Any resume advice for a Direct Entry grad?

Trauma Columnist · Dec 18, 2008

Personally, I would not list your RN or NP clinicals as that is not job experience but rather a focused learning time. I would definitely list your 20 years in other healthcare as well as stressing your communication skills, job skills and life experience. May I ask what track your DE is in? FNP? ANP?, etc?

VivaRN · Dec 18, 2008

We were taught to list our NP clinicals so potential employers could see the variety of our experiences (for example as some FNP's did specialty rotations) and the strength of the program. It was not under job experience, but under a separate heading. I would not list RN clinicals.

Does your program have a class where resumes are discussed, or a career services dept? If they have a DE program I would hope they would provide you with specialized career services.

allnurses Guide · Dec 18, 2008

My track is FNP. I'm curious-why shouldn't I list my clinicals? It's not work experience, but they do show that I've been trained at some very reputable institutions, which is a big deal in the snobby medical marketplace of Boston. My current NP preceptors have been VERY interested to see where I've been, but maybe that was just general curiosity!

Thanks for your input...it is greatly appreciated!

allnurses Guide · Dec 18, 2008

Hi,

I agree-I probably shouldn't list my RN clinicals, but I do want to show where I've done my NP training. My school does have a career services dept. and we will have a class on NP roles this spring. Hopefully those will help guide us, but I wanted tohear from those who have been there, done that!

Thanks very much!

jer_sd · Dec 18, 2008

As a direct entry grad you could list clinical rotations as a subset for education.

If you have 20 years as a MT you will be able to use that as a strength, you likley can do PPM very well, plus your understanding of lab testing with appropriate use would be good in primary care offices.

What field do you want to work in when you get out? Might want to think about certifications related to the area such as ACLS, PALS, audiometry.... Just to show further interest in the area you are applying.

Jeremy

allnurses Guide · Dec 18, 2008

Thanks for the good advice. I'm not sure exactly what I want to do when I'm finished. I'm leaning towards primary care, but I'm open to pretty much anything. And yes, my lab experience has been a tremendous asset-my preceptors often ask me questions about results!!

Thanks again for your input!

Trauma Columnist · Dec 18, 2008

Sorry, but I still disagree that clinicals are just that: a learning setting which all FNPs, ACNPs, etc., go thru.

However, I should have prefaced this with the fact that when I became an APN, I would never have listed my clinicals because they are not experience. However, I have many solid years of RN experience and that was of course, listed.

So, since you have no RN experience (and seemingly aren't able/interested in obtaining any), I think listing clinical settings is all that you could list when it comes to "experience."

Since you live in an area where there is DE education, I would presume employers would approve of listing clinical settings.

allnurses Guide · Dec 19, 2008

Sorry, but I still disagree that clinicals are just that: a learning setting which all FNPs, ACNPs, etc., go thru.
However, I should have prefaced this with the fact that when I became an APN, I would never have listed my clinicals because they are not experience. However, I have many solid years of RN experience and that was of course, listed.
So, since you have no RN experience (and seemingly aren't able/interested in obtaining any), I think listing clinical settings is all that you could list when it comes to "experience."
Since you live in an area where there is DE education, I would presume employers would approve of listing clinical settings.

Whoa, traumaRUs....I appreciate your inout (and anyone else's) about the subject matter of my post, but I do not appreciate your snarky remark about my not wanting/able to work as an RN first. That was uncalled for. I don't know where my path will take me yet, be it as an NP or an RN. There are a lot of very successful direct entry NPs out there who haven't worked as RNs, and there are going to be a lot more, so it's probably not a good idea to alienate those who come to the profession by different route than you took.

UVA Grad Nursing · Dec 19, 2008

I would also join the list of people positing to not list your clinicals. Every RN has had clinicals in multiple setting as part of theor education -- this is part of the direct learning experiences. Listing the clinical settings would be similar to a History major listing their term papers on the resume.

I see this on resumes (in my role as an assistant dean) as well as in experience in speaking with/interviewing new grads for employment. I disregard it.

For ME/DE or ABSN graduates, I would definitely list your prior professional work experiences. These experiences enable you to bring additional skills to bear in a new position.

Trauma Columnist · Dec 19, 2008

I did not mean my comment as snarky at all. I simply meant that since you aren't able to (for whatever reason) to work as an RN, you would not have any nursing experience to place on your resume. However, in my first post, I certainly indicated that you should stress your 20 years experience in health care to emphasize the commonalities of the positions: your communication skills, your ability to prioritize your work projects, etc..

ANPFNPGNP · Dec 22, 2008

Whoa, traumaRUs....I appreciate your inout (and anyone else's) about the subject matter of my post, but I do not appreciate your snarky remark about my not wanting/able to work as an RN first. That was uncalled for. I don't know where my path will take me yet, be it as an NP or an RN. There are a lot of very successful direct entry NPs out there who haven't worked as RNs, and there are going to be a lot more, so it's probably not a good idea to alienate those who come to the profession by different route than you took.

I went to school with several direct entry students and they have done very well. I have to admit, I had never heard of the concept, but apparently all the top schools are headed down that path!

I'm curious, how were you treated in clinicals? I remember a lot of the DE students complaining about how poorly they were treated by nursing staff. One of my friend was even told by a LVN that she had no business becoming a NP, since she had never practiced as a nurse! It was a major problem for several of the DE students. However, they all graduated and they've all found excellent jobs. I remember reading a study that showed that DE NP's had a higher approval rating amongst doctors. Very interesting...