Nursing and waitressing/food service industry

[nursefrances, BSN, RN]

I was thinking about how many nurses I know who were waitresses/servers before becoming nurses. I think this comes in handy because you learn how to multi-task, how to work in a fast paced/stressfull environment, how to play nice with other coworkers, AND how to communicate with the public.

Anyone else out there work in this field before nursing?

Sometimes on student threads I see posts from students wanting to work as a CNA, etc. to get experience while going through school. Unfortunately it's tough to land these jobs in the current market. I think maybe they should work as servers instead. You get tips and you learn how to hustle/work hard.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I worked at two different McDonald's restaurant locations as a cashier. I also worked at Wienerschnitzel, which is a hot dog fast food joint. I've also worked at Target, the 99 Cent Store, and two different grocery stores.

All of these jobs were humbling and showed me the ugliest sides of human nature.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

I second waitressing as a great choice to put yourself through school, learn to multitask, and serve people. In many ways it is very similar to being a nurse, and you also make tips, sort of like patient satisfaction scores.

Also, you may get to do a Heimlich maneuver.

[kiszi, RN]

Yep, I was a server for 5 years prior to becoming a nurse.

It helped me immensely.

[nursefrances, BSN, RN]

I remember once walking down the hall with the med cart and a patient tray on the cart. Another nurse walked by quickly with one food tray balancing on each arm. I swear she was holding something else too. I said to her, "You were a server weren't you?" It was pretty obvious. She just smiled and winked.

My daughter is a server at Red Lobster and I have seen her work. She doesn't realize the skills she is gaining. Well, she does now because we talked about it. She was working on her resume, looking for a second job and thought she didn't have any real skills. I told her to share all of the skills she is using now and I named off the list I wrote in the original post above.

[FineAgain]

I did work in fast food and as a server...but I have to share.

Last night we had a discussion about taking the "RN" off our name badges, and replacing it with "Server". Then we scripted. "Hi, I'm FineAgain and I will be your server tonight. Our specials for the night include Dilaudid, straight up, and an assortment of narcotics. We also offer Toradol and acetaminophen for our less adventurous guests. Can I offer you something?"

[nursefrances, BSN, RN]

I did work in fast food and as a server...but I have to share.

Last night we had a discussion about taking the "RN" off our name badges, and replacing it with "Server". Then we scripted. "Hi, I'm FineAgain and I will be your server tonight. Our specials for the night include Dilaudid, straight up, and an assortment of narcotics. We also offer Toradol and acetaminophen for our less adventurous guests. Can I offer you something?"

Love it! You forgot "I have the time."

[cassie77775]

I did work in fast food and as a server...but I have to share.

Last night we had a discussion about taking the "RN" off our name badges, and replacing it with "Server". Then we scripted. "Hi, I'm FineAgain and I will be your server tonight. Our specials for the night include Dilaudid, straight up, and an assortment of narcotics. We also offer Toradol and acetaminophen for our less adventurous guests. Can I offer you something?"

I will have to use this with my patients! I think they would get a kick out of it!

Back to the topic-yes I also worked as a server in a pizza joint for many years! Learned a lot of customer service skills!

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I worked the dining rooms of resort hotels during my high school and college years and let me tell ya, it taught me PLENTY! Time management, prioritizing (DEFINITELY), rote memorization skills. Diplomacy (as in "I really want to kill this guy, but instead I'm going to apologize for the kitchen not being able to create his special request in four minutes or less and offer him other options").

Yes, certainly a plus when it came to not only nursing, but LIFE!

[Mn nurse 22]

Yep worked as a server for many years. Now there are times as I fetch coffee, cookies and ice I have to ask myself "why did I go to nursing school"?

Learned a lot about multi-tasking, having 5 tables of customers at a time is not that different than 5 patients who all need different things. Learned to smile, and save my ranting for back of the house and learned to run around for hours every shift with sore feet and safety shoes.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Former server here. Also tended bar -- which got real interesting around closing time on a Saturday night -- and cleaned hotel rooms. Wedding photograper, worked in a photo lab and in tobacco fields. Serving was probably the best money and the best experience. (Although rounding up drunken wedding guests to appear in group photos and then getting them to pose and look in the proper direction was good experience for dealing with visitors!)

[Retired APRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

I worked at Burger King ("We'll do it your way!") one summer back in the days when we wore white uniforms, plastic aprons and yellow cardboard "crowns" on our heads. I learned how to smile sweetly while middle-aged guys smirked, "Hey, babe - will you do it my way? Heh heh." That actually came in handy when I was a young, pretty nurse.

I also worked as a sales girl at a department store, where I learned to stand on my feet and not go to the restroom for hours on end. Obvious good preparation for nursing.