How To Create The Perfect Resume (For USRN Applicants)
Candidates who are applying for USRN and NCLEX Sponsorship should ensure that they include all of the necessary information needed in order to have their application expedited without any delays. It is imperative to highlight important information related to your personal demographics, educational background, employment experience, and any certificates, exams, and licenses you may possess.
By following the steps below, you can ensure that you will have all of the important information necessary to expedite your USRN and NCLEX Sponsorship review.
Resume Framework for USRN Application (From Top to Bottom of your Resume):
1) Introduction
Full Name
Date of Birth
Birth Country
Country (or Countries) of Citizenship
Photo (Professional Headshot)
Job Title
Tip: Include a small photo in the top corner on your resume of a professional head shot. This allows your potential employer to put a face to your name and helps you stand out.
2) Contact Information
Email Address
Phone Number
WhatsApp Number
Skype Address
Current Address
Permanent Address
Tip: Managers/employers will often do a quick search of your social media accounts by typing your name into google, so be sure to have filtered through them yourself first to ensure that there are no posts or comments that you wouldn't want anyone to see to make a first (and lasting) impression on.
3) Professional Resume Summary / Objectives
• This is a 2-4 sentence summary of your professional experiences and achievements
EXAMPLE #1:
ICU Certified Registered Nurse with more than four years of experience working in adult intensive care at a tertiary hospital with 300+ beds. Knowledgeable, ambitious, and ethical Registered Nurse with a proven ability to lead and work as a team during critical situations such as rapid response calls and code blues. I hold a Master of Science in Surgical Nursing with a Leadership focus.
EXAMPLE #2:
Family-centred care focused Bachelor of Science in Nursing student with 3 years of acute care health care experience. I am seeking an opportunity as a Nursing Attendant to work collaboratively within a team setting to build my knowledge and expertise as part of career goal to become a pediatric Registered Nurse.
4) Professional Work Experience
Begin with the most recent job experience and have your first job at the very bottom of this section:
Position Name (e.g. Registered Nurse)
Company Name (e.g. Hospital/Organization Name)
Specialty (E.g. Med-Sug, ICU, ER, etc.)
Employment Dates (Start - End)
Location (City, State/Province, Country)
Unit Assigned
Number of Hospital Beds
Skills Performed
Machines or Equipment Used
5) Education
Include your education in reverse chronological order with your most recent education at the top.
University/College Name
Degree Completed
Start date and graduation date
Academic Achievements (e.g. 2017 Deans List for a GPA > 3.7 on a 4.0 scale)
6) Certifications, Licenses, Exams Passed
Begin with your licenses (include your issuing state/province, license #, and expiry date)
Next include the required certifications for your position with the issuing organization and expiry date (e.g. NCLEX-RN Exam [State], Academic IELTS [Bands and Year], CGFNS Visa Screen Certificate)
Include all other certifications you hold (e.g. American Heart Association BLS or ACLS)
Tip: Every nurse will have have a Bachelor of Nursing Degree applying for an USRN position, so if you have any additional certificates or courses, this is a unique opportunity to help separate yourself from your peers.
Other Tips:
1. Avoid any abbreviations if at all possible.
Abbreviations can be misunderstood or used differently in various countries. It is always best to avoid abbreviations/
2. Tip: Layout do’s and don’ts
• Margins – You should have one-inch margins on all sides
• Font Style - Pick a font that stands out, but not too much. Do: Ubuntu, Roboto, etc. Don’t: Comic Sans
• Font Size - Use a font size of 11-12pt for normal text and 14-16pt for headers
• Line Spacing - Use 1.0 or 1.15 line spacing
• Picture - Include a professional head shot. A photo helps you stand out among other candidates
3. For pre-made resume builders, I recommend using:
-Novo
