New GN's Question About Resume and Reference

RNRyan · Nov 19, 2009

I think it depends on where you are. I had a helluva time finding a job and I was able to provide references of ex-instructors, my former place of employment, etc... at least where I am (outside of Milwaukee, WI), it sucks trying to find a different job as a RN.

the sparrow · Nov 19, 2009

I'm in the exact same boat as you!! Because of the love and generosity of my husband, I was able to take the past two years off and focus on school (I just graduated in May). But, before that, my work history (which is long... I'm 36) consisted of customer service jobs in banking, insurance, and finance. Of my three most recent jobs, I have the phone # for only one of them. A bank I worked for merged with another bank and an insurance company I worked for was bought by another company. I have no idea where my supervisors may have gone. Luckily I have stayed in touch with three of my favorite clinical instructors from school, all of which have graciously written me letters of recommendation.

I was always nervous about how to explain the gap in employment history and lack of clinical experience in interviews. I've come to the conclusion that I cannot go back in time. I cannot go back 2 years and take a job as a CNA. I have a wealth of work and life history dealing with the public combined with a BSN degree. I just need to convince myself (and the hiring mgr) that I'm the best candidate for the job. I'm in a wicked tight job market (Boston), but things are starting to loosen up I think.

Good luck to you.

nanagose · Nov 19, 2009

I'm having a little bit of the same problem since a lot of online job applications require you to type all that information in the little boxes. Once you put down *some* information for an employer, it wants everything! One application wouldn't let me move forward to the next part until I put a US state and phone number for a job I had in Athens, Greece!! If I don't have a phone number or boss's name, I just write down the department I worked for in that box and put a nonsense phone number. There's usually some kind of box where you can write a little note that says, "This company no longer exists," or whatever you need to.

Like the sparrow said, what can you do? You can't change the past, and I think it's definitely possible to sell a non-nursing employment history, customer service jobs especially. Many jobs have skill sets that are applicable to nursing.

tlc2u · Nov 19, 2009

Do any of you guys have advice on how far back to list employment and the best way to list 2 summers of 10 shifts each PRN patient care tech. Or would you consider the patient care tech work so minimal that it is not worth listing. I currently work providing assistance with hygiene, ADL's and med admin in the human services field for the past 9 yrs.

2000-present Human services assisting w/hygiene, ADL's, med admin etc.

6/2007-9/2007 Patient Care Tech (PRN worked maybe 10 ON shifts)

6/2008-9/2008 Patient Care Tech (PRN worked maybe 10 ON shifts)

1988-2004 Owner/Operator Home Cleaning Service

1984-1988 In home childcare

How much of the above should I include in a new starting LPN resume? Any advice would be appreciated.

Sincere Thanks

tlc2u

ReWritten · Nov 19, 2009

I'm in the same boat. About to graduate in May, and never had a job in healthcare. What my instructor told us to do was to list all our clinical hours/experiences in the resume.

Example:

126 clinical hours under the direction of a clinical instructor in the General Medical Unit at XYZ Hospital, CITY, STATE August – November 2009

- Performed client assessments

- Assisted in coordinating care and prioritization of clients

- Planned, organized, implemented client care and safety needs

- Communicated findings to physicians and other healthcare professionals