New Grad RN ...Will you critique my resume?

Nurse_ · Feb 7, 2013

First of all, congratulations!

I'm not going to sugarcoat my critique because that's not what you need. It's hard to find a job right now and I won't be helping you by sugarcoating anything.

SUMMARY
- Compassionate and calm in fast-paced, high-stress environments
- Self-motivated learner with experience in EPIC, McKesson, Pyxis, and MS Office
- Excellent academic and professional references

- You must show this on your resume.

- If you have excellent academic references, why is that? Did you excel on your classes? Were you on the dean's list? List all your achievement down.

EDUCATION
XYZ Technical College, BFE, Ohio. Prerequisite coursework towards Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing.
XYZ Technical College, BFE, Ohio. National League for Nursing accredited.
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing Technology, December 2012. 3.3 Cumulative GPA

-Always put the most recent ones first.

-Put your beginning and ending years.

- cGPA or GPA: 3.3

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE, 462 HOURS

- Don't put in the hours. It's a state mandated hours for people who wants to be a nurse.

- Rather than putting all the hospitals you've been to, put in the ones where you assisted on a unique procedures such as inserting a chest tube, transdermal pacemaker.

RELATED EXPERIENCE
Company Name Home Health Services 2009-2010
Patient Care Assistant

- Enumerate everything you've done and specify on RN tasks you've performed

- Make sure to give emphasis on being a team member

WORK HISTORY
Some Restaurant 2006-present
Server, Hostess, Carryout attendant
Some Other Restaurant 2010-2011
Server

- working in a restaurant is closer to nursing than you think so don't just disregard it.

- work on highlighting your customer service skills

- any promotions you have

- how you contributed to the business

Good luck!

chibiRN · Feb 7, 2013

In my original draft I had more info about what skills I did and procedures I observed (and about my work as a server). It seems the general opinion on AN is that hiring managers know what students do during clinical rotations, so it isn't really relevant. Also had to cut a ton of info to get it to fit onto 1 page. I guess I'm back to the drawing board to try to figure out how the heck to make it all fit!

Thank your for not sugarcoating things Nurse_! I would much rather receive some constructive criticism here than have a bad resume prevent me from getting a job.

chibiRN · Feb 7, 2013

Do you think it would be best to nix the second serving job on the resume to make more space for clinical-related skills?

Nurse_ · Feb 7, 2013

Don't just stick with clinical-related skills. You have to highlight what sets you apart from the rest and that's your serving job. You have dealt with customers, happy and unhappy, and how you managed those stressful situations.

chibiRN · Feb 7, 2013

Here's a copy of my updated (again!) draft. I decided to keep the location of my clinical sites as some of them are well known and respected facilities and I plan to apply to a few of them. Also, every reference I've found said to only include the completion date for a degree that you have earned.Thanks again for your help.

FIRST M. LAST, RN

### Sesame Street, City, State ####

(###) ###-####, [email protected]

SUMMARY

- Compassionate and calm in fast-paced, high-stress environments

- Self-motivated learner with experience with EPIC, Pyxis, McKesson and MS Office

- Excellent academic and professional references

LICENSURE & CERTIFICATIONS

- Registered Nurse

Ohio Board of Nursing, License Number

- National Institute of Health Stroke Scale November 2012

American Stroke Association, Renewal Date November 2014

- Pressure Ulcer Training November 2012

National Database of Nursing Quality Indicator

- Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (CPR and AED) January 2012

American Heart association, Renewal Date January 2014

EDUCATION

- Bachelor of Science in Nursing Prerequisite Coursework January 2013-present

Some School Technical College, Nowheresville, Ohio

- Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Technology December 2012

Some School Technical College, Nowheresville, Ohio. 3.3 cGPA

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

Mount ABC East and ABC, 123 Children’s Hospital, QRS and XYZ Community Hospitals, 789 Hospital and the Somethingorother Home

- Comprehensive assessments and total care for up to 4 patients

- Interpreted and monitored telemetry strips and laboratory reports

- Built excellent rapport with patients, acted as a patient advocate by preventing medication errors

- Observation of cardiac catheterization and pacemaker placement, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, wound debridement and various surgical procedures

RELATED EXPERIENCE

Blah Blah Blah Home Health Services 2009-2010

Patient Care Assistant

- Acted as an advocate for all clients, assisted with activities of daily living, provided emotional support, participated in behavioral modification therapy, reported weekly to nursing supervisor and promptly reported change in client condition.

WORK HISTORY

Some Restaurant 2006-present

Server, Hostess, Carryout attendant

- Built positive rapport with customers and staff, trained newly hired staff members, managed customer concerns promptly and effectively in a fast-paced environment, offered encouragement and assistance to coworkers appropriately and consistently exceeded sales and customer satisfaction goals.