Does having a Medical based job Help in Nursing School

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Hey everyone doing on this Sunday night,

I have been currently working for a medical center as an Unit Clerk on a Cardiac Care Unit. I start Nursing this Fall 2009 , I'm just wishing the time would go quicker so I can start my school to becoming a RN. I was wondering from my interaction with my job as a Unit Clerk will help me in Nursing school. Any feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

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Specializes in Telemetry & PCU.

In the infamous words of Sarah Palin, "You betcha!" :D

Just soak it all in. Pay attention to the flow and the lingo and you will be way ahead of the game.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

It think it helps to get you more comfortable with patients and working in a hospital and just the setting in general. Not to be a stickler but I'd say your working in the Healthcare field not the medical field, Healthcare is more of a general term which includes the fields of nursing and medicine (among others including physical/occupation therapy, allied health etc.) Its not a big deal, just a little thing of mine.

!Chris :specs:

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Specializes in Critical Care, Progressive Care.

Yup!

You will be in clinical rotations with people that have never set foot in a hospital. As a Unit Clerk you know a whole bunch about nursing that you might not even know you know.

But everybody comes to nursing school with their own strengths and weaknesses. The guy sitting next to you in Patho may have his masters in biology and worked in research lab for the last ten years. He might not know what NPO means but acid/base balance is going to come pretty easy to him.

I love my class in NS - we share a great deal. This has been a pleasure and benefit. Share what you know and learn from those around you.

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What kind of experiance do you have to have to become a Unit Clerk??? I read you have to take a course or something like that? Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks!!!

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What kind of experiance do you have to have to become a Unit Clerk??? I read you have to take a course or something like that? Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks!!!

Nothing is required here in California, but if you've taken Medical Terminology it is a lot easier to get hired.

My wife worked as one for about 15 years having been certified as a CNA ten years before that, but not working in health-care field during those ten years.

My daughter was hired as a unit clerk in an ER five years ago, right out of high school, and stayed with it.

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I have a different take on things. I have no Health Care related experience, and am in my 3rd week of LPN school. Most of the class are/were CNA's and most are struggling with the way they were taught in the field to do things and the way we are taught in school. As I said I have no experience and this has been a plus for me as I do not have to "unlearn" any habits. Now I know I will more than likely be taught yet a different way when I am on the job but, as far as schooling goes, I think I have the advantage.

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My number one pet peeve in nursing school is having class with all these people who are PCA's. Every one of them seem to think they are experts and love to pipe up during lecture with "we do XYZ like this at hospital XYZ". I do not think it helps one bit to have a job in the healthcare field for nursing school. Being a nurse and a PCA or unit clerk is totally different.

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Specializes in Renal.

The advantages are many. The lingo the dr's and nurses use is a huge advantage plus you are mostly already familiar with all the diagnostic procedures and what they are used for. but the one thing that really helps that I have the most trouble doing,,,,,,is reading those patient charts and deciphering what all that hyroglyphic writing is trying to spell out. I have such difficulty with that it is not even funny. Soak it all in. Things that seem completely routine for you as a unit clerk,,,other people with struggle with. Something simple as processing nursing orders into the chart is very big.

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Yes. This was also in another thread a while back.

If you work within a hospital system that you are going to intend to work for after school you have a distinct advantage over other recent grads....the employer and management already know you. They know your work ethic, you character and your ability to be a team player. In some cases, they may be paying you tuition...they'll want some return on their investment.

I work in EMS. Triage, treat and document GSW's, stabbings, MVA's, falls, CVA's, cardiacs, belly aches, diff breathers and all the other good stuff that keeps ER's busy. I get to know the charge nurses, they get to know me. Come job time, You betcha its going to help.

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I became an CNA/STNA back in 2003 and worked that field for about 2 years. I left it and went to do other things before decided to go to Nursing School. I honestly think that it gave me somewhat of an advantage. It can also be a disadvantage though. As an STNA you start to forget the "right" way and do it "your" way, mostly because of being understaffed or what not. To me it helped though. I knew exactly what NOT to do. LOL.

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Congratulations on acceptance to nursing school! Even though I have not been a unit clerk, I have worked in hospitals for 27 years now. You know the regimen of your duties. Parts of them will be to your advantage in nursing school. Nursing school is the hardest thing that I have ever done. So apply yourself and you will be fine.

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