Resume Advice

CoolKidsRN · Oct 23, 2014

I would include it as a separate section titled, "clinical experience". I would not include it under professional experience.

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 23, 2014

I would get it off the front page of your resume and include it on a separate page. Within your resume, you can say something like "Summary of school clinical experiences attached." That way, the long list of student stuff doesn't detract from your actual resume -- but the information is there for anyone who wants to look at it. That way also minimizes the possibility that someone will misunderstand and think that those school clinicals were actually professional jobs.

However ... if you did some special project or had some special student that relates to the job you are applying for ... something that most other new grads would not have had ... you might incorporate that piece of information within the resume under the listing of your school/academic credentials.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Oct 23, 2014

unless you have worked in a clinical situation outside nursing school I would not address it. Employers know that you have to have some clinical experience to get your license and they also know what you did was not at the same level of responsibility and accountability that you now have. If you worked as an aide, tech, LVN, EMT---anything else, I would list it. Otherwise, not.

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 23, 2014

unless you have worked in a clinical situation outside nursing school I would not address it. Employers know that you have to have some clinical experience to get your license and they also know what you did was not at the same level of responsibility and accountability that you now have. If you worked as an aide, tech, LVN, EMT---anything else, I would list it. Otherwise, not.

I used to share you opinion, classicdame -- and absolutely hated it when new grads padded their resumes with school clinicals. But in the last few years, I have seen some new grads with such minimal clinical experience from school that I now recommend they include the information -- just not integrated into the resume. I recommend putting it on a different page to keep it separate from the actual resume -- but available if the interviewer wants to see it to confirm that the candidate's school provided decent clinicals. Not all schools do anymore.

essT · Oct 24, 2014

There's an entire board under the "career" tab devoted to nursing resume help, and many of the posts are geared towards new grads. Nursing Resume Help

FWIW, I included my senior preceptorship on my resume because it was 220 hours in the same type of specialized unit to which I was applying. I called it "clinical experience," not "professional experience" because, no matter how autonomously you work as a nursing student, nothing can compare to being out there on your own!

Good luck with the job hunt!

BabyNurse14 · Oct 25, 2014

I am a recent graduate and I included it on my resume under Clinical experience and the amount of hours that we earned throughout the semester. Different schools require different hours...for example my school required 200+ hours in the practicum whereas another college in the same area only required 120 hours. The potential employers may see the bump in hours as more significant and are willing to interview you before the candidate with less clinical hours.

I also had some interviewers ask what did I learn in Adult geron vs. Fundamentals...how did I grow etc. I wouldn't put ever single clinical on the resume, but the ones pertinent to the units you are applying to would be good.

RunBabyRN · Nov 3, 2014

This is what I have on mine:

Senior Preceptorship, ***** Medical Center, City, CA, January-April 2014

Mother baby unit- performed the role of a registered nurse under the supervision of a preceptor RN, providing comprehensive care to newborns, mothers and families. Provided culturally-sensitive care to patients and their families; assessed mothers and newborns; administered IV, oral, ocular and parenteral medications; tended to surgical incisions and skin tears; referred patients to community resources and providers; educated patients.

Other nursing school clinical experience:

Medical/Surgical- ***** Medical Center, 270 hours. Included rotations in ED, ICU, cardiac cath lab and surgical units.

Maternal Child- ***** Medical Center, 90 hours

Mental Health- various locations throughout ****** County, 90 hours

Pediatrics- Name of Hospital ED; ****** Schools, 90 hours

Community health- ****** Schools, 90 hours

Additionally, I have two other nursing jobs NOT in the area of nursing I am pursuing. This is listed below them, and below that, I have listed my other healthcare experience. I have a few different resumes, but one that's pretty general, and this is what's listed on the general one. On the one for women's health, I have a more descriptive explanation of my senior preceptorship. For the general one, I tried to stick with things that you'll see more in med/surg, clinics, etc.

Yes, this is listed under my professional experience. I have it listed as professional experience, rather than work experience, because this wasn't necessarily work, but I feel that it contributes to my professional experience.