BEFORE THE SEMESTER
  • Digital Footprint: Clean up social media to make it professional or private.

  • Scholarships: Proves an organization or individual has vetted your performance and deemed you worth a financial investment. Add to resume.

  • Frontline Experience: Obtain a CNA or EMT certification, or find volunteer opportunities at your local hospital.
DURING THE SEMESTER

AT SCHOOL

  • Join SNA: Add to resume to show involvement and professionalism.

AT CLINICAL

  • Shadow Network: Reach out to nurses in specialities that interest you and request to shadow. Write down names of nurses and unit managers. Reach out once you graduate.
END OF SEMESTER
  • Letters of Recommendation: Mark down in your calendar to ask your favorite clinical instructor for a letter of recommendation at the end of the semester or right after the course. See below for an example.

  • Last Day Clinical Strategy: On the last day of a clinical rotation, write a thank you card to the unit manager OR speak with them and say, "I've loved this unit's culture. What do you look for in a new grad hire?" to gain potential leads after graduation.

  • Schedule the NCLEX Exam: Schedule it within the month, study hard, and do your best. The higher the lag time between school and the exam, the lower the pass rate.

Letter of Recommendation Email

Mark it in your calendar to ask your instructor for a letter of recommendation at the end of each semester.

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