Putting clinical experience on a resume?

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Is this appropriate? Im looking for a job as a PCA or CNA as I work my way through Nursing School. I'm a first year, second semester student and feel that the skills I've learned should be listed under my experience.

Specializes in NICU Level III.

I don't see why not.

Thank you. Did not want to put information that was not appropriate on my resume and have recruiters think I am a nut!

If you're going to do that (beyond just stating that you're a first year nursing student), you need to be very clear that this was school clinical experience, not paid work experience.

Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

I agree with elkpark.

As a former nurse manager, I would prefer that applicant not list nursing school clinical experience on their resume, unless it is highly unusual and pertinent to the job for which they are applying.

It is a safe assumption that graduates (or students) of approved nursing schools will have certain basic clinical experiences in the course of their academic program. It does not distinguish one candidate from another to list geriatric, adult med/surg, ICU, peds, OB, psych, etc. This is pretty much a given for all candidates.

What is far more interesting and important to a hiring manager is the candidate's personal work experience, health-care related or not. I want to know that a candidate has a history of reporting to work on time, working well with others, displaying initiative, being flexible in assignments, being able to balance work/school/other obligations, etc. I learn this from a work history, whether the employer is McDonald's, the local gym, or a neighbor for whom you babysat.

If you have had a highly unusual clinical experience that is relevant to the position for which you are applying, then mention it briefly. For example, if you are applying for a maternal-child position and you spent 12 weeks doing an internship in L&D, then summarize that experience in a paragraph. Don't be tempted to fluff it up. the manager will know if you are over-stating it.

Good luck.

i'm a second year student and what I do is, on the top of my resume I put "Second year (6th quarter) nursing student with clinical experience in med-surg (3 quarters), labor and delivery, post partum, women's health, and currently in pediatrics. you don't need to list what skills you know, but stating it like this lets them know what you completed in school. hospitals are familiar with what schools teach in each quarter, so you only need to let them know what quarters you completed. :) hope that helps!

Good, that's exactly what I did. I figured since I am currently IN nursing school I would show what year and what rotations I've completed thus far. I understand not putting any clinical experience once you've graduated as it goes unsaid; but since I am looking for a CNA position, I figured it would be pertinent. Thanks again for all the replies.

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