Should I put all my jobs on my nursing resume?

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 21, 2016

For new grads, I like to see all the jobs so that I can assess the amount of type of job experience the candidate has. However, they can often be combined in one entry so that they don't take up a lot of space. For example, you can use 1 entry to say that you have been a volunteer for X number of organizations providing services for childern ...or have volunteered approximately X number of hours as a volunteer for 4 different community organizations, etc. If you were a waitress for 3 different restaurants, you could say that instead of listing each one separately, etc.

That way, if the person reading it wants more details, she can ask for them.

Me93RN · Dec 21, 2016

Thanks for that advice :)

What do you think about having a resume that is longer than one page long? My current resume is a page and it has just my health related experience. If I add my volunteering or other past work then it will be longer than a page. Should I still add those?

ProperlySeasoned · Dec 22, 2016

As a new grad, absolutely add them. Once you have several years of nursing behind you, leave them off. Exception: I recommend tailoring a resume to the job. Five years from now, if you were to apply to pediatrics, I would consider leaving on a youth gymnastics couch, as it is relevant to the population you are seeking to work with.

NICUismylife, ADN, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2016

I was told to not include any jobs older than 5 years, and not include any one-day volunteer activities, which I've done a lot of. I only included those volunteer activities that I did every week for at least a few months. And those were simply listed as 1 line each. Find a way to condense it to necessary info and make sure it is not longer than 1 page.

For example:

Volunteer Experience:

Meals on Wheels, weekly meal-prep volunteer, Jan 2015-present

Church of Christ, weekly sunday school teacher, Jan 2013-present