Putting together a resume...help please

[DawnCaprice]

Hello everyone, I am getting very close to being able to apply for a nursing job. I would love for someone to critique the resume that I have put together so far.......

The format is a bit messed up when I post it here, but I am more concerned with the verbage. Thank you for your input!

My Name

123 Main Street, Anywhere, USA

[email protected] xxx-xxx-xxxx

Motivated, dedicated, and highly competent professional seeking entry into nursing field

EDUCATION

Nursing School, Anywhere, USA September, 2014

• A.S. in Nursing
  
• 3.53 GPA
  
• Perfect Attendance
  
• Member of NSNA
  

SKILLS SUMMARY

• Venipuncture
  
• Vital signs
  
• Wound Care
  
• Direct patient care
  
• BLS for healthcare providers
  
• Foley catheter insertion and removal
  

CLINICAL EXPOSURE

• Medical/Surgical
  

• Orthopedics
  
• Neurological/ Neuro ICU
  
• Pediatrics/PICU
  
• Labor & Delivery
  
• Post-Partum
  

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

Terriffic Hospital Nurse Extern Anywhere, USA March 2013 - Present

• Assist patients with activities of daily living
  

• Blood draws and catheter insertions
  
• Crossed trained as Unit Secretary
  

Construction Company Administrative Assistant

Anytown, USA January 2012 - March 2013

• Assist the Executive Management team in the day to day activities.
  
• Including but not limited to answering phones, filing, word processing, and organizing upcoming billing for current contract jobs.
  

My Family Day Care aka Dawn's DayCare Owner/Operator Anytown, USA May 2007 - August 2011

• Care for infants ages 6 weeks to 2 years in my home.
  
• Managed the day to day operations of running an in-home business including advertising, billing, caring for at least 6 children at a time.
  
• Created website to use in advertising my business.
  

Convienence Store Mgmt Co Human Resources/Payroll Administrator August 2004 - May 2007

Anytown, USA August 2004 - May 2007

• Telecommute from my home office taking care of payroll and human resources for approximately 200+ employees.
  
• Managed benefit plans for all employees.
  
• Spear-headed the creation of an employee manual with the assistance of other team members.
  

[RunBabyRN]

Take out the objective unless you get more specific about which unit you're trying to pursue. One thing I do for my cover letter, which I change more than my resume, is change it and save it before I submit it to whomever I'm submitting it to so that I'd specific to that facility. I have a few different resumes with the emphasis on pertinent skills and such to the few areas I'm trying to get into, one for women's health/L&D/postpartum and one for emergency, in addition to one general resume. This way my objectives can be clear- seeking a RN position in an emergency room.

Delete your skills summary. There's nothing there that's not expected of a typical new grad. If you had experience above and beyond typical new grad skills that are pertinent to the unit, then include those. For example, I have prior healthcare experience, so for my women's health resume, I've included that I have experience doing sterile speculum exams and STD screenings. Not a lot of new grads have this. On my emergency one, I have that I am a first responder, and I learned a lot that way that I never learned in nursing school (but that sure came in handy). If you can't do vitals as a new grad, there's a big problem. Take that whole section out.

With your other job experience, think about how to make your experiences relate to nursing. Problem solving? Educating parents? Multitasking? If you're trying to get into peds, for example, how can you relate what you did running a daycare to what you'll need to be able to do as a pediatric RN?

I think the work experience you have is good. With managing benefit plans, do you have a good understanding of health plans? It might be good to discuss your knowledge of navigating health insurance.

[AllInRN, ASN, BSN]

I think you should change your user name to protect your identity.

RunbabyRN had some great points. Here are a few other points.

I have a section on my resume near the bottom - that says Professional Affiliations - that is where I would list NSNA

Your BLS for healthcare providers should be listed under - Certifications

My family day care AKA Dawn's daycare - why the name change? I think you should list ONE name.

Clinical Experience - I'd include the facilities

Good luck!