not sure which one to pick..help please. (resume)

Peanut06 · Jan 6, 2010

If you are trying to get a job as a nurse, you definitely need to highlight your school clinical practicum. That will let them know what kind of experience you already have. You can include your customer service and volunteer work in that resume as well...just mainly focus on your clinical experience.

jedi+nurse · Jan 6, 2010

I was told by a recruiter that school clinical experience doesn't count as nursing "work" experience, and that it is redundant to mention it in detail. I think it would be a good idea to highlight customer service experience, volunteering etc. Here's a link with good advice for resumes that is from a hospital website. Good luck!

http://www.checksutterfirst.org/careers/resume_prep.html

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Jan 6, 2010

well if clinical experience does not count as work why would the other stuff? If you at least mention volunteering and community service that will show you are mature and flexible and not overly self-absorbed. Believe me, if you are a new grad your resume should be short and sweet as HR and managers know you are not an experienced nurse. Grammar counts more than experience here. Well, showing up clean and polite is probably more impt than grammar.

mixedfruit · Jan 6, 2010

thanks much for the responses. :)

I originally wanted to highlight both student clinical experiences and volunteer experiences, but I knew I needed to keep it simple. That's why I am not sure which one I should focus on more.

Under the student clinical, is it a good idea to make bullets points for overall practicum? or is it better to list out the accomplishments for each specific clinical (OB, Peds, Med-Surg...) ?

Again, thank you for your insights and help. :)

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Jan 6, 2010

...or is it better to list out the accomplishments for each specific clinical (OB, Peds, Med-Surg...) ?

I wouldn't be that fine with it. Any nurse knows what specialties are involved in nursing school. I would list specific skills rather than spelling out what units you got them on. If you list many different types of units, some employers might believe that you are trying to create the illusion of experience and that could work against you.

Crash_Cart · Jan 6, 2010

I agree with Orca's post it's sometimes better to actually outline what you can actually do for your employer from a practical sense.

For example my resume make these statements:

"As a member of the health care team, I organized daily nursing assignments, prioritized patient care, communicated accurate and concise documentation as appropriate."

"Provided tactful crisis intervention management in the psychiatric care setting."

"Conducted routine safety inspections and worked closely with the nursing unit director in developing corrective action plans in our mutual interests exceeding basic patient/staff safety requirement objectives."

"Maintained a confidential level of progressive, unbiased, appropriate and ethical nursing care in a clinical setting."

etc etc etc..

The idea with the above statements is that I am not telling the prospective employer if this is my "work" or "student training" experience.

Secondly, I usually avoid placing too much emphasis on my education, certifications and/or training. I only briefly provide that information, but I don't "expand" too much either.

In fact, I have seen some resumes that read like the applicant is a PhD with no practical experience at all!

Remember, a resume is not intended to be an application for the purpose of admission to Harvard, but rather it's intended for an employer who wants to make a "people" decision to hire you or not. Does your resume tell them you are an added benefit to the facility? Are you a potential liability? etc.. etc..

"What can you do to help them look good and make more money?"

A resume should answer that question. Keep your resume "practical" and keep in mind a resume is a "selling tool" intended to get you in the door. It's not the final conclusion.

Hope that helps.

Jolie, BSN · Jan 6, 2010

I am a former nurse manager, previously responsible for hiring staff.

I would give more weight to a resume highlighting volunteer and work experience than one loaded with school clinical experience. The reason is this: we expect graduates of approved nursing schools to have a basic clinical experience in a variety of settings. While one school may be stronger in one clinical area than another, the basics are covered by all reputable programs, and are asumed to be a "given" for all grads.

What is not a given among candidates for entry-level professional jobs is that the applicants have reliable work or volunteer histories. I want to know that a candidate shows up for work regularly and responsibly, has a good work ethic, gets along well with others, is flexible in assignments, etc. The succesful completion of a nursing program does not assure me of these things. A good work or volunteer history and reference does.

If you have had a highly unique or unusual school clinical experience that is relevant to your job goals, by all means, mention it briefly on your resume. (6 week preceptorship in NICU, if you desire a maternal-child position, for example.) Otherwise, belaboring your med-surg, geriatric and community health clinicals makes you look desperate for relevant information to put on your resume.

JMHO. Good luck!

CBYRN · Jan 7, 2010

I agree with Orca and Jolie. It is a given that you had med-surg, OB, OR, etc. clinical experience in school. We all did. What sets you apart? Your volunteering is one good thing. That sets you apart from all the other new grads.:redpinkhe

CBYRN · Jan 7, 2010

mixedfruit,

I'm sorry I can't figure out how to write back to you privately. Maybe because I'm too new here. I think your resume is great and it shows lots of activity. Don't forget to put in your school. Is there anything you did specifically in the rediation department? I think being fluent in Mandarin and Taiwanese is a really big asset! Good luck!