Job change didn't work - how do I go back to my old career?
April 21, 2013 7:44 PM   Subscribe

I was an office manager between 2002-2008, but went back to school to become a nurse. I'm currently an RN in a large metropolitan area, but would really rather go back to a career in administration / office management. What's the best way to do this?

Currently, I'm compressing multiple nursing jobs from the past 4 years into one "section" on my resume and only entering basic information that would cross-apply to administration jobs. I'm also putting the rest of my administrative experience beneath that (in chrono order).

Some questions:
1. Do I just leave my nursing jobs out and have a gap of 3-4 years?
2. Are employers going to toss my resume thinking that I'll command a salary equivalent to a nurse of 4 years?
3. Is there anything I can do to leverage the nursing experience into an administrative / office manager role?
4. Any other advice?

Thank you
posted by anonymous to Work & Money (11 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
I would think that your RN + your past admin/office management experience would help you stand out in a variety of medical management administration jobs in hospitals, clinics, medical practices, medical labs, insurance companies, medical billing, etc.
posted by Good Brain at 7:53 PM on April 21, 2013 [17 favorites]


I don't have all the answers for you, but I would have to say no, do not leave your nursing jobs out. Apparently, having an employment gap of greater than six months on your resume is not beneficial.

I don't think people will toss out your resume thinking you'll want a nurse's salary. After all, you're not applying to be a nurse.

I would imagine that you can leverage nursing experience into management experience by virtue of playing up the interaction with people. You spent a lot of time with people on a daily basis as a nurse and have doubtlessly seen a lot of the bad side of people and have probably calmed these individuals down. Management can include the same kind of issues, since you're dealing with people in that role as well.

On preview, Good Brain has a good point. You can use your medical experience for management jobs in medical environments, too. Definitely a good idea to keep in mind as you job hunt.

Hope that's helpful and good luck! :)
posted by juliebug at 7:57 PM on April 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Since your RN job is your most recent one, you shouldn't it out of your resume since that might make it look like you're currently unemployed. Employers are apparently discriminating more against the unemployed than the employed with no relevant work experience.
posted by cosmic.osmo at 9:19 PM on April 21, 2013


Good lord, YES your nursing skills are an asset!

Also, if you feel like going this route, I know a former nurse (she got sick of it after YEARS of nursing) who started working for a law firm as an "expert." Basically she gets very well paid to go through people's medical records for class action suits and sorting them, prioritizing them, etc.

It is not admin, exactly, but it's paperwork, some phone work, and 9-5 is a long day.
posted by small_ruminant at 9:46 PM on April 21, 2013 [2 favorites]


I think Good Brain has a point. Use your nursing to your advantage. Besides administration at a hospital look at pharmaceutics and medical device companies. They are often looking for people with nursing experience to fill desk jobs. It is important for them to have people with nursing experience. I worked for a company like this as a contractor a couple of years ago and the person who interviewed me was an RN but her job no longer dealt with anything hands on. It was all administration at a company who manufacture things for hospitals. There are a lot of companies in the Chicago area but maybe there are some near you too.
posted by Jaelma24 at 4:21 AM on April 22, 2013


Is there anything I can do to leverage the nursing experience into an administrative / office manager role?

Detail-oriented, works well in a team setting, prioritizing tasks, time management, ability to multitask, keeps organized in fast-paced environment. I think there's definitely a lot of overlap as far as qualities that woud make you successful in either field.
posted by andariel at 4:26 AM on April 22, 2013


Another huge asset: people skills.
posted by prior at 5:46 AM on April 22, 2013


Not everyone thinks the phrase "just a nurse" makes any sense. ;-)
You became an RN and worked for 4 years at it. You are, by definition, awesome and employable.
posted by Goofyy at 6:11 AM on April 22, 2013 [1 favorite]


Before you throw the baby out with the bathwater...

Have you considered some of the administrative nursing jobs there are? Husbunny did nursing for 10 years and he found the responsibility incredibly stressful. Before leaving the profession he tried the more administrative aspects.

Telephonic nursing. He worked for an insurance company and called people with asthma.

Care plan manager. He worked on reviewing cases in a long term care facility.

Ultimately he ended up leaving nursing to be an actuary, but nursing/admin jobs pay way more than regular admin jobs.

Just something to consider.

For sure, leave your jobs on your resume though.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:15 AM on April 22, 2013 [1 favorite]


Do you want an "office job" or specifically be an admin/office manager?

There are plenty of "office jobs" where your RN is an asset.

Clinical research is one.
posted by fontophilic at 11:15 AM on April 22, 2013


Apply at law firms that do work involving personal injury, social security disability, medical malpractice, etc.
Do not leave this off of your resume.
posted by steinwald at 11:37 AM on April 22, 2013


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