Am I unemployable as a nurse if....

Published

I have never held an actual full-time job (retail, fast-food, desk job, etc.)? Throughout my life, my parents have always told me to not worry about having to work and just focus on my education. Well, here I am, about to start nursing school without any kind of real-world job experience. The good thing, however, is that I have attempted to get my "foot in the door" by volunteering and going to health events to network with doctors and nurses and even got my CNA license so that I could work while in nursing school. Maybe this could help make up for not having any real work experience? The only experience I have is working my butt off making straight A's...

I feel that, even with all that I am trying to do to make up for not working, it still won't be enough because there will be so many applicants looking for RN jobs who already have extensive work histories...

Should I just continue what I am doing? What suggestions do you have?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

To be honest, I don't know how much that will hurt your chances of getting hired. I do know that, if hired, you'll have a harder row to hoe than nurses with similar education and nursing experience who have had jobs in the past. The expectations of an employer are a lot different from the expectations of your school . . .

Of the orientees we've had to terminate in the past few years, many of them had never held a job before. There seemed to be a disconnect between the different expectations of school vs. the employer and with ownership of the work load.

If you know going in that this may be an issue, you can figure out early on the expectations of your workplace and work hard at meeting them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

Don't sell yourself short, just because you weren't getting paid doesn't mean you don't have marketable job skills acquiring through volunteering, etc. you may have to be more creative in how to display them but I think you will be ok especially since you already recognize and can anticipate what future employers might ask as far as how you can applied the skills you do have to the workplace. I'm assuming you are a traditional student and will be graduating fairly young. I would suggest you contact the career services center at your school or elsewhere that can help you translate the skills you have into appropriate resume details.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks everyone. I will try and be positive about everything.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There is a career center available that I will definitely use. Thanks :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you're young, it's no problem. If you're forty and have never had a job, that could be seen as a red flag.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Lol I'm 22

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Throughout my life, my parents have always told me to not worry about having to work and just focus on my education.
Consider yourself blessed to have been born to parents who placed such a high value on your education. I know of too many other adults in society whose college dreams were deferred because their parents forced them to work full-time to help pay the rent and support younger siblings. You're 22, so congratulations on achieving so much at your age!
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Consider yourself blessed to have been born to parents who placed such a high value on your education. I know of too many other adults in society whose college dreams were deferred because their parents forced them to work full-time to help pay the rent and support younger siblings. You're 22, so congratulations on achieving so much at your age!

Thank you, TheCommuter! I really appreciate that. Yes, I feel very blessed to have great parents. I am working really hard right now in school and hope to have a successful nursing career.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

Sounds like you have been doing a great job already. Keep up the good work

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am also worried. I only had one part time job, 4 years ago. My parents wanted me to focus on school and covered my education. But now that I am job hunting I wonder if I should have worked in retail or something. I have a ton of volunteer experience, and I thought it would help, but a lot of places ask about paid experience only. I guess taking on leadership roles, devoting hundreds of hours of my time, and being loyal to a place for 4 years counts for squat.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am also worried. I only had one part time job, 4 years ago. My parents wanted me to focus on school and covered my education. But now that I am job hunting I wonder if I should have worked in retail or something. I have a ton of volunteer experience, and I thought it would help, but a lot of places ask about paid experience only. I guess taking on leadership roles, devoting hundreds of hours of my time, and being loyal to a place for 4 years counts for squat.

Based on the other responses, I don't think you wasted your time. Maybe you have to come up with a creative way to present your skills and experiences so that employers see what you're capable of. Maybe you're looking in the wrong places.

Do you have your BSN or ADN?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion