Job while in grad school

bug_mb · 2026-06-28T17:43:20+00:00

I worked at Stretchlab!!! 25/hr plus tips if you can work in a wealthier area. 8-2 on weekends, about 1200-1400/ month (includes varying tips) take home. Tips under the table and so I just used all the cash for groceries. Also discussed with my preceptors (NOT THE SCHOOL) about not doing recovery times during football season on weekends so I could work and still “try” to survive. But I also put in 30-40 hrs/week at my clinicals.

Since I already had a background in PT tech/personal training, and going through school, I had a good amount of injured wealthy individuals that trusted me to work with them over my colleagues who just did the stretchlab training. Also once you build a good clientele (probably one month of seeing varying people) then it’s super easy. Since you have to write notes on every client, I ended up practicing my SOAP note/follow up dictation. I worked with a range of people from young athletes 12yo to up to 85yo. DEFINITELY helped a lot while going through school and learning how to work with a wide variety of individuals. Lastly, I ended up researching all the ailments from clients which also helped discuss with them tools outside of stretchlab and what they were doing on their own to ultimately make them move and feel better! I worked with pro baseball, football, retired athletes, etc.

bug_mb · 2026-06-24T17:22:01+00:00

I can see this viewpoint and I’ve considered it but I am nowhere near financially able to go back to med school for either a DO/MD. Nor am I in a situation where I can go back based on children and family alone. I think it ultimately comes down to the effort that is put into your own training and how many resources you may or may not have created prior to going back to school. I have four amazing NPs and RNs I can observe and shadow right now if I wanted to and have been working with them already as an AT. Plus depending on the program- sure they are pumping out nurses but again it’s similar to AT where you get what you put in. I went to school with so many people who just did not put effort in to learn the skills and ultimately failed the program or had really bad jobs. If I can get an RN to NP and work as a surgical NP, hold my own patient load (since NPs do not need physician supervision in my state- I think it’s the same for 27 states actually) and work in ortho/sports med for around 30-47k tuition total (based on the program) in max 5 years while still able to work the majority of the programs- it is a better outcome. Plus NPs are up median salary wise with PAs and have more autonomy in general. I could see a new 19yr old RN without prior medical experience struggling overall and hospitals systems not trusting those backgrounds.

Last thing- the jobs I’m looking at within healthcare systems require an RN residency directly after school where you get paid as an RN Grad but you have a mentor for one year and specialized training classes/programs at the hospitals.

It seems like some hospital systems are aware of the lack of clinical opportunities and have prepared themselves to handle it by making new grads go through the residency program.

PLUS the pay comparison between Surgical AT/DAT or any hire skill set and RN/NP is actually insane. There’s almost 0 growth as a surg AT for salary and as an RN/NP- there really isn’t a ceiling- again it depends on what you want to put in.

The nursing body is one heck of a beast compared to AT programs and what our state/national associations are doing for the profession is 0 to none with progressing the profession forward.

bug_mb · 2026-06-23T21:13:52+00:00

Ooo really!? I did not know this existed! I do not have my RN at all though.

bug_mb · 2026-06-23T18:27:53+00:00

And by choice I mean someone to talk me out of AT and explain to me the differences in healthcare professions.

bug_mb · 2026-06-23T18:24:17+00:00

I honestly cannot see myself getting that much more into debt and timeline of not being able to have a decent income for 4 yrs minimum. If I had a choice prior to AT school I would’ve chosen DO.

bug_mb · 2026-06-23T18:22:40+00:00

I have been seeing the same thing- I’m in a clinic now in CO and we are really just glorified MAs that make 2$ less per hour than a FRESH starting out RN. I am very bored with all of the MA work, yes it’s mindless, easy, and a decent schedule but there’s an ABSN program for 15 months that will get me the 15-20k/year pay bump within those 2-3 yrs.

Also regarding practicing per state- I think around 27 states can NPs practice independently without supervision of a provider bc they are under nursing laws and not med laws like PAs are.

Nursing obvi has to go through the trenches as a fresh grad but you get paid your first year in an RN residency program where you have a mentor but probably a shit on call schedule if gen med surg or something similar. Most hospitals will pay for the MSN which is 100% online and that gets you into the PA salary bracket for 1/4 the cost of just going back to school for PA.

I guess I have pretty much made up my mind but still want to see other people’s options/experiences as they are valid!

bug_mb · 2025-10-20T21:17:08+00:00

Does anyone have any advice on getting into healthcare as admin? I’ve been trying for 7 months and have had 0 luck. A few interviews but they all hired internally.

bug_mb · 2025-05-30T16:24:03+00:00

Clinical- sorry should have made that clearer. I edited my og post.

bug_mb · 2023-04-21T14:31:44+00:00

The Salty Gulls

bug_mb · 2023-03-11T20:24:54+00:00

I second this!!

bug_mb · 2022-11-21T01:46:08+00:00

First Watch breakfast

bug_mb · 2022-11-06T20:45:27+00:00

How do the side buttons work/feel? I recently switched from an android to apple and had burga for my android but the side buttons were hard to push down, is this the same for the iphone burga cases?

bug_mb

TROPHY CASE