You have 15 second to convince a nurse recruiter that he or she should spend more time reviewing your résumé. In this session, find out how to sell yourself quickly and succinctly. Learn about options for organizing your résumé so that it tells your story effectively, helps you stand out from others and convinces recruiters to take the next step.

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

2. 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

3.  A private document
 Career planning
 Used to create a customized resume
 Helps you remember dates
 Interview preparation

4. 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

5.  Name and credentials
 Contact information
 Introductory statement
◦ Objective
◦ Qualifications
◦ Professional Summary

6. Objective
 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.

7.  Qualifications
◦ List of measurable relevant skills
 Professional Summary
◦ Several sentences consolidating experiences from a
long-term career

8.  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

9. 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

10.  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)

11.  Work History
 Education
 Certification/License

12.  Related Experience
 Continuing Education
 Additional Skills
◦ Languages
◦ Software
 Don’t include
◦ Hobbies
◦ Personal information

13.  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

14.  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

15.  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

16. 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

17.  As long as it takes
 1-2 pages is best
 Use the top half of first page for your best
selling points

18.  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

19.  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

20.  Out of state address
 Confusing or incongruent objective
 Gaps in employment
 Several short-stay positions

21. Sue Smith, BSN, RN
3100 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

22. EDUCATION
Temple University, BSN program, May 2009
GPA: 3.8
Dean’s list junior and senior year
School of Nursing senior class treasurer
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Temple 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

23. 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

24. 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, NJ
Waitress
• Achieve customer satisfaction by providing
good service
• Accurately manage cash receipts
• Learn to stay focused and pleasant in fast
pace atmosphere

25. ADDITIONAL SKILLS, CERTIFICATIONS
Medical Spanish course July 2009
American Sign Language fluent
CPR, active 2009
BLS, active 2009

26. Sandy Jones, MSN, RN
446 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.

27. WORK EXPERIENCE
Jan. 2000-Present MacNeal Hospital, Chicago, IL
Sept. 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, IL
Nurse 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

28. 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

29. EDUCATION
Loyola University, Chicago, IL
MSN, 2008
Loyola University, Chicago, IL
BSN, 1984
MEMBERSHIPS &
CERTIFICATIONS Trauma Nurse Specialist Certification, current
ACLS instructor certification since1991

30.  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

31.  Earn contact hours from the convenience of your
computer or mobile device. Listen to or download
Webinars and podcasts for CE credit. Brought to you
by ADVANCE for Nurses. Merion Publications Inc. is
an approved provider of continuing nursing education
by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (No.
221-3-O-09), an accredited approver by the
American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission
on Accreditation.
 Visit www.advanceweb.com/ce to take a test on this
session and earn credit.