Résumés and Cover Letters for the College of Nursing The Writing Center at CU Denver.
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Transcript of Résumés and Cover Letters for the College of Nursing The Writing Center at CU Denver.
Résumés and Cover Letters for the College of Nursing
The Writing Center at CU Denver
Composing an Effective Résumé
Qualities of a Successful Nursing Résumé
Organized, easy to follow format Provides all required information Audience centered Targeted toward a specific position Free of errors
Writing Style Use consistent formatting--dates, spacing, etc. Begin each bullet with an action verb Be consistent with periods at the end of lines Use numerals (1,2,3) rather than writing out numbers Keep lists to fewer than 3 bullets (avoid sub-bullets) Use strong descriptive statements
» Do not use first person pronouns (I, me, myself)
Required Information Contact information Education Clinical experience Certifications
Header Include a line to divide header from body Make the information stand out
» Larger size, bolding, use of capitalization, etc.
Place your name at the very top Provide one street address, phone number, and email
» Do not title them (email, phone, address)
Email address should be professional» Remove hyperlink from email address
Objective If you're applying for a specific position, consider adding
an objective at the top States the position you are applying for
» Includes job title and position number
Is audience centered and concise Acts like a thesis statement/global organizer Uses specific keywords
Objective If you include an objective, use strong, specific words
» Good: New graduate seeking a position and hands-on experience in quality patient care.
» Better: Responsible and compassionate new graduate with hands-on clinical experience and exceptional interpersonal skills seeking an RN position at Children's Hospital to provide the highest quality of patient care.
Describes how you match the required qualifications» Tailor to the job posting» Avoid first person pronouns (I, me, myself)
Includes industry-specific keywords Uses strong, descriptive statements and verbs
Summary/Profile
Summary/Profile» Good: Committed, patient-centered, and fast-paced RN who
excels at quickly identifying patient needs through astute assessments, prioritizing based on acuity, and vigilantly monitoring for adverse reactions. Bilingual: communication skills in English and Spanish. Demonstrated strong clinical skills including blood draws and transfusions, cardiac meds, IV therapy and drips, 12-lead EKG interpretation, charting, and airway management in ICU and ER. Developed equal proficiency in nursing administration, admissions, discharge, and patient education.
Summary/ProfileBetter: Committed, patient-centered, and fast-paced RN who excels at
quickly identifying patient needs through astute assessments, prioritizing based on acuity, and vigilantly monitoring for adverse reactions.
Bilingual: communication skills in English and Spanish. Demonstrated strong clinical skills including blood draws and
transfusions, cardiac meds, IV therapy and drips, 12-lead EKG interpretation, charting, and airway management in ICU and ER.
Developed equal proficiency in nursing administration, admissions, discharge, and patient education.
Education List education first (with some exceptions) List in reverse chronological order Be consistent with dates
» May 28, 2012 or 5/28/12
Be consistent with degree » Bachelor of Science, B.S., or BS
» High school is not relevant
Company/organization » City and state
» Job title with months and years
Clinical Rotations» Include senior level rotations--Practicum, Public Health, MedSurg I & II.
Include place (hospital/faculty), Unit, # of hours (on and off campus, simulation lab), and (if seeking specialty) include any rotations with that specialty
» Consider creating a chart for Clinical Rotations
Volunteer/apprenticeship experience, if relevant
Healthcare Experience
Certifications Additional Experience
» Includes work you've done that may not be healthcare related
» Use bullets and strong verbs to describe transferable skills
Honors or Awards» Merit-based and discipline specific scholarships, fellowships, or
recognitions
Other Sections
Helpful hints:
1. Keep language professional» Good: Good at helping others
» Better: Excellent interpersonal skills with a focus on patient-centered care
2. Be concise and direct» Good: Able to help patients and communicate with other healthcare staff to
ensure quality care and well-being for patients
» Better: Communicate with patients and providers to ensure quality patient care
Helpful hints (cont.): 3. Be specific
» Good: Provide quality patient care
» Better: Provide primary care to 6-7 pediatric, orthopedic and post-surgery patients
4. Avoid using templates for your resume as they may not translate to the employer’s software program. Use .pdf or .docx format
5. No two resumes are alike – choose the style that fits you!
Composing an Effective Cover Letter
Be professional Use an identical header to your résumé Include date, name, and title of the hiring agent, the
company, and the company’s address Use block format Single-spaced After the closing, skip four lines before your name List enclosures (résumé, writing sample, portfolio)
Business Letter Format
Express how you will be an asset to them» Only include information relevant to the position
Demonstrate you have the qualifications they require or value
Research the hospital/facility and demonstrate your knowledge and interest in your letter
Write with Your Audience in Mind
Power Positions and Specifics Research shows reader will scan the letter in 30
seconds or less Power Positions
» Introduction
» First and last sentences of paragraphs
Specifics» To the hospital, department, organization
» Demonstrate your research/knowledge
Approximately 4-5 paragraphs» Introduction (1)» Body Paragraphs (2-3)» Conclusion (1)
Organization
Introduction What are the hospital’s key strengths/characteristics
and why/how can you support them? » Express your interest in the specific position» State how/why you are qualified for the position
Forecast what you will discuss in the rest of the letter
Body Paragraphs Claim
» A distinct qualification you want to prove about yourself Do not put your résumé in paragraph form
Evidence » Support claim with examples that include a situation, action, and
result
Connection » Connect to hospital’s or employer’s values and needs
Conclusion Mention any enclosures or attachments
» Or list enclosures at the bottom of the page
Express interest in an interview, if appropriate Offer to provide further information Thank the reader for his/her consideration
Back up your claims with evidence and examples Establish yourself as an unique candidate
» SAR Situation Action Result
Evidence
Situation, Action, ResultWhile a nursing student at Sunrise Hospital, I demonstrated exceptional communication skills working with the nurses and the physicians. My initial clinical site was in the Trauma Systems Therapy department, where I worked under Dr. Peterson. After about two weeks of observing, I was tasked with discussing the overnight progress of two patients with the charge nurse and reporting in detail their mental and physical statuses to the doctor on staff each day. Shortly after being given this assignment, the overnight charge nurse informed me that one of my patients had spent most of the night in extreme emotional distress. The next morning, I reported this to Dr. Peterson, and she informed the mental health team and the patient’s family. My communication needed to be accurate and efficient in order to inform the doctor of the patient’s current state. With my information, the doctor was able to make the appropriate diagnoses. My ability to communicate effectively will continue to help facilitate interaction between both nurses and physicians in order achieve the best possible outcomes for patients at Sunrise Hospital.
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ReviewIn this workshop, we covered Organizing successful nursing résumés Formatting and writing style Tailoring for a specific position Building audience awareness Organizing cover letters Using evidence to back up claims
The Writing Center For more information please visit us:
» Denver Campus, North Classroom Building
» Auraria Library,
» Anschutz Medical Campus, Health Sciences Library
» CU Denver South Campus, Liniger Building
» CU Denver Business School
» Campus Village at Auraria, North 3rd Floor Common Room
The Writing Center Online Assistance:
» Synchronous Online Consultations
» The Online Drop Box
» http://writingcenter.ucdenver.edu
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Online Resources http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/jobs/resumes.html
Boston College Career Center website. Provides great link to list of action verbs.
www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/nursing/resume.html Excellent resource from U Penn. Click on 'Online Resume Workshop' under the 'Resume Guidelines for Undergraduates' tab for a voice-over presentation with PowerPoint slides regarding creating a resume. Also click on the 'Samples' link to find sample resumes from the UPenn School of Nursing.