oaktree39

Hello! I am currently in an accelerated BSN program that will finish at the end of the month. I am thinking of doing a year of service before I enter clinical practice, and I wanted to hear people's thoughts. My main question is, would this affect hiring opportunities the next year if I do not enter clinical practice immediately? How would this look to hiring managers and people involved in hiring decisions? I would still take the NCLEX as soon as possible in August or September, depending on when my school gives the authorization to test. I would then apply for jobs/nursing residencies in March or April of next year and hope to start working in July or August of the same year. For the year of service, I would be working with a group that addresses poverty and homelessness. It is a relationship-first model that helps increase the self-esteem and self-efficacy of people experiencing homelessness. As a volunteer, I have personally met and seen people impacted who get into housing, go sober, and reconnect with estranged family because of this. Here are some of the benefits I think this would give me: resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity people skills like de-escalation and situational awareness a broader and more compassionate view of marginalized groups, as a lot of people experiencing homelessness are immigrants, have mental illnesses, etc. Do you think this is a good idea? Or do you think I would be putting myself at a disadvantage for the future? Would it be better with certain specialties/floors? If this makes a difference, I am a man in my early 20s.