Hospital Experience

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Hey guys!

I am currently a nursing student who also works 1 shift a week as an EKG technician in the hospital.

Obviously, with this job my scope is very limited though I get exposure throughout the entire hospital. I eventually want to specialize in ICU or ED care and know that experience is key so I've applied to an ED Clerk position but I'm not entirely confident that I'll get the experience I need while sacrificing my very flexible schedule.

Does anyone have any insight on this for me?

TIA!

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

Get all the clinical exposure you can, in any way you can

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Any job in the icu is great experience. While you might think a clerk doesn't learn much, it's up to you to pay attention. You will hear when nurses need cxr and for what. It all depends on your involvement. I had a great friend who was a clerk and if she was bored she'd help with simple assistance such as giving a boost to a patient with me. Simple things like remembering to pause tube feeds before laying the patient flat became second nature to her. You will gain the experience in learning the Doctors, routines and lingo. Also the more friendly with staff you become, the more they are willing to teach you and give you the "low down". Best of luck!

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Hey guys!

I am currently a nursing student who also works 1 shift a week as an EKG technician in the hospital.

Obviously, with this job my scope is very limited though I get exposure throughout the entire hospital. I eventually want to specialize in ICU or ED care and know that experience is key so I've applied to an ED Clerk position but I'm not entirely confident that I'll get the experience I need while sacrificing my very flexible schedule.

Does anyone have any insight on this for me?

TIA!

You can't get nursing experience without actually being a nurse. Do the job that works best with your schooling. There's something to be said for a stable work history, too.

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Nursing, like for many others, is my second career. I've got a 10 years stable work history already behind me. I also understand that "nursing experience" comes from a nursing gig, but I'm trying to get a position that I can qualify for to get as much experience and exposure as possible.

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I keep hearing that "clerks don't learn much" but many of my friends have said that it has helped them a lot through their school. I just wasn't sure how it appears later on when i put it on my resume, when I'm hopefully an RN.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

What will matter most is the reputation you develop while working the job. If you are well liked, a strong team member, arrive on time, etc you will make a good impression and stand a decent change of getting a position as an RN after graduation. I think the ED clerk job will be fine. Talk about school as much as you can as you bond with your coworkers. Good luck!

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I've seen some people that had pre-nursing experience that landed them a job and others that post wondering why their pre-nursing degree experience DIDN'T land them a job. You already have a job in the hospital, and you probably see plenty of things as an EKG tech. I think that if the work schedule is ideal for you, you may not gain much from switching to the clerk position. However, as others have mentioned you can see many things. (although the person working as a clerk that helped with boosting and patient care could potentially have huge trouble if something bad ever happens because that's beyond the scope of their job and training) Good luck figuring out what will work best for you.

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I think it'd be good experience but I wouldn't bet all my money on immediately landing a career there as an RN just because you're a clerk. I've seen it go both ways. Yes I agree healthcare exposure is great in school. Honestly, I was a cashier as a grocery store and never had a problem finding a job when I graduated. Do what works best for you. Good luck:)

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Getting the ‘exposure' will help you if you make a kick butt impression. Be a good employee, a great coworker, etc, then you have a foot in when a position opens up. Leave them with a bitter pill you may be working as a unit clerk as you look for employment elsewhere as a nurse (rub someone the wrong way, call off due to a test, etc). It could go either way. Just know that nursing school has a weird way of expecting your job to conform to it, and your employer needs to staff a hospital according to its needs.

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