Resumes for Veteran Nurses?

[seeking33]

I have a resume question concerning a friend of mine who is a veteran nurse of 20+ years. She has worked at several different facilities during her career and her resume is now running at almost 4 pages in length.

As I understand it, employers generally want a resume that is 2 pages max, right?

Does she need to cut her list down to that length, or are you required to put on your resume every single place you have worked? Does it matter to a potential employer where you worked some 20 years ago?

Your thoughts are appreciated!:)

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

What about a functional resume? In a resume, you don't have to list where you've worked, it is more for the employer to get an idea of what you have done. If she has a lot of publications, a curriculum vitae might be the better way to go.

http://www.rnwanted.com/rnresume

[seeking33]

This sounds like a good idea, except she's never published anything:wink2:

Should she cut it down to 2-3 pages max? I mean, she has jobs listed at facilities going back some 20 years. Would HR be turned off if they had to read all of that?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

In that case I would do a functional resume where you disccus the "things" you've done versus where you did them.

[seeking33]

In that case I would do a functional resume where you disccus the "things" you've done versus where you did them.

I don't think that would be enough--I mean, she basically does the usual treatments/bedside care. I think that would be considered a moot point to a potential employer. Maybe she should limit her work experience to places she's worked in the last 7-10 years.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Yes, I know this situation since I've been an RN for 30 years. I usually only list my last 3 employers. I make sure that somewhere in the very beginning of the resume I get in the information that I have been a licensed RN for XX years with a great deal of experience in various areas. In the cover letter I put a statement that prior work experience will be made available if asked. The fact is that most old employers don't remember who you were after a few years anyway or there have been enough changes in personnel that you are just a name on a file. The only good a prospective employer can get out of a list of facilities you worked for is to verify dates of employment which confirms that you are not lying. On my resumes, I make sure I have room to include my education, special training and certifications as those are a lot more important to an experienced nurse than listing a bunch of old employers. I started maintaining a file that has a complete chronological listing of all the places I've worked with addresses and phone numbers, dates, rates of pay, area worked, supervisor's name and reason for leaving after leaving my second RN job. The only time I ever really needed everything that was on that list was when I applied and was hired by a V.A. hospital. It was needed to confirm my years of experience in order to get paid at my level of experience. We had a devil of a time getting anyone of my old employers to give out anything other than dates of employment, the position I held and that I resigned voluntarily. The V.A. wanted actual written recommendations! No one remembered me at any of the places more than 10 years old!

[seeking33]

Daytonite--Thank you for the information! you've really been helpful. Thanks again for the useful response. This is what I've been looking for. I wish the best for you in your career.