Are non-healthcare references useful?

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Nov 12, 2015

I'm currently working at my first nursing job at a med-surg unit. I can count on my preceptor to be a good reference. I'm considering volunteering at animal shelters/food pantries/other non-healthcare areas in order make connections and find references. Do hospitals find non-healthcare related references meaningful?

To a point ...I suppose it shows that you're making and effort and not a lazy person. What helped me land a job as a new grad was my very stable employment history. It wasn't healthcare related, but it did show that I'm not a job hopper.

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2015

I think you want healthcare referrals it's best to stick with healthcare entities.

verene, MSN · Nov 12, 2015

To a certain point yes, if they know you very well. One of my references for my current position was a non-healthcare individual with whom I worked closely for 3 years during a previous career. She knows me and my work ethic quite well and there were several skills from the prior position that she could speak to that are also skills advantageous in a healthcare setting. Now that I've been in the field and have a wider network of healthcare professional who know me, she would not be my first choice reference if I were to apply to a different position.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Nov 12, 2015

Most job applications specify what type of reference is requested - either 'professional'(work) or 'personal'. You will also have to indicate your relationship to that reference... e.g. "immediate supervisor", "co-worker", etc.