I've been on the med/surg floor for a year now and I'd like to get into dialysis, home health care or hospice. I had no problem writing a resume last year. It was easy to explain what I did at my other jobs in a few, brief sentences, but how do you describe what you did on the med/surg floor. There's so many things but I don't know how to describe it.

Does this sound tacky?

Provided safe and quality care for up to 9 patients per shift.

Teach patients and family members about their medications, new illnesses, wound care, ect.

Provided comfort to all patients.

Consoled and comforted grieving family members.

There's so much to put down but how can you describe it all in a few sentences so it looks good?

Thanks in advance for any tips or advice.

How about something like this?

Responsible for assessment, planning, and implementation of care for up to nine patients per shift. Provided all aspects of care, including physical, psycosocial, and learning needs. Patient population included adults with a wide variety of med surg problems. Supervised other members of healthcare team, and frequently performed charge duties.

Well said RNinICU.

Has got it very nicely stated. If you had a particular type of patient alot you might want to add...

typical patient population included: blah blah and blah...

for example I used to do ICU and mine says:

Typical Pt population included: Liver/Kidney/Pancreas transplants, major orthopaedic and Neurological trauma, sepsis, and skin flaps.

Even in Med/Surg there must be a certain type of patient youhave had more experience with than others.

If you have any specific skill that you picked up you may want to also add,

Experience with...

for example...

Experience with ventriculostomies, CVVHD, PA catheters, and continuous eeg monitoring.

Also, don't worry too terribly much, as you are applying for another nursing job, usually the people looking over an application have an idea of what you did. Good Luck!!! :)

I know this is a bit late, but thank you for your replies, they were extremely helpful! I finally decided to put my resume in at other places......wish me luck!!

Thanks again!