Resume Critique Please

surgrn1980 · Mar 13, 2014

sorry the formatting is a little wonky on here.

surgrn1980 · Mar 13, 2014

uh oh is it that bad? This is my first attempt as making a resume as an experienced RN. I just don't want my resume to be passed over because it is too long or boring. :arghh: I am wondering if my professional profile is too lengthy. I want to drive home that I am eager and qualified and unfortunately that is hard to do on paper.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2014

1) Go back and edit out all the identifying information (specifics on jobs, dates, schools, your actual initials, etc.) when you post here. Do this stat.

2) Lose any sentence that mentions "passion." As a matter of fact, after you do that, lose that entire "professional profile" section, cut it in half (or more), and put the less florid parts in your cover letter or mention them in your interview. Everybody says all of that stuff and it doesn't make you stand out at all, including that "Seeking a new and challenging role in XXXX that will enable me to utilize my skills to their fullest potential, whilst allowing me to continue learn and grow within my profession." Let's see evidence of a specific goal-- achieve top level on clinical ladder within two years, for example, or develop management skills, or work with infection control on data collection for postop patients ... .

3) Lose any prior work experience that isn't RN-level. They don't care that you were a student nursing aide or a staffing clerk, really, they don't. You can mention it in your interview IF and only if some aspect of the job would be applicable to the one you're interviewing for, e.g., that you understand the pressures a staffing clerk could face because you did that job for eight months.

4) "Computer skills" could mean, "I'm your go-to gal for Facebook and cute kitten pix!" :) Say what EHR system you're proficient in, and other work-related factors.

5) You worked for two years on a surgical floor (Any specialty? general surgical, GI/GU/ ortho...?). Everything else after that line, except being a preceptor, is a generic RN job description they've read a thousand times, so you can lose that. The list of competencies and experience (next section) will cover what you did there. If you had any special projects or activities, like participating in a study of how pt teaching decreased readmissions, or taking continuing education in XYZ (related to the floor specialty), or doing relief charge, this is where you put that.

Your goal here is to have something that a HR functionary will scan, see your education and honors, your clinical experience and competencies (which are the words you want, not "qualifications" (that's your licensure and actual certifications that make you minimally qualified for the job) and "proficiencies" (who says?), and say, "Hmm, she's only been out of school two years but she has two more years of experience than all the new grads I hear from all the time and she seems to have a good head on her shoulders, worth a second look."

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2014

It's really, really, long...in fact I didn't read the whole thing b/c my eyes started watering. HR is going to have to read the same thing. You want to be memorable for your qualifications, not be passed over b/c HR couldn't or wouldn't read your resume.

I would take out the non-nursing related experience section. That looks like it could be a page right there. Also take out the standard nursing skills like drain care, foley insertion, etc. Presumably, every nurse applying knows how to put in a foley. What sets you apart from the dozens of other applicants?

Wishing you the best in your job hunt!

surgrn1980 · Mar 13, 2014

Thanks for the feedback so far. It will no longer let me edit this post. Is there a way to go back to edit that stuff out

surgrn1980 · Mar 13, 2014

The floor I worked on did a majority of the GI/GU, GYN, amputations, and some plastics/skin. We even took pacemaker and ORIF surgeries if other floors were too busy to handle the admissions. What's the best way to put that on a resume? It was honestly a miss mosh of everything.

I suppose my biggest issue was that other than precepting I didn't really get a chance to do anything dynamic....I just went through a very ugly divorce and I didn't have a lot of extra time to focus on advancement.

RunBabyRN · Mar 13, 2014

Bear with me, as I am *almost* a new grad nurse, but I was a hiring manager in my past life.

Take out all of the stuff that ALL nurses can do. PICC care, unless you were doing PICC insertions, is a given. Foley insertions, IVs, etc, take that all out. Take out the non-nursing experience. If you really want it there, you can allude to it, basically just listing, "Other professional experience," with job titles listed below, but that's really not necessary (so even that section can come out). As stated before, you could mention it in your interview if you want to.

Your professional profile section is better left to a cover letter, in complete sentences.

Brevity is important. Seeing this resume would make me tune out quickly, and I would wonder if your charting is equally wordy.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2014

Under each job I have listed on mine, I add in a bullet point quick list of major pt populations. For example, my first nursing job was primarily a neuro med/surg floor, and my badge said "Staff Nurse, Neuroscience." We also had a lot of major ENT surgical pts and adults w/ CF, as well as a handful of services w/ fewer pts. But the bullet point says, "Major pt pop's include Neuro, Neurosurg, ENT surg, and adult CF" (no I don't abbreviate like that...but I have a sleeping baby on my lap and I'm lazy.) then go on to list the rest of my duties.

Not sure if that's the best way, but it's what I do.

I'm very sorry to hear about your divorce. That's got to be rough. Hugs!!

The floor I worked on did a majority of the GI/GU, GYN, amputations, and some plastics/skin. We even took pacemaker and ORIF surgeries if other floors were too busy to handle the admissions. What's the best way to put that on a resume? It was honestly a miss mosh of everything. I suppose my biggest issue was that other than precepting I didn't really get a chance to do anything dynamic....I just went through a very ugly divorce and I didn't have a lot of extra time to focus on advancement.

Trauma Columnist · Mar 13, 2014

Edited out personal info.