A question for all managers and recruiters for New Grad porgrams!!!!

[JonathanRN]

I am currently finishing up my ADN program and will officially be an RN by the end of this year. I live in california and know that I won't have too much trouble finding a new grad job right now due to the severe nursing shortage. However, recently I have decided that this would be the last opportunity in my life to realize my dream of joining the Peace Corps. My concern is that upon return getting a job will be much harder than right out of school. While the Peace Corps will probably provide me with a lot of different, wonderful experiences, I fear that hospital management and recruiters might be sceptical of hiring someone with a degree which was not used for 2 years in the traditional sense of the word.

If you are someone who has hired RN's into a hospital before, I would love to hear what you have to say about this. What concerns would you have if you were to view my application 2 years down the road? Would volunteering in the Peace Corps be seen as a positive or negative quality in an applicant? Is there any advice you have on the matter?

Thanks so much for your time. I look forward to reading your comments.

Jonathan

[suzanne4, RN]

If you are wanting to work in the Peace Corps as a nurse, you would be much further ahead by getting some experience under your belt. You would then be much more beneficial to the population that you are working with.

You should have no problem getting a position when you return, you would just start as a new grad. Same as for the mother that takes two years off to be at home with the children. I wouldn't worry about it............

[llg, PhD, RN]

If you worked for a while as a nurse first -- and successfully made that transition to the RN role -- then taking 2 years off to do the Peace Corps job would be OK, particularly if your work in the Peace Corps was related to the nursing work you wanted to do.

However ... if you go to the Peace Corps before you successfully make that transition to the RN role, the 2 years away from nursing will make that already difficult transition every more difficult. I would be leary of hiring such a person, but would give them a chance if they really impressed me when I interviewed them.

llg

[JonathanRN]

If you worked for a while as a nurse first -- and successfully made that transition to the RN role -- then taking 2 years off to do the Peace Corps job would be OK, particularly if your work in the Peace Corps was related to the nursing work you wanted to do.

However ... if you go to the Peace Corps before you successfully make that transition to the RN role, the 2 years away from nursing will make that already difficult transition every more difficult. I would be leary of hiring such a person, but would give them a chance if they really impressed me when I interviewed them.

llg

Thank you so much for your response. I appreciate your honesty. The reason I wrote the question in the first place was because I had a feeling that might be a problem. However, so many people have told me otherwise I was wondering what state you work in and where you do the hiring (what hospital, what unit etc.) ... in case that would make a difference. For example, perhaps getting hired as a new grad in California would be easier than Oregon etc.

Look forward to hearing from you,

Jonathan

[suzanne4, RN]

You will also be much more beneficial to your village if you have the experience first. Many of the volunteer agencies require two years experience because of this point. School only teaches you the basics but doesn't prepare you for working in the real world. That only begins when you start your "real" job.

Going to the Peace Corp can be done right out of school, but you would be able to do so much more with that experience behind you.

From my standpoint, it isn't the time away after school before beginning working, but what you can do for the village................

[SarasotaRN2b]

suzanne4 gives you very good advice (as does llg). I think that if you do the two years here, and then do the Peace Corps, you'll have no problem when you return. Also as the need for nurses will continue to rise, you may have a lead over those who don't have the in hospital and out of hospital experiences.

Good Luck,

Kris

You will also be much more beneficial to your village if you have the experience first. Many of the volunteer agencies require two years experience because of this point. School only teaches you the basics but doesn't prepare you for working in the real world. That only begins when you start your "real" job.

Going to the Peace Corp can be done right out of school, but you would be able to do so much more with that experience behind you.

From my standpoint, it isn't the time away after school before beginning working, but what you can do for the village................

[llg, PhD, RN]

Thank you so much for your response. I appreciate your honesty. The reason I wrote the question in the first place was because I had a feeling that might be a problem. However, so many people have told me otherwise I was wondering what state you work in and where you do the hiring (what hospital, what unit etc.) ... in case that would make a difference. For example, perhaps getting hired as a new grad in California would be easier than Oregon etc.

Look forward to hearing from you,

Jonathan

I'd rather not be specific on an open forum such as this ... but it is on the East Coast -- nowhere near California.

Also, remember that the best hospitals and the best jobs are usually able to be at least a little particular in hiring. The really desparate places that will hire any warm body are usually not the best place to work.

llg