Huge dilemmas.... advice please!

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Hello everyone, first post here and I have to say, this website is a wealth of information. My name is Jess and I'm 26, single mama with a 4 yr old son. I have a lot of geneds completed and going back to school this spring to take A&P 1 and my math and Chem, and applying for NS for fall 09.

I was working full time in the oil and gas business doing administrative work and recently leasing came to an end so we lost our jobs (unless we could travel which I definitely could not) So... I began looking for jobs in the area (and let me tell you it is not easy here with no degree) I started applying for jobs at the hospital, (nurse extender jobs and unit clerk positions) wanting to be in the healthcare setting, especially since I'm going back to school to get my nursing degree.

Here is my dilemma #1. I interviewed for a unit clerk position 2 weeks ago and was offered the job...due to the unit clerk class beginning soon, I had to make the decision to accept immediately (orientation was to start a few days later, and my physical was the very next day after they called me) I really wanted a nurse extender position for the hands on patient care and experience, but I thought I should take this as it was presented and did not want to decline for I thought that could hinder my chances of being offered another job there. moving on...

I had orientation this week and my feelings toward nurse extending grew more, and I have been having 2nd thoughts about the unit clerk position. I started unit clerk class today, and of course came home to see a new nurse extender position (full time in the E.R.) was just posted today.

My question is, would it be terribly wrong of me to go talk to H.R. about this? Would they look at me like I was ridiculous or do you think they could help me transfer or be considered for the nurse extender position?

I feel that I would be a better fit there and would learn so much. And the experience would be invaluable.

:uhoh21:

Other dilemmas include trying to work/go to school, etc all at the same time with a 4 yr old but I believe that where there is a will there has to be a way. I am strong willed and determined, but terrified and overwhelmed at the same time.

Any advice anyone can give me would be MUCH appreciated.

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Hey Jess

I did unit secretary for 1 year before starting NS and it helped a lot with medical terms, paper work, labs, doctor orders, charts, etc. The hands on is nice but to get into seeing and knowing what RN's do (in regards to paper work) a unit secretary is the way to go. I was shocked at how much it really helped with my school. I'm in my first semester and will try for a student nurse position over the summer. But I will always appreciate the experience I have from being a unit secretary. Paper work I've found is something way more complicated than hands on.

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I think the unit clerk position would be very valuable, as the above poster stated, knowing the lingo and seeing the paperwork is a huge bonus! I think the charting is more difficult sometimes than assessments. As well if the nurses know ur in school and u express interest,they can always come and grab ya and show you the cool procedures if tiem allows

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Specializes in 2 years as CNA.

I would stick with the unit clerk. I am about to try to get a unit clerk job at my hospital. A fellow classmate of mine who is a nurse at our local hospital told me that is the way to go and that I will get way more experience as a unit clerk. I was a CNA for a while and that position does help you get used to talking with patients but other than that you don't really get that much experience. Since you already got hired as the unit clerk I would stick with that and see how you like it. Then if things don't work out you can always try and transfer later. If your hospital is anything like the one here there are always positions opening up.

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Specializes in LTC, Cardiac Step-Down.

Stick with the unit clerk. Not only will it not look very good on your record to change jobs so quickly, but unit clerking, I think, is a lot more nursing-school friendly than working the floor. As a clerk, you won't have to break your back doing patient care and it's really a better experience for what nurses do and have to deal with.

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What is a Unit Clerk or Nurse Extender? Just curious :specs:

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Specializes in E.D..

I just left a 10 year HR career to go back to nursing school. I can tell you that I was often put off when a brand new employee in whom we had invested valuable training time already wanted to change positions. It puts the employer in a very bad situation to have wasted all that time and money. It would also give me a bad feeling about the employee as being wishy washy or high maintenance. The only exception would be if the new position was something in which the new employee already had experience. In that case, the training already invested was a little easier to swallow because the employee would require much less training for the new position.

Sorry, I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I thought I'd add my 2 cents since you specifically mentioned HR. Hiring is a long, difficult process, and it just seems as though I wasted my time when a brand new employee was already dissatisfied and wanting something different. Good luck!

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Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

I think you will find that you have more time to learn about the routine of a hospital with the unit clerk position; as many of the pps have stated. being a nurse extender might work better in a year or so when you are in the thick of things with school as you will be learining about what you are seeing .

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hey jessica,

I will have to agree with the others that the unit clerk position is the way to go and for more than one reason 1. yes you are going to learn many things that you probably arent even aware of at this time 2. i have two girls in my nursing program right now that are clerks and they said it is much easier than being on the floor because they can bring thier notes and homework to work and not always but most of the time are able to atleast look over the homework and get some accomplished whereas being on the floor that is not going to happen especially bc you said that the opportunity is in the ER. When you are in your nursing program you are going to have other opportunities to see and experience the things you wanna do until then for now i would stick to the unit clerk position.3. I think that this position will seem to be a lot easier for you to finish up the pre reqs that you still need for that last semester,i dont think that your body will be so overworked, hope my advice helped, good luck to you!:nuke:

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Well, my :twocents: is that around where I live you can't take a Nurse Extender position unless you have completed your first year of nursing classes so you have skills lab and can do the things Nurse Extenders do. May be different where you are, but you might want to check it out.

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thanks everyone for your reponses. Today was the last day of the UC class and tomorrow is our final before we go to our unit. I can't believe the amount of info put into my head in the last week and a half. insane! makes me really scared for nursing school.

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Specializes in 2 years as CNA.

Thanks for the update. Good luck in your position. So, did you decide to stay with the UC job?

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