Hey guys,
I'm a new nursing grad. I have applied for about 30 jobs online, and I keep getting the generic rejection email. I am starting to wonder if something is wrong with my application or resume. Can someone look this over and tell me if you see any glaring mistakes? Advice? I know the format is a bit messed up on here, so please ignore that. Thank you!
Kristen XXXXX
My email
my phone
Current Address: Permanent Address:
XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX
______________________________________________________________________________
EDUCATION
The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA July, 2010
M.S. Nursing
GPA: 3.36/4.0
Iowa State University, Ames, IA May, 2008
B.S. Psychology
GPA: 3.44/4.0
LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATIONS
Registered Nurse Licensure Current through December 2012
CPR/AED Certified Current through December 2011
First Aid Certified Current through January 2012
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Neonatal Intensive Care, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics April-July, 2010
Iowa City, IA
300 clinical hours
*Assessed newborns, administered medications, and provided family teaching
Orthopedic, Mercy Hospital January-March, 2010
Iowa City, IA
120 clinical hours
*Assisted with the care of patients before and after orthopedic surgeries
*Assessed patients by administering medications, checking lab results, and taking vital signs
Community and Public Health, Community of Vinton, IA January-March, 2010
Vinton, IA
120 clinical hours
*Completed community assessment and wrote report identifying areas of need
*Worked with a team to design an adopt-a-grandparent program at the local retirement home
Psych/Mental Health, Veterans Affairs Medical Center November-December, 2009
Iowa City, IA
32 clinical hours
*Participated in group therapy sessions, and observed individual sessions
*Observed electroconvulsive therapy treatments
Labor and Delivery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics October, 2009
Iowa City, IA
48 clinical hours
*Provided care for women and their newborns by administering injections, evaluating fetal heart monitoring, and performing initial assessments on newborns
*Observed both cesarean and lady partsl births
Neurology/Oncology/Hospice, Mercy Medical Center September-October, 2009
Cedar Rapids, IA
48 clinical hours
*Assisted with the care of a wide variety of patients through medication administration, assessments, and monitoring
Cardiothoracic Stepdown, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics May-July 2009
Iowa City, IA
180 clinical hours
*Assisted with the care of patients through assessment, documentation, and medication administration
*Observed surgical and catheterization lab procedures
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Capstone Leadership Project, Reducing Distractions Among July 2010
Neonatal Intensive Care Nurses at the University of Iowa
Hospitals and Clinics, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Iowa City, IA
60 clinical hours
*Performed in-depth assessment of neonatal intensive care unit
*Researched and designed new policies to facilitate medication preparation without distractions from staff and environment
SIMULATION EXPERIENCE
Cardiovascular Care, Pneumothorax, Orthopedics, Stroke, Post-Operation, Cardiac Arrest, End of Life, Pediatric DKA, Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension, Interprofessional with Medical Students, Poverty, Burn, Head Injury, University of Iowa College of Nursing
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Clinic Volunteer, Ames Free Medical Clinic May-August 2005
Ames, Iowa
*Assisted with triage, filing patient records, and childcare
*Observed physical assessments
ER Volunteer, Mary Greeley Medical Center January-May 2006
Ames, Iowa
*Assisted with comfort measures, childcare, escorting patients, and stocking medical supplies
WORK EXPERIENCE
Suite Attendant/Banquet Server, Kinnick Stadium August-December 2008
Iowa City, Iowa
Server, Café Northwest December 2007-July 2008
Ames, Iowa
Nanny, Private Family May-September 2006
Ames, Iowa
Housekeeper, Quality Inn and Suites June-August 2005
Ames, Iowa
StarryEyed, RN
138 Posts
I have two degrees also and I have that take up only 2 lines on my resume (1 for each). Yours takes up 6 (7 w/the line in between them). That seems excessive.
I understand though. It took many many revision for me to just figure things had to go and be even more condensed. I, too, started off w/all my clinicals listed w/hospital, hrs, a bullet-point or two each. But then I realized that honestly, everyone who has completed nursing school has done the exact same thing so it's irrelevant.
I did list my preceptorship because that is different from everyone else and not all schools get to do one (same as capstone i think. others call it internship). In that one, do highlight the additional responsibilities you had (for example, I pretty much had complete care of 3-5 pts from admission to discharge teaching, did all the calling to the other healthcare teams, worked with student nurses, etc)
I would still list the work experience. But if it has nothing to do with nursing, limit it to just one line (position, company, dates) and I didn't put lines in between them. I chose to leave in things such as assistant recruiter and dorm secretary because it shows that I was always working and was able to maintain a job. My unit secretary position though I elaborated on a bit and like others suggested, wrote the description in a way that reflects teamwork, pt privacy, collaboration w/other professions etc.