Cop to Nurse resume questions

NurseInTexas12 · Jan 6, 2011

You could mention the ability to react to different situations and work well with people from a variety of backgrounds, any leadership experience from the force, and having an existing sense of professionalism.

Mrs. Sparkle Pants · Jan 6, 2011

Working in high stress, fast paced situations

Quick thinking/decision making skills

Leadership

Work with a diversity of populations

Knowledge of local laws/policies

Experience writing detailed reports

Ability to diffuse tense situations

Hope those fit!

0402 · Jan 6, 2011

Teamwork =)

bds165 · Jan 6, 2011

These sound excellent. Thank you so much.

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Jan 6, 2011

Hey folks,
I'm a former cop who will be graduating in May with my BSN. I've been putting together my resume and I'm curious if anyone knows some good bullets to convert police experience to good nursing qualities. I'm also prior military so any suggestions on that front would be greatly appreciated as well.
Thanks a bunch.
P.S. I know some of you are itching to throw in some jokes...let er rip!

I'm in your shoes except I'm a year behind you. I've never went .mil, but I paramedicked so I've got that going on too to explain, lol. Yep, I'm another poh poh turned nurse although I'm not getting out of LE entirely. Let me know how things go for you.

ZippyGBR, BSN, RN · Jan 6, 2011

Working in high stress, fast paced situations
Quick thinking/decision making skills
Leadership
Work with a diversity of populations
Knowledge of local laws/policies
Experience writing detailed reports
Ability to diffuse tense situations
Hope those fit!

teamwork

communicating with the public at times of high stress for them - e.g death messages and other breaking bad news ...

LouisVRN, RN · Jan 6, 2011

Also I would add, ability to multi-task, prioritize and be acutely aware of changes in conditions. All of which will serve you very well in nursing. Additionally, if you ever were a field training officer add that. And if you received any special training, continued to seek additional training and certification in specified field always works well.

Best of luck!

BOOYARN · Jan 6, 2011

apply for psych floors or psych hospitals ER also detention centers , you will be the first person they hire.... im pretty sure

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Jan 6, 2011

apply for psych floors or psych hospitals ER also detention centers , you will be the first person they hire.... im pretty sure

Ha. I've mulled this over. I'd be tempted to go the state prison route since I was already on state retirement before moving to this city job to go back to school. I also love the state holiday and leave system. You can accrue a lot of off-time really fast. I just don't think I'd like being in there though, and they may not like me treating them since I put some of them there, lol.

Psych has some interest to me, but a lot of people on this board say psych nurses "just sit and talk" to the patients which I wouldn't find rewarding personally. Each to their own.

The regular ER seems to be the only clinical avenue I'd work well in. I'm too used to a changing workplace, diversity, and autonomy to do anything else it seems. I'd rather change patients every few hours (or sooner) than have the same ones for a few days. I also think my prior EMS experience may help me there slightly.

CrazziiRN913, ADN, BSN · Jan 6, 2011

probably oraganizational skills...from the military :-)

0402 · Jan 6, 2011

I think the biggest challenge is taking those skills and experience and "translating" them. I think we had a class on it in TAPS, but I can't remember back that far. =) I did the best I could putting it into language that was both "civilian" and also tried to highlight things that would be attractive to the nursing community and then had several other people read it (non-military) to make sure I wasn't using military specific terms.