Looking for a great nursing job can be stressful not to mention tiresome. Just a few years ago, nursing jobs were everywhere. There was a significant nursing shortage in the U.S., and it was common for hospitals to offer sign on bonuses to attract nurses to their facility. This led to a huge increase in the number of people going back to school to become nurses. But times have changed. There is still a nursing shortage but most hospitals and healthcare facilities are cutting down on their staff in order to save money. They are now running departments with a minimal number of nurses. This is why it is more important than ever you have an excellent nursing resume if you want to get ahead of your competition and get that job that pays an excellent RN salary.
The nursing profession is great because it provides so many different opportunities. You may have an interest in working in labor and delivery. Emergency room nursing may excite you, or you may want to work with children. Nurses are utilized in a variety of settings. Choose the type of nursing that really interests you and then start thinking about your RN resume. There is a nursing job out there that is a perfect fit for you.
Looking for that perfect nursing job takes some planning. First of all, you need to research the job you are looking for. Become very familiar with the job description. Learn more about the facility to which you are applying. Once you have learned all you can about the particular job you want, you should begin writing that nurse resume. Your resume should be tailored to reflect the experience you have that will be an asset to the specific job you are applying for. If you want to give yourself the advantage over other applicants you don’t want your resume to be generic and look like all the others. Your nursing resume has got to stand out.
Let’s say you are applying for a position in the intensive care unit, but you only have experience in the medical surgical unit. To make your resume more attractive to your prospective employer you should think about what type of experiences you have had on med-surg that will be an asset to the ICU. Do you have any specific certifications such as advanced cardiac life support or med surg certification? If so make sure you highlight these on your nursing resume. Your prospective employer wants to see what makes you special.
All of your education should be listed in your resume. This should include any continuing education classes you have taken if they pertain to the type of nursing you are applying for. For example, when you are applying for the ICU job think about the continuing education units you have completed over the last few years. If any of them pertained to critical care make sure you include them. Maybe you had continuing education on pain management. Even though this is not directly related to the technical skills needed in the ICU, learning how to recognize and effectively manage pain is a valuable skill for an ICU nurse.
When you think about other ways to make your RN resume stand out you may be tempted to type your resume on colorful paper or in an interesting font. After all, if your resume looks different from the rest it will be sure to get noticed right? It may get noticed but it may also get thrown in the trash. Your resume is a representation of you and your nursing skills. If you want to get a great RN salary you must present yourself as being worth it. Your nurse resume must look professional. A professional looking resume will be of a greater benefit in your job search than one that is trying too hard to look different.
If you want to land that job that pays a great RN salary you have got to have a nursing resume that shows exactly what a great fit you are for the position. Do your homework and develop an RN resume that will make any employer want to hire you.
