How to be successful with your nursing application? Know how a recruiter thinks!

Understanding the mind of a nursing recruiter is a tricky and probably impossible task, but if you can get close to knowing how they will look at your nursing application, you have an advantage. So with that in mind, I am going to try and give you a few words to the wise.

1. Recruiters have very little time to spend on each application.

This may sound like a statement of the obvious, and it probably is, but what isn’t so obvious is how to grab the attention of a recruiter in the few short seconds they have to scan and assess your application. There are a few key elements a recruiter will look for in your application for a nursing job:  NMC pin number, nursing experience, eligibility to work in the UK (if appropriate) and most recent nursing position. So the best advice here is to make sure all these elements are clearly shown at the top of your CV, see our example CV here.

Your PIN number is as important as your name, so it should be at the top along with your address and contact phone number. If you are a NQ nurse, simply state ‘awaiting NMC pin’. For the majority, your address will also cover your eligibility to work in the UK. Nursing experience should be shown right underneath your contact details and you should include number of years qualified, years in current position, current employer and a brief description of your current role and responsibilities.

2. Recruiters want to select someone as soon as possible, so why are you perfect for their needs?

You can instantly appeal to a recruiter if you tick all the boxes and you can show that you are the ideal candidate who can solve their recruiting need. The ideal way to do this is to include a paragraph in your covering letter describing how your experience, communication and personal skills are exactly what are required for the position. Keep it as succinct as possible, don’t waffle and be specific about your skills using examples from your current role / nursing course.

3. A recruiter likes your application, but you don’t have enough experience for the role.

We’ve all been there, applying for a job that’s a little beyond our reach, but there is a way you can be taken seriously. You’ve got the recruiter interested by following the two points above,  now they are checking your application against the essential and desired criteria and they’ve spotted where you fall short. If you can anticipate this and include a section in your application on how you to plan to fulfill their requirements, you could be in with a chance. Eg. (this is a contrived example, but just so you see!) You have experience in A&E from your course placement, but you don’t have the required 1 year’s experience. You could include in your application the learning outcomes you achieved from your placement, how you can develop if you got the job, and what goals you would set yourself if you got the position.

If no one applies with the required experience, there is every chance the next best in line could be put forward for interview. However, if you fall a long way short of the required experience, then it’s probably best to leave it a little bit before applying.

Hope that helps, feel free to leave a comment if this has been useful or not, I’m always interested to hear!

Does excessive internet usage cause depression?

This study is one that caught my eye recently. As someone who spends more time online than not in a day I felt a particular concern that I should look into this!

The study by the University of Leeds looked at the addictive symptoms caused by too much time online and the subsequent link with depression. 1.2% of the 1,319 participants that responded said they classed themselves as internet addicts, and in comparison with a group of non-internet addicts, were found to be more depressed. Addictive symptoms were increased in men and younger poeple, with women and older people displaying fewer addictive tendancies. The BBC reported the results as follows,

The internet addicts were significantly more depressed than the non-addicted group, with a depression score five times higher. The average score of the internet-addicted group put them in the category of moderate-to-severe levels of depression.

Dr Catriona Morrsion from the University of Leeds said,

Our research indicates that excessive internet use is associated with depression, but what we don’t know is which comes first – are depressed people drawn to the internet or does the internet cause depression?

So, should I be worried? Not any more so than usual I think. It’s pretty obvious that the internet can be isolating and cold, but it can also allow communication with people you’ve never met on the other side of the world.  All things in moderation and all that – I reckon I’ll just try not to turn on my computer when I get home from work a couple of nights a week.

RCN warns again about shortage in qualified nurses

The issue of a shortage in qualified nurses is one that has rumbled on for a while now, but the RCN announced last week that  “up to 200,000 nurses [are] due to retire in the next decade”, which will leave a shortage in qualified nursing professionals. It is also predicted that there will be significantly fewer nursing students qualifying over the next decade than those that are retiring.

So why the shortfall? Primarily it’s a financial issue for students and universities alike. Studying the full 3 year degree course doesn’t attract the NHS bursary award that the Diploma courses do, however as you’re all well aware by now, degree courses will be the only kind available by Sept 2013. Universities are also offering fewer places in each cohort on both types of course thereby reducing the number of nurses that qualify each year. I often hear that even if someone considers studying nursing, it’s simply too expensive to go to university for 3 years.

In my opinion, there needs to be a much larger bursary award available to all students regardless of the course they choose. There also needs to be a better chance of getting a job at the end of the course. Newly qualified nurses can have a really tough time getting their first position, and it shouldn’t be like that.

If you read the Conservative Party website, they also claim that “the number of managers in the NHS is rising almost three times as fast as the number of nurses”. This might seem slightly too simplistic, but why are managers recruited when newly qualified and experienced nurses alike can’t find employment in their chosen area?

New NICE guidelines to assess risk of blood clots in patients admitted to hospital

New guidelines issued today by the National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence call for every patient admitted to hospital to be assessed for risk of VTE (venous thromboembolism). The care pathway also includes a consideration of the risk of bleeding prior to the prescription of preventative treatments.

The guidelines go into detail about the elements of assessment required before, during and post admission. Patients will be encouraged to keep hydrated (unless otherwise instructed) and to mobilise as soon as possible. Information will also be offered on discharge as well as appropriate prophylaxis to take home. The choice of mechanical or pharmacological prophylaxis will be made according clinical condition, surgical procedure and patient preference.

Multiple Sclerosis sufferers could soon be treated with new oral drugs

The results of the latest stage in the clinical trials of two new drugs to treat MS have been announced. The two new drugs, cladribine and fingolimod are both now awaiting a decision from the authorities as to whether licenses to market will be granted.

The trial of the drug cladribine, when compared with a placebo, showed a reduction in MS relapse rates by 55-58% and a reduced rate of disability by 30%. However, one side effect was that some participants experienced lymphopenia (a reduction in white blood cells), a condition that can leave a patient more susceptible to infection and with an increased risk of developing cancer. The longer term implications of the side effects are not yet known.

The trial of fingolimod included patients with relapsing remitting MS against group that were given a placebo. The trial group showed a reduction in relapse rate of 54-60% and a similar reduction rate in disability progression as the cladribine group.

If both these drugs are approved they could be available as early as 2011 in oral tablet format, which will be a great improvement for patients that currently have no option besides regular injections. The Multiple Sclerosis Society said it was “great news”, these results have been hotly awaited since April 2009 when Dr Alasdair Coles (medical advisor to the MS Society) commented,

“We need to know more details about these drugs, and especially their side-effects, before we can really assess how useful they will be. But it is clearly exciting that soon we may have one or two pills to offer people with MS.”

Is finding a nursing job getting too complicated?

I was thinking this morning, is it getting too complicated to find a job in nursing? There are so many ways of searching for jobs from journals and newspapers to employer websites and job boards; is it all too confusing? I was trying to understand what it would be like for someone who doesn’t use the internet very much to find and apply for nursing jobs online.

It seems to me that you have to be quite selective where you chose to look and that, generally speaking, the application process online is a lot less formal than applying through other means. The days of application packs and long winded form filling seem to be gone, and it’s probably for the best. The internet has made several aspects of life easier eg. banking, meter readings for utility companies, posting items and shopping in all it’s forms. So why can’t it be the same when it comes to applying for jobs?

The answer is I think it can, I just think you have to know where to look and what to look for. There are few things you can look for in an online job advert that will give you clues about the recruiter or employer. Here’s what to look for in a good quality job posting:

• Detailed job title eg RMN Nursing Home Manager – not just Home Manager
• Accurate location, salary and job status details
• Succinct but detailed job description. You should be able to understand who they are looking for, what qualifications & experience are required, and the package that is offered in return.
• The offer of an informal discussion or visit prior to formal application

If all of the above are present you can be pretty sure that the person advertising this position knows what they are talking about and are good at their job. You can feel pretty confident that if you meet the requirements in the job description, they will contact you. Remember, whenever you apply for a job online, you are the one in control. Recruiters and employers need your skills and the majority want to help you find the job you’ve really been looking for. So if you ask to be contacted, give clear instructions about the information you would like to know and let them know when you are available, you’re onto a winner!

Use our Nurse CV template to get your dream nursing job

Everyone struggles to write a nursing CV, let alone tailor it to each nurse job application (which you absolutely have to do if you expect to get an interview). So if you’re looking for an effective way of showing off your nursing skills with a new CV layout, take a look at our template below as a guide.

Obviously we’ve shortened several of the sections, but the key is not to go over 2 sides of A4, and to make sure you highlight all your skills and experience that are valuable to the role you are applying for.

If you want to read more, check out our detailed Nursing CV guide for a step by step guide on how to build a great nurse CV.

JOHN DOE                             NMC PIN 12A3456B

Address 9 Acacia Gardens, Tooting, London, SW25 789

Mobile 01234 5678910

Email john.doe@emaildomain.com

Current Job Registered Mental Nurse (RMN Nurse) Psychiatric

Desired Job Staff Nurse RMN Nurse PICU Nurse Psychiatric

Current Employer The ABC NHS Foundation Trust since 2003

Experience Total 9 years as RMN Nurse

Personal Statement

Currently employed as an RMN Nurse (Registered Mental Nurse) by the NHS Foundation Trust in Surrey. My duties are working with patients in a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). I’ve got 6 years experience of PICU, and my responsibilities include administering medication, restraint, checks and liaising with the rest of the health team including the consultant and psychiatric therapist. I manage the ward including the rota and staff numbers.

Career History

Oct 2003 – now

ABC Foundation Trust Hospital

Senior Nurse RMN Band 6

• Assess the health care needs of all new patients / clients to the ward
• Identify psychiatric, physical and substance misuse health care needs
• Implement a programme of care and manage the treatment processes

Jun 2001 – Oct 2003

Blah-Blah Foundation Trust Hospital

Senior Nurse RMN Band 6

• Urine screening
• Caseload management and reporting
• Liaison with external agencies

Qualifications

BSc / MH Nursing Degree

Sep 1998 – May 2001

Plymouth University

A-Levels

English Grade A, Biology Grade B, Maths Grade B

Sep 1996 – Jul 1998, Eastbourne Sixth Form

GCSEs

8 including English, Maths, Physics, Biology

Sep 1991 – Jul 1996, Willingdon Comprehensive

Referees Available on Request

Get your nursing job application noticed

This time of year is notoriously busy with people applying for jobs, so how do you make sure your application is the one that gets noticed? Simple, just follow these easy steps:

1. Give your CV a make over.

Make sure your contact details, including NMC pin number are clearly visible at the top of your CV. Then give a summary of your current job role, current employer, how long you’ve been in that role for and how many years experience you have in total. Then you can move on to areas of greater detail like career history, qualifications and personal statement.

2. Write a punchy covering letter

Remember that the employer or recruiter who will receive your application has very little time to asses your CV so you’ve got to get their attention quickly. A great cover letter will help achieve this. Keep it relatively short, and divide it into manageable paragraphs. Say in short sentences why you’re applying, what relevant experience you have and what skills you would bring to the position. Then state when you might be available for interview and what your current notice period is.

3. Spell and grammar check

There is nothing that ruins a great application faster than poor spelling or grammar. Read through your application, and again, then give it to someone else to read just in case.

4. Send it before the deadline

You are almost guaranteed not to be considered if you apply after the deadline. So to ensure your application is in, either request a reply to confirm when you email everything, or send it by recorded delivery. If you are sending it by email, try to send the documents in .doc Microsoft Word format. This is pretty much universally acceptable.

And you can be sure that if you’ve followed every step above, you’ve given yourself the best possible chance of getting an interview.

Stumbling into the new year!

I just wanted to say Hi and Happy New Year to everyone. It’s been a busy one so far but I’ve got some got some great articles coming up over the next few weeks so rest assured – you won’t miss out!

If anyone has got anything they would like to know about or anything I can explain as far as applying for jobs etc goes, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll see what I can do!

Taking a break for Christmas

I didn’t want to leave without saying anything, so I just wanted to let you know that I’m taking a well earned break from everything over Christmas and I’ll be back with you in the new year.

Happy Christmas everyone, I hope you get some time off somewhere to enjoy it!