Nurse Portfolio Question

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Being a Nurse for over ten years - I am finding this "new" thing of putting together a Nursing Portfolio, the most frustrating, time consuming experience. Most of us experienced nurses have not kept up with keeping all those bits of paper/certificates of all the zillions of CEU's that we have completed over the years. Other than a 17 page resume - what else goes in this portfolio thing? I'm over it already.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

It is really not a bad idea, especially if you want to take travel contracts at some point. A professional portfolio class is taught in freshman year at most major universities.

Mine is broken down into sections for :

education, critical care course, and copies of my degrees and an official transcript

Licenses

certifications

memberships in professional organizations

ceus - save in case you are everv audited by AACN or ANA

health records such as titers, Tdap, current flu shot and PPD, current physical

references - I use a standard form and collect them from people in a management position

resume - I keep it updated otherwise I would never be able to recall my dates of employment

I used to include projects that I have worked on, but now I am not too inclined to want to join committees and take on what amounts to a part time job.

A student should keep copies of papers, or pictures of poster presentations that were really well done.

There could also be miscelaneous things like letters from patients, newspaper articles etc.

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I can't go back and get all my CEU's there are just too many.

How long did this take for you to put together.? Is it all on paper ? Is it in a big fold out binder? Do you put all your original douments in it?

I have no clue what one even looks like.

Thank you for your help. It seems so overwhelming.

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Yes, all on paper. Get yourself a nice big 3 ring binder with section dividers.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

I had a cheap binder with tabs for many years. Since working as a travel nurse I have added my skills checklists, notarized I-9, passport, soc. sec card. All docs are scanned and ready if I need to sign on with a new agency. It is essential to be organized.

Dont forget to include the policy.

Plastic page protectors in a water proof plastic zip file holder are what I take on long distance assignments.

I woud never submit a portfolio for a clinical ladder. It's redundant. They had my evaluations, education file and my resume and that should be enough.

I forgot to mention that every nurse should ask for a copy of your yearly performance evaluation and keep indefinitely that as well.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Have you considered setting up your portfolio online? This is a common practice for 'artsy' folks, but it's just now beginning to penetrate other professions. If you just google "online career portfolio", you will uncover a bazillion different ways to do it. The neatest one that I have seen recently? A nurse educator colleague had a QR code on the back of her business card... it opened up her online portfolio. Very high cool factor.

If all of your 'stuff' is organized online, it is much easier to keep up with. You can include examples of your presentations, project work, etc. It's very easy to add new items.

-->response to icuRNmaggie: Career ladder processes are determined by the sponsoring facility. The use of portfolios is a growing trend - much more sophisticated and relevant than a traditional checklist. Career ladder applicants must comply with the defined process. If it requires a portfolio, that's what you have to submit.

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Thank you. I'll look at those options.

I never kept evals and CEU's .

Seemed like way to much paper.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

LOL I just had to do an ePortfolio to finish out an RN-BSN program. I, too do not keep track of EVERYTHING. I do have to go to 2 trauma conferences a year and I go to quarterly diabetes education meetings. We had to produce works from other classes to show completion of objectives. Good thing I learned to keep all my work.

I was a teacher before and we had to do a portfolio. No one wants to see them.

I will have to do a binder one to climb clinical ladder. At least I know ahead of time and have started collecting.

Good luck!

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Specializes in nursing education.

I started scanning all my CE certificates and can print as needed. You need to have proof for maintaining certifications, and a binder or electronic filing system makes it much simpler.

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Specializes in CVOR, CVICU/CTICU, CCRN-CMC-CSC.

Ok, I'm going to display my ignorance for all to see . . .

I'm seeing portfolios being discussed for multiple purposes (Clinical Ladder, CEU Audit, School assignments). Is this all the same portfolio? Or do you keep separate portfolios for each purpose? Is this something I should present at a job interview? I kept copies of all my CE transcripts, but only for the purpose of being ready for an audit.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

This is a fantastic idea. It never even occurred to me. I have many research years and now that I'm heading into nursing this gives me a great way to put it all together for reference. My current "system" is haphazard and kinda like "oh yeah I have a published abstract about that in one if those onc journals". Bad I know ....this will give me a project for summer break :)

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What a total bunch of busy menial work.

I think I would prefer to focus on the future and all the things I WANT to do! And build a vision board.

This nurse portfolio stuff bores me to tears.

Yawn.

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