Nursing is an in-demand profession all over the world. Skilled nurses generally don’t have to worry about unemployment, especially as the pandemic escalates and the senior population remains high.
Still, if you want your pick of nursing jobs, you need to make sure your resume is as good as it can possibly be for the new decade. Some skills will be particularly in-demand during the coming years, which is why it’s a good time to think about sprucing up your resume by learning something new. Here are 5 suggestions.
Nurses Skilled in Therapeutic Communication Will Stand Out in the Tech Era
All healthcare professionals are familiar with the concept of “bedside manner,” which describes how a doctor or nurse communicates with a patient as they receive care. Today, nurses can think about their interactions with patients through the concept of communication vs. therapeutic communication.
Communication is something that all nurses do, but often at a “bare-bones” level. They might describe the treatment they are providing, but may not go into detail or ask the patient any questions. Therapeutic communication, however, is more patient-focused—it aims to put the patient at ease and to gain more information that could help to improve the patient’s outcome.
Therapeutic communication will be essential as more healthcare duties become automated. That human connection will help patients feel more relaxed and reduce errors. This is a great skill for nurses to learn and to showcase on their resumes in our tech-focused world.
Showcase Cultural Competence By Learning a New Language
The United States is more diverse than ever. Nurses all over the country will be serving different populations and will need to have a high level of cultural competence in order to be successful. As a culturally-competent nurse, you must take a patient’s background and experiences into consideration when providing treatment.
Language barriers cause lots of issues for patients and healthcare workers. One of the ways you can show your cultural competence and improve your ability to serve patients is to learn a new language. Think about the most common languages you encounter in the area you serve and get started!
Volunteer Your Nursing Skills Abroad To Assist Developing Countries
Want to truly make a difference and boost your resume at the same time? Consider volunteering abroad as a nurse to provide crucial medical services in developing countries.
Many medical facilities around the world do not have enough trained personnel or supplies to serve their local region adequately. By spending several months immersed in providing medical care overseas, you’ll improve your cultural competence, learn how to be adaptable and flexible, and gain new experiences you can’t get any other way.
Showcase Your Mastery By Obtaining an MSN Degree
In nursing, there’s only so far you can climb without needing additional education. Many nurses suffer from extreme burnout and look at advanced education as an opportunity to get to a position of leadership or management. It’s an investment, but it can pay off big in the long run.
A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) will open up lots of opportunities for you and do more than just spruce up your resume. During your MSN program, you’ll be able to specialize in working with specific populations, increase your knowledge, and develop your ability to lead.
Develop a Personalized Nurse’s Portfolio
You might never have heard of a nurse’s portfolio, but it’s a great asset to have when you’re looking for a new job or seeking additional certifications. Basically, it’s a collection of everything nursing-related you’ve collected during your years of education and/or working as a nurse.
Every portfolio is different, of course, but it should showcase you and your accomplishments. Think: transcripts, letters of recommendation, certifications, diplomas, letters from patients—whatever you have that’s would help a prospective employer see all that you have to offer. Make it professional and keep it in an easily-accessible binder so that you can take it with you at a moment’s notice.
Focus on Growth
No matter where you are in your nursing career, you should always be striving for growth. There is always more to learn, and there are always ways to build and strengthen your resume.
Even if you’ve been looking for work for a while, don’t get discouraged—just keep learning and focus on growth. It will serve you well when you find a job that’s the perfect fit.
For more great career tips, be sure to read the other blogs on Career Geek.
