TIPS ON WRITING ACHIEVEMENT STATEMENTS FOR

NURSING STUDENTS AND GRADUATES

    When thinking about writing your achievement statements, ask yourself the following questions:

·         Did I serve on any boards, committees, or in any mentorship programs?

·         Did I contribute to change in policy or procedures of a unit?

·         Did I advocate for patients in any special areas?

·         Did I train patients, families, or coworkers in advanced topics of interest to nursing?

·         Did I help launch a new facility or program?

·         Did I treat more patients per day than the average student caseload?

·         Did I volunteer my time above and beyond my required commitment to the hospital, community, etc., such as being involved in community health screenings and fund raisers?

·         What have I done that was above and beyond my basic responsibilities in any nursing role, volunteer or otherwise?

·         How have I helped make a positive impact on my patients and their families, my co-workers, my employer, my fellow classmates, or even my community?

                        EXAMPLES OF ACHIEVEMENT STATEMENTS

·         Provided extensive in-service training for five nursing assistants in a 20-bed, cardiac rehabilitation unit

·         Treated an average of 16 patients daily, 100 percent above average student caseload

·         After rigorous selection process, was one of twenty student nurses to be admitted into internship program working in a 33-bed acute care unit

·         Improved quality of patient care by creating and implementing a system of procedures related to safety measures that was eventually adopted by other healthcare organizations

·         Selected among 25 classmates to complete Intensive Coronary Care certification to support two ICUs

·         Provided primary nursing care to adult and geriatric high-risk patients with complex medical and surgical needs on six-bed ICUs with a ratio of 1 R.N. to 2-3 patients

·         Served on committee that assessed patient visitation hours and wrote committee report to department head, which led to changes for better meeting patient and family needs

·         Successfully treated more than 100 patients through palliative care

·         Raised over $2,000 by coordinating an on-campus walk to increase breast cancer awareness

·         Monitored infection control and 100% compliance to safety regulations, ensuring zero incidences

·         Acquired cross-functional training in acute care, orthopedics, and surgery in a 625-bed Class I Trauma Center/Research and Teaching Hospital

·         One of 15 new graduates selected for training in a specialized cancer unit focused on the preparation and care of patients undergoing bone-marrow transplants and other procedures associated with leukemias and lymphomas

·         Intervened in alcohol, drug, suicide, fire, and other instances of severe trauma while working as a resident assistant

·         Mastered, through on-the-job training, the care of comatose/near comatose ventilator-dependent patients in a 100-bed rehabilitation facility

·         Gained skills in the areas of administering medication, dressing changes, sterile technique, post-surgical positioning and interventions, physical assessments and documentation while utilizing the nursing process in planning care for patients on a surgical floor

Sources:  Best Resumes for College Students and New Grads; www.sfsu.edu/; www.creatingprints.com; 101 Great Resumes; www.jobbankusa.com; www.bc.edu; www.fast-trackresumes.com; www.monster.com; www.lww.com; http://medi-smart.com; Expert Resumes for Health Care Careers