Personal Details

GRADUATE RESUMES

Nursing

JCU Careers and Employability

CRICOS Provider No. 00117J

May 2024

jcu.edu.au/careers

careers@jcu.edu.au

Ph: 1800 246 446 (option 5)

@ jcucareers

Tailor your resume

Your resume is a marketing tool. It is essential that

you tailor your resume for every job application to

increase the fit between you, the role and the

employer. Thoroughly research the organisation and

the position to determine what the employer is looking

for.

Due to the volume of applications, many Health

Departments use online application systems. You

must follow the instructions to ensure your application

progresses to the next stage. Each organisation’s

application process will have different requirements.

A role in a public health service may have a different

focus from a private hospital or clinic. Your resume

layout/style may vary according to the sector you are

applying to.

Emphasise your strengths as they relate to each

particular job and match your skills and abilities to the

job you are applying for.

Headings

There are no set headings for a resume, although the

following headings are commonly included.

Under each heading list experiences in reverse

chronological order, most recent first.

PERSONAL DETAILS

• Name, city, phone and email.

• LinkedIn Profile – if you have a profile, ensure it is

up to date. Consider personalising your URL

(search Customise your URL on LinkedIn)

• Don’t include a photo, date of birth, marital/parental

status or other personal information.

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY/CAREER

STATEMENT/PROFILE (Optional, 3-4 sentences)

It is a summary of your skills strengths, achievements,

and key experiences relevant to the role. It should

also convey your motivation for applying for the

role/career aspirations and what you have to offer the

person reading it.

EDUCATION

Tertiary, high school (only list high school if you are a

recent school leaver and have relevant achievements

to list) and other relevant training qualifications. Begin

with your Bachelor of Nursing Science.

MEMBERSHIPS

Include memberships of professional or industry

bodies.

CLINICAL PLACEMENTS

Some employers require a copy of your Clinical

Placement Report, others don’t. If it is not required,

use your resume as an opportunity to describe your

responsibilities, achievements, range of patients

treated, range of situations (remote, regional, city etc.).

Try to highlight different achievements or skills gained

at each placement. Don’t just state generic duties.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Begin with the most recent. Use bullet points to list

your responsibilities and achievements for each role -

tailor these to the position. Do not leave gaps in your

resume. If you travelled or cared for a family member

for 6 months list this.

REFEREES

Clinical Supervisor/Manager/Academic. Avoid

personal referees. (Usually 2 to 3 people). Obtain

permission first.

Optional Headings

Professional Development Key Skills

Extra-Curricular Activities Publications

Awards Volunteering

Language

Use professional vocabulary, e.g. ‘negotiated’, rather

than ‘worked out’. Use verbs to describe your skills

and employment achievements. See the ‘Action Verb’

Information Sheet for more examples.

Top Tips

• Thoroughly research the organisation’s application

procedure to determine what is required.

• Tailor your resume to the job description/organisation.

• Emphasise achievements to demonstrate your

capacity.

• Be clear, concise and truthful.

• Check page requirements if identified by the employer.

• Use a simple, professional layout with consistent

font/bullets.

• Use bullet points to list your placement and

employment history and associated responsibilities

and achievements.

• Check and check again for spelling and grammatical

errors.

• Check if applicant tracking system software is

being used to short list resumes and modify layout if

so. Online screening software may not read photos,

clipart, tables, fancy fonts, borders.

See our information sheet on Applicant Tracking Software

– Can a robot read your resume to ensure your resume

will get through any online screening tools.

Janice Smith

Janice Smith Cairns, QLD 4870

Phone: 0412345678

Email: janice.smith@my.jcu.edu.au

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/janice-smith

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY / CAREER STATEMENT / PROFILE (Optional)

I am a motivated and caring final year Nursing Science student with a passion

for rural nursing. In addition to my studies, I have over two years’ experience in

customer service roles in medical practices and I am ready to use my up-to-date

skills and knowledge in my new career as a Registered Nurse.

EDUCATION

2022 – Current Bachelor of Nursing Science

James Cook University, Cairns, QLD

Expected completion date: November 2024

Relevant Achievements

• Grade Point Average: 5.7 (scale 1-7, 7 being highest)

• Awarded the XXXX scholarship.

• Received High Distinction for XXXXXXX subjects.

2021 Year 12 Senior Certificate

Cairns State High School, QLD

Achievements

• Social Justice Captain, active member of the Student Representative Council

CLINICAL PLACEMENTS

2024 Community Child Health Centre, Cairns, Aug – Oct (240 hours)

• Progressively established therapeutic interpersonal relationships

with mothers, neonates and toddlers.

• Competently conducted initial consultations during home visits,

including handling neonates and assisting mothers with feeding.

• Supported Buddy RN with the Infant Feeding Support Program,

the Early Breast-Feeding Clinic and First Steps Program.

Supervisor’s Comment (OPTIONAL)

…………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………. Clinical Supervisor

2023 Cardiac Ward, Townsville Hospital, Aug – Oct (120 hours)

• Successfully arranged both the admission and discharge

of several patients.

• Skillfully prepared, administered and managed IV therapy

(including additives), and safely dispensed medications.

• Contributed to two code blues, e.g. with ABG retrieval.

• Gained valuable knowledge surrounding the use of CPAP

and BIPAP machines.

Supervisor’s Comment (OPTIONAL)

…………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………. Clinical Supervisor

Tip – If you decide to add a

Professional Summary or

Profile, keep it brief. It is a

summary of your skills,

strengths, achievements and

key experiences relevant to the

role. It should also convey your

motivation for applying and

what your have to offer the

person reading it.

Tip – Consider the

employer you are

applying to and

which placements

are most relevant to

them – you may

need to list more

points under the

more relevant

placements than

others.

Tip - How did you

contribute to the

ward or clinic? How

did you improve your

skills? How did you

manage different

situations? Did you

receive positive

feedback?

Tip – Use a professional email address such as your JCU

email and personalise/embed your LinkedIn URL.

Tip - Include

other degrees or

qualifications

completed prior to

Bachelor of

Nursing Science,

if relevant.

Tip – Listing Supervisors comments is optional. Some employers will require a copy of

your placement reports, if not, consider a brief supervisor comment from your placements

report to provide evidence of achievements.

Tip – Only include if recent school leaver. List major

school awards, prizes, leadership position, extra-curricular

activities.

Janice Smith

2022 General Surgery Unit, Cairns Hospital, Aug – Oct (80 hours)

• Conducted baseline neurovascular observations for signs of post-op complications.

• Prepared and dressed an acute post-op wound aseptically.

• Safely prepared and managed the delivery of Intravenous Fluids (no additives), including

hanging, priming, calculating and setting the rate.

2022 Mossman Aged Care Facility, Mossman, May – June (80 hours)

• Developed and maintained therapeutic relationships with all patients.

• Accurately documented and reported on patient care.

• Participated in handover of patients to other allied health staff.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2024 Mental Health First Aid Course, James Cook University

2023 Midwives: Fit for the Future Conference, ACM/Midplus – volunteer

EMPLOYMENT

2024 – current Assistant-in-Nursing

Bupa Aged Care, Cairns (casual, paid work)

Achievements and responsibilities

• Providing direct care for 15-20 residents of the high and low dementia care unit.

• Ensuring safe and clean working environment through using safe manual-handling

techniques and appropriate….

• Consistently maintaining mutual therapeutic relationships with …

2022 – 2023 Receptionist

The 24 hour GP Clinic, Cairns (casual, paid work)

Achievements and responsibilities

• Responded and sensitively handled requests for GP appointments, both face to face and by

telephone.

• Followed protocols to determine urgency of requests.

• Member of a team of 12 part-time receptionists, operating a 24 hour, 7 days a week roster.

• Undertook training on XXXX (GP appointment and billing software).

• Ensured high levels of hygiene throughout the reception area of the practice.

2021 Retail Assistant

Supercheap Pharmacy, Smithfield

Achievements and responsibilities

• Responded to customer enquiries and complaints.

• Participated in product training to ensure correct recommendations.

• Awarded Employee of the Month for best team player.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

2023 Student Mentor, James Cook University

• Supported first year Nursing students settle in and succeed in their transition into university.

• Trained in communication, mentoring and advocacy.

2022 Pyjama Angel, Children’s Ward, Cairns Hospital

• Weekly reading session with patients.

2020 – 2021 Relay for Life (annual breast cancer fundraising event)

• Team leader and active fundraiser, team successfully raised over $2000 each year.

Tip – Add your name and page number in the footer.

Janice Smith

MEMBERSHIPS

2023 – current Committee member - JCU Nursing Students Association

INTERESTS

• Member of Cairns Tigers Hockey Club – Captain of Tigers team - open age

• Coach for the ‘Under 12s’ Tiger hockey team

• Keen traveller – backpacked through South America and Asia

REFEREES

XXXX XXXX

Nurse Unit Manager Nurse Unit Manager

Community Child Health Centre, Cairns Mossman Hospital

Phone: XXXX Phone: XXXX

Email: XXXX Email: XXXX

Tip – Ask permission first and keep your referees informed – they need to know what you are applying for so that

they are prepared when an employer contacts them to find out more about you.

Tip – List interests that relate to your work life and give an indication of your personal qualities or abilities e.g.

leadership, resilience, teamwork, self-care.

Need more help? Go to www.jcu.edu.au/careers for more resources

• Information Sheets: Action Verb List, Can a robot read your Resume?

• Employability Edge: Master Written Applications module

• Big Interview: combine training and practice to improve your interview techniques

• Make an appointment with the Careers and Employability Team to discuss your job search

strategies