Resume Revision for PN Grad

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Hello Everyone,

After passing the CPNRE last year, I haven't been successful finding a job. I'm currently bridging to BScN but will not be able to continue with the program full-time until September of next year. In the mean time, I would like to work as an RPN but feel my resume may not be up to par. I also intend to specialize in either wound/footcare or perioperative care starting in January. Can you please take a quick look and let me know what changes can be made so that it stands out to employers? Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

SAINTSA

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EDUCATION

2014-Present George Brown College, Toronto, ONT

RPN to RN Bridge

2012-2013 Sheridan College, Brampton, ONT

Practical Nurse

2011 CÉGEP de Rivière-du-Loup, Rivière-du-Loup, QUE

Francais Intermediare

2010-2012 York University, Toronto, ONT

French Studies Major

2005-2010 Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School, Mississauga, ONT

Ontario Secondary School Diploma

PN (Student) Clinical Experience

July 2013-August 2013 Baycrest

Palliative Care

May 2013-July 2013 St. Joseph's Health Care Centre

Transitional Care Unit

Jan 2013-April 2013 Baycrest

Continuing Complex Care

PSW (Student) Clinical Experience

2012 Villa Forum, Mississauga, ONT

2012 ExtendiCare, Brampton, ONT

SAINTSA Page Two

CERTIFICATES

2014 College of Nurses of Ontario Practical Nursing Certification

2013 Central West Palliative Care Conference

2013 IV Therapy & Phlebotomy for RN/RPN

2013 CRP Heart and Stroke Foundation

2012- Present First Aid EMP Canada

2009 Philip Pocock Grade 12 Honor Role

2009 Certificate of fluency in French Language

AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS

2013 McDonalds Employee of the Month, Mississauga, ONT

2010 York University Entrance Scholarship, Toronto, ONT

2010 Kiwanis Dance Performance, Toronto, ONT

2009 McDonalds Employee of the Month, Mississauga, ONT

2008 McDonalds Employee of the Month, Mississauga, ONT

ASSOCIATIONS

2012-Present RPNAO

WORK EXPERIENCE

2011 Summer Camp 2011 Interactive Learning Adventure, Mississauga, ONT

2006-Present McDonald's Restaurant, Mississauga, ONT

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Under certificates adjust the line spacing and change ONT to ON

@dishes Thank you for the suggestions on how to improve my resume. I actually haven't tried facilities with a french requirement because i'm not completely fluent yet. I can understand about 80% of what I read and/or hear but I still struggle with speaking conversationally.

Have you considered ways to gain more experience speaking French? Can you do a clinical placement at one of Ontario's bilingual hospitals? Suggest you speak to your clinical and academic advisors about the possibility of doing a specialized placement.

Did you attend the cegep in Riviere-du-Loup through the French language bursary program 'Explore'? Some Explore students have been through the program twice and some have stayed to do the languages at work program afterwards, if you are eligible, this could be a good opportunity.

When you went to the York french program, did you go to the Glendon campus? They offer part time and intensive summer programs that can help you improve your speaking and obtain bilingual certification.

Hi there dishes. Yes, my attendance at Riviere-du-loup was through the Explore program. I may not have the opportunity to take it again this year, but I will certainly look into taking a program through York over the winter or summer semester. I started my French Studies Major at Keele Campus in with the intention of becoming bilingual, but my goal was always to become a nurse. My gpa was just below the average needed to switch into the accelerated program at York which is why I took the diploma program instead through Sheridan. I felt like I wasn't truly committed to pursuing bilingual certification at the time. Now that I have a break between January and September I can :

1. Start specialising in skin/wound/Footcare (and potentially finish by september 2015)

2. Improve my french speaking skills

3. Take an elective from the post-bridge program (at Trent U) over the summer

4. Continue to work at Costco while looking for a job as an RPN

I recommend holding off on a skin/wound/footcare course until you are employed in nursing. Taking a speciality course before you are able to utilize the information on a day to day basis, often results in a superficial understanding of the speciality. Whereas taking a course when you are able to apply the knowledge on a daily basis, helps you to develop depth and breadth and solidifies your knowledge.

Can you take a French course as an elective? Or do you need to take a professional elective? If you need a professional elective, can you take a Human Resources course (one that covers recruitment and selection)? Human resources classes are designed to give a management perspective on labour laws and hiring, but as a someone looking for work, you may benefit from learning about the hiring process from the employers perspective.

Definitely keep working at Costco while looking for a RPN job, it is easier to find a job when you have a job

Specializes in Public Health.
I recommend holding off on a skin/wound/footcare course until you are employed in nursing. Taking a speciality course before you are able to utilize the information on a day to day basis, often results in a superficial understanding of the speciality. Whereas taking a course when you are able to apply the knowledge on a daily basis, helps you to develop depth and breadth and solidifies your knowledge.

As somebody who does a substantial amount of wound care at work, I would completely agree with this statement. It is an extremely vast topic to learn even just the basics, and without a solid knowledge base (which really comes from experience, not from a textbook), anything with more depth will be really hard to understand.

I'd really say this applies to any specialty areas and courses. Get experience in the basics first before trying to go deeper.

I would put your work experience on your resume (even non nursing) and don't just list places you work/worked, include things you do at work (ie, responsibilities, tasks, etc).

If you google resume tips there are a lot of great resources including lists of things NOT to do! Very useful!

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