Going from a pre-licensure nursing program to a practicing nurse can be intimidating. Employers look for new nurses who are clinically capable and able to learn quickly, and nurses want to be prepared for the daily challenges that come with such a high-intensity job. Here are some of the best ways to use your time in the pre-licensure nursing program to best be prepared to work and stand out to future employers.
Real-World Experience
Experience working in hospitals and clinics shows employers that you are capable of functioning effectively in a healthcare setting and are familiar with the workspace and common responsibilities. The pre-licensure program offers many opportunities to practice clinical skills, and these should be used to their fullest potential!
Seek out diverse clinical experiences, including medical-surgical, pediatrics, obstetrics, psychiatric care, and critical care rotations. This demonstrates adaptability and confidence in multiple environments and shows you don’t just seek out what is easy or comfortable.
Volunteering is another excellent way to learn about patient care, inter-professional teamwork, and what a typical workday might look like in your future role. It shows compassion, motivation, and helps you get real-world exposure on your resume.
Getting Connected
Real-world experiences are also ideal opportunities to connect with professionals in the field. Being hardworking, dependable, and kind are huge positives for nurses and physicians, and they may later become references or advocates during your job search.
Joining school- or academic-level nursing organizations/societies is another excellent way to build connections. These groups often share information about conferences, internships, and volunteer opportunities that can strengthen your professional development and expand your network.
Certifications
Going the extra mile to get certified in specialized areas not only reinforces your clinical knowledge, but also demonstrates that you are committed to continuous professional development.
High-value certifications for nursing students include:
- Basic Life Support (BLS): Required for nearly all nursing students and clinical settings.
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS): Strongly valued for ICU, ED, and telemetry interest.
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS): Beneficial for pediatrics and emergency departments.
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP): Ideal for labor & delivery and NICU settings.
- Crisis Prevention/De-escalation Training (CPI): Useful in psychiatric or high-stress environments.
These certifications demonstrate to employers that you have specialized skills and are driven to keep progressing.
Soft Skills
Soft skills like communication, teamwork, and critical thinking are essential for becoming a successful nurse. Many employers and nurse-managers identify soft skills as essential, often as important as technical skills when evaluating new graduates.
One effective way to highlight your soft skills during interviews is through the STAR Method:
Situation: Describe the context.
Task: Explain your responsibility.
Action: Share what you did.
Result: Highlight the outcome.
Using clear, specific examples, such as how you communicated with a patient or responded under pressure, helps employers see your real capabilities. It also prepares you for common behavioral interview questions, such as “Tell me about a time when…”. You can showcase your soft skills while also successfully answering tricky interview questions.
You can also showcase soft skills by:
- Including positive feedback from preceptors or instructors
- Highlighting teamwork in clinical or simulation settings
- Describing patient education or conflict de-escalation experiences
These examples demonstrate your soft skills more effectively than simply stating that you communicate well or are a team player.
Your Portfolio and Resume
Sometimes whether or not you get hired comes down to how you present your portfolio and resume. This involves taking the points we’ve discussed already and compiling them into an easy-to-read list. These are some ways to accurately show the type of work you are capable of:
Be specific. Instead of writing “completed clinical rotations,” for example, describe exactly what you did and what skills you demonstrated.
Use quantifiable information. Include details such as the number of clinical hours completed or patient assignments handled.
Highlight specialties. If you complete electives or rotations in specialty areas, emphasize these to show your versatility.
Showcase soft skills. As we discussed in the soft skills section, provide real examples of effective communication, teamwork, adaptability, or problem-solving.
List relevant certifications. This is the time to show off those certifications discussed earlier! They reinforce your commitment to professional development and preparedness and are an easy way to measure what you can accomplish.
Include recognition. If you have gotten accolades or other praises from people you have worked with or a professor in the program, include it!
A well-organized professional portfolio with your resume, evaluations, certifications, reflection pieces, and project summaries can make a strong impression during applications or interviews.
Conclusion
The best way to make the most of your nursing program is to give it your all! Seek diverse experiences, build connections, pursue certifications, refine your soft skills, and present your accomplishments clearly. These abilities demonstrate that you are driven to succeed and have a passion for what you do, helping you stand out to future employers.
Citations
Nursing World: Recruiters Look For
Science Direct: New graduate nurses’ self-assessed competencies