Getting ready to graduate - question about resumes

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Hi, all,

I will be done with school at the end of this month, and will take the state boards (for RN) in October. My class is working on doing their resumes this month as part of our class curriculum before graduation. My question is: I've never worked in healthcare, and we were told to list our clinical experience lieu of work experience. Have any of you done this? How did you list it, and did it get you a job? I was a stay-at-home mom for almost 10 years prior to nursing school, although I do have another 4 yr degree (in Psychology). So I don't have any recent job history to list, anyway. Plus, we were advised to ONLY list healthcare experience (which I don't have, outside of clinicals).

Secondly, how did you apply for jobs BEFORE you had taken the boards (i.e. how did you put it on your resume that you were planning to take boards)? In my state, you can't work as a graduate nurse before you take the boards. You have to pass the boards and be licensed first.

I hope these questions make sense. Also, if anyone has any suggestions of great resume templates, I'd appreciate it. I'm working on making my own, b/c I'm not happy with the ones on Microsoft Word.

Thanks a lot!!! I'm SO excited to be so close to starting my nursing career!!!! :D

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I came from a totally different field, but I did not put my clinicals in lieu of work experience. Personally, I was in the Marine Corps, and while I didn't do anything healthcare related, there are many skill sets and responsibilities I had that relate in a general working sense. I had a section at the beginning that stated how many hours I did, what areas and what my internship was in (and how many hours that was). Personally, I moved right after graduation, so I wanted to make sure that my resume reflected the many clinical hours that our particular program does. When I did my resume before I took the NCLEX, I just had a section where I stated when I planned to take it. If I can figure out how to send you a personal message, I will send my resume, if you'd like.

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There is an excellent resume and cover letter writing service at CareerPerfect, but it will cost $200.

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LMAO @ gtshin30303. You're too funny! :D

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Under my objective, I put "Seeking an entry-level (RN/GN) position on the (unit) at (hospital/facility name)." For the NCLEX part, here's what I put before taking the boards. "NURSING LICENSE #: Will take NCLEX in (month and year)." Hope that helps!

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I listed my "qualifications" in one section. I included my "clinical experience" by listing each site & the depts/units I worked on. With my preceptorship my last last quarter I made sure to also include the number of hours completed. I also included my work experience (just the most recent because they were in the healthcare field) with a couple bullets of what my job entailed. While keeping your resume at 1 page is recommended, sometimes it's just too hard. I've been told that 2 pages is the max, so that is what mine is at.

I honestly think if your previous work experience has skills that can pertain to a nursing job, include it. Did you have to think critically? Multi-task? Customer service? Communication skills? Work as/with a team? etc. Don't think just because it's not medical or healthcare that you can't use.

Good luck!

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

Think about what a potential employer wants to know. First and foremost, your experience. Clinicals are experience.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
Think about what a potential employer wants to know. First and foremost, your experience. Clinicals are experience.

However you decide to include your school experience in your resume, make sure it is VERY clear that they were student experiences and not professional work experiences. Few things will hurt you more in the job application process than appearing to exaggerate your experience. If the employer thinks you are trying to trick them into thinking that your student experiences are professional work experiences, you probably won't even get an interview.

Leave no room for misunderstanding that they were student experiences. I recommend putting them in a separate section completely and lable them as "Nursing School Clinical Experiences" or something like that.

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Try this: http://www.dcardillo.com/articles/faqnurseres.html (Donna Cardillo's FAQ for new nurse resumes) and

this: http://www.son.jhmi.edu/resources/career/center/resources/ (Hopkins SON's career center)

Both have excellent information on interviewing, resumes, cover letters (make sure this is great!), and the like.

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