•Describe the purpose of a working resume•Write an objective for sending a resume•Create a current resume

WORK

MacNeal Hospital CCU/ICU (Sept. 2005)

JCAHO compliance committee 2006, 2008, 2009

Selected to present unit training on new computer charting system July 2007

Helped out in NICU during crunch summer 2008

Asked to represent unit in nursing committee meetings March 2008

Preceptor Sept. 2008-

Non-English speaking pnt on unit; worked w/interpreter when available; found online resources Sept 2008

Fill-in charge nurse duties Sept. 2008

Helped implement self-scheduling system Dec. 2008

Promoted to charge nurse June 2009

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION

ADN 2005

PICC certified 2006

BSN 2007

Joined AACCN 2007

BCLS 2007

ACLS instructor certification 2008

A private document

Career planning

Used to create a customized resume

Helps you remember dates

Interview preparation

The average employer spends only 10 seconds looking at a resume. Yet it is the only contact you have with the potential employer.

Most employers are actually looking for a reason NOT to interview you.

There is no room for anything but a flawless, compelling document that reflects who you are and what you've accomplished in the most beneficial light.

--NRCPlacement.com

Name and credentials

Contact information

Introductory statement◦ Objective

◦ Qualifications

◦ Professional Summary

Concise sentence stating the reason for sending the resume

◦ Avoid: To obtain a challenging position in healthcare.

◦ Targeted: To obtain a supervisory position in an acute care setting where I can use my clinical and leadership experience to enhance the care of patients.

Objective

Qualifications◦ List of measurable relevant skills

Professional Summary◦ Several sentences consolidating experiences from a

long-term career

Chronological◦ Lists your experiences in reverse chronological

order

◦ Shows the path of your career

◦ Best for those who have followed a traditional career path

Functional◦ Arranges your work history by skill

◦ Best for those with 10+ years of experience

◦ Best for those with varied experiences

Sandy Smith, BSN, RN

446 Lark Dr., Bolling, IL 60440

(630) 732-1189 ssmith@yahoo.com

EXPERIENCE

Teaching: Taught first and second year nursing students in community college and university level. Earned certification as diabetes educator.

Project Management: Designed, developed and implemented an evidence-based model of quality care for outpatient setting. Selected Internet patient education tool and initiated 10-person staff to using with patients.

Clinical: More than 20 years of experience in a variety of settings, including acute care, outpatient, emergency department, OR and physician office.

POSITIONS HELD

June 2008-present McNeal Health System, Chicago, IL

Charge Nurse, CCU/ICU

Sept. 2005-June 2008 Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL

Staff Nurse, med/surg

Education◦ Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, BSN, May 2009

◦ Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, BSN, 2007

◦ Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, BSN, anticipated graduation May 2010

Certification/License

Related Experience

Clinical Experience (up to first year)

Relevant Coursework (up to first year)

Other Experiences (up to first year)

Work History

Education

Certification/License

Related Experience

Continuing Education

Additional Skills◦ Languages

◦ Software

Don’t include◦ Hobbies

◦ Personal information

Don’t tell readers what they already know

List your most impressive/relevant accomplishments first

Start with action words, and vary them

Write in present tense

Write in phrases

Use acronyms & abbreviations only if used industry wide

Use a consistent style◦ Spell out or abbreviate months

◦ Use numbers only, or words and numbers

Include month and year in work history◦ July 2006-present

◦ 7/2005-9/2007

Use headings and spacing to guide the reader

Use bold for important details

Use ALL CAPS sparingly; avoid italics

Use a simple typeface; font size not smaller than 10 point

Leave side margins for notes

WORK EXPERIENCE

June 2008-present MacNeal Health System, Chicago, IL

Charge Nursse, CCU/ICU

Supervise 6 full-time RNs and support staff; preceptor since 2000; assist in implantation of self-scheduling for CCU/ICU all shifts; provide training to unit staff; enforce JCAHO compliance as part of committee.

January 2007-June 2008 Health Agency, Chicago, IL

Staff RN

Demonstrate adaptability and use wide range of skill sets in assignments ranging from per diem to 3 months.

March-June 2008, Loyola University Hospital, CCU

Dec. 2007-March 2008, St. Anthony’s Hospital, float

May-November 2007, Carle Foundation, trauma/ICU

Jan. 2007-May 2007, Memorial General Hospital, ER / ICU

As long as it takes

1-2 pages is best

Use the top half of first page for your best selling points

Typos & misspellings are the No. 1 pet peeve of hiring managers◦ Ask someone else to proof your resume

◦ Ask someone outside your field to proof to spot jargon or confusing acronyms, abbreviations

Other pet peeves◦ Resumes not customized to a particular position

◦ Resumes that include too many insignificant details about each position held

◦ Resumes longer than two pages

Mailing: Use “resume paper,” beige or white; no fancy patterns

Faxing: Allow ample margins

E-mailing: Send as a Word attachment; if sending in the text box, replace tabs with spaces; take out italics, bolds

Using online tools: Cut and paste from a proofed document

Out of state address

Confusing or incongruent objective

Gaps in employment

Several short-stay positions

Sue Smith, BSN, RN3100 Horizon Dr., King of Prussia, PA 19803

(555) 555-5555; Ssmith@aol.com

OBJECTIVE

To obtain a position as a new nurse on a med/surg unit where I can use my education and clinical experience to care for patients and further my skills and knowledge.

EDUCATION

EDUCATION

Temple University, BSN program, May 2009

GPA: 3.8

Dean’s list junior and senior year

School of Nursing senior class treasurer

CLINICAL EXPERIENCETemple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, pediatrics March-April 2009

Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, med/surg January-February 2009

Memorial Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, critical care November-December 2008

RELATED EXPERIENCE

May 2009-July 2009 Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA

Externship, med/surg

• Improve clinical skills by providing care on 20-bed unit

• Complete documentation using electronic health records

June 2005-March 2006 Pottstown Memorial Hospital, Pottstown, PA

Nursing Assistant

• Gain knowledge of the nursing field by assisting RNs; provide direct patient care

• Learn about compassion and patient education

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE

January 2008-present Barnes & Noble, Devon, PA

Bookseller

• Provide customer assistance using active listening

• Accurately shelve merchandise and update inventory database

Summers 2005-2008 Busch’s Seafood Restaurant, Sea Isle City, NJWaitress

• Achieve customer satisfaction by providing good service

• Accurately manage cash receipts

• Learn to stay focused and pleasant in fastpace atmosphere

ADDITIONAL SKILLS, CERTIFICATIONS

Medical Spanish course July 2009

American Sign Language fluent

CPR, active 2009

BLS, active 2009

Sandy Jones, MSN, RN446 Lark Dr., Bolling, IL 60440

(630) 732-1189 ssmith@yahoo.com

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Clinical expert with 25 years of nursing experience in all settings, including ED. Successfully managed staffs of up to 20 FTEs. Implemented self-scheduling and new hand-off procedures in well-established units. Recognized as effective educator, public speaker and published author.

WORK EXPERIENCEJan. 2000-Present MacNeal Hospital, Chicago, ILSept. 2005-present Nurse Supervisor, CCU/ICU

Supervise 20 full-time RNs and support staff;

implement unit-wide self-scheduling; consistently achieve high-satisfaction Press Ganey scores

Sept. 2000-Sept. 2005 Charge Nurse, med/surg

Manage10 nursing FTEs; encourage evidence-based

practice; achieved fewer errors with introduction of

new hand-off procedure

July 1999-Oct. 2000 Oshner Medical, Chicago, ILNurse Manager, ED

Reduce average wait time from 3.5 to 2 hours in 12-month period in; supervise 20 FTEs in department that sees 70,000 patients/year; on-site for triage of 10-car freeway accident; diversion site for 3 area community hospitals

Oct. 1995-Oct. 1999 Memorial Medical Center, Tinley Park, IL

Charge nurse, ICU

Manage staff in 7-bed unit; accepted new grads and began ICU precepetor program for first time in ICU

Feb. 1991-June 1993 Children’s Hospial of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Staff RN, ICU & critical care

1984-1991 Staff nurse in various facilities in Chicago area

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Published clinical article in ADVANCE for

Nurses, May 12, 2008

Presented poster at ENA national meeting, 2007

Served on CE committee for Illinois Nursing Association state meeting 2000-2003

EDUCATION

Loyola University, Chicago, ILMSN, 2008Loyola University, Chicago, ILBSN, 1984

MEMBERSHIPS &

CERTIFICATIONS Trauma Nurse Specialist Certification, current

ACLS instructor certification since1991

Your resume is your first introduction to an employer; make a good impression

Your resume should not reveal everything about you but pique the interest of the employer

Your resume should be an honest reflection of your experiences

Your resume should be targeted to the position you want

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