1. The 3-R’s of Professional Role Development are References, Recommendations, and Referrals. The 3-R’s provide an added benefit to your resume because they are a way to prove you are qualified for the job you are applying for, as the people who are vouching for you can give a history of your professional qualities and skills. Regarding letters of recommendation, these must be gathered early so that the person you are requesting it from has enough time to prepare it. In my experience, my employer asked me to write my own letter and have them sign it, which was also an option that was mentioned in the video. Ideally, you want your references to date back to 2 years or more, as this speaks to your job stability. In writing a resume, I learned that less is more when you don’t have much experience in the job you are applying for. What I mean by that is, instead of looking for “fluff” to add to your resume that just adds extra words, stick to the facts, and write skills within your experience that are relatable for the job. Don’t forget to add relatable volunteer work, because this also adds experience. Resiliency is a characteristic one develops over time, and it is an incredible ability to adapt well to trauma, adversity, tragedy, and other life struggles. Using the Crisis Continuum, we can identify which zone we are operating in when a problem presents itself. Ideally, we want to be in the Creativity (Learning) or Growth (Transition) Phase because in the nursing world, things constantly change, and we must react and adapt to these changes as positively as possible.
I was able to collect 3 qualified references to use when applying for jobs and requesting letters of recommendation. I have been self-employed for the past 2 years and have kept a few contacts, so my circle is quite small, but I will try to ask a few professors by the end of this semester.
2. Looking back over the past few weeks and all the helpful information provided has been a huge help for me. I was able to revamp my resume to align with a nursing role, modify the layout so it flows better, and add/delete sections that were irrelevant. I was able to reduce my resume to one page and ensured it was well organized using the modules as guidance. I was able to find typos that I have missed several times, simple things that can make a difference. I emphasized my experience to help demonstrate the impact and initiative of my previous work experience. Touching on what I had previously mentioned, I was able to tailor my resume for a specific position, highlighting why I am qualified for the position.
Speaking on resiliency, as I had previously mentioned, prior to this course I hadn’t put much thought into it. When reviewing the module I started thinking about the past few months/year. Resiliency is the person’s capacity to respond to pressures and demands of everyday life. Like many others in this program, we have the additional pressure of an accelerated nursing program added into the mix. With life, work, and school we need to be able to bounce back after minor setbacks. We have all dealt with the stress and demands placed on us and most have been successful. In life and in a career that involves nursing knowing how to better cope with challenges such as staffing shortages and organizational change. Resiliency can be learned and will be very beneficial in order to thrive and flourish when the going gets tough.
I am fortunate to have multiple, well-respected individuals that are more than willing to provide a recommendation. I have provided several recommendations in an honest and timely manner. I believe if you have a strong work ethic, are reliable, and dependable finding a referral should not be very difficult. For those that may not have those traits, I would recommend making some changes. It’s similar to when you get bad service at a restaurant, you’ll let everyone and their mom know. The same can be said for individuals with poor work ethic, are not reliable or dependable.
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