Whether you're still in school or you're finally done and want to get a job, you want to start thinking about your nursing resume. This will be a document that showcases your skills and expertise thus far and will help you get into the best hospitals and nursing positions. If you have aspirations to further your nursing degree and enter a management position, you may want to start building a resume that is going to help you in the future.

When You're Still in School

If you're currently a nursing student, you have ample information and activities that you could include on your resume. Including information about your education, experiences, and outside activities will create a resume that sells your skills as a nurse when you're out trying to get your first job. Here are some things that you need to include on your nursing resume at this point:

The details of your college background

The details of your nursing education

Any additional classes you may have taken outside of your nursing curriculum

Any volunteer work that you have done related to nursing

Any groups or organizations you are a part of

Any leadership positions you have held

What you're trying to do at this point is show that you are committed to being a nurse and a good one at that. Prospective employers want to see that you are educated, that you are interested in learning more, and that you are responsible. Of course, you don't want to take on so much responsibility that you are overwhelmed and not getting anything out of these tasks.

When You Have Graduated

If you have already graduated from nursing school and are looking to find a new job, you can still include all of the same information that appeared on your resume as a nursing student. Your resume should look professional and be absolutely clear as to what background you have and what you are interested in.

Some other points to keep in mind for your resume:

It should be typed on professional paper

It should be free of grammatical and spelling errors

It should have your current address and contact information

It should include your nursing school transcript

It should contain a goal for your nursing career - i.e. I see myself working with children. This
will focus your resume and depict which positions interest you.

As you gain experience in the nursing field, you should add onto your list of accomplishments as a nurse, including any specialized training you have received or additional courses and degrees you have achieved - i.e. RN or BSN. This will further prove to those that read your resume that you are the best person for the job.

When You Have Management Experience

If you are looking to extend your nursing degree to a management or supervisory level and you have other management experience in other career paths, you might want to include this on your nursing resume. This will show that you are capable of managing others and that you can combine past experiences to help you in your new career.

Building a nursing resume is just like building any other resume that you may have had in the past. However, you want to prove that you are qualified for each health care position that you apply for.