Clinical Experience on an Experienced RN Resume?

NightNurseRN13 · Mar 12, 2014

I would totally include the customer service experience. That is valuable experience especially in nursing. Plus gaps in your work history don't always look too good.

OCNRN63, RN · Mar 12, 2014

I'm confused...is this clinical from nursing school you're using? If it is, it doesn't count as experience, since everyone does clinical to become a nurse. Experience is what you've done after school.

I apologize in advance if I've misread your post.

elkpark · Mar 12, 2014

I'm confused...is this clinical from nursing school you're using? If it is, it doesn't count as experience, since everyone does clinical to become a nurse. Experience is what you've done after school.

I apologize in advance if I've misread your post.

I wondered about that, too. If you're talking about your clinical experiences as a student, there is no reason to include those on a resume'. The only situation I would consider an exception to that is if you had some really special, unusual clinical experience, and the only time even that would be appropriate would be for a brand new graduate, not someone with two years of real experience.

Since you've only been in nursing a short while, IMO, it would be appropriate in include prior work experience, and, as already noted, customer service may be considered a "plus" in nursing since there is so much emphasis on it in healthcare these days.

Altra, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2014

Agree with posts above -- definitely include your prior employment, but not school clinical experiences, unless it was something significant on a volunteer basis (I know of schools which operate clinics, for example) or otherwise really, really unique.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2014

customer service may be considered a "plus" in nursing since there is so much emphasis on it in healthcare these days.

I was thinking this exact thing.

Also, I agree that clinicals don't typically count as experience. Unless you're trying to get into a specialized unit and did your internship on a similar unit...I might put that under "special skills" though, not work history.

I included my CNA experience when applying for my first nursing job; I had done that for 5 yrs before becoming an RN.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Mar 12, 2014

Education is usually the first heading on a resume.

Experience, is the second major heading. Underneath, listed each placed of employment with most recent place of employment listed first. Beneath each employer, you can list your specific job duties

Some people include a separate heading :"Related Experience" to encompass anything that is relevant but not tied to a specific job... like volunteer jobs, community service or elected offices. Others may put this as a sub-heading under Experience

Agree with PP - don't include school rotations as experience. It will come across as though you are trying to exaggerate your qualifications.

Tait, MSN, RN · Mar 12, 2014

Education is usually the first heading on a resume.
Experience, is the second major heading. Underneath, listed each placed of employment with most recent place of employment listed first. Beneath each employer, you can list your specific job duties
Some people include a separate heading :"Related Experience" to encompass anything that is relevant but not tied to a specific job... like volunteer jobs, community service or elected offices. Others may put this as a sub-heading under Experience
Agree with PP - don't include school rotations as experience. It will come across as though you are trying to exaggerate your qualifications.

I agree with everything HouTX said, and in addition when I breezed the post I thought you had worked all those different JOBS, which looked flaky to me. Trust me HR breezes just as fast, in fact recently they called me back and said "oh wait, you have your Master's?" lol

msygrnbw · Mar 12, 2014

We went over this last semester and were told repeatedly NOT to put clinical experience on our resumes, even as new nurses. Their rationale was that hiring nurse managers/recruiters are well versed in that nurses have gone to school and done clinical. That being said, if you're looking to branch into other areas and spent extra time in that area (say volunteering at child care or experience helping a disabled child) you should definitely highlight/include that. Tailor your resume to the job you're applying for. And if you're thinking that you may eventually branch out into another area, getting some relevant experience with that population, even if it's not as a nurse, can look really good.