1. Shadow a Nurse
Shadowing is one of the best ways to test the water. You see exactly what nurses do all day: the tender moments with patients, the war stories from colleagues, and the things that are hard to watch. It takes the job off the page and onto the floor, where you watch nurses handle real situations. Larger hospitals often run shadowing programs. If yours doesn't, ask the HR department at a local hospital or your own physician's office.
2. Consider an Internship
If you're in high school, college, or a nursing program, look into internships through your school. They build skills, teach you how a healthcare organization runs, and put you on the radar for a future job. Internships rarely pay, but that isn't the point. The hours help you make career decisions and get on the shortlist after graduation.
3. Find a Mentor
A mentor can shape your career before it starts. Some areas run formal programs that match students with experienced professionals. If yours doesn't, find a nurse willing to guide you. A good mentor answers your questions, offers a listening ear, and gives you honest, relatable insight. Once they know you, they may write a recommendation letter for a program or job. A mentor inside nursing will serve you better than one in another field, even if the other person is easier to reach.
4. Get Certified in Basic Life Support and First Aid
The American Heart Association and the American Red Cross offer BLS courses, the care first responders give to someone in cardiac arrest or with a blocked airway. You'll learn CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator, and both programs stress critical thinking and problem solving. The Red Cross BLS-with-first-aid course also covers burns, sudden illness, lacerations, neck and back injuries, and heat and cold emergencies. Certification signals commitment to employers.
5. Join HOSA-Future Health Professionals
HOSA is a worldwide, student-led organization for secondary and postsecondary students preparing for healthcare careers. It works best built into a health science curriculum. Members develop leadership, motivation, and realistic career and education goals, and they can apply for tens of thousands of dollars in scholarship awards.
6. Become a Certified Nursing Assistant
CNAs are core members of the care team. They work in nursing homes, hospitals, rehab centers, and adult day care, handling bathing, grooming, and feeding, assisting with procedures, caring for wounds, and keeping rooms and linens clean. Training varies by state but usually runs no more than eight weeks, and it's paid experience. As of May 2024, nursing assistants earned a median of about $19.00 per hour, or roughly $39,530 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). CNA work is a strong short-term move toward a nursing program or the job you want.
7. Volunteer
Volunteering is another unpaid route in, and unlike internships it draws far less competition. Programs and employers like seeing it on a resume. Try the American Red Cross, your local hospital, or a public health department. Document your hours, have a supervisor sign off, and check in regularly. Volunteer work often turns into strong recommendation letters.
8. Think Outside the Box
If you've graduated and can't find a nursing job, widen the net. A "pro re nata" (PRN, "as needed") position fills in for staffing shortages on a temporary basis and gives you a flexible schedule, good pay, and exposure to several specialties. Other healthcare roles build skills and connections too: research, laboratory assistant, group home, hospice, and correctional facility nursing.
9. Work While You're in School
Time management is a core nursing skill, and a school job sharpens it. Look for a student nurse position at the hospital or clinic tied to your program; some schools offer part-time work for students. You earn money, gain experience, and often land a permanent job after graduation. Many programs also include a residency in the final year, which builds technical and clinical skills alongside real experience.
10. Network
Many students find it hard to step outside their comfort zone and network. Reframe it as making friends in the field and it gets easier. Networking lets you ask questions, pick up skills, and hear about openings before they're posted, sometimes with a friendly face ready to put in a good word.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get nursing experience with no experience?
Start before you apply for an RN job. Shadow a nurse, take an internship, become a certified nursing assistant for paid hands-on work, volunteer at a hospital or health department, or work a student-nurse position tied to your program. Each one builds skills, contacts, and a resume that gets you on the shortlist.
Does working as a CNA count as nursing experience?
Yes, and it's one of the strongest short-term moves. CNAs are core members of the care team, the training usually runs no more than eight weeks, and it's paid. Nursing assistants earned a median of about $39,530 a year in May 2024 (BLS), and the floor experience translates directly when you apply to a nursing program or your first RN role.
Is shadowing or volunteering better for breaking into nursing?
They do different jobs. Shadowing shows you what the work is really like and helps you pick a specialty, while volunteering builds a longer track record and draws far less competition than internships. Many students do both. Employers like seeing either on a resume, and volunteer supervisors often write strong recommendation letters.
What certifications help a new nurse stand out?
Basic Life Support and first aid are a good start. The American Heart Association and American Red Cross both teach CPR and AED use, and the Red Cross course also covers burns, lacerations, and heat and cold emergencies. Certification signals commitment to employers before you ever hold a license.
What is a PRN nursing position?
PRN stands for "pro re nata," or "as needed." These roles fill temporary staffing gaps and offer a flexible schedule, good pay, and exposure to several specialties. For a new graduate who can't land a permanent job yet, PRN work is a practical way to build experience across units.
Can I work while in nursing school?
Yes, if you manage it carefully. A student-nurse position at the hospital or clinic tied to your program earns money, builds experience, and often leads to a permanent job after graduation. Many programs also include a final-year residency that pairs clinical skill-building with real work.