Continuing Education Courses on Resume

[ydnewrn]

Hello fellow nurses!

I recently graduated and obtained my RN license in August (I'm located in Toronto, Ontario). Like many other new graduates, I am experiencing a hard time finding my first job. I did my pre-grad in a PACU at a Magnet hospital, where I thought I would get hired, but the hospital is undergoing a hiring freeze. Anyways, I decided to enroll in a couple of CE courses since every job posting I've encountered requires something "extra" that I obviously do not have as a new grad.

I am taking a Patient Assessment course and a Coronary Care 1 course. I am not sure if I should put these two on my resume now or when I have completed them? Also, where in my resume would I put them? Under 'Licenses/ Certifications'? or should I make a new headline called 'Continuing Education'?

I would appreciate your feedback, thanks in advance!

[SarahMaria, MSN, RN]

I have a "licenses/certifications" section. I would put them on the resume after completion.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

You can list the courses and indicate "in progress" to alert potential employers that you're enrolled. I would also suggest highlighting the courses in your cover letter if they are specific to the position you seek.

[ydnewrn]

Thank you ladies! :)

[dishes, BSN, RN]

I would question why a new grad was retaking the patient assessment course, the course has been included in BScN curriculum for the past 15-20 years and it should be possible to transfer credit over to the certificate program.

[ydnewrn]

Unfortunately many job postings ask for a Post-Grad Patient Assessment course, especially the places I am interested in like Emergency and other acute care floors. It is not possible to transfer credits since this is a post-grad, a more focused course.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

@ydnewrn, is it possible you misread the job postings? They usually say patient assessment course required, not post-grad patient assessment course required.

[ydnewrn]

Hi @dishes, you might be right actually, about me misreading the posting. But now my question is, why would they put it on the posting if all programs require you take an Assessment course? is it maybe for the more experienced nurses who finished school a while ago?

I'll still take it though, it says it's a course to "refine" assessment skills, it won't hurt. Many certifications like Critical Care or Emergency also require you complete a post-grad assessment course.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Yes, they put it in the posting because the more experienced nurses finished school several years ago and the hospitals want applicants to show recent completion of the health assessment course. Generally the health assessment courses use the same textbook and cover the same content, the only difference is some instructors are better at teaching it than others. I think it is cash grab by the school to tell a recent grad they need to take health assessment course. I also think it is cash grab to accept new grads into speciality certificate programs and give them false hope that they will be more hireable into a specialty area.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

I have paid attention to the nursing surplus/shortage cycles throughout my career. Right now, as I am sure you are aware, we are in a surplus cycle and new grads are struggling to find work. I find it disappointing that nursing schools are not transparent about the current job market and are accepting grads into certification programs, as the educators know that it is more likely the specialty jobs will go to go to experienced nurses not new grads. The certification program educators used to be honest about job prospects, now it seems they are not.