Transferable Skills Letter

For a position as a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit:

I embarked on my journey to become a Critical Care Nurse at the young age of 16. Working at a local Care Center for the elderly, I developed a passion for helping others. It was during that time that I completed the requirements for and passed the state exam to become a Certified Nurse Assistant. I have gained valuable experience working in a variety of settings, including Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers, Home Health Care, and the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. I developed critical thinking skills and the ability to quickly solve problems as I helped mentally-challenged residents on a lock-down unit. The three years I have recently spent as a Critical Care Tech in the Intensive Care Unit have taught me how to respond compassionately and professionally in the most stressful of situations. I have experienced first-hand what is required of Critical Care Nurses, and am fully prepared to give my all to the patients, families, and fellow coworkers of the Intensive Care Unit. I look forward to learning with and from the Nurses, Doctors, and other members of the Intensive Care team.

Skills Assessment

3 skills that I enjoy: planning, organizing, problem-solving

3 skills I do well: persuading, reading, analyzing

3 skills I want to develop: decision-making, listening, patience

I think that the first step to learning the skills I don't currently have, is to recognize what skills I want to develop. I can then seek out people that possess them, and learn from them. The more I practice them, the more polished they will become. I want to get to the point where they are second nature to me.

According to both assessments, I would do well with the following careers: Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Programs Director, Health Director, Recreational Therapist, and a Vocational Education Teacher. I found this interesting because many of these were professions I had already considered. Many of them are still on my list of possible careers. Other careers, however, are closely related to those I have already explored, but I had never considered them to be possibilities.

Taking the assessments has helped me see that there are more possibilities in one career field than I originally thought. For example, I've always been interested in the healthcare field, but have limited myself to Nursing. Then, a couple years ago, I lost interest in Nursing and have been on a quest to find the perfect career. I still enjoy the healthcare field though, and thanks to this assessment, I now know what other options I can explore.

Using the skills I already have and developing those I don't could lead to more career options. If I am well-rounded in many areas, I will have an easier time finding employment and adapting to different work environments.