RPN, Need help with Resume!

[Ash2016]

Hi everyone,

I graduated this past Summer, and got licensed with the CNO mid august. I'm having a hard time finding my first job as an RPN. I haven't even gotten a call for an interview. Can someone please help me objectively, look at my resume and make edits. I've had others look at it but they aren't nurses so they just say it's fine. I've looked on "how to" sites as well. Still no calls. Are there any keywords I should add to make my resume more scannable?

Thank you for your time! I've edited some things for privacy. It didn't past with the correct format with the dates, should be on one line but spaced to the right side of page. Spacing including with the bars are more even in actual doc.

First & Last Name, RPN

Contact Info

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

• Registered and in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario
• Clinical experience in Toronto area hospitals and in long term care working with geriatric, adult, and pediatric clients
• Successful completion of full-time consolidation at Sunnybrook Hospital in the postpartum unit, one of the select students chosen for this specialty placement through a competitive application process
• Computer proficient in MS Word, Adobe, Excel, Power Point, Internet, and Email
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, and fluent in English

Student Nurse, Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, ON Jan., 2016-Apr., 2016

• Successfully cared for a limit of four pairs in the maternal/newborn unit, able to work autonomously and as a member of the interdisciplinary team
• Able to assess and assist mother with pain, signs of hemorrhage, fundal check, IV maintenance and removal, urinary output after birth, catheter removal, assessment of incision, side effects of analgesics, and if RhoGAM and/or MMR vaccine is needed
• Experienced in assessment of neonatal vital signs, daily weights, neonatal bath and physical assessment, neonatal abstinence scoring, jaundice in the infant, initiation of phototherapy; assisted the assessment of neonatal blood sugar for SGA, LGA infants and infants with mothers who have GDM
• Initiated health teaching for parents, assisted mother in breastfeeding, and provided alternatives such as lactation aid, spoon feeding, and finger feeding as needed
• Experienced in a fast turn-over of patients, while ensuring all admission and discharge teaching is thorough and complete. Provided end of shift report and accurate documentation

Student Nurse, North York General Hospital (5N), Toronto, ON Sept., 2015-Dec., 2015

• Successfully cared for patients at the short stay surgical unit, provided post-operative care, and health teaching to patients who would be ready for discharge in a short amount of time
• Taught patients deep breathing exercises, incentive spirometer use, and the importance of ambulation postoperatively. Monitored return of bowel sounds for post abdominal surgery
• Provided safe medication administration, thorough head to toe assessments, assessed patient labs, developed a plan of care, and documented patient care
• Exhibited time management skills regarding fast turn-over of patients and prepping patients with appointments and tests scheduled throughout the day

Student Nurse, North York General Hospital (5W), Toronto, ON May, 2015-Aug., 2015

• Cared for patients at the long term medicine/rehabilitation unit, worked with predominantly geriatric patients, met and exceeded their specific patient needs
• Provided and documented safe and timely medication administration including administration of narcotics, and monitored any adverse effects
• Provided and documented vital signs, pain, head to toe assessments, assistance with ADLs, intake and output, wound care, catheter care, colostomy/ileostomy care, G-tube feedings and medications
• Cared for patients with dementia and mental health issues; provided patients with distraction techniques and therapeutic communication depending on patient needs

Student Nurse, Toronto Rehab - E.W. Bickle Centre, Toronto, ON Jan., 2015-Apr., 2015

• Worked with patients in the complex continuing care unit and provided essential care to patients who are dealing with complex, long term issues
• Monitored vital signs, assisted patients with ADLs, provided colostomy and wound care with assistance, and documented patient's status in progress notes and flow charts
• Provided assistance in repositioning, transferring, and ambulating

ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

Receptionist/Administrative Staff, Company name, Location (2012-2014)

Sales Associate/Key Holder, Company name, Location (2010-2012)

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Diploma: Practical Nursing, Graduated with Honours 2014-2016

Seneca College, King City, Ontario

Course: IV Therapy and Phlebotomy Sept., 2016-Present

Humber College, Toronto, Ontario

BCLS, CPR, and Standard First Aid for HCP Certificates 2015

Canadian Red Cross, Toronto, Ontario

Mask Fit Training 2014

Seneca College, King City, Ontario

[CanadianRN16]

Beyond joining the RPNAO, I don't see how you can spruce up your credentials/ CV. Your CV is fine.

I hear Toronto is a tough market, and it's only been 2 months. Since you're a new grad with no paid experience, you'll be less desirable than RPNs with experience.

The easiest way to find work (if you're not picky about your work location) would be at a long term care home or through one of your clinical placements.

Keep applying and stay positive, you'll get there!

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

Are these learning experiences unique, or the same as every other graduate nurse? As a hiring manager I have very little interest in hearing about your student clinical experiences unless there was something unusually fantastic that you wanted to share. Including the names and units are fine, but really nothing else. Managers don't like reading through fluff, and get bored very easily with resumes.

I'd want to see your work history expanded a bit. What skills have you developed that transfer over to working in nursing? I'd much rather hire someone who knows how to work a job vs someone who has never worked at all.

Highlights

Education

Work Experience

Brief clinical experience listing

Should only be 1-1.5 pages, tops

[Ash2016]

CanadianRN16 - Thank you for the words of encouragement! I'll apply to be a member of the RPNAO and add that in, I don't now why I didn't think of that!

[Ash2016]

It's really hard for me to gage what's important for them to know or not know, I'm just trying to impress but If they think that's boring then... should I just leave it to 2 bullet points per clinical experience and then add 1 bullet point for my previous actual work experience? My older jobs were simple customer service/admin type work, I figured the job titles are self explanatory.

I can add education after highlights but should my nursing clinical experience go before my old work experience? It'll be more in chronological order then.

[Ash2016]

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

---

• Registered and in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario
  
• Membership with the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario
  
• Clinical experience in Toronto area hospitals and in long term care working with geriatric, adult, and pediatric clients
  
• Successful completion of full-time consolidation at Sunnybrook Hospital in the postpartum unit, one of the select students chosen for this specialty placement through a competitive application process
  
• Computer proficient in MS Word, Adobe, Excel, Power Point, Internet, and Email
  
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, and fluent in English
  

EDUCATION & TRAINING

---

Diploma: Practical Nursing, Graduated with Honours 2014-2016

Seneca College, King City, Ontario

Course: IV Therapy and Phlebotomy September, 2016-Present

Humber College, Toronto, Ontario

BCLS, Standard First Aid and CPR with AED for HCP Certificate 2015

Canadian Red Cross, Toronto, Ontario

Mask Fit Training 2014

Seneca College, King City, Ontario

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

---

Maternal/Newborn Unit Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, ON

January, 2016 - April, 2016

• Participated in an intensive 426 hour consolidation experience
  
• Successfully cared for 4 pairs in the maternal/newborn unit, worked autonomously and as a member of the interdisciplinary team
  

Short Stay Surgical Unit North York General Hospital, Toronto, ON

September, 2015 - December, 2015

• Successfully cared for patients at the short stay surgical unit, provided post-operative care, and health teaching to patients to be prepared for discharge
  

Medicine/Rehabilitation Unit North York General Hospital, Toronto, ON

May, 2015-August, 2015

• Provided excellent care for patients at the long term medicine/rehabilitation unit, worked with predominantly geriatric patients, met and exceeded their specific patient needs
  

Complex Continuing Care Unit Toronto Rehab - E.W. Bickle Centre, Toronto, ON

January, 2015 - April, 2015

ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

---

Receptionist/Administrative Staff/Key Holder Company Name., Toronto, ON

2012 - 2014

• Booked, confirmed, and arranged appointments for Realtors over the phone with polite telephone manners
  
• Wrote up offers, waivers, amendments, and other legal documents; met administrative needs of a staff of 60+ Realtors and provided excellent support for a positive work environment
  

Sales Associate/Key Holder Company Name, Toronto, ON

2010 - 2012

• Consistently maintained a professional and positive attitude that was foundational for outstanding customer interaction
  
• Exceeded sales goals on a daily bases with genuine enthusiasm, maintaining high sales for the business with personal annual sales of 100K+
  

Is this better?