The Distance Dose

As nursing students, we’re all going to graduate with the same degree, but what will set you apart?

That’s where your experiences come in. In nursing school, it’s not just about passing exams or acing clinicals, it’s about finding ways to grow beyond the classroom. Not everything on this list will speak to you, but choose the ones that align with your passions or challenge you to try something new. You never know, maybe some of these experiences might be exactly what helps you stand out from the rest.

1. Get involved with a student board and take on leadership roles

Taking on a position in a student board shows others that you can take on more responsibility as a leader. You’re bound to make important connections, build communication skills, and overall get you used to working on a team. Whether it’s schools, employers, etc. They’ll all see that you took initiative to be a part of something bigger while also being in school. 

2. Try to work on the kind of unit you see yourself in as a nurse

You’ll gain real-world experience in your future unit that can possibly count as experience within a specialty. For example, if you became a nursing assistant in the ICU it can count as ICU experience and give you the upper hand when applying for an ICU position as a nurse. This can also help you figure out what kind of unit you want to be on in general while also getting paid for work.

Personally, I want to keep an open mind for my career path so I become a float pool nursing assistant and I’m ruling out any units that I know I don’t want to be on but this can help me stand out, showing I have experience in many units. 

3. Take the opportunity to shadow a nurse and learn what a typical day on the floor looks like

Shadowing nurses can help show your interest in the profession and any specialty you’re interested in. It looks great to employers, showing them you took initiative to learn more about the specialty and that you have seen first hand what it looks like to be a nurse on a specific unit. This can also be a lower commitment than getting a job and is more flexible with your busy schedule!

4. Pursue research opportunities as a research assistant

Being a research assistant shows your curiosity of a topic, builds your critical thinking skills, and demonstrates your desire to solve problems. You may even have the chance to get published or present in front of a crowd which can lead to more opportunities and just in general it looks good.

5. Join your school’s chapter of the student nurses’ association (SNA)

The majority of the accredited nursing programs in the U.S. have their own chapter of the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA) and each state also has their own chapter of NSNA that any nursing students within that state can join. This organization is a great way to take on a leadership role and attend many events that allow you to connect with nurses and nursing students within your school, state, or country. SNA is also an opportunity to speak up for yourself and your peers about any problems with the curriculum you may have. Regardless if you join SNA or not, if you attend the national convention as a resolution speaker you can present and address issues within the nursing curriculum.

6. Volunteer in any type of healthcare facility that interests you

Volunteering may not give you the patient care experience you want but it’s a great way to give back to show your involvement in the community. You’re still able to help out around the unit and talk with many professionals that can teach you a thing or two. IF you haven’t been in the clinical setting much, this can be a great lower commitment opportunity that can help make you more comfortable in this environment.

7. Gain experience as a healthcare worker and get certified

There are so many different ways to get experience as a healthcare worker and any one of them can give you that unique experience you’re looking for. Before you can start working though there are many different certifications that can allow you to join the healthcare field without a degree. I’ll list out a bunch: certified nursing assistant (CNA), certified phlebotomy technician (CPT), certified medical assistant (CMA), certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA – there’s a difference between this and CMA but we won’t get into that), emergency medical technician (EMT), certified patient care technician/assistant (CPCT/A), and basic life certification (BLS). I may be missing some but any of these certifications can help you get a job with hands-on healthcare experience.

Commit to a couple of these extracurriculars and your resume will be built in no time. You’ll stand out to any employer, admissions officer, etc. and they’ll want you to be a part of their team in no time.