Chances of getting a a job you want with little medical background?

Nurses Career Support

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I am going into my last semester of my ASN program. I currently work at hospital but don't get to really participate in a lot of direct patient care. Majority of the people in my cohort have medical experience (EMT, RT, CNA, PCT, and even nurse externships). I have applied to about 10 nurse externships for this summer but didn't hear back from any of them (I tried calling their HR but no one picks up or I get forwarded to someone who is always out of the office). Feeling a little discouraged and overwhelmed because I want to work in either ICU, Stepdown, or Mother/Baby. I feel like I'm at a disadvantage because I really don't have to much experience. I guess I just want to hear from people who had little medical work experience who got a nursing job upon graduation in an area that they actually wanted to be in. What did you do to ensure getting a position that you wanted?

*I have not received any info on my clinical for this last semester yet, not sure if we will be getting to choose an area to work on. I know a lot of students who end up getting a job they want due to them doing their practicum/preceptorship on a specific unit.

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It is absolutely possible. I only held retail jobs while completing my BSN and I landed a new grad position. Since you work in a hospital, your internal status really gives you a boost even if the position isn't directly involving patient care. Like you said, senior preceptorship plays a big factor; therefore, pick (if allowed) the specialty of your choice! It will make you more desirable if managers see that you precepted in units similar to theirs. TIP: Consider your senior preceptorship as a long interview. Showcase your skills, knowledge, team dynamic, and motivation. At the end of your preceptorship, drop off your portfolio with the unit manager. It doesn't hurt and if the nurses on the floor enjoyed your help, they'll even recommend you!

Best of luck and don't give up!

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Being an ASN student is likely harming you more than your lack of experience. In many areas now hospitals are excluding two year RNs from new nurse residencies.

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8 hours ago, Enlighten said:

It is absolutely possible. I only held retail jobs while completing my BSN and I landed a new grad position. Since you work in a hospital, your internal status really gives you a boost even if the position isn't directly involving patient care. Like you said, senior preceptorship plays a big factor; therefore, pick (if allowed) the specialty of your choice! It will make you more desirable if managers see that you precepted in units similar to theirs. TIP: Consider your senior preceptorship as a long interview. Showcase your skills, knowledge, team dynamic, and motivation. At the end of your preceptorship, drop off your portfolio with the unit manager. It doesn't hurt and if the nurses on the floor enjoyed your help, they'll even recommend you!

Best of luck and don't give up!

Thank you! I'm not sure what my clinical is like for my last semester. Hopefully we do get to choose or if not, I'm on a unit that I will want to work on. I guess I underestimated how early I have to actually start applying to residency programs.

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4 hours ago, not.done.yet said:

Being an ASN student is likely harming you more than your lack of experience. In many areas now hospitals are excluding two year RNs from new nurse residencies.

I guess I was looking for more of a "what to do" versus "why wouldn't this happen for me" advice. While I do understand the ASN vs BSN dilemma, I wouldn't have to worry about not getting a residency in the area I live in. I do plan to go back for my BSN and then MSN, but I don't think I have to settle to work on a unit I don't want to be on just because of my ASN status. I guess I just wanted to know things that I could actively do to better my chances of working on a unit I wanted. I can't help being an ASN student at the moment. But thanks!

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

If you don't have to worry about ASN in the area you live in then you don't have to worry about a lack of experience either. Experience that isn't nursing experience doesn't hold much weight and that includes that of being a tech, EMT or CNA the majority of the time. You are all pretty equal in the eyes of the interviewers.

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