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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
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
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!
dishes, BSN, RN
3,950 Posts
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