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Are you a nursing student looking for a job but don't have time to do it all?
You are not alone.
For many students, nursing school has a scheduling problem: clinicals eat your weekdays, exams eat your weekends, and most jobs need you to commit to shifts you can’t really commit to with your current schedule.
However, there’s a great solution for many students: PRN work.
Also called per diem work, it can help you earn money by becoming a CNA while you're in nursing school (if you’re not already a CNA) and by finding jobs that fit your schedule.
In this article, learn how to get certified as a CNA while you are a student, why PRN shifts fit nursing school, and how the experience pays off after graduation.
Can nursing students work as CNAs?
Yes. Nursing students can work as CNAs and begin gaining experience while holding their CNA license.
Students who have finished their nursing fundamentals coursework may qualify to sit for the certification exam directly, a route commonly called CNA certification by exam, in most states.
But, how does this work?
Fundamentals in nursing school cover hand hygiene, vital signs, safe transfers, activities of daily living, and infection control, which are the same competencies the nurse aide skills exam measures. Many state registries accept that coursework.
States differ on the recency of coursework, required documentation, and whether you must be currently enrolled. Some don't offer a CNA test out for nursing students at all, so check your state's nurse aide registry or board of nursing before you plan around it.
How to get your CNA certification as a nursing student
Learning how to become a CNA as a nursing student comes down to 5 steps, and the first one determines whether the rest apply to you:
- Confirm your state's eligibility rules through the nurse aide registry or board of nursing.
- Gather documentation from your program, usually a transcript and a skills verification form signed by your program director.
- Apply through your state's testing vendor and schedule both exam portions.
- Pass the written portion and the skills demonstration, which covers several randomly selected tasks.
- Confirm that your name appears on the state registry, because you can't work as a CNA until it does.
Costs are modest compared with a full training course, and registry listing typically follows within a few weeks of passing the exam. Verify current fees with your state's testing vendor, since they change.
If your state does not allow nursing students to “challenge” the exam based on their coursework, these steps do not apply, and you would need to take a traditional CNA training program instead.
Why PRN work fits nursing school
Nursing students need time to study and finish their schooling. CNA jobs are usually the best fit for trainees since they can set their own schedule and take on one job at a time, which offers flexibility and opportunities to earn money during school while gaining nursing experience.
The difference in CNA jobs for nursing students is that there is no fixed schedule or strict contracts. It simply works like this: a facility needs to fill an open shift, and you do that.
How can you find CNA job offers?
Nursa is a modern platform where you can sign up for free and apply for per diem opportunities near you. Payments are instant, and you can manage your time the way it works best for you.
Many nursing students follow this pattern:
- Work hard on flexible jobs for nursing students during winter and summer vacations
- Take a break to concentrate on their studies during exams
- Pick up weekend shifts when unexpected expenses happen
Per diem CNA jobs are also known for their high pay rates, since facilities need immediate staffing to cover gaps. This applies to most states for CNAs.
How taxes work for per diem CNAs
Paying for nursing school outright with per diem income isn't the goal, but covering rent, gas, scrubs, and exam fees usually is. The real value is in the meaningful income you can control the timing of.
Shift work booked through a marketplace is typically 1099 independent-contractor work, so no one withholds anything from your pay. You're responsible for federal income tax, state tax where applicable, and self-employment tax.
Set aside a percentage of every payout as it arrives, and read up on estimated quarterly payments before your first tax season.
Additionally, if you want to make ends meet, you will need a separate budget for the irregular income that comes with per diem work. Always plan around your lowest-earning month, not your best one.
How CNA experience advances your nursing career
CNA work shows up on nearly every list of the best jobs for nursing students, and the reason outlasts the paycheck.
The clinical payoff of CNA experience for nursing students arrives the first time you walk into a patient room for a graded clinical. Transfers, vital signs, and plain conversation at the bedside are already automatic, which frees your attention for the assessment and reasoning your instructor is actually evaluating.
The professional payoff builds more slowly. Charge nurses who have watched you work become the people who write your recommendation letters and mention an opening before it posts, and booking shifts at several facilities multiplies those relationships.
There's a hiring advantage, too. Managers filling new grad roles favor candidates with hands-on patient care experience, and few routes to nursing career advancement for students are as direct as documented bedside hours before licensure.
How to balance PRN work and school without burning out
The secret to balancing work and nursing school is to create your own flexible schedule. The school's priority is the main focus, and commitments must be treated as fixed, with PRN shifts as a secondary plan.
In the beginning, start with fewer shifts, only when you can really take them. After finding the schedule that lets you pass your exams, keep your grades up, and attend classes, you can work on more shifts during vacations.
This is the biggest benefit of PRN work for nursing students. You decide when to work and when to take a break. There is no contract to break or boss to disappoint. You take control of your time and avoid burnout.
Your coursework is worth more than credit
For nursing students interested in gaining experience and earning money while in school, PRN jobs are the go-to option.
Our modern platform allows thousands of CNAs across the country to apply for available shifts near them. It is simple and fast to do the same.
Ready to put your training to work?
Sign up as a CNA on Nursa and browse PRN shifts near you.
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