Good grades .vs. Experience (Opinions PLEASE!)

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in PICU/NICU/ER.

I'm in a bit of a dilemma and would like some feedback from my fellow nursing students. I quit a high-paying Supervisor job at a major hospital last July to go to NS full time. I was there for 11 years. I resigned and maintained all of my connections and left with with a big party and lots of tears.

I'm almost done with my first semester and I'm getting A's in my theory and lab and doing well in clinicals.

My dilemma is about going back to work. I have new grad friends who can't find jobs because they didn't work while they were in school. I have friends who are in NS and working as NA's who pretty much have jobs lined up as soon as they graduate and they won't even need to interview. I don't need to work right now. My husband makes ok money, carries our health insurance and my loans fill in the gaps that his income doesn't cover.

What seemed like a great idea of making school my full time job is beginning to seem like no so much of a good idea, because I'll come out with no experience and not even having my foot in the door in a hospital.

What do you guys think? What do you do? Work and school or just school? Thanks in advance for your opinions...sorry this was kind of long!

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Hi! I know how you are feeling. I start NS next fall and have been asking myself the same thing. I have decided not to work while in school. I am already a NA, but do not work. I had to get NA certification to apply to the nursing program in my area. From everything I have heard, I would concentrate on school. You will find a job it just might be right away. NS will probably be the hardest thing you ever do. I would put all my efforts into that and not worry about working unless you have to.

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Specializes in PICU/NICU/ER.

Thanks for your input Jess. My husband says the same thing. BTW, I love your screen name :o

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Specializes in CNA.
My dilemma is about going back to work. I have new grad friends who can't find jobs because they didn't work while they were in school. long!

What dilemma? You are in a fantastic position; pick up a couple of shifts a week and get some much needed and valuable experience. Time to get your hands dirty, Ms former highly paid Supervisor!

Signed,

A Formerly Highly Paid Manager and current Nursing Student and working CNA.

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Specializes in PICU/NICU/ER.

Haha!! Thanks 2ndyear! I love that you sound like you were in a similar situation as I, with a great paying job that was not fulfilling! I have no problem going into the trenches, looking forward to it actually! I have a few feelers out. Time to see what I can get out of those connections that I've maintained *wink* :)

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Thanks! I like my screen name too. :D I wish you the best with whatever you decide to do. There are pros and cons to both.

It sounds like you have some pull where you previously worked. Perhaps if you decide you want to work while in school you can get a CNA job there and I bet they would give you a RN position after you graduated.

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I know exactly where you're at, because I feel the same way. I will graduate in May and I haven't gotten my foot in the door anywhere so I am concerned I will have a harder time finding a job. Honestly though, I don't think people who DO have their foot in the door have much of an advantage. They have some, but not a huge amount. I think if you do your best in school and then apply literally everywhere you possibly can after you get your license you will find something. It might not be glamorous, or what you want to do but its a JOB. It's a start.

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As has been suggested, maybe you can work part-time as a nursing assistant, perhaps just one shift a week. Unit secretary is another good position for a nursing student. Still, with today's tight job market, there might not much opportunity for a part-time, inexperienced NA or US.

So you might also want to look into volunteering in a clinical unit. Even just stocking the supply closet and copying off forms will help increase your familiarity with the day-to-day work environment as well as make contacts, ask questions, and observe nurses at work.

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But you DO have experience as a 'high-paying Supervisor job at a major hospital'.

When you feature that on your resume, surely, interviewers will ask you as what your responsibilities entailed and accomplishments in that leader-type position.

Do not compare yourself to others.

I graduated Nursing School in May 2010. Applied to hospitals online, only, during the summer. My first interview was a week ago, in November, and I have another one approaching next week, at a hospital.

My clinical experience only includes an internship in a home care facility!. No work experience in a hospital setting besides my clinical practicuums.

It's all about marketing yourself in THAT RESUME. Goal: catch that Nurse Recruiter's attention, amongst hundreds of other applicants.

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I have chosen not to work. I supported my husband while he was in nursing school, now he is doing the same for me. I have found that the stress level is high enough without having to factor in work scheduling, exams, projects, etc. People here on allnurses.com keep saying new grads can't find jobs, but I have no idea where they live because that certainly isn't the case where I live; even if new grads don't get on at hospitals immediately, they have easily located employment in extended care, rehab, mental health, etc. and picked up jobs at the hospitals pretty quickly if that's what they want. Given you already have a solid work history, I think it makes a difference in getting hired over young new grads with no or little proven employment history. I am 40 and have been employed since age 16, and have great references.

I've already signed a contract and gotten an advance sign-on bonus at the local hospital where I do my clinicals, which they offered to me in my first semester. If you want to work I think it's great experience, but I'm not one of the ones who can juggle work and school and keep good grades....and my sanity! :)

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Specializes in PICU/NICU/ER.

Thank you for all your opinions! You have NO idea how much I appreciate the responses. I put in a few apps for part time positions, but I will see how I feel if I get any interviews. I can be picky at this point and only take something that will reallllly work for me.

I was also thinking that my work experience will be great on my resume. I figure I will stand out because I'm a formerly licensed CNA, certified in Phlebotomy and also have that 11 years not only in the lab, but with over 40 employees under my supervision.

Thank you ALL for reminding me to not listen to the hype :)

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