By: Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL

What is a Code: For the context of this post, a Code is a coordinated resuscitation effort to deliver ACLS or PALS care to a patient

Who is the “us”: Members of the healthcare team that are part of the Code response or who witness the Code response

How witnessing a Code impacts us: Codes are traumatic to witness, let alone participate in. The impacts on those healthcare team members involved can cause a range of emotions with the negative severe effects potentially being as serious as conditions such as PTSD, depression, SI, etc

Why am I talking about this?: The tragic incident of #damarhamlin receiving CPR and a potential defibrillation on the field during this week’s Bills vs Bengals game exposed millions around the world to a Code. People are reacting strongly. Players at the game walked off the field. Discussion is happening about how people are feeling after witnessing such an event.

Where does that leave HCWs?: While the world gets to discuss and feel for days or more about witnessing a Code online, on TV or live at the game, HCWs are going to work and participating in Codes as just another day or night at the office. We need to start discussing better preparation options for HCWs involved in Code response work in terms of management of the stress and trauma for those involved, increased mental health support for all HCWs, and continue the meaningful conversations about the society’s disparity of expectations for the public vs those that work in healthcare.

Bottom Line: We save lives for a job, but we must protect ourselves above all else because what happens when no one is left to respond to the next Code?

Reader: Are you a nurse or healthcare worker who has participated in a Code response? How have these experiences affected you? What helpful resources would you want other HCWs to know about?

About the Author: Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an 11+ year nurse with over 10 years of that working in the Emergency Department. Sarah has helped with countless Codes and has experienced many mental health effects due to this work. Sarah hopes to see more work being done to support nurses and other HCWs focused specifically on providing psychological safety and increasing their mental healthcare access.

There is a lot of confusion surrounding nurse resumes. Here are a few nurse resume myths that just aren’t true!

Myth: I have to list every job that I ever had on my nurse resume.

FALSE.

Truth: Nurse resumes are FOCUSED documents that ideally only list the last 5-10 (usually just 5) years of NURSE experience. If you are a new grad with no nurse experience, list your healthcare experience. DO NOT list non-healthcare/patient care jobs.

Myth: My nurse resume should be only one page.

FALSE.

Truth: Nurse resumes can be up to TWO pages, but the MAXIMUM is two pages.

Myth: A human reviews every resume of every applicant for every job.

FALSE.

Truth: Computer software called Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software filters out the vast majority of resumes for job postings. That is why your nurse resume needs to be a SMART DOCUMENT that is formatted for computer software and human reviewers. New Thing Nurse can help with that!

Myth: People like to see my picture and lots of fun graphics on my nurse resume.

IT IS COMPLICATED.

Truth: It is true that maybe a few people will enjoy your photo or fun graphics on your nurse resume. But the real issue is that the ATS software often CANNOT READ documents with photos or complex graphics. That means your resume with photos or graphics may actually prevent you from being considered for a job. It is best to keep your resume simply formatted for the computer software and easy to read for human reviewers.

Myth: HR staff will read every line of my nurse resume.

FALSE.

Truth: HR staff will spend an average of 30 seconds or less reading your resume. This is why it is essential that the important info is at the top and easy to read.

If you have just read this and are thinking - “WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT MY NURSE RESUME???” - stress no more! New Thing Nurse offers a wide variety of services and easy-to-use templates to help your nurse resume be the modern, smart document that you will need to standout to both the computers, HR staff, and nurse leaders.

Happy resume writing!

About the Author - Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL is an educator, speaker, blogger and owner of New Thing Nurse, a professional and academic coaching company for the nursing world. New Thing Nurse is organized to provide support and guidance to aspiring nurses, newly graduated nurses, and veteran RNs looking to make a change in their life.

Whether it’s a new school, new job or new idea,

New Thing Nurse wants to help with your new thing!