Would going back to school to pursue Nursing be good for my case?

[vwbeetle]

Hello everyone at allnurses,

I'd like to get your feedback on my situation.

I got accepted to a Nursing school for Fall 2011, but I'm concerned about eventually finding a job as an RN after school.

Here's my situation:

I worked at my job for 5yrs 'til Aug 2009. I gave my resignation, as my working environment became unbearable. My supervisor got the HR involved to sabotage me and I decided to leave before they really mess my reputation within the organization. Yes, I was bullied by her and the HR management. I didn't want to have "dismissed" on my record, so I voluntarily left, lucking because I found another job elsewhere.

Unfortunately, that new job didn't work out either, and I arranged with the employer that they let me go by stating "not suited for the position".

From fall 2009 until april 2011, I hopped 5 different jobs. All of them were "revolving door" positions where no one last more than 6 months. I was so desperate to find a work and perhaps they saw I needed work asap.

I plan on not mentioning any of these jobs that I hopped since 2009.

On the other hand, I have been volunteering at a local teaching hospital for a little over 1 year, and that one has been going very well. I got a very strong reference letter from the hospital volunteer dept, for my Nursing admission as well as a lot of RNs and CNAs are happy with my volunteer work.

Now, when I go back to school full-time in fall and 3 YRS later, when I try to apply for a Nursing job, don't you guys think that the hospital HRs will see my CV as a red flag?

Wouldn't they think "Does this candidate see Nursing as some kind of an emergency exit or what??"

july 2004- aug 2009 A employer

2010- present: hospital volunteer

2011 april - present: B employer, pt office clerk

I plan on continuing volunteer to amend my CV while I go to school and also to network with people there.

I thought of sending my CVs to hospital HR to see if they have any student PT positions in clerical jobs like reception, cafeteria cashier...etc...but I'm a little concerned that they will turn down my CV and eventually not even consider my candidacy 3 yrs later when I apply for Nursing positions.

BTW, I luckily found a part-time office clerk job at a corporate company since april this year, and I expect to work there 'til end of august at least. They are really happy with me and in fact, they are trying to talk me out of Nursing, if I'm intereted in their field.

I know that they are a very stable company and everyone seem to have been there for many yrs.

I'm concerned that after 3 yrs of investing in my education with student loans, that the hospital HRs will blacklist my CV due to the gap in my working history.

Please feel free to share your opinions about this.

From what I've been reading on allnurses.com, it seems like the hospital HRs work like some mafias for the best interest of the employer; especially the new nurses who got bullied from their new job.

If the HR decides to screw your license and your career path, it seems like they do whatever they can to ruin your Nursing career, based on what's been posted here.

Worried vwbeetle...

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Remember that you aren't obligated to list all your previous jobs on your resume. If it's a job that isn't related to nursing and you only held it for a short time, you don't need to put it on your CV. A resume is meant to highlight your strengths and qualifications. If a job doesn't do that, leave it out.

Think about why you are choosing nursing. It is a difficult field to find a job in right now, and while the pay can be good in some areas, it isn't in all of them. What's your motivation for becoming a nurse? The answer to that will help determine if it's the right field for you.

If you do decide to pursue nursing, remember that nursing school is very hard and you will have to rub elbows with a lot of management, instructors and higher-ups in both the school and clinical sites. It looks like you have a history of trouble with management. I'm not saying that's your fault, but networking can really make or break a nursing career. So reflect on your past interactions with management and look for ways to improve those interactions in the future.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

What kind of jobs were these? It is possible they aren't even relevant, so not to worry.

[vwbeetle]

Hi linearthinker,

I was mostly in web + graphic design (promotional brochures, packaging, etc).

Not related to Health.

That's another thing; wouldn't the HR people from Hospital say "You're an artist? Do you think you'll handle Nursing job? There's zero creativity."

I've gotten this reaction from people around me.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Well for one thing, the NM will want to know about your clinicals and any externships. Make sure you stand out at school to obtain letters of reference from instructors and preceptors. That's your best bet. No one will really care about jobs that you held for only a few months. However, before you embark on nursing school, think long and hard about whether you truly want it. You're dealing with lives, after all.

[adnrnstudent, ASN, RN]

I think you're giving that past job way too much thought.

I haven't worked in 3 years, was a pharma rep for 14 years and now in nursing school. Past 3 years doing pre-reqs and nursing school.

Go for it.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

"that's another thing; wouldn't the hr people from hospital say "you're an artist? do you think you'll handle nursing job? there's zero creativity."

anybody who tells you there's no creativity in nursing is talking through his hat. i can't begin to tell you how many creative things i've seen done by nurses in every field:

= figuring out ways to cajole a small burn victim to take lots more calories p.o. to stave off a feeding tube that would have required the toddler to be in restraints

= getting an injured worker's wife's employer to set her up for fmla so she could do his personal care at home when he wouldn't let a stranger touch his private areas-- and getting his comp insurance to pay her what a cna would get for the same work (but that was a lot less than they would have paid the agency who sends cnas)

= taking a 6-month icu patient on a ride through the hospital late at night so he could see the stars over the parking lot, just once

= the whole staff of a dementia unit dressing up as smurfs for halloween (that was some day!)

= deriving show-and-tell posters for transplant recipients (personalized for each) on meds, treatments, and follow-ups

= figuring out how to explain an lp to someone with acute stroke and receptive aphasia, using drawings

hospice is famous for coming up with the most creative things you can imagine for quality of life. so is nicu and peds in general.

there are so many patient teaching programs, support programs, and recreational programs all begin by a nurse who said, "what if we could..." where do you think those come from, the nursing fairy?

i'll bet people can think of a whole lot more. i may even start a new thread with this.... yup, think i will. what are some of the most creative things you've ever seen in nursing, small or large?

[vwbeetle]

Thank you everyone, for reminding me the bright side of going into Nursing.

Is Nursing really what I want to do?

Yes and no.

Yes, because I've always wanted to become a healthcare professional. I enjoy helping others and a lot of time, going out of my way to help whenever I can. Volunteering in hospital has been giving me chance to see the Nursing is a very demanding career but also very rewarding. I enjoyed all the pre-requisite courses that I took, and the course material in the Nursing program looks really challenging.

I look forward to starting the program itself. I'm just really scared, now that I'm about 6 wks prior to the first wk of school and part of myself is concerned about the hospital HR people possibly "picking on" my candidacy if they find out that my 1st degree and my 1st career was in the creative world.

No, each time I read stories about "horizontal violence in Nursing", it really scares the crap out of me. Been there already in my previous job where the HR created documents based on the version of my boss. Workplace bullying exists everywhere, and it's something I never want to go through.

I'm so relieved after reading replies from all of you.

Thank you again for such a quick response.

GrnTea, thank you for confirming me that Nursing requires creativity. That's what I always thought, since I can imagine so many situations where you really have to come up with a creative idea in this field.

Yes, I won't give too much credit to my previous employment. In any case, I do have two people in the upper management that are willing to provide me a positive reference (not my boss), if the hospital HR requests this. However, I plan on having my volunteer supervisor at the hospital and a few RNs who appreciates my service, to be my reference when I apply for hospital jobs.

So I'll go relax in peace now.

:)

[caliotter3]

You are overthinking this. Any derogatory thoughts about your immediate past work history can be lessened by a strong effort at working in healthcare starting now. Get a CNA certificate and start building a work history as a CNA. When I transitioned from one line of work to licensed nurse, the interviewers asked me about the CNA jobs on my resume. They didn't waste time on discussing the previous career. My experience, your mileage may vary.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Community health is another area which requires a lot of creativity. You need to find creative ways for health promotion.

[Fiona59]

You are using a Maple Leaf in your profile, so I'm assuming that you are Canadian. The vast majority of posters on this site are Americans and work in a very different climate than Candian nurses.

Canadian Nurses are usually unionized. Trust me, the union protects its members. I work with nurses who if they were non-union would have been let go a long time ago (one of the bad sides of unions).

Hospital HR? Hmm, in my Health Authority they are in an office tower so far away from any hospital setting they wouldn't know a nurse from a Lab Tech without reading the tags. Half the time, they don't even take phone calls.

As you state, workplace bullies exist in every job. Some of the most spiteful women and men I've ever met are nurses and yes, they are still working. YOU have to develop a backbone of steel and face them down. Document every verbal attack no matter how subtle it is. Documentation is the key to surviving in such an evironment. Eventually when enough people can provide proof the bully is taken down and replaced. It's amazing how often a bully winds up in an "excluded" management role and are therefore dispensable when enough complaints are funnelled by the union through HR.

I've worked with US nurses who have moved north. They've admitted we work in a very different environment. We are public servants for the most part which is very different from being a corporate employee. Our healthcare system isn't for profit, we are expected to manage our resources and hopefully not bankrupt the provincial government. If it takes four different types of ostomy flanges to get the right fit, that's what it takes. The patient isn't billed for the failed attempts and products. They find they benefit from union representation and have been happy to have advocates in the workplace.

If you go into nursing expecting failure in your job search after you graduate university, you will find it. Nursing no longer guarantees a job to everyone, so if you are really doubtful, maybe that corporate offer of training is something to consider. Four years tutition/student loans is a whack of cash to repay if you find yourself in a line of work you don't enjoy.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

Creativity is an important trait in any leader (even Canadians ), and too often lacking in many.

I agree you are over thinking it. Just proceed with your education and leave the past in the past.