Due to awareness of the nursing shortage, an increasing number of people are enrolling nursing programs and competing for positions. Although many nursing positions remain, there are a growing number of nurses for employers to choose from. For this reason, nursing jobseekers must understand how to set themselves apart from the competition.
One thing that nursing job applicants, like those applying to any other position, must understand is that it often takes time to obtain a dream job. Recent nursing school graduates are likely to obtain basic staff nursing positions where they work under the supervision of preceptors or seasoned nurses. Many positions, such as those in certain nursing specializations, are not available prior to obtaining a certain amount of nursing experience. This is also true for positions of authority. Though nurses are in high demand, new and inexperienced nurses may be limited in regards to which nurses positions they are qualified to fill.
Finding a nursing position may be more difficult in some areas than in others, as need for these professionals varies by geographic location. For this reason, willingness to relocate or commute to an area with higher demand for nurses can be helpful. In addition, individuals may wish to look into agency nursing and travel nursing. These agencies take on much of the responsibility of making sure nurses have employment, and working for them is a great way to gain valuable experience and learn from a variety of healthcare professionals.
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Resume
One tool nurses can manage in order to help them obtain their job of choice is a resume. The resume should list pertinent job experience and education and should highlight specific skills and training that may set the applicant apart from his or her competition and show that he or she is most qualified for the position. Not only is it important to list these things on a resume, but individuals should seek out opportunities to gain experience that employers will find valuable. Potential nurses should take advantage of all opportunities to strengthen their resumes.
In crafting a resume, one should list career experience in reverse chronological order. He or she should include education, training, skills, and any volunteer work or extracurricular involvement that will help him or her to appear marketable and well-rounded. All information on a resume should be honest. It is important never to lie to a potential employer or to stretch the truth in order to obtain a position, and the resume should be professional and free of spelling and grammatical errors. Many tools are available online to help with resume building, and many schools and educational programs also offer resume assistance.
References
Finally, excellent references are helpful for securing the ideal nursing career. Those who are currently pursuing their nursing education through one of many nursing programs should cultivate relationships with faculty members and seek to develop close bonds with mentors and with supervisors during clinical hours. These individuals are valuable sources of information and forging these relationships lead to great professional references. Colleagues and coworkers should not be overlooked as references, as nurses are expected to work well as part of a team. Keeping a positive attitude and avoiding workplace drama will be helpful in obtaining great references from coworkers and supervisors.