What are some jobs that would give nursing experience without requiring a nursing degree?

Depending on the area a CNA would be best. Here, it's a one week class & then a quick skills test & computerized test. Depending on the facility you could do all but the feeding tubes and inserting the initial cathader. You will get to clean them though. If you are considering being a nurse, this is a great starter job to make sure that this is what you actually want to do BEFORE you go to school for the next 2-3 years! Good luck!

Certified Nursing Assistant or Personal Care Attendants do things that involve direct patient care, however they are not exactly "nursing functions". You can take vital signs and perform activities of daily living like feeding, bathing, toileting, assisting with transfers from bed to wheelchair, etc. You would not be performing assessments, doing nursing skills like inserting catheters or managing IVs or passing medications. Nothing will give you actual nursing experience without actually being a nurse.