Please, help critique my resume!

anonymurse · Aug 30, 2010

Get result-oriented, like change "Observed patients during the night to prevent falling" to (if true) something like "Perfect record of zero falls/injuries in 2000 hours sitting with pts." Put numbers to work for you. Try not to make it a mere job description, but a list of accomplishments.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Aug 30, 2010

I would take the "activities and interests" out. It is not needed and the employer does not care. Unless you are a fitness trainer and actually have a job to coach people on how to loose weight then you should leave it out. Also, you need to stay consistent with your use of tense. You write " Repositioned and turned bedridden patients to prevent bedsores. Prevents patients from removing IV's and Feeding Tubes" and typically job descriptions are in the "ing" form "repositioning and turning" "assisting nurses with medication passes" use as little descriptive words on job duties as possible, they know what a patient sitter does, you do not need to describe "preventing patients from removing IVs and Feeding Tubes". If you are apply for a health related job and are stating previous health employment you only need to describe duties that were out of the ordinary, "CNA which included additional training on invasive procedures such as starting foley catheters, I.V. starts (then include the certification course under certifications section if applicable).

Do you have any CPR certifications? This could be a section. Awards/honors in school? Another section. Volunteer work/ Community service? Yet another.

chloecatrn · Aug 30, 2010

license:

new york state registered nurse license july/2010

on your real resume, make sure to list your license number. they'll be able to find your license much more easily that way.

education

associates of applied science,nursing(2004)

what school? any honors?

work history

home care aide

private hire: various clients (1998-2010)

observed patients during the night to prevent falling prevented falls in x cases in 12 years.
provided a safe, sanitary and positive environment; removed any harmful objects in the bedroom and bathroom area ensured client safety in the home environment by removing barriers to safe ambulation.
groomed patients and provided mouth care provided personal care to both male and female clients
interacted with patients' family members; provided updates on condition
if needed, turned patients every two hours in bed provided repositioning as appropriate based on each client's bed mobility.
accompanied patients to various appointments as needed; set up patients appointments scheduled client physician and therapy appointments; separate bullet -- accompanied clients to physician and therapy appointments as necessary to provide information on home care regimen and family concerns
engaged patients in conversation - read the new york times daily to patients encouraged cognitive growth via conversation and engagement in current events
encouraged patients to have a more positive outlook on life i would take this out.
assisted patients throughout rehabilitation processes; from walking with canes to walking independently provided reinforcement of client rehabilitation goals, including ambulation with assistive devices
prepared healthy meals; followed patients' dietary needs according to complex dietary restrictions prepared meals for clients in keeping with complex dietary restrictions, including x diet, y diet, and z diet.
were any of your patients dementia patients? you could put that you provided reorientation to person, place, and time to the dementia clients.

nursing home/hospital companion

private hire: various clients (2005-2008 ) facilities include: (enter facilities here)

served as a health advocate; communicated clients' needs, problems and/or concerns to families and health care providers.
monitored clients for changes in condition; notified health care professional if observed.
coordinated communication between families and doctors redundant. says same thing as number 1.
located nursing staff upon patients' request and as i deemed necessary redundant.
provided overall companionship; engaged regularly in conversation with patients and provided emotional support provided companionship and cognitive stimulation to the hospitalized clients.
assisted hospital staff with patient transfers utilizing a variety of transfer modalities, including hoyer lift.
assisted with clients' personal hygiene; bed bath, shaving, nail care, etc. provided personal care to male and female clients.
emptied catheter bags
cleaned, sanitized and neatened clients' rooms
assisted doctors during wound care task
repositioned and turned bedridden patients to prevent bedsores repositioned clients as necessary based on each client's bed mobility to prevent bedsores.
prevents patients from removing iv's and feeding tubes maintained integrity of tubes, drains, intravenous lines, and central venous catheters.
observed patients in case of discomfort during peg feedings-notified the nurse immediately if peg dislodged redundant.
monitored patients closely for changes in condition; observed physical, emotional and mental wellbeing moved to top.
assisted nurses with patients' transitions from bed to chair; utilized hoyer lift moved up list.

acitivities and interests -- don't need these.

tutor reading
form weightloss challenges via internet forum
coaches people on how to live a healthy lifestyle and lose weight

are you cpr certified? are you ekg trained? references? volunteer anywhere brick and mortar that is healthcare related?

BowHunterRN · Aug 30, 2010

I would take the "activities and interests" out. It is not needed and the employer does not care. Unless you are a fitness trainer and actually have a job to coach people on how to loose weight then you should leave it out. Also, you need to stay consistent with your use of tense. You write " Repositioned and turned bedridden patients to prevent bedsores. Prevents patients from removing IV's and Feeding Tubes" and typically job descriptions are in the "ing" form "repositioning and turning" "assisting nurses with medication passes" use as little descriptive words on job duties as possible, they know what a patient sitter does, you do not need to describe "preventing patients from removing IVs and Feeding Tubes". If you are apply for a health related job and are stating previous health employment you only need to describe duties that were out of the ordinary, "CNA which included additional training on invasive procedures such as starting foley catheters, I.V. starts (then include the certification course under certifications section if applicable).
Do you have any CPR certifications? This could be a section. Awards/honors in school? Another section. Volunteer work/ Community service? Yet another.

I agree. An employer would be more interested if you are CPR certified, or have any other certifications, than about your interests. Did you graduate with any kind of honors? On my resume I listed my school, my degree, and then "Honors Graduate." Also, I listed the clincial rotations I had. (Some people say to do this, some don't, it's your opinon.) Good Luck!

grateful2010, LPN, LVN · Aug 31, 2010

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!! I'm aware there were many mistakes on my resume, I just didn't how to fix them. I've been postponing CPR and volunteer work for a while now. This week I will register for both! To Chloecatrn, thanks a bunch, your response was a huge help, oh em gee... :yeah:

Besides CPR, do you think I should also take BCLS and EKG? Those are the only other two certifications I am willing to spend money on, no more no less!

Now I need to work on my cover letters.....it isn't a pretty sight.....oye:uhoh3: But in the meantime, please keep the responses coming, although I'm very grateful for the info I've received already.:)

chloecatrn · Aug 31, 2010

Cardillo and Associates has a lot of info on how to write an impressive cover letter. I absolutely love her website. And, for when you land an interview, there's tips on good interviewing skills, too.

BLS for Healthcare Providers through the American Heart Association is the CPR course you want to register for. (This is the BCLS class you're thinking of.)

I'd skip EKG. That's one of those things you can learn to do on the floor. However, a lot of employers look favorably on ACLS, so since you're obviously not doing the BCLS class and if you skip EKG, ACLS might definitely be worth it. I know around here, it can be had at a community college for approximately $75.

Don't forget, when you go to an interview, to take this beautiful new resume with you, printed out on resume paper, which you can find at Staples or Office Depot. Take several copies, in case you interview with HR and they take you to meet a unit director or someone similar, or in case they have a couple of unit directors that they'd like you to meet when you were anticipating meeting only one. Put your beautiful new resumes in at least a professional looking binder, if not a portfolio. You don't want them to get wrinkled between the printer and the office.

HappyNurse2005, RN · Aug 31, 2010

I wonder, and prospective employers might wonder, if you graduated nursing school in 2004 why did you just get licensed in 2010? not that you can really explain that on a resume, but they may ask you about it. If they don't, they'll be thinking it

grateful2010, LPN, LVN · Aug 31, 2010

cardillo and associates has a lot of info on how to write an impressive cover letter. i absolutely love her website. and, for when you land an interview, there's tips on good interviewing skills, too.
bls for healthcare providers through the american heart association is the cpr course you want to register for. (this is the bcls class you're thinking of.)
i'd skip ekg. that's one of those things you can learn to do on the floor. however, a lot of employers look favorably on acls, so since you're obviously not doing the bcls class and if you skip ekg, acls might definitely be worth it. i know around here, it can be had at a community college for approximately $75.
don't forget, when you go to an interview, to take this beautiful new resume with you, printed out on resume paper, which you can find at staples or office depot. take several copies, in case you interview with hr and they take you to meet a unit director or someone similar, or in case they have a couple of unit directors that they'd like you to meet when you were anticipating meeting only one. put your beautiful new resumes in at least a professional looking binder, if not a portfolio. you don't want them to get wrinkled between the printer and the office.

:up: ........ :cool:

i wonder, and prospective employers might wonder, if you graduated nursing school in 2004 why did you just get licensed in 2010? not that you can really explain that on a resume, but they may ask you about it. if they don't, they'll be thinking it

i've explained it countless times to every prospective employer, by now i sound like a broken record..lol i know i will answer this question until the day i am no longer a "new nurse" :uhoh3:

i've been a bit ambivalent on how to address this in cover letters, or rather, should i address it at all? sometimes i do incorporate an explanation; i now figure that it's probably best saved for the actual interview. during the time i waited for my license to be released i was proactive. i read my nursing books and applied many of the things i read to ill family members. hopefully things work out in my favor...the license issue definitely wasn't my doings, if it were up to me i would have practiced nursing as soon as i graduated. oh well, that is the past, nothing i can do aboout it now...today is a new day.:)

chloecatrn · Aug 31, 2010

You may want to consider a refresher course, too. Also, I wouldn't address it in your cover letter. This is something that needs to be discussed in an interview situation.

grateful2010, LPN, LVN · Sep 4, 2010

You may want to consider a refresher course, too. Also, I wouldn't address it in your cover letter. This is something that needs to be discussed in an interview situation.

I'm holding off on a refresher, I have a set deadline to take the class, only if i'm not employed by then.

Is it advised to write future endeavors on my resume? Example: I am applying for my BSN, start date is in spring and graduating date, 2012. Also, I will take ACLS class in two weeks. Is it appropriate to state this in my resume?

chloecatrn · Sep 5, 2010

Wait until you've been accepted for your BSN to put it on your resume. Then, add it as Bachelor of Science, Nursing, expected December 2012 with the school's name on a separate line underneath. Skip including ACLS until you're certified, then add it under your certifications section.