Resume Help Please.....

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hello fellow AN members,

I am in desperate need of your assistance/suggestions. :o I am a fairly new member of this site, but have been been reading long before I joined (found it while I was a CNA).

I graduated from my LVN program almost 1 year ago but have only been licensed 5 months. I have been having an extremely hard time finding a job, like many, I know...

I realize all the possible reasons are because of being inexperienced and the economy etc. So, I am not here to whine.....:crying2:. I am asking for some help.

I recently re-wrote my resume to only reflect my health related experiences (CNA, caregiver, etc), but am wondering if I should re-write it again to add some of my other career experiences.

Nursing is not my first career. I have many years experience working in the managed care field as a claims processor, claims compliance auditor and claims audit manager, in addition I have a bachelors degree in psychology. I also have some psych experience, but I imagine it is too far back to put on my resume....

I was thinking maybe I should re-write my resume again and somehow incorporate this experience. I ask because I see some job advertisements for nurse auditor positions; however, I do lack the clinical expertise that they request.

I am just trying to get some LVN experience, any experience..... Like others here, I have applied to many positions, but to no avail.

My plan is to go on for my RN at somepoint. I am taking some of the science prereq's now, but like others here, I would like to get some experience as an LVN.

Anyway, what do you think? Anyone have any suggestions for me?

Thank you in advance.......:heartbeat

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Definitely include your years of experience in any field where you excelled. When it comes times to interview, let your prospective employer know how it has prepared you for the nursing profession. I'm sure it's actually true, and that you can find specific reasons for/examples of why. I had several careers before becoming a nurse, none of which had anything to do with healthcare. Sell your experience, the work ethic that helped you gain expertise in your previous career(s), and tie it into nursing practice in language and terms that you believe in order to convey them authentically and with confidence.

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.

are you including your clinical experiences in your resume? i listed all the rotations and hospitals i did clinicals at when i was first looking for an lpn job. it's a tough job market for new grads now. good luck!

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Definitely include your years of experience in any field where you excelled. When it comes times to interview, let your prospective employer know how it has prepared you for the nursing profession. I'm sure it's actually true, and that you can find specific reasons for/examples of why. I had several careers before becoming a nurse, none of which had anything to do with healthcare. Sell your experience, the work ethic that helped you gain expertise in your previous career(s), and tie it into nursing practice in language and terms that you believe in order to convey them authentically and with confidence.

Thanks, I'll try that.....:)

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are you including your clinical experiences in your resume? i listed all the rotations and hospitals i did clinicals at when i was first looking for an lpn job. it's a tough job market for new grads now. good luck!

no, i didn't include the names of the actual facilities, but i did list clinical skills that i learned. i could also add what you suggested.....thank you for the suggestion....:)

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

All excellent advice ... along with this advice look up and include the current "Buzzwords" related to what you're seeking. If you use few words to express ideas/skills/experience it translate into effective communication which translates into effective time management and skills.

A succinct resume that conveys what you're trying to say as opposed to a wordy long one is always better. The potential employers don't have all day to comb through mounntains of cover letters and resumes so the ones that catch the eye and hold the thoughts are the ones that count.

Anyways good luck. Effective buzzwords in the first line is an eye catcher and attention seeker.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
All excellent advice ... along with this advice look up and include the current "Buzzwords" related to what you're seeking. If you use few words to express ideas/skills/experience it translate into effective communication which translates into effective time management and skills.

A succinct resume that conveys what you're trying to say as opposed to a wordy long one is always better. The potential employers don't have all day to comb through mounntains of cover letters and resumes so the ones that catch the eye and hold the thoughts are the ones that count.

Anyways good luck. Effective buzzwords in the first line is an eye catcher and attention seeker.

Ok. I'll look for that. Thanks....;)

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.
no, i didn't include the names of the actual facilities, but i did list clinical skills that i learned. i could also add what you suggested.....thank you for the suggestion....:)

you should include the names. the don and adon, during lpn interview, were very impressed with the hospitals i did clinicals. some lpn programs just have nursing homes and class simulations as clinicals.

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