portfolios... a question

Nurses General Nursing

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This question is primarily for people who are OUT of nursing school so I thought I'd post it here. This morning I'm putting together this stupid azz portfolio for my nursing trends project. It contains my personal and professional goals, philosophy of nursing, values and beliefs statement, CV, writing samples, skills list, etc. We're SUPPOSED to use it during the interview process.

My question is... did you have to do this? Did you ever use the blasted thing for anything? I'm sorry but it seems like a colossal waste of time, and graduates from our program are routinely hired at the job fair (without a formal interview) and I can't imagine that I'll ever use the fargin' thing.

Input appreciated. You can even tell me I'm acting like a brat cause I know I am.

Going back to my special K with strawberries now....

:D

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I have spent much of my career in advanced practice roles in which I have interviewed and hired nurses. Yes, I have reviewed applicant's portfolios and they have helped me make decisions about who I have hired and who I have not hired. A good portfolio can help you land a job for which you are "borderline" and a bad one can prevent you from making a good impression.

Personally, I'm not all that keen on a person's individual philosophy -- but I am impressed when I see that someone has done a fine job on those types of items. It shows me that they went to a good school, that they do high-quality work, and that they are a "deep thinker." I prefer to hire people who are good thinkers and who have a deep committment to nursing over people who are just looking "for any old job."

While today's shortage is causing some hospitals to hire just about any RN who comes through the door, the better ones will try to remain as "choosey" as they can. Also, knowing how to present yourself professionally is an important thing to learn for career advancement. Applications for higher level positions often require more than simply filling out a generic application. If you don't learn those skills in school, where will you learn them? It is the mark of a good school that they teach you how to present yourself well. Consider yourself lucky.

llg

Delirium,

I did not have to do a portfolio while in school for my RN (ages ago) but it was a requirement when I went to graduate school. It helped to get me my first job as an NP and in fact convinced them to hire an NP rather than a PA. So although I too thought it a collosal waste of time when I first did it, I quickly learned the value of the exercise and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a job!

Originally posted by lisamct

Needless to say however I personally dont know anyone who has actually got around to doing their portfolio,

You do now!!:D neener! neener!

:imbar Only because I went for an interview and one of my colleagues asked me if my portfolio was up to date in case the panel wanted to see it!Cue to 3 frantic nights throwing it together!!!....and did they want to see it? NO!!!:(

I have a kick-butt portfolio!

We were required to have one for school, and we were graded on it each semester. For school, ours was a big 4" binder, but for job interviews, I use a 1 1/2" one.

We were told that it was important to use our portfolios for a record base. I bought a bunch of clear-view pages to keep it neater.

I keep my updated resume copies, immunization records, CEUs, awards, work history, copy of my license, certifications, past achievements, and references in mine. (Outdated stuff goes into a big 4" binder.)

Do employers remember me? Yep. :D Not only do I usually get the job, but I have quick, easy access to anything related to getting the job.

So the employers seem to like it, too.

Specializes in learning disabilities/midwifery.
Originally posted by ayemmeff

:imbar Only because I went for an interview and one of my colleagues asked me if my portfolio was up to date in case the panel wanted to see it!Cue to 3 frantic nights throwing it together!!!....and did they want to see it? NO!!!:(

Apparently applicants coming for interview at my unit are asked to provide the interview panel with their portfolios. Im regularly one of the interview panel and I only found this out when a friend of mine applied for a position. Needless to say Ive never asked to see anyones portfolio and many applicants have probably left hating me for it!!:(

Lisa

Never had to do a portfolio in school, although we did have to do things like our "philosophy of nursing" as a separate assignment. I do believe everyone should have at least a basic resume/CV on-hand, in a format that allows for easy updating (note to applicants: resumes typed on typewriters, copied over 20 times, with items manually crossed out and notes added in the margins? Not so impressive). Based on the quality of writing I generally see, I don't think it's a bad idea to have to submit writing samples either.

However--I can honestly say that I have NEVER been asked for my "portfolio" when applying for a position, and I have certainly never asked an applicant for one. People who deluge me with a glut of info I didn't ask for (oh, your last physical, complete with Pap smear? Thanks! An 8 x 10 glossy of you? How fabulous!) while forcing me to ask repeatedly for info I do need (Dates. I need actual dates of employment, 'kay? Yes, I can see that you've worked at Memorial Hospital for the past 5 years. But in which department?) don't tend to impress me overall.

complete with Pap smear? Thanks! An 8 x 10 glossy of you

you know, you probably just jinxed yourself.............

I can see it now, you open the envelope and out drops the 8x10 color glossy of the applicant in the stirrups getting her last PAP done!! Killing 2 birds with one stone kind of thing.

bob

:rotfl: EW! Thanks a lot!

We had to do one for school, and while I don't take the whole thing with me on interviews (now many generations later), I do find that it does make it easier to have everything compiled and together when it's time to interview. That way (if you're disorganized like me), you don't have to go scrounging through piles of stuff to try to pull everything together.

Never had to do a portfolio for school. After a decade of nursing, I had many items stored in various places that were r/t my experiences and specialty education. I decided to put it all together in portfolio style. It turned out so nice that I decided to take it with me on interviews. I have landed some really great jobs with the portfolio in hand. Most of the interviewers just breezed through it and I originally wondered if it was a mistake to shove it under thier noses, until they called me to offer me a postition! I had never heard of nurses having portfolios and didn't know anyone who has one until today while reading this BB. I know I'm a dweeb sometimes when I do stuff like my portfolio. But, it worked for me so I'll keep using it and adding to it!

Specializes in Critical Care.

I realize this is an old thread, but our hospital recently changed the structure of our clinical ladder and this is now a requirement.

I have kept an informal portfolio since I was in nursing school eons ago, so this hasn't been too much trouble for me to organize. Unfortunately, in my job classification, I don't need one as the clinical ladder doesn't apply to me. I do think that it will be helpful in job interviews, however.

So, now that a couple of years have passed, what is your thought on the professional portfolio?

tvccrn

I realize this is an old thread, but our hospital recently changed the structure of our clinical ladder and this is now a requirement.

I have kept an informal portfolio since I was in nursing school eons ago, so this hasn't been too much trouble for me to organize. Unfortunately, in my job classification, I don't need one as the clinical ladder doesn't apply to me. I do think that it will be helpful in job interviews, however.

So, now that a couple of years have passed, what is your thought on the professional portfolio?

tvccrn

My school required one that was a joke. Had a ton of requirements that after the first two semesters were essentially ignored; the last semester had us doing lots of those "what is your philosophy of nursing" papers and we had the option of sticking them in there, too. No one did, that I'm aware, and not one of my classmates graduating with me last May (again, that I'm aware) has ever been asked for this thing.

I know how to write a resume from my prior life/education experience, and have put together an appropriate one. I presented the resume along with my application, and that was that.

Personally, I think the whole "nursing portfolio" is a collossal waste of time in today's market, and clearly outdated. A good resume includes everything you SHOULD need to know about that applicant up front; if an employer has questions about your "nursing philosophy" (eegads!) they can always ask.

There's nothing in my portfolio (well, what I have of it, lol) that a line or two on my resume won't cover. Certifications, awards, scholarships, course material, degrees.

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