Enhancing Resume

[<3nurseE>]

I will be graduating in May of 2013 from an ABSN program and I have over a year of experience in cardiac rehabilitation. I am looking to work in either cardiac ICU or step-down if I can.

I recently applied to Duke's New grad position. I am wondering if anyone has applied to Duke and what they have found to give them an edge on the competition.

Also does anyone know of any certifications that I should get to help my resume? I have my ACLS and BCLS but I don't know if there are any others!!

Thanks!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

If you have cardiac rehab experience, did you have EKG/Arrhythmia training? That would be a plus. Most meaningful clinical certifications are only available to nurses experienced in those areas.

[<3nurseE>]

I do have EKG training! That is a bummer that all other certifications are only available to nurses though.. I was really hoping to get an edge!

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

There's a good reason why certifications that demonstrate expertise require experience. It's because you can't really demonstrate expertise if you don't have it. If you want to get certifications in a specialty a soon as possible, do that. let your nurse mgr know how much you love learning, how much you want to soak up new experiences and knowledge like a sponge, and that you plan to qualify to take the certification in (whatever) as soon as you can, which will be in 2-5 years depending on what it is. That will give you the edge you seek without making you look foolish and naive.

Trust me, when you do cet certified in (whatever) and you look back you'll wonder whatever put the foolish thought in your head that you could do it as a new grad, much less as a student. Patients, patience. Takes time to get both.

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

Moved to Nursing Resume Help for more response.

[<3nurseE>]

Thanks for the tip GrnTea! I will definitely keep that in mind:)