Transition from serving to nursing, is it easier?

[Surfer3406]

Hello all,

I'm a 24 year old male server who is contemplating a career in nursing, and had some questions. I've found that the information on this site and its forums has been of a great help with making my decision, though its still up in the air.

Anyway, I've spent the large part of my working career in restaurant, and was wondering if the skills i've learned would help in making a smooth transition to nursing. Basically, I know what its like to be on your feet for roughly 90% of your shift. I know what its like to prioritize your actions, ask for help when you need it, deal with possibly some of the most obnoxious people alive (I work at a top fine dining restaurant in Philadelphia, patrons of whom are the richest lawyers, business men and families in town) who can sometimes treat you like you are below them and that you exist solely for their beckoned call. Breaks? Whats that? Time to eat? No thanks, I'll pick at my food in between running around for tables. Sometimes I forget that i have to go the bathroom, always telling myself i'll do it just as soon as I do this one more thing.

I've dealt with managers who seem to not care at all about your well-being or helping you out, and that god forbid you tell them you are overwhelmed, you'll only be reprimanded. I'm most pleased with myself when a table makes a point to stop me, and thank me for my service, that they had a wonderful time and everything was perfect. That's all it takes to make me happy. Sometimes I leave work swearing to never return, and others I couldn't imagine any other type of job. Every time i tried another type of job (desk job, slow paced job) I always end up back at a restaurant. I guess its like a show I saw where they asked a navy SEAL why he is a SEAL. his reply was, "I'm good at it. It's what I do."

Do you think that these skills would help me making a smooth transition to nursing? I feel that it seems many of the skills overlap, and that these would all be useful in nursing. Sometimes I feel like some of the posts i have read of nurses who truly rue their jobs seem like they come from someone who didn't truly know what working in an environment like this entails, and finds out to late that being in constant motion for ten hours while constantly updating your short-term to do list is not for them. I think i have an advantage there. what do you think? has anyone made this transition, and how has it worked for you?

Oh, one more question. Do the nurses who are happy with their jobs (environment, teamwork, etc.) feel that these jobs are easy to come by if you are a skilled nurse? I know not every job is perfect, and I've worked in many restaurants with bad managers, incompetent servers with no teamwork, and stupid rules. But if you have the skills, do you think it's easy to find a good job? I would hate to go through school and work hard to perfect my skills only to be constantly thwarted by unfriendly, understaffed work environments.

thanks for any advice,

barry

[floatRN]

I worked in a few different retail jobs before working as a nurse. I think the experience dealing with difficult people did help me as a nurse.

[Dolce, RN]

I only worked at restaurants prior to nursing and found that my serving experience helped me a lot. The pace is very similar and juggling 4 or 5 tables at once is, in some ways, similar to juggling 4-5 patients. The time management is a huge bonus for you if you enter nursing. Also, the people skills that I am sure you have will also bode well for you.

[jjjoy, LPN]

. Basically, I know what its like to be on your feet for roughly 90% of your shift. I know what its like to prioritize your actions, ask for help when you need it, deal with possibly some of the most obnoxious people alive...Breaks? Whats that? Time to eat? No thanks, I'll pick at my food in between running around for tables. Sometimes I forget that i have to go the bathroom, always telling myself i'll do it just as soon as I do this one more thing.... I've dealt with managers who seem to not care at all about your well-being or helping you out, and that god forbid you tell them you are overwhelmed, you'll only be reprimanded...

Sounds like you'd be fine with the work environment of many nursing positions.

... being in constant motion for ten hours while constantly updating your short-term to do list.

Wow! What a great short summary of what nursing can be in many environments!

So, for you, it sounds like it would be details that would make or break your satisfaction with nursing... that is, WHAT you are DOING during those crazy busy hours, since parts of that are QUITE different from restaurant work. For example, getting an order wrong or forgetting something not only results in "customer dissatisfaction" but may in fact be life-threatening. You might need to clean up sticky, stinky poop from the creavices of an obese person's backside, etc.

Good luck with your decisions!!!!

[RheatherN, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

I dont know how much the restaurant has to do with nursing. maybe stamina, but its sooo much of a different field that i cant compare.

if you want to do it, you can! you can do anything if you want it. its aweseome to see that you are doing your research and not just jumping in and then wasting the money to figure out that you hate it, i have seen ppl do that. actually had someone tell me that nursing was a last ditch effort to see if she could make money and have a career! so tx for taking the time to check it out first! and not wasting your own money to possibly find out you dont like it.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Sounds like you've got what it takes.

Finding that perfect environment, regardless of the skills you possess is difficult. In fact sometimes it's just luck that lands you in the right place and the right time. When you're a student doing clinicals you'll get a feel what unit culture you'll want to be a part of and what field you want to go to. I've been lucky to have found a facility that while completely flawed in many ways, fits me and I've stayed for 16 years, because I know the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

RNs in general don't have a lot of problems finding jobs, switching jobs. In fact many nurses switch jobs more than they do their clothes. LOL

Good luck. Sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and I hope you become a nurse. We need people who can think on their feet.

[ZootRN]

I don't know would it help or not, because "waitressing" part of nursing basically drove me away from bedside.

Give me ventilated and sedated patient, unstable and on drips, and I'll be happy.

As soon as they are able to push their call button (see "not able to open splenda packet" thread), I don't want them anymore.

[LadyTiger44]

I am a new grad, as of a few weeks ago. I have not started my new job yet but all through school I worked in restaurants. I feel that it will help me because of the reasons you stated. Both professions you have to deal with stressful situations, you have to prioritize, long hours on your feet. I think the transition will be quite easy. Good luck!

[Nurse Salt]

I always joke that I am still a waitress, I just push meds instead of alcohol now! I was a waitress for YEARS and LOVED IT... When I got into nursing school many nurses I knew said the time management and people skills you learn while serving make the transition to nursing much easier. And they were right!!! You are learning now what is often the hardest part for new nurses to master TIME MANAGEMENT, the nursing/medical knowledge will come in time! Good Luck!

[traumahawk99]

of course this is a waiter job, but the potential for $$ is definitely there. so what? it won't hurt me to get them something. i make over 100k a year after taxes doing this, and if i got someone who wants 6 ice creams, i get them 6 ice creams.

really dude, this is the best paying waiter job you'll ever have. if you do it well, patients will like you and all will be harmony. management wants happy patients. you keep the patients happy, and you'll get all the overtime you want.

since you can't change it, embrace it. bedside nursing is a great career stepping stone, and you may as well get paid for it. i'm going to do this another couple of years and then i've got all sorts of things in the works. work hard and you can save enough to start a healthcare biz, etc.

but it all starts with being a good waiter :). CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THE GOLDEN RULE. this is a great insight and it will help you immensely in your career.

[Jules A, MSN]

It has been my experience that former waitstaff/bartenders do great in nursing because we were already trained in time management, dealing with all types of people and rushing around like crazy in a stressful environment. :)