Newgrad with RN homecare experience...how to transition to hospital staff nurse

[rsbirdie]

Hello everyone! I graduated in 2011 with a BSN (cum laude), and couldn't get a job for 18 months. I applied everywhere, hospitals, nursing homes, dr's offices...not even an interview. I eventually got a job as a pediatric homecare nurse with an agency. I have been working for 6 months now and have a good reputation with my agency. I am now looking to work at a hospital. I prefer adult med/surg to broaden my experience but will take any position, I truly enjoyed every field of nursing in school. My questions are

(1) What are my chances? What will nurse managers think of me? Is homecare experience to them?

(2) My resume is below. I don't want to put it out until it is perfect. Should I list my clinical rotations or employment first? I clearly have hidden the names and addresses, I'm not worried about formatting, I'm concerned with the content.

(3) Any tips are GREATLY appreciated!!

THANKS!! Birdie

Birdie L. Shjius, RN, BSN

Address, town, NY zip code

CELL: (6786786- E-MAIL: [COLOR=#003366]hkhjkhkh

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE:

BSN educated Registered Nurse with Pediatric homecare experience and extensive clinical training at well regarded hospitals. Highly motivated with trusted independent assessment and clinical decision making ability. Proven clinical and communication skills. Aware of strengths and weaknesses, welcomes constructive criticism. Reliable, empathetic healthcare provider with the ability to remain calm and intervene during crises, and to collaborate on multidisciplinary teams to meet patient goals. BLS and PALS certified.

EDUCATION:

School name, town, NY Degree: January 2012

Bachelor of Science (Cum Laude) - Nursing

■ New York State Registered Professional Nurse #number

• ACLS, PALS, BLS Certified, American Heart Association
  

CLINICAL ROTATIONS:

Fall Semester 2011

Queens Hospital Center, Jamaica, NY

• Senior Externship - Medical/ Surgical Unit (260 hours). Precepted by a RN; assigned to 4-5 patients daily. Performed patient assessments and developed care plans; utilized EMR for data entry. Cared for patients undergoing vascular, GI, GU, GYN and general surgeries. Managed IV therapies, CVP lines, PCA pumps, wound vacs, J-P and other drains. Participated in discharge planning with focus on educating families regarding general disease management.
  
• Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, NY- Cardiac Step-Down Unit
  
• Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY- Medical-Surgical Nursing / Maternal-Child Health
  
• Cohen Children's Medical Center, New Hyde Park NY - Pediatric Medical-Surgical Unit
  
• Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, Queens Village, NY - Adult Behavioral Health Unit
  
• VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, St. Albans, NY - Outpatient Clinic/ Dementia Day Care Program
  

EMPLOYMENT:

Agency, town, NY April 2013 -Present

Registered Nurse

• Pediatric homecare for infants and children with chronic, life threatening diseases.
  
• Provide high quality individualized care that includes complete and constant assessments, recognizing changes in conditions, adjusting care to maintain optimal health status. Administered PO, SQ, nebulizer, and GB medications as ordered. Utilized feeding pumps, nebulizers, inexsufflator machine, percussive therapy, suctioning devices, oxygen tanks and concentrators. Ventilator knowledge and experience. Exercised seizure precautions and treatment protocol. Tracheostomy and Gastric button changes and care. Therapeutic play, provided activities to aide patient in meeting physical, occupational, and speech therapy goals.
  
• Thorough written documentation as per agency protocol using Data, Action, Response format.
  
• Maintain open and honest communication with family, healthcare professionals, M.D.s, agency and nurses. Provide extensive teaching and emotional support for families.
  
• Ability to remain calm in emergency situations while providing appropriate life saving measures.
  

Child Care Provider, town, NY 2007-April 2013

• Complete childcare for newborns to children age 11.
  

Independent Contractor, town, NY

Home Health Aide 2009 - 2011

• Assignments include end-of-life care of a CVA client, a client with diabetic complications/amputation and other complex medical conditions.
  
• Monitor vital signs, medication reminders, personal hygiene, and maintaining close contact with family.
  

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:

• Volunteer, Childhood Nutrition Education Program, school Student Nurse Association
  
• Volunteer, School Anti-Bullying Program, school Student Nurse Association
  

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Nix the student experiences. They should NEVER be listed on resume once first professional position obtained. You don't want a HR to toss your application due to perceived student/new grad on their 10 second perusal of resume.

Same reason your profile is misleading:

BSN educated Registered Nurse with Pediatric homecare experience and extensive clinical training at well regarded hospitals

---this is all STUDENT experience, not post graduate, professional training. After reading this sentence, I would expect to see several hospital positions listed and would feel I'm being misled when I don't see them, therefore tossing application to bottom of pile or sending automatic email "position is filled by other qualified candidate" rejection letter....just what you don't what to have occurring!

Also remove "aware strength/weakness/accept constructive criticism comment. SELL me on what you are doing with your current position and future career goals.

See sticky FAQ at bottom of forum:

2012 Tips: Perfecting Nursing Resume, Cover Letter + Online Nursing Job Applications

[rsbirdie]

So I will take out my clinical experience, and other misleading I formation. Thank you the was very helpful! Do you think everything else is "selling myself"? I read an article that said nurse managers want to see that you are open to constructive criticism. Do you think I can put that in my cover letter

[nursecait]

The constructive criticism mention may lead them to think you need ALOT of criticism. They don't want to hire someone they think constantly needs to be criticized. This is a point I would sell on an interview, not a résumé.