What would be more important

Published

Or matter more for your chances of being hired as a nurse..

1. Double majoring in biology. This would be doable for me if I take summer classes I'll grad on time. I want to be a public health nurse possibly..especially in epidemiology or possibly a nurse researcher. I was told biology would look good and help for going for a master's and job interviews. So far I have a minor completed for bio.

2. Work in a hospital more or at least a nursing home (but we're discouraged to work in a nursing home by our teachers, they say we'll learn bad techniques). I've taken summer classes every summer so this summer I'd be able to work full time if I don't.

If I take classes this summer, it's going to be a chemistry. I liked the chem I took already so maybe I can still work part time, but I'm not sure yet. It's online and you buy a chemistry kit for the lab at home, and show up to class only for the exams. I don't mind that way of learning for chemistry.

My resume is SAD though. I only worked in daycare, dog walking, and a grocery store cashier. I applied for a housekeeping position at a hospital and didn't get called. I want to start as pt observer, if I can't I'll apply to nursing homes as a CNA. I have a lot of volunteer hours though to help a little for my resume. If I could pick I'd want to double major. I really love getting the most out of my education and it wouldn't cost much more because I pay for up to 18 credits a semester anyway. The summer classes are about $300 a class. I have money I inherited besides work. I have no student loans, I get scholarships and some aid.

Anyway I'd appreciate the advice! Thank you.

EDIT: I forgot to say also double majoring I could not work in a hospital or nursing home during the semester either. My schedule would be packed with hard classes. I'd still work as a cashier though, the hours are more flexible and not as many at once as in a hospital job. But I want to do what will help me get a job as a nurse the most. My adviser said "this education is your resume" meaning when I graduate. But still I just want to do what will be best. I want to be a bedside nurse while I go to school for a master's, I don't want to be one of those people who just keep going back to school with no work in their field.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Double majoring does you no favors as far as getting a nursing job in my opinion. The work experience is infinitely more valuable.

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Specializes in CVICU, CCRN.

My answer is #2. Honestly, getting a job in nursing is all about the connections and experience. If you could get a job in a hospital that would be the best option. Working in LTC isn't considered as "experience" to hospitals (I'm going to assume because it's less fast paced. Not quite sure.) Well in short, yes I would agree with your teachers, to not look into nursing home experience. I found that the most successful nurses that come straight out of school are the ones who got their EMT license in freshmen year, and preceded to "up" the ladder as a CNA in a hospital floor. Furthermore, they're always priority when it comes to job listings. Other options include unit/clinic secretary, transporter, sitter (like you mentioned).

There are many reasons why I voted against #1. First, I just don't think it is necessary. You should focus on attaining your BSN first before trying to add another major in. Why not get a job in the hospital first, and then try out for graduate classes while you're making secure money? What would happen if, God forbid, you experience some sort of study burn out and put your nursing classes in jeopardy? I find this juggling of two majors as trying to give yourself too much headache, for not too much of a benefit.

Hopefully, I didn't sound harsh. Definitely wasn't my intention.

Just adding my 2 cents in

Hope I could help

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Specializes in NICU.

If you want to work in a hospital, then getting any job in a hospital will be far better than any other of your options.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Your teachers are idiots. Bad habits are learned, not taught.

Or matter more for your chances of being hired as a nurse..

1. Double majoring in biology. This would be doable for me if I take summer classes I'll grad on time. I want to be a public health nurse possibly..especially in epidemiology or possibly a nurse researcher. I was told biology would look good and help for going for a master's and job interviews. So far I have a minor completed for bio.

2. Work in a hospital more or at least a nursing home (but we're discouraged to work in a nursing home by our teachers, they say we'll learn bad techniques). I've taken summer classes every summer so this summer I'd be able to work full time if I don't.

If I take classes this summer, it's going to be a chemistry. I liked the chem I took already so maybe I can still work part time, but I'm not sure yet. It's online and you buy a chemistry kit for the lab at home, and show up to class only for the exams. I don't mind that way of learning for chemistry.

My resume is SAD though. I only worked in daycare, dog walking, and a grocery store cashier. I applied for a housekeeping position at a hospital and didn't get called. I want to start as pt observer, if I can't I'll apply to nursing homes as a CNA. I have a lot of volunteer hours though to help a little for my resume. If I could pick I'd want to double major. I really love getting the most out of my education and it wouldn't cost much more because I pay for up to 18 credits a semester anyway. The summer classes are about $300 a class. I have money I inherited besides work. I have no student loans, I get scholarships and some aid.

Anyway I'd appreciate the advice! Thank you.

EDIT: I forgot to say also double majoring I could not work in a hospital or nursing home during the semester either. My schedule would be packed with hard classes. I'd still work as a cashier though, the hours are more flexible and not as many at once as in a hospital job. But I want to do what will help me get a job as a nurse the most. My adviser said "this education is your resume" meaning when I graduate. But still I just want to do what will be best. I want to be a bedside nurse while I go to school for a master's, I don't want to be one of those people who just keep going back to school with no work in their field.

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What everyone else said. A double major won't do anything for you (professionally, that is, not personally) in nursing.

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Thanks for the input I appreciate it.

I think I'm just a nerd. I wanted to take precalculus for fun (not kidding). I like science things. Maybe I can start a science research club or something instead.

And I should concentrate on nursing.

Thank you all!

One thing though my nursing teachers are far from idiots (almost a 90% nclex pass rate last year so they did something right). Maybe they've seen students who worked in ltc pick up bad techniques that messed them up I don't know. I also thought that applying for a hospital they might not like to see that on a resume because of that reason. But I also saw some bad techniques in a hospital.

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Specializes in ER.

Double majoring doesn't really matter. All it does is increase the cost of tuition. Working in a hospital probably would be far more beneficial to getting hired than not working in a hospital.

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