Question about resumes....

[Montessori Mommy]

Hi. Can anyone who outlined their clinical experience on their resume for a job right out of nursing school tell me how they composed it?

I have previous job experience as an engineer, but I don't want my entire resume to be engineering related. My instructor suggested I add my clinical sites & experiences to my resume - clearly listed as clinical, NOT implying it is professional experience, of course.

Thank you,

Beth

[Imafloat, BSN, RN]

Answered in pmail.

[Chaoticdreams33, MSN, RN]

I listed my clinical experience the same as I did my other jobs, but with the heading clinical experience. I listed the place and location of the hospitals and all my duties.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

When I first started out as a new LPN, I listed my previous non-nursing related experience. Like you, I had unrelated experience. However, it always let the door open to some common conversation and I got offered several jobs because of other non-nursing related things. It is important that the HR folks or whoever is going to review your resume knows clearly that you are a new grad. I personally wouldn't list clinicals because its a given that if you are a new grad, there is no nursing experience.

[Chaoticdreams33, MSN, RN]

I don't think that it is inappropriate to put clinical experience on your resume. Most resume builder tips for any type of new graduate/entry level position include volunteer and internship experience. Although clinical is not a paid work experience, I still think that you deserve to acknowledge it.

I never thought to put my clinical experience on my resume until a few weeks ago while searching on the internet for tips on new grad resumes, and found a few sample resumes including it. They included how many patients they managed, and skills they performed while in clinical. I have my work experience, clinical experience, and volunteer experience on my resume and the nursing recruiters I interviewed with all seemed to like it. They offered me jobs after all.

[Bala Shark]

Listing your clinical experience is very important..If you dont list them, employers think you have not even been in the hospital setting..As far as I know, in your resume, you can list volunteer work, non paid work, paid work, etc..

I graduated in 2006, and I got a job right after getting my license by listing my clinical experience..Also, I got another job now listing just my clinical experience..