Alternate job experience

[Staragate, ADN, ASN, RN]

I am curious about non-medical experience helping with getting work after NS. How would alternate experience get weighed?

Specifically, I work at a high school in the special education dept. as an aide. I work directly with students in wheelchairs (including transfers) or have developmental disabilities, and I give occasional first aid. It's this experience that inspired me to enter nursing school.

I also volunteer with a national park's junior ranger program. I am a leader who educates, leads hikes and other public interaction.

I would love to have some feedback. I wouldn't be the only one to benefit, there are a lot of us Sped aides who are also pre-nursing students!

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

I've been in EMS (paramedic), law enforcement (city police and park service officer), and held a hybrid law enforcement / administration (personnel, budgets, planning, etc) role. I think I'll be ok looking for a nursing job.

[ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN]

I am wondering that too.. I have worked for almost 4 years in the dietary dept of a state MR center. I am hoping that they respect that I kept the same job for so long or something because it has absolutely nothing to do with nursing :) I do hope to get a nursing externship that the hospital my school is through offers to last semester Nursing students. That would help!

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

I'm wondering the same thing. Project manager in Corporate America? Yeah...that'll get me far!

I'll try to spin it some way, though. Time management, working with different groups that often had differing goals, etc. I'll have to come up with SOMETHING, because I'm certain to be asked about it in interviews.

[Maladroit, BSN, RN]

Most of my jobs were in labs in undergrad or in the bowels of the hospitals...like Central Sterilization and OR support, most recently hospital operator...hmmm...I'm not thinking so...Although, I know every process for calling CODES and every surgical instrument, lol.

[Spikey9001, BSN, RN]

What about retail lmao?

[Staragate, ADN, ASN, RN]

Now I wish someone could give us an outlook, haha. :)

[Staragate, ADN, ASN, RN]

Bumped for insights... :)

[chanks]

I think how you perform in any setting is helpful. It seems so many are jumping fields to be in healthcare. Getting the interview may be one thing, but personality and demonstrating your ability to be professional and hard working during the interview will compensate for lack of medical experience. Retail? If you've been in retail sales you have experience with aligning with the needs of a customer. You know how to find out what they really need when they don't understand. (especially in areas of technology) so, many skillsets that we form in other positions would be a dotted line to nursing skills. As the school aide...I would think for sure.

[Rob72, ASN, RN]

As far as "drafting" your resume:

Special needs is special needs, you're familiar with the population, and that experience, along with the RN should go quite a ways. Don't be afraid to stretch a bit, and look at case management- you know the population, their needs & should be able to develop contacts with community resources.

If you enjoy the outdoors, there are several excellent Wilderness Medicine courses that offer certification. Tends to apply more to EMS personnel, but depending on where you work...

dudette, Project Mgrs make mega$$ in industry sponsored research. Take a job as a Research Coordinator/RN for 2 years, sit for your CCRP/CRA cert, then start looking at jobs with Merck, AstraZeneca, Lilly, J&J, etc.. Clinics and hospitals will "look upon you with favor" in a supervisory/administrative role.

ashley, dietary has application in endocrinology, and getting your CDE (Diabetes Educator) would not be an unfamiliar path.

[Staragate, ADN, ASN, RN]

That was really helpful! Thanx!