Things to do to enhance and improve my Nursing future?

[DomLaki]

Hello to all that read this topic,

I have recently decided, my sophomore year in University, that i want to become a Nurse (RN), more specifically a Operating Room Nurse (OR). I spend days upon days reading, educating myself for my future. However, i was wondering what could really make me stand out from the rest of the crowd? I am becoming very active in the community, helping people, just trying to make the frowns turn upside down, i am generally a very kind soul to anyone i meet. I want to volunteer at my local hospital but i only have a couple of weeks until i depart back to University again so there isn't much point at the moment. However saying that, i want to volunteer during the summer, but the complication there is not only balancing a job and volunteering, but is it possible to get some experience in the OR or somewhere that gets me involved in a hospital? I am going to contact my hospital and talk to them about this exact same topic, but i wanted to know your input. What would you do? What do you think made you stand out? I really wanted to become a doctor, but taking out $200-300K in loans worries me right now, so ill start from the middle and work my way up the pole.

I have a very strong work ethic, saying that i am not strict, i'm very laid back and enjoy socializing while working.

I'm 20, male, i moved to the United States from England in 2010. I didn't really get my calling in Nursing, but it just feels right in my gut, it fascinates me really. I am quite squeamish, but i can handle watching Operations, blood squirting, and all that fun stuff in Hospitals, i practically grew up in one as a child. In addition some of my family worked as Nurses and Hospital Staff, my mother, for example, was a CNA i believe, she then moved to Orthopedic Technician (Creating casts, and such).

But anyway back to my question, what can i do to make myself stand out more when applying to Nursing School? Like i said, i'm researching the field now, becoming familiar with terminologies and I've even taken practice NCLEX's.

[liberated847]

Get your EMT certification and volunteer at a local ambulance squad, after you get your RN, get your prehospital RN certification so you can work at an advanced level like a paramedic (EMT is very basic). Then start piling up credentials after your RN. ACLS, PALS, etc.

[DomLaki]

Thank you very much for your input liberated847. Much Appreciated.

[liberated847]

Thank you very much for your input liberated847. Much Appreciated.

Sure, you'll get more suggestions here, I did this and landed an ER, Cath Lab and agency work as a new grad. Now I do flight nursing and manage a STEMI program

[DomLaki]

Sure, you'll get more suggestions here, I did this and landed an ER, Cath Lab and agency work as a new grad. Now I do flight nursing and manage a STEMI program

Nice, how do you like it? I have no hospital experience or anything just starting the baby steps to being an RN, i hear Nursing School is kind of Grueling to a point. How was it for you? Thanks again.