Advice on Resumes

TexasPediRN · Feb 25, 2006

Actually, you do have medical experience!

You did clinicals, didnt you? Thats experience, and can be placed on your resume. If you're graduating this May you should of had experience in different settings..med/surg, ob, peds, psych, etc.

Just a thought! :)

you should provide 3 references- maybe someone you work with and are friends with, etc.

Good luck, and make sure you have no typos as that can effect the outcome of your job search.

Meghan :nurse:

Jenny C · Feb 25, 2006

Thanks--I did include my clinicals, thanks God!! Otherwise I would have absolutely nothing.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 25, 2006

Please be careful about how you include your student clinicals on your resume. A lot of new graduates over-emphasize them in attempt to "dress up" their credentials and make themselves look bad as a result.

Make sure that those student experiences are clearly labeled as student experiences and that no one could accidentally mistake them for employment. If there is any doubt about that or if you make it look ambiguous, someone reading it could think that you were trying to exaggerate your experience. That would lead them to think that you are sneaky and trying to win the job through deceit. You wouldn't want that.

Remember that all students have similar clinical experiences and anyone who reads your resume will know that. They don't want to have to spend a lot of time or effort sifting through a recitation of all the things you did in school -- the same things that everybody else did in school. Don't waste their time and don't irritate them by going into detail on the school experiences that are just like everyone else's.

What you do want to do is to highlight those student experiences that were unique, that demonstrate a special interest in a particular specialty, or that particularly relate to the type of job for which you are applying. For example, did you work on any special projects or do a senior-year preceptorship in a related area?

You said you have worked in the insurance industry. You should be including that past work experience and perhaps featuring that prominently. Nurse managers are looking to hire good employees -- and if you have an employment history that shows that you stayed in the same job for a while ... or got a promotion ... or were at least considered a good, reliable employee ... that means a lot to someone looking for an employee. A good employment record and recommendation from your former employer is much more important than the fact that you did clincial rotations just like every other nursing student in the country has done.

If you feel you must list all of your school clinicals, then do so on a separate sheet of paper so that the reader doesn't get bogged down with it. Only put the "special stuff" on the main resume page itself. You are a new grad looking for a new grad job. That's nothing to be ashamed of.

llg

truern · Feb 25, 2006

We're completing a resume packet in school as we "speak", and our instructor said DO NOT include clinical experiences. She explained that our experience as students, while important, doesn't compare with WORK experience as RNs.

I would think, though, that if you truly enjoyed a particular area of clinical and that was the type of work you're seeking, then it wouldn't hurt to mention how much you did enjoy it.

As a new grad you're not really expected to have nursing experience. Everybody has to start out somewhere

mandrews · Feb 26, 2006

we had a resume class in leadership. I remember when discussing the cover letter we were told to make the cover letter out to the person who advertised the job, mention where the ad was seen, tell them you are the right person for the job, we were also to say that if we had not heard from them by a specific date we would be calling to follow up on our application. MAKE THE CALL. I can't tell you how many were impressed that i followed up. I accepted the first job interview i went on.

melissa

AussieKylie · Feb 26, 2006

What about putting on the resume skills that you have attained during clinical placements on the resume? As I will be finishing this semester and not sure if i should state on my resume these type of skills. :)

bth44 · Feb 27, 2006

I'm finishing up my resume, and I thought it was appropriate to include clinical opportunities that not everyone in my program was able to do. For instance, I listed, under my education of course, that I assisted school nurses with wellness checks, and worked with nurses in the state health department. Would including that be a bad idea?

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 27, 2006

I'm finishing up my resume, and I thought it was appropriate to include clinical opportunities that not everyone in my program was able to do. For instance, I listed, under my education of course, that I assisted school nurses with wellness checks, and worked with nurses in the state health department. Would including that be a bad idea?

If they are particularly relevant to the job for which you are applying ... then I would include them, being sure that they are clearly labeled as student experiences. If they are not particularly relevant to the job, then I would recommend omitting them.

llg

bkw · Mar 3, 2006

I am was an LPN for 11years and graduated with my RN may of 05. I need help writing a resume. I have been in long term care for all the the LPN years and want to go into hospital nursing. Can anyone help or give me somewhere to look for some samples or how to write one? Thanks:balloons:

Jenny C · Mar 7, 2006

Many hospitals want you to apply online. Should I also send a resume? I like the paper resume.