Will a p/t job at a diet office help me as a student?

[cmw6v8]

Hi there,

I'm switching careers from journalism to nursing (hopefully to pursue public health/health education) and I'm about to start my nursing coursework next month. I have NO work experience in health care, except for the 3 weeks I volunteered at an ER one summer. I am looking for a part-time job to get my foot in the door at the local hospital which I would like to work at once I'm an RN.

I just interviewed for a clerk position in the dietary office. I've applied for other jobs like techs/aides and unit clerks, etc. but they seem to prefer, and are able to find, candidates with health care experience.

My question is, do you think working in the diet office would be a good place to get some experience, even though I'm a nursing student? I know I won't have the kind of clinical interaction with patients (other than on the phone) that CNAs/techs get, but I'm very interested in nutrition/dietetics and the hours for this job would be perfect for me as a student (12 hours a week, all decent shifts). I'd love some feedback! Thanks!

[msjellybean]

I worked in my hospital's diet office for 3 and a half years. I started there when I was still in my undergrad program, as a dietetics major (just made sense, ya know). I stayed there after I graduated, while I was between school, and I stayed in the position until the summer before I graduated. I worked as an extern the summer before I graduated and a patient care tech during my last semester. That was invaluable experience and it has made me a better nurse.

I loved the diet office job because the work was fairly easy, it related to what I was interested in, the hours were great, and there was a good chunk of downtime that I could use to study.

It might be good experience in the broader sense, to see how the interdisclipinary team works together and to see the impact of nutrition on patients and their outcomes. But I would also highly recommend that you try to get some cna/tech experience before you're done with school; if at all possible.

[cmw6v8]

Thanks for the input! I do plan on finding a nursing externship next summer, and perhaps I could get a job as a CNA or a tech later in my schooling.

[casi, ASN, RN]

IF it gets you into the hospital it might be worth it. Once you prove yourself as a good employee they maybe willing to hire you onto a position as a CNA if you'd like.