Resume tips for AP nursing?

[tejon, DNP, NP]

I'm about to graduate in May with a DNP and want to start the job search as an FNP soon. I'm not sure how to present myself as a soon-to-be provider, especially since I'll be brand new with no NP experience yet. Do I include clinical experiences ("clinical experiences in Pediatrics, Women's Health, Family Practice...") and if so do I include how many hours I did in each?

I was also told by faculty to include my DNP project in my resume - unsure about whether this is a good idea or not.

Any tips or help would be much appreciated. It's exciting and scary to look for work in a brand new specialty.

[ToFNPandBeyond]

Yes, include your clinical rotations and label them as "clinical experience " or "residencies " and break it down into sub specialties. It's important to highlight you clinical experiences while in school because it shows that you've been been putting your education into practice (didactic). Highlight your accomishments, including how many patients you were able to see, skills you've acquired, etc.

As for your project, unless it's clinical base, I wouldn't include.

[tejon, DNP, NP]

22 minutes ago, ToFNPandBeyond said:

As for your project, unless it's clinical base, I wouldn't include.

The project was a depression follow up program for a family practice clinic. Would this be appropriate?

[ToFNPandBeyond]

Depends. Was the project S.M.A.R.T? Was it like a PDSA project? Can it help improve a given practice? If yes to any of these questions, highlight these aspects in your resume. If not, leave out.

[tejon, DNP, NP]

5 minutes ago, ToFNPandBeyond said:

Depends. Was the project S.M.A.R.T? Was it like a PDSA project? Can it help improve a given practice? If yes to any of these questions, highlight these aspects in your resume. If not, leave out.

Yes to all - it was a huge project. I'll try to present it as such in my resume. Thanks!

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

Definitely include your DNP project in your resume. If you wrote a paper on it, then have that available. Some employers want a writing sample. Good luck!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I would include your DNP project but not your clinical experiences. As a "student" these are not relevant experiences and unless it was a "residency" I certainly wouldn't label it as such.

Highlight your RN experience especially as it relates to a potential new job.

Doesn't mean you have to stay in the same specialty. Some things to highlight:

Superb assessment skills

Ability to multi-task with critically ill pts

Excellent critical thinking

Ability to "think on your feet," "tell sick from not sick."

[ToFNPandBeyond]

15 hours ago, traumaRUs said:

I would include your DNP project but not your clinical experiences. As a "student" these are not relevant experiences and unless it was a "residency" I certainly wouldn't label it as such.

Highlight your RN experience especially as it relates to a potential new job.

Doesn't mean you have to stay in the same specialty. Some things to highlight:

Superb assessment skills

Ability to multi-task with critically ill pts

Excellent critical thinking

Ability to "think on your feet," "tell sick from not sick."

I disagree. I met with my career counselors at my university and they informed me of the importance of including your clinical experiences in your resume. These were also brought up extensively in my interviews. These are the only experiences you can reference as it relates to the position you're applying for. You can highlight your accomplishments and how that can translate to their goals and needs.

Yes, it may technically not be called a "residency " however it is called a preceptorship and you can label it as such. Not too much difference as it relates to hands on experience.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I hire APRNs and don't want to see "clinical experiences" as it is just that, "clinical." 80-120 hours of "clinicals" means nothing to me when I hire. However, 4 years as an RN at a level 1 ICU experience means a lot.

I don't want to derail this but I also consider that when you are in "clinicals" there are many procedures, assessments and management of the pt that are left to employees. The RN experience speaks volumes to me.

In my area, APRN residencies are 6-12 months of increasingly more complex experiences that prepare you for a job role. These are employees of the institution so have much more responsibility and accountability. As a student, you are working under someone else's license/certification.

[Dodongo, APRN, NP]

I wouldn't list the hours of each rotation unless you spent a considerable amount of time over the minimum requirements. 160 hours of women's health or, 180 of pediatrics is just embarrassing and might actually work against you when compared with a new grad PA.

[ToFNPandBeyond]

15 hours ago, traumaRUs said:

I hire APRNs and don't want to see "clinical experiences" as it is just that, "clinical." 80-120 hours of "clinicals" means nothing to me when I hire. However, 4 years as an RN at a level 1 ICU experience means a lot.

I don't want to derail this but I also consider that when you are in "clinicals" there are many procedures, assessments and management of the pt that are left to employees. The RN experience speaks volumes to me.

In my area, APRN residencies are 6-12 months of increasingly more complex experiences that prepare you for a job role. These are employees of the institution so have much more responsibility and accountability. As a student, you are working under someone else's license/certification.

For inpatient, years of ICU or any other hospital experience makes sense. As OB is an FNP, RN inpatient experience is irrelevant as it doesn't speak to her APN experience or exposure in an outpatient setting. As I've mentioned, employers I've interviewed with as well as my colleagues all have been asked about their clinical rotations as it's the closest experiences they have with the NP role. You work in nephrology and so inpatient experience would make the most sense in terms of what you're looking for.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

9 hours ago, ToFNPandBeyond said:

For inpatient, years of ICU or any other hospital experience makes sense. As OB is an FNP, RN inpatient experience is irrelevant as it doesn't speak to her APN experience or exposure in an outpatient setting. As I've mentioned, employers I've interviewed with as well as my colleagues all have been asked about their clinical rotations as it's the closest experiences they have with the NP role. You work in nephrology and so inpatient experience would make the most sense in terms of what you're looking for.

Not necessarily. The reason I was hired with no nephrology experience was because of my RN experience in a very high volume (80,000+ visits/year) ED (10 years). I capitalized on my assessment skills, ability to multi-task with several critically ill/injured pts and my excellent critical thinking skills. I was hired over 5 others, some of whom I later found out had nephrology APRN experience.

While I agree that clinical experience is all you have to go on as far as what is closest to NP experience, its in no way independent practice and as Dodongo stated, 160-200 hours is not experience, its much more like shadowing.

I still say capitalize on your RN experience and solid skillset. Thats what will get you hired.