Employment Gap - should bring up nursing school?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi all,

Think I'll just put it on here too. Just a little history. I was a former nursing student who unfortunately did not complete nursing school and was dismissed after a uneventful incident in clinical (honestly it was a painful 1.5 years and came to realize I am not cut out to be a nurse at the end). It was a very hard time for me. However, after I left I worked for sometime and went back to school to get a MPH degree and was very successful. I realized that this was my niche. I am doing very well in my professional life and am currently working in research. I also currently will be moving soon and am looking for another job. There is a opening that offers good benefits, but the problem is they are asking for any employment gaps during my work history. I'm a bit iffy about mentioning nursing school because I feel like that could just possibly hurt me, even though it's in another field. But as usual, it's best to be honest. Can anyone give any advice on how to tackle this? I hope that just because I was a nursing school failure does not mean that I am not capable, especially since I have performed very well in my MPH school and in my current job. I don't want it to come off as a bad reflection on me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Oh sure:

1. I considered nursing as a career, and in fact started a program but then realized that research was really where my niche was and so I pursued my MPH degree.

2. Nursing school was my initial interest but soon realized that research is where its at....so I changed paths and obtained an MPH

8
Up Vote Up Vote ×

If all they're asking about is a gap in employment and you weren't working while in college, why not say exactly that? As in, "during that time I was in college and decided not to work so that I could focus on my studies."

If pressed to elaborate, traumaRUs gave examples of great responses.

7
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Agree with the previous posters. It's not as though you were spending your days on the couch channel-surfing: you were doing something far more productive with your time. And you wouldn't be the first student to change course in the middle of their studies and pursue something completely different (I did).

Best of luck in the job hunt!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment