Cop to Nurse resume questions

Nurses General Nursing

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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!

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

All great suggestions here! Best of luck

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As a former civilian LEO (and soldier medic) to RN (ER) I can tell you what people have already posted is spot on. For starters you have a track record of being a "professional." A real big point is that communicating with a diverse population thing. In the ER, alot of the population you have already dealt with will be similar. I think your prior-experience will be valued by co-workers when those less than savory patients come in the door. The point I tried to get across through my resume and interviews was that unlike what you see cops do on TV shows, the reality is that we have to know how to talk to people and show them respect in order to gain our objective, regardless of the personality of individuals. It can take along time to develop that skill as a new RN...but you probably already have that down. Good luck

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I worked inpatient psych with a male nurse who had retired after his 20 years on the police force and become an RN. I LOVED working with him!! There were so many traits that you could see were transferable. The ability to stay calm in a crisis, the be able to de-escalate a situation, to quickly and swiftly secure a patient who becomes physically aggressive to assure no injury to the patient, stafff or other patients. Leave it to say I felt safe working with him and he was a great team player. I have a feeling these were things that were expected of him as an officer.....and they made for a great nurse. And I used to tease him saying he was the only male I had worked with who had perfect, legible handwriting--that all caps, block-style handwriting they all had to use! lol

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Specializes in ER.

I'd push the legible handwriting angle, and the taser experience.

Come work in our ER please!

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Wow, imagine that:). I am genuinely interested in your story and wouldn't minding working with you.

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I'd push the legible handwriting angle, and the taser experience.

Come work in our ER please!

Sadly, my handwriting is pretty crappy. I have to really concentrate when in a time crunch.

Not only using the taser, but getting shot with the taser! Those who were certified to carry a taser had to get shot in the back with one. I recommend avoiding that experience at all cost...

People have told me I'd be a good fit for the ER with my background but, honestly, I'm not too keen to delve back into the world of the serially inebriated.

These suggestions are great! Thank you guys a bunch!

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Oh--don't like the drunk and drugged ones eh? Avoid Psych ER too then! LOL lots of that there. Maybe ICU?

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Sadly, my handwriting is pretty crappy. I have to really concentrate when in a time crunch.

Not only using the taser, but getting shot with the taser! Those who were certified to carry a taser had to get shot in the back with one. I recommend avoiding that experience at all cost...

People have told me I'd be a good fit for the ER with my background but, honestly, I'm not too keen to delve back into the world of the serially inebriated.

These suggestions are great! Thank you guys a bunch!

I'll take a TASER over OC any day. In fact, I'd rather be hit with an ASP than be sprayed.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

You should come work post-op/ortho!

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You can't miss with an RN/ ex police officer combination!

Good luck to the many Allnurses forum members in this category.

Grateful to have your expertise on board, you'll provide a different

perspective which is helpful in this challenging time for nursing.

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I'll take a TASER over OC any day. In fact, I'd rather be hit with an ASP than be sprayed.

I'd get sprayed with OC once a day and twice on Sunday rather than get hit with that Taser again...but I really like spicey foods so that maybe why it didn't bother me that bad.

I still shudder when I imagine that clicking/popping sound....

When I was in the military, I was "volunteered" to don the REDMAN suit and take some baton licks from the trainees...I had bruises the size of a footballs on my outer thighs. In fact, I still have tiny calcifications there from the blows....and I would STILL take that over the Taser.

Oh the memories...

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You should come work post-op/ortho!

Actuall post-op/ortho DOES interest me as well as OR. I loved my clinical rotations in both of those units. At this point, I'll take just about anything other than OB.

Got any openings for a not-so-green new grad? :smokin:

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