[Miss Mab]

I say leave it off until after your first position and you have some actual nursing on the resume.

For two reasons:

1) We can talk all we want about how education is universally valued but as anyone who has transitioned into nursing from another career can probably attest, it just ain't always so. Odd for certain, but most definately true. The reasons why are unimportant to this topic.
They are looking for an entry level nurse. Frankly, I think at this level, it's best to be the 'yes, ma'am', I only have a mind for nursing, no ability or desire to think beyond my role, etc. person.
Sounds harsh possibly, but it has been my observed reality enough to know it exists. Just be a newbie like everyone else at this point.

2) Think of it from a managerial/HR standpoint. One of the resons employers LOVE our whole educational entry argument, aside from the $$ savings it allows them, is the 'hold' hospitals have on their employees when they know that nursing is their only option. Hard to make waves, stand up for yourself, etc. if you couldn't chance being unable to work as a nurse. Having other/higher degrees, you have options and could be therefore seen as a threat. Hard to keep you under their thumb when you can take your game anywhere...

Plus, having already achieved in another area bodes toward the possibility you will likely advance in this field as well. They don't want to hire a 'stepping stone.' Y'know, train you for a year until you run off to CRNA school, etc.

Not saying any of these things are truly applicable to your situation. Just some possibilities and questions that could be raised should you encounter one of those odd types of people. Just better not to give rise to the possibilities. Blend in for now.....

[ocankhe]

I also have a non nursing masters degree. I do not hide it but on my cv I do not emphasize it either. I have a section of my cv that lists non nursing accomplishments.
It could also be that they (your professors) were giving you advice re ex turn positions and not for when you have your RN.

[HonestRN]

jkal,

I finished nursing school (ADN) with a straight 4.0 GPA and I do have some university classes classes under my belt. I lived in a rural/farming community. When it came time to apply for jobs I had one heck of a time getting a local position. I suspect that many of the NM interviewing me were intimidated by my grades and education because I knew students who did far more poorly in school get hired on. I finally applied at a large, research hospital and got an offer for the first position I applied for. Then I loved to a large metropolitan area and got a job offer with the first interview. I strongly suspect that small rural towns are distrustful of more highly educated people because they think you will storm the place and want to tell everybody how to do things your way whether accurate or not.

[Spidey's mom]

And the rural stereotyping rolls on . . .

The idea that you have to hide something, that employers are greedy and only want someone they can keep under their collective thumbs, is disheartening.

If you do interview with such a place, don't take that job.

Stand up for yourself, be proud in a healthy way of your accomplishments. There is no reason to, as I said, brag and make yourself sound "holier than thou" but to hide your light under a bush is unprofessional.


steph

[Miss Mab]

Oh, agreed Steph!

It is disheartening that some people in some areas and in some cultures are unprofessional.

I agree with you.
It's downright depressing.....

[RN1989]

Originally Posted by jkal

but why the big dance of saying that the criteria is GPA and recommendations?

Because telling the truth that they have a good ole boy system of hiring looks bad. And they could be violating standards and or actual laws in areas and definitely don't want anyone to take notice and scrutinize them.

There are probably people that are intimidated by your education. That is their problem of inferiority.

I say go with a functional resume instead of a chronological resume or a half and half type. That way you can play up the skills that you learned in your other degrees and how they can help you as a nurse but not have that big name college and jobs utilizing those degrees stand out so readily.

[multicollinearity]

Originally Posted by stevielynn

And the rural stereotyping rolls on . . .

steph

Steph,

I see you live in California. I've lived in rural California, and I tell you - it's not like rural living in many other states.

IMHO, there are significant differences between large cities and many rural areas as far as how education is viewed, among other things. That's just the truth, and I won't dig my head in the sand about it.

So while I would never assume anything about any particular individual in any area, as that would be prejudice in action, I will acknowledge the overall and very real cultural differences of urban versus rural living.

[natania]

I don't know why it is necessary to jump to the conclusion that this is about insecurity when it makes just as much sense that they are concened that someone with advanced education in another area won't be happy wiping booties for long.

[multicollinearity]

I think we are just surmising, here. It's all we can do, as we'll never know for sure.

[aloevera]

maybe they just don't need any help now with what days/hrs. you put in to work ????? or no program to train ?????