Marketing Yourself

[Nolli]

I'm graduating soon. I'd venture my goal is the same as the other graduating students; land a steady nursing job. I have two questions in that lane of thinking:

How important is Linked In?

So a lot of people are utilizing linked in to market themselves and network. I'm willing to use it if it is a must, but I am often regarded as old-fashioned in the fact that I don't have a social media presence a la facebook or linked in. I use a lot of different programs/sites to keep in contact with friends and family as well stay up to date with new stuff, but I don't like having to update it and share everything (including everyone's drama and what they are doing at that moment).How much will this hurt me when applying for a job? What are the pros and cons of having vs not having a linked in profile?

How much does having ACLS help?

I want to work in the ED, but will take a med-surg job for experience first if I can't. I have taken ACLS a few times before when in EMS and passed so I know I can do it, but I'm hesitating because the hospital will cover it completely a lot of times if its required with the job. My school is offering ACLS to graduating students at a $50 discount and they advertised it as a way of making yourself more marketable. Is that really true?

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

Linkedin is not useful to a new grad in terms of exposure. What it may do is to allow you to "follow" certain organizations, and to find out the names in an organization. This may be helpful in networking, or in giving you the names of those in the origination you may want to reach out to.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

THis probably varies from place to place, but our facility does not even look at advanced certifications like ACLS for new grads. We know they do not have the background to really understand it. We don't ask for grades. If you have a license that is great. We do not like to hire people still in limbo about passing NCLEX, although in Texas we can hire them and they are allowed to work as RN's with supervison. The problem is, some people do not pass and then we have lost all that orientation time and they lose their job. My advice to have Am. Heart Asso. Healthcare Provider BLS current and get that license. The only other documents we hire from are the drug screen and background check.