one way to reduce the strain that nursing school places on both your time and finances. 

If you are ready to move from searching for nursing student jobs to preparing for a nursing career, explore Nightingale College’s nursing programs and find the pathway that fits your goals.