What jobs did you do before nursing?

Published

For a short time 20 years ago I cut hair, I consider myself a "people person". I also worked as a medical assistant (certified ophthamic assistant to eye surgeons, and Lasik technician) for 13-14 years so this helped me feel more comfortable (a little) as a new grad because of previous experience interacting with doctors and patients.

Just curious what other jobs you did before going into the nursing field? Do you think your previous experiences help you now?

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

▫first job worked for a wallet company in a department store embossing gold initials on various leather accessories

▫waitress in a pie shop

▫assistant manager of trendy clothing store

▫went to LVN school and graduated in Dec '75

began work in hospital a month before my 20th birthday

I had no idea what I was getting into - the waitress job may have helped with multi-tasking and prioritizing but I didn't make that connection at the time

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, Ophthalmology, Tele.
Library Aide while in high school, then CNA in a SNF for a few months. Gave that up for CNA hospital job and also did home health for a couple of years and moonlighting at a candle factory, while obtaining my LPN. After LPN, I worked in a hospital and moonlighted again, at a SNF part time. Finally obtained my RN after 4 yrs of LPN and have been in hospitals ever since.

He..He....Moonlighting at a candle factory. :p

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, Ophthalmology, Tele.
Forklift driver

Foundry worker

Truck Inspector

Top that.

How about a roller skate repair technician?

No..just kidding, I heard that once on a show or movie (can't remember where).

I had to google foundry :D

(A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. )

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, Ophthalmology, Tele.
▫first job worked for a wallet company in a department store embossing gold initials on various leather accessories

▫waitress in a pie shop

▫assistant manager of trendy clothing store

▫went to LVN school and graduated in Dec '75

began work in hospital a month before my 20th birthday

I had no idea what I was getting into - the waitress job may have helped with multi-tasking and prioritizing but I didn't make that connection at the time

Mmmmmm.....pie......

Sorry....I get sidetracked easily.

Back to thread.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.

My first "job" was a newspaper delivery girl and I started doing that when I was 11. Along with that was babysitting. After that, from when I was 14-18, I worked as an aide in a pre-school summer school program. When I was in college, I worked a lot of odd jobs... I was basically a substitute secretary for the sewer department in my town for a few months, worked in a medicaid office for a few months, did a LOT of substitute teaching and probably the sweetest job I ever had was being a 1:1 bus monitor for a child with severe autism. Which basically meant, I rode the bus with him to and from school and sat between him and another child to prevent them from hitting each other. The school was about 30 minutes from my town so I was actually only with him for about an hour each day but got paid for 4 hours. I also did the requisite summer as a nurses' aide at the hospital in my town.

Some of my jobs definitely helped me when it came to nursing. I work in pediatrics so it was to my benefit that I'd had 9 years experience working with children by the time I was applying for nursing jobs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Still in nursing school,and I am fairly young so I don't have an extensive work history.McDonald's was my first job at seventeen. Lasted three months. Hated it.Second job was working for my college's dining services. Nine months. Loved it.Office Assistant. Hated the hours. And worked for a catering company for six months. Such disrespect. Now I am a sitter. Have been for almost seven months. Looking to job hop into a SNA position because my employer keeps overlooking me. Jerks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

O.K. - you asked for it! :eek:

My professional background (prior to getting me a CNA certificate) was primarily in what's now called IT; used to be IS/MIS/DP. Jobs I've had:

- Computer Operator for an auto parts retailer (twice at the same company);

- Computer Operator for a software development firm (they make the flagship GIS out there, or at least that's what THEY claim...);

- Computer Operator for a tire manufacturer;

- Programmer for the same tire manufacturer;

- Programmer for a mail-order retailer;

- Programmer for a major perfume manufacturer;

- Programmer for a televangelical ministry;

- Database Administrator for a discount retailer;

- Programmer/Analyst for a contractor (ironically, not only was this my last paying job I had but the client site I worked at happened to be one of my old schools).

Helped my late dad out when he managed a liquor store, plus mowed lawns, light home repair, general handyman stuff for spending money while in high school & college.

Since then - trained as a Pharmacy Tech & CNA, pursuing a career in nursing, taking classes at a local CC (pre-nursing courses) & volunteering with a national hospice organization.

As far as how much any of this helped in nursing; well, some. Being in IT you learn to deal with lots of different kinds of people & a fair degree of patience is essential - plus you develop a fairly thick skin over time. The math requirement for a BSN is pretty trivial compared to the math you need for a CS degree, so I'll be dusting off old knowledge in that arena (had to do some of that for Pharmacy Tech) but didn't do much in Life Sciences so micro/organic chemistry/A&P will all be somewhat new to me. Did some of this when I was my late mom's study partner while she was working on her LVN, so it won't be totally new - but, it's going to be interesting to see how things pan out. Oddly enough - I've really enjoyed taking intro psych as an online course; the course material is fascinating, and I get to attend class in my jammies, which helps. :sleep:

----- Dave

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice, HH, LTC, ER,OR.

Let's see.. I was a retail whore.I worked at a place called Eve's shoes(stripper shoes and church lady heels). Rich's( before it became Macy's).Jcpenny's catalog call center.And finally Sams club( door greeter, photo tech, optician) for 10 years before I received my Lpn 3 years ago. But I can't forget chick fil a that was my very first job in highschool. Currently home health and hospice while in the RN program that starts Monday :)!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Macho Dancer in a gay bar and some nude night clubs!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

certainly, prior nursing i use to be a house sitter, then a dog sitter, then at a tender age with my parents signature i became a lpn, worked for 1yr. at the same time as i continued my rn program. those were the days my friend :cool:... hmm i feel a song creeping up.... aloha~

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, Ophthalmology, Tele.
Macho Dancer in a gay bar and some nude night clubs!

Ooooh my!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I had a paper route as a kid. Then I baby sat and helped out at my mom's hair salon by sweeping floors, emptying trash, and filling shampoos, and washing towels. I also worked at Kroger as a stock clerk, floral clerk (even managed that department for awhile), stock clerk (managed a depratment for a short time too), helped out in the customer service desk, bagged groceries too. I also was a nurse assistant for about 3 months, then a nurse extern for 6 months, and have been a RN since 2001.

I currently work in a Neuro ICU

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion