wpallais

everyone's insight has been great! honestly, i didn't know there was an IMC floor (how ignorant does that make me sound?)....but it seems clear that ICU or a similar type experience is better than Med/Surg for ER experience....and I have considered prison work as well. I found a volunteer experience after I graduate in an ER in a hospital in Nicaragua (my mom lives there) so I think this will really get me ready to see it all. Thanks again to everyone. These blogs are invaluable for newbies such as myself :)

thank you for the advice!! it makes perfect sense.

Thanks for the advice! I will definitely sign up for the NCLEX first, but as you yourself mentioned it can be 2-3 months until a testing date is available. This is the time I would spend in Nicaragua. Thanks again.

Greetings, I am a nursing student graduating in December. I will be going to Nicaragua for 2-3 months to volunteer at a local hospital while I study for the NCLEX. I was wondering if this experience realistically is viewed positively by hospitals looking to hire new nurses. I am sure the personal experience will be amazing, but I wonder how much to play up the experience when interviewing for jobs? Thanks

Greetings! I am a nursing student, graduating in December. I really want to be an ER nurse, but I am preparing for the possibility of not being able to jump right into an ED straight from school. One of the local hospitals regularly hires new grads for Med/Surg, Main OR, and some of the ICU floors. Which area would be the best experience to have in order to transition into the ER in a year or two? Thanks!

Greetings, I am a first year nursing student. I start my clinicals this month and want to begin making myself a good potential candidate for the work place. I have seen other threads where nurses state how it was a lengthy process to find their first jobs. I am wondering what I can do to make myself stand out. I am ultimately interested in working in the ER. In specific, I am wondering, if volunteer service, even if abroad, look good on a resume? I ask because if I have a hard time finding an internship and/or job post graduation, I may have the opportunity to work or volunteer in Central America. Will this be looked at as some sort of viable experience within the US job market? Thanks