Will this affect my future career as an RN?

cleback · Feb 4, 2018

I don't think it's wise to leave the nursing field your last semester of nursing school. You may be be able to use your employer to find your first rn job after graduation. I'd tough it out, honestly.

Davey Do · Feb 4, 2018

Well, jprn, I've been fired from jobs, quit jobs, worked as a freelance artist, and have never had any problem finding a job at a hospital or otherwise.

So, please allow my experience to be my answer to your inquiry, and good luck to you!

Sour Lemon · Feb 4, 2018

So I am in my last semester of Nursing School. I currently work as a CNA at a hospital about 40 minutes away. I have been thinking about quitting, due to this being my last semester, and that the drive is really getting tiring. I have been a CNA for 3 years. I have been offered a job at a factory (5 minutes away from where I live). Do you think quitting my CNA job and working at a factory for the last 4 months of nursing school will affect my future as an RN? Will a hospital decide not to hire me because I did not work as a CNA through all of school?

A stable employment history can be more important than the actual job(s) you have. I'd advise that you stay put for that reason, alone.

Jedrnurse, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2018

If you've been at the same hospital for three years, it's a decent period, and will look fine on your resume if you leave it. If the factory job will really make a difference for you in how you do in school, don't sweat the change.

HeySis, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2018

I had quite a few people in my nursing class that already had jobs lined up after graduation because they were internal candidates....It was a bit harder for those not already working in the hospital get placed. So it really depends on where you live and the job market and if you want to work as a nurse for your current employer. If you want to work for a different hospital system then I don't think it would matter as much, but if you want to be an RN where you are now...could you cut back and stay PRN or a shift every other weekend? Just to keep your foot in the door.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2018

I personally don't think it will affect you in the least. I only worked as an aide for a summer in nursing school. It wasn't at a hospital I had any desire to work at after graduation (it was the hospital in the town I grew up in, it was a 5 minute commute for the summer that I was living at home between junior and senior years of college and I had no intention of living at home after graduation). I got my new grad job through connections made in school. I was hired onto the floor I did my preceptorship on. I don't expect recruiters for new grad positions to be looking at "stable employment history" since they're hiring new grads who may very well be 22 years old and getting their first real world adult job.

Alexxoxox, BSN · Feb 4, 2018

If you've been at the same hospital for three years, it's a decent period, and will look fine on your resume if you leave it. If the factory job will really make a difference for you in how you do in school, don't sweat the change.

I have actually been a CNA at the hospital for just under 1 year. My other 2 years were at a nursing home.

caliotter3 · Feb 5, 2018

A prospective healthcare employer will get more valuable information speaking to a prior healthcare supervisor than a factory floor supervisor.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Feb 5, 2018

Yes, do not quit the CNA job, as you will have your foot in the door for a possible new grad job!

A lot of areas are saturated with new grads looking for jobs, and already working in a hospital would help you tremendously, especially if your particular hospital hires new grads. Stick it out!

Annie

Alexxoxox, BSN · Feb 5, 2018

Update: I do not plan on working at this hospital upon graduation.

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2018

I never worked in healthcare in any capacity while I was in nursing school. Didn't affect me any.