Resume Writing Tips For Accelerated Nursing Program Admissions

Regardless of your career path or chosen field of study, it would help if you had a resume to apply for professional roles. A summary creates a first impression of who you are, your educational background, skills, and work experience.

What To Put In Your Resume For Second-Degree Nursing

Depending on the country, organization, or industry, resume formats may be quite different. However, there are similar features in resume type.

Here’s what to put in your resume for accelerated nursing programs.

• Contact Information

Your contact information should include your name, residence, phone number, and email address. Your title should be chronological, followed by your home address, phone number, and email.

Ensure it’s legible so admission officers can easily see it. Consider writing your name in a larger font than the document’s body. Your email address should include your first name and surname.

For professional reasons, using funny names in your email address is not ideal.

• Summary

This section encompasses your career objective and a brief statement of yourself. Your summary should be short, not more than 2 or 3 sentences.

Furthermore, your summary should be unique and make you stand out from others. In this section, you’re not only outlining your goals but also revealing your personality type.

Below is an example of a summary:

Efficient and self-driven registered nurse with six years of experience in the intensive care unit of a reputable health facility. Proficient in clinical, public health, and nursing informatics.

• Certificates and licensure

If you’ve passed any board exams, you should indicate these in your resume. Include your certifications, registration number, and the state as well.

This should be current and relevant to the position you’re applying for. Perhaps you’re a student about to take an exam to be certified. You should indicate the examination date (if known) in your resume.

• Education

Completing grad school is a milestone. Proudly showcase your educational background in reverse chronological order. Begin with your most recent education.

Outline the school, location, degree attained and date of completion. A soon-to-graduate nursing student should indicate the date of graduation. You don’t have to list out all courses taken in school.

Just describe a specific project or coursework relevant to nursing education. This creates an impression that you will be actively involved in your work.

In addition, discussing your project work puts your best foot forward, thus increasing your chances of being hired.

• Clinical experience

This section lets you expound on your work experience and training in a care facility and organization. Using reverse chronological order, list the hospitals you worked in, the units you specialize in, and your job descriptions.

It’s advised you reflect on relevant experience. Ensure you don’t abbreviate the names of the facilities. Your clinical expertise should correlate with the job position you’re applying for.

Mention 3-5 job functions and roles performed at these organizations. Also, make these functions brief and concise. Incorporate keywords in them as well.

• Achievements and affiliations

Indicate in your resume if you were part of a student organization or association in school. It would help if you did it to create a positive impression on the admission personnel.

Perhaps you volunteered at a reputable organization unrelated to your field; include that in your resume. It counts as a soft skill that will support your job application.

If you were a public relations officer for your school group, you would have good communication skills to benefit your nursing career.

This section should also include academic recognition, scholarships, and awards.

Skills To Be Included in Your ABSN Resume

You need to possess soft and hard skills to be a successful RN. This determines your eligibility for the accelerated nursing program.

The right skills will make you stand out and support your application.

• Technology skills

With the advent of technology, job roles, and functions have been made easy. It’s expected that nurses have technology skills to excel in their careers.

Nurses can check patients’ vitals and share patients’ information and records with medical practitioners through technology. Many hospitals are adopting electronic medical record systems.

An electronic medical record system is a patient-centered record in digital form. Thus, nurses must have the technical know-how to gather patient information and data through this medium.

• Communication

Whether verbal, non-verbal, or written communication, nurses are expected to be quite adept in communicating with their patients.

They must learn to listen actively, speak, observe, and empathize with their patients, medical practitioners, and other staff.

In your resume, you must show how you use your communication skills to perform a given task.

• Ethics and confidentiality

Ethics are rules or principles that govern a person’s behavior and decisions. A code of conduct guides nurses. They must adhere strictly.

They must also maintain patient confidentiality; hence nurses can’t disclose sensitive medical information about patients without their knowledge.

• Critical thinking and problem-solving.

Virtually every professional is expected to possess these skills. This is crucial as sometimes you face complex situations requiring critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Considering the nature of their jobs, nurses should think fast and proffer solutions to problems involving their patients.

• Time management and stamina

Like critical thinking, time management is essential to promptly completing a task or project before the deadline. Nurses should be good time managers to prioritize and complete tasks quickly.

Furthermore, due to their job nature, nurses work long hours. Hence, they need the stamina to work under pressure with more shifts and limited breaks.

If you want to start a second degree in nursing, consider the above-listed requirements for your resume. Check your resume format to ensure it’s easy to read.

Typically, your resume shouldn’t be more than a page or two.

Furthermore, ensure you’re committed to learning and have a solid academic history and passion for the profession. With many individuals applying for nursing school, you must distinguish your resume from other applicants.

I wish you success with your application.