momohime

That's the problem. I have equal interest in all of those programs. I'm currently a NICU nurse but, while I love my specialty, am unsure if I want to always be in a hospital setting. I could see myself enjoying women's health, family, or even psych nursing. WHNP seems like the closest fit considering my background. I love teaching and eventually would like to get my DNP though, so family seems like the best long term choice. But then there's the Nurse Educator program, so.. I just don't know.

Between FNP, WHNP, NNP, PMHNP, and Nurse Educator at UAB--Does anyone know which is the most competetive? Which track is the easiest to be accepted into? I'm having a hard time narrowing down my choices!

It's a level III regional NICU with 70 beds. I haven't really done anything above and beyond my basic requirements--no committees or conferences or anything like that. I have taken some extra CE classes, but I'm not sure if they're anything worth mentioning. As far as teaching parents go, it's part of my job to make sure they understand why their babies are with us, what our goals and expectations are, what equipment does, what procedures we have to do, and then infant care stuff for when they go home. I could get more specific on that, but.. that's one of my problems. I don't know how much is too much.

I've been a nurse for four years now, working in the same unit I've been in since I graduated. Up to this point, I haven't really had to have a resume. Now, because of a planned upcoming move, I need to put one together to send out to hospitals in my new city. I'm having a really difficult time with it though. I've got most of the basics covered: my name is on it, licensure & certifications listed, education stuff mentioned. What I'm getting stuck on is the part about my job qualifications. I only have one relevant work experience, so you think it'd be easy enough.. but no, I'm apparently making it a lot harder than it has to be. It's bullet points. They're killing me. I don't know what to list. I work in a neonatal ICU. I'm comfortable with pretty much everything we get. I can do admits, discharges, work a baby up. I can manage any kind of airway or intravenous lines, give any kind of med or feeding. Chest tubes, trachs, ostomies, you name it. I know all about interdisciplinary care plans and electronic charting, starting teaching immediately, breastfeeding initiatives, kangaroo care, NAS, etc. But...that's just basic job description stuff, right? Do I need to put that I know how to do basic skills type things like starting an IV or giving meds? I'm a nurse. That seems pretty standard. Is it better to go with generic statements like "Develop, implement, and evaluate an individualized plan of care from admission through discharge" or "Performed nursing duties with a patient centered focus"? I want my resume to convey what I'm able to do, but I guess I just don't know how to put everything together in a way that properly does that. Any help would be much appreciated!

Having an "in" in the unit you want to work in always helps. If you can precept in the NICU, that significantly increases your chances on being hired as a new grad. Also, working as a tech/secretary in the unit works too. Being in the NICU can be tough sometimes. Having at least some exposure to the unit lets the people in charge of hiring know that you know exactly what you're getting into in and you still want to do it! It also gives them the opportunity to see how well you get along with the nurses that are already working there.