Did you put a "skills" section on your new grad resume?

Nurses Job Hunt

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So for my new grad resume I am getting mixed reviews if I should put a skills section. I definitely put one when I was applying for PCT jobs because it showed what I already new. I had both physical skills (ie vital signs, BG's, ADL's, ostomy care, etc) and I also added non-physical skills such as experience with charting systems, prioritization, communication skills, etc. Should this section go on my resume? I have debated adding in my skills from school such as med administration, IV insertion/phlebotomy, and oral/trachea suction. However some have said that it is to be expected that I know these skills. Should I leave all of my skills out, or leave some?

My other question is how much employment I should leave in my resume. I have had 5 employers (multiple jobs, but I lumped them together) spanning back to 2010. First job was retail, second job in home support for DDSO/MR, third was working in the lab at a hospital, fourth was nursing assistant at one hospital, and last is my current job as a PCT at a different hospital. I am obviously going to keep the nursing assistant/PCT on my resume but I'm debating about the rest. The lab job was my first introduction to healthcare in the hospital. I could probably leave off the DDSO job And the the retail job. However I have gotten feedback that they liked seeing retail experience since it was "customer service". If I include the retail I feel like I need to include the DDSO job so it doesn't show a lapse in employment. Problem is that I need the space on my resume.

Any thoughts?

I would not waste the space on your resume writing down skills like phlebotomy, charting, etc., because like you suggested, it is an expectation that you either know this or can quickly learn. I do think it's helpful though to list software programs that you are familiar with, like Epic. If you do want to use words like "prioritize," list it under a specific job and add something that shows evidence of that, like the census number of the floor you worked on. Also don't think it hurts to keep retail experience...it shows you can work with people.

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