? Can I use my clinical Experiences on my RESUME?

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 1, 2004

You can ... but they won't help you much unless you have done something "extra" or "unusual" or something particularly relevant to the job for which you are applying. All nursing students do a standard set of clinical rotations, so, the fact that you graduated from nursing school tells the employer that you have done the standard rotations. It's the stuff that makes you unique or that makes you stand out from the other new grads as being particularly well-suited for the position that the employer is interested in.

As someone who reads resumes regularly, I advise against trying to "pad" your resume by "dressing up" school experiences or by trying to imply they were anything other than the standard school rotation (not that you said you would do that.) Experienced resume readers will spot that in a minute and it will probably make you look sneaky. Be totally clear that any school activities be clearly identified as such. You don't want the employer to be questioning your honesty/ethics.

I recommend that new grads/students who wish to list their school rotations do so on a separate sheet. The actual resume can say something like, "A list of clinical rotations is included on a separate sheet" behind or below the listing for your school. Personally, I wouldn't bother ... but that's the way I would do it if I were going to include the information.

On the main resume, you SHOULD include any special school projects or experiences that directly relate to the job for which you are applying. You would also want to list anything in your background that shows that you have leadership experience, have been commended for your work in the past, won awards, were chosen for special recognition, etc. Even it those things have nothing to do with health care, they show that you get along well with people, that people who know you trust you to be a leader, and that you have a history of doing good quality work. The same goes for volunteer work and for active participation in clubs/organizations. People sometimes hesitate to include that stuff -- but it can show that you are used to working with people to accomplish a task and are the type of person who gets involved to help make the world a better place. That says good things about you as a person -- and employers are looking to hire good people who can work well with others.

Good luck,

llg

Born2BAnurse · Dec 1, 2004

WOW !!! thanks A lot that really helped me out a lot. I do have one question. I have a disabled son with Sma. and I would like to use the experience of taking care of him on my resume. for Example. G-tube feedings, ROM, CPT, Tube feedings I can replace is G-tube if it comes out. Suctions skills. I have done this for 14 years. Can I put that on my resume?

Thanks Again

dosamigos76, RN · Dec 7, 2004

Nursing isn't a lot like other professions... let's face it, you're going to be a new nurse. No one expects you to have experience, and if you did, it wouldn't be in the professional capacity of a nurse. You can tell of your experience with your child during your interview if you choose to. Remember some people may be concerned that with a child that has special needs, you could be overwhelmed. By not putting it on your resume, you're leaving that option open. Just my .02

Best of luck to you, not that you need it.

Cheryl

Born2BAnurse · Dec 7, 2004

Thanks for your .02 Cheryl But let me just make one comment.

#1 Im not a new mother of a child with a disablility. I have been his mom for 15 years. So for a employer to think that im overwhelmed at this point is unreal.. I made it this far with him So where would the overwhelmness come in.. Being overwhelmed can come with raising a child with no disabilites. Its all about your attitude and how you carry yourself.. I in now way show that im overwhelmed about carrying for my disabled son.. But I can see how they could assume that but once meeting me ti would be different.

Oh and I never told them that it was my son on the resume.. If they ask I would tell them once I got a interview

dosamigos76, RN · Dec 7, 2004

I can completely understand what you're saying. I am a mother of five, three of which are adopted special needs children. Only three are at home right now, the oldest two have kids of their own I am sure you receive the comment,"Wow, you're so special, I don't know how you do it." That's the double-edged sword I was referring to.

When I was interviewing, I would refer to my medical experience with my kids, (NG tube, ASD & VSD repair, Nissan Fundalplication surgery, & a G-Tube) and stated that it was this exposure to nursing and the medical field that inspired me. However you choose to present the information will work well for you.

Cheryl

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 7, 2004

If you decide to list your "home" experience on your resume, I would be extra careful to make sure that it is clear that you are doing this at home with 1 child on a consistent basis. Home care is very different from hospital care with multiple patients -- often requiring different variations of a standard hospital procedure, different degrees of cooperation from the patient, etc. I would do nothing to imply that you have mastered these skills in a way appropriate to a hospital setting if you have only done them home. It would look as if you were trying to pad your resume and that is always bad. You might list that you have cared for your own child at home who requires multiple procedures, such as .... but that is as far as I would go.

llg

smk1, LPN · Dec 7, 2004

ok the i am not a nurse but i would be concerned that the employer would might not hire you if he felt you were a a higher risk for call-ins due to having a chronically ill child. (they certainly wouldn't tell you that's the reason you aren't being hired but they would due it just the same so be careful.)

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 7, 2004

ok the i am not a nurse but i would be concerned that the employer would might not hire you if he felt you were a a higher risk for call-ins due to having a chronically ill child. (they certainly wouldn't tell you that's the reason you aren't being hired but they would due it just the same so be careful.)

I agree. That's very possible.

llg

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Dec 7, 2004

Oh man I did! What I did was put up a separate area for just clincials under CLINICAL EXPERIENCE, right under my school experience (since I am 5 years in it has moved to after the references and shortened up!).

What I did was list the dates and where, general tasks, and then in italics noted special interests and put in specfic tasks I found important to the jobs I was applying for (yep, it changed depending on what job I was going for..thank goodness for computers!!!!!). It was maybe three or four sentences...but since I was applying for hospitals at first, and those hospitals I did clinicals in..it was worth mention! I consider it experience and worked hard at it...so why not claim it! (I kept it brief though!).

Cover letter is VERY important..so take your time and really get a good one out! AND always send a Thank you after an interview...I have them ready for mailing that day, and bring up one or two things we discussed. Employers have actually told me they hired me on that thank you card, because no one seems to do those anymore and showed I had good old fashioned work ethics (in other words I guess they see me as loyal, poliet, and proper...boy did I pull the wool over their eyes..LOL J/K!).

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Dec 7, 2004

OH I so wouldn't put anything about your child! That is personal info that can backfire. I keep it strictly business...nothing about me in my personal life at all! When I am interviewed they don't know anything about me being married, nothing about me having children..NONE of it..it is not their business as far as I am concerned since I 'have to leave my home life at the door". IN fact, I believe that any interviewer asking about family, politics, sexual orientation, or religion is illegal! (that is what I was told!). They can't discriminate someone based on any of this...so don't give them more info than they need about your personal life!

If I heard of a woman with a special needs child..yes, although I couldn't discriminate...subconsciously I might thinking 'well she won't be reliable because if her child was ill she better go attend them, and that leaves me in a pickle for staffing!" I would proably be more inclined to hire a single person with no ties like this...subconsciously (I am a mom, and I know I can do the job..but on another level I know the demand of my time and how my family suffers much for my job! So total catch 22..that is why I don't volunteer for a hiring position..LOL!).

Good luck to you...sounds like you know your stuff..now get out there and shine :)