Volunteer & work experience

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Hey everyone,

I need some advice for what would help me stay competitive as a future applicant to a nursing BSN program.

I have 7 years of caregiving experience working in just about every type of environment, including facilities (long term and assisted) and homes. Right now, I'm working very part-time for a non medical in home care agency for 6 hours a week-- my client is a developmentally disabled child. I just picked up a second job, which is a work-study desk job at my school. I'm considering leaving the care job for the desk job, since I'm not doing medical work anyways, but I'm wondering if it would look good later on.

Volunteer-wise, I currently volunteer once a week with elementary school kids at their homework club, which involves redirection, tutoring, ect. I've considered volunteering at the hospital, but they require a commitment of 4 hours a week, which I just can't give right now.

Any suggestions on my situation? Would it be okay to leave the care job, since it isn't medical? Will volunteering with children look interesting or irrelevant?

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Specializes in Oncology, Critical Care.

Well the non medical is really a paying job. If you can get one at a hospital its good, but otherwise, it's a paying job that pays bills and looks good. The volunteering, Many programs and employers care less about patient sitting positions because you don't get hands on experience with the patient, your just there. If you were able to do hands on, or shadow a nurse out of the position it helps, but otherwise its not as significant as being a nurses aide or emt or cna.

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Well the non medical is really a paying job. If you can get one at a hospital its good, but otherwise, it's a paying job that pays bills and looks good. The volunteering, Many programs and employers care less about patient sitting positions because you don't get hands on experience with the patient, your just there. If you were able to do hands on, or shadow a nurse out of the position it helps, but otherwise its not as significant as being a nurses aide or emt or cna.

I'm working as a companion caregiver, not a CNA. Basically I play barbies with a little girl twice a week, it's not really patient care, so that's why I'm wondering if it's worth continuing.

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I would stay with the child rather than put more hours into the desk job if all else is approximentally even about them (distance and/or travel expenses, pay, advancement opportunities, etc). The value is in showing you can hold a job and all that entails - like dependability, reliability, and so on. Also that you will stay with a job at least long enough that they don't wish they had picked someone else (because of turnover costs/hassels.) I would probably stay with the child even if the jobs weren't about even if I'd taken and left many jobs already.

I'm not saying you have; it is just something to consider.

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Specializes in Oncology, Critical Care.

Yeah, im not giving strong opinions to leave or stay, but its a job, more than many people have going into nursing schools. Im sure many schools will understand that you need money to go to school, so many programs are understanding.

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it seems to me that most students who have a part time job at a hospital usually have a shoe in once they graduate. Volunteering in a non medical environment I would think isnt as relevant compared to say volunteering in a hospital. But every little bit counts :) good luck

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I would stay with the child rather than put more hours into the desk job if all else is approximentally even about them (distance and/or travel expenses, pay, advancement opportunities, etc). The value is in showing you can hold a job and all that entails - like dependability, reliability, and so on. Also that you will stay with a job at least long enough that they don't wish they had picked someone else (because of turnover costs/hassels.) I would probably stay with the child even if the jobs weren't about even if I'd taken and left many jobs already.

I'm not saying you have; it is just something to consider.

Thanks for the input, it's helpful. I definitely have shifted around on quite a few jobs, but most of that was due to outside reasons and not because I just felt like it. I understand how that can look on a resume, though :/

Well, I have to travel for the care job (20mins) and the desk job is at school. Desk job pays 10.89 and care pays 10.05. Desk job is work study so they fully understand that school is my number one commitment.. I also applied for the desk job prior to getting hired for the care job. Hmm, lots to think about!

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Call the BSN program and see what they recommend. Some prefer volunteer or medical background. Others could care less.

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Call the BSN program and see what they recommend. Some prefer volunteer or medical background. Others could care less.

Thanks, I may do that. I actually already emailed my first choice school's admission office and asked them if they prefer medical experience as a volunteer or paid work.

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