Career during NP school?

[Gapeach0459]

So I'm in a dilemma. I applied for an ICU job (shock/trauma/neuro/cardiac) thinking it would help me gain experience to be successful in school as well as look like a decent job on my résumé so when I graduate ill be taken seriously.

The day before I interviewed I had a recruiter call me for a home based telephone triage opportunity.

The ICU is part time. But i would meet the people i need to set up clinicals. it is a major teaching hospital. Telephone triage is full time. I live in a very rural area so to get to the hospital is a 40 min drive one way. I also have a 4month old. They both have the same hourly pay.

Does the previous job really matter when you graduate?

[BostonRN13]

Do you have any experience as an RN? If you don't I would suggest doing the ICU position for some real, hands-on experience. I think that looks much more attractive to employers than a phone triage gig. If you have experience then i'd say stay home with your little bub and take the phone triage job.

I think the RN job you hold previously to graduating NP school can help you as far as networking with potential employers. Do I think you'll get applicable NP experience, probably not a lot..

[Gapeach0459]

I was ER lvl2 trauma center for x3 years. Then my husband moved me to west texas and I transferred to primary care, and then a call center during my 3rd trimester.

Ends up they offered me the icu position part time (initially they said they didn't have part time available) so I took that instead. It was the fact they are willing to train me and I need to network. Even though I won't be in this area forever, getting that network is something I think is key to being successful in school and landing a job. Thanks for the advice!