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The Ultimate Guide to Nursing Resumes in 2024

How to write a nurse resume, nurse resume research, nursing resume readers & robots, choose a nurse resume format, nurse resume format & design, writing your nursing resume, common resume mistakes, nursing resume templates, nurse resume faqs.

The Ultimate Guide to Nursing Resumes by Nurse.org

Expert Reviewed by: Amanda Guarniere, NP, Founder of the Resume RX

In 2024, a vague, uninspiring nursing resume just won't cut it. Recent years have fostered growing competition for the best nursing jobs , creating a greater need for nurses to learn how to write exceptional nursing resumes. With vast opportunities and diverse requirements from various employers, every nurse must put their best foot forward to market themselves for the best positions. 

However, this ever-changing world of online applications and robotic resume readers makes it more complex for nurses to get to the first rounds of interviews. This article will help you tackle the daunting task of writing a nursing resume that stands out. We'll help you build a better nursing resume by giving you an inside look at how robotic resume readers work and providing tips on how to make your resume, things you should and shouldn't include, and provide examples and templates.

Defining your personal brand as a nurse to make your resume stand out

Think of your job search as your own personal marketing campaign. And the product is you! Your resume is an advertisement for your professional nursing brand. A brand is more than a logo - it’s the overall impression you give your audience. In this case, your audience is a potential employer. 

As with any advertisement, the goal of your nursing resume is to pique your audience’s interest in a limited amount of time. It’s commonly said that hiring managers will spend less than ten seconds reading your resume. And in many cases, it has to first be screened by a resume-reading robot before it reaches human hands.

So, you must carefully curate your brand for these employers. Captivate them with your professionalism, unique skillset, experience, and personality using your nursing resume. These tactics may help get your foot in the door for an interview, where you can close the deal by impressing them in person.

The first and most important step in any marketing campaign is the research phase. The more you learn about potential employers, the better you can tailor your registered nurse resume to their requirements.

Initial Employer Research for Nursing Resumes

Before you begin tailoring your resume for specific jobs, take some time to answer the following questions about each company:

  • Who are they?
  • What is their company culture?
  • What do they struggle with as an organization?
  • What qualities are they looking for in a potential candidate?
  • Which of their desired qualities do you possess?

Researching Company Culture and Values

The internet has made it fairly easy to hop online and start your research right now from your mobile device. Employers' websites and social platforms will give you an inside glimpse at their culture and values.

Instead of simply reading a job posting, take a few extra steps to investigate the employer's online presence:

  • Check out the company website - what does their mission statement say?
  • See what they tweet about
  • Investigate what photos they post on Instagram
  • Learn about the articles they share on Facebook
  • Check their LinkedIn - do you have any connections at the company?
  • Look at their Google ratings

Examine Required vs Preferred Nursing Qualifications

The research phase isn't just about investigating the company - you also need to understand the job description. Specifically, understanding the difference between "required" and "preferred" qualifications will help you build a tailored resume for each job:

Required Qualifications

These are just what they say - requirements. Those who do not possess these qualifications will not be considered. 

Preferred Qualifications

Skills that are desired but are not deal-breakers for the employer. You may still be considered even if you do not possess these. 

As you personalize your nursing resume to different opportunities, these qualifications will, in part, guide what you do and do not include. You should include any and all required qualifications if you want an employer to consider your candidacy. 

If you do not possess some or all of the preferred qualifications, you can apply anyway and still be in the running. However, including the ones you do possess on your tailored nursing resume is always the best practice.

Build a Master Resume

You may want a solid starting point from which you can use your research to build a dedicated resume for each position you apply for. Queue the "master resume," a comprehensive working document that highlights everything you've accomplished and every skill you've fostered as a nurse thus far. 

We recommend starting with a foundational nurse resume so that you can alter it for each role you apply to. This way, you won't be rewriting a new resume for every single position. But you'll also avoid submitting "cookie-cutter" resumes that employers won't bother looking at twice.

Use Research to Personalize Your Nursing Resume

Dale Carnegie once said that “A person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” Personalizing your RN resume matters, with both how you mention and address the future employer and how to include your specific qualifications that match what they are looking for.

Using your research and leveraging your professional brand and personality to target your nurse resume could lead to the interview of your dreams. Not targeting it, however, could lead you on the fast track to nowhere.

The internet revolution transformed the hiring process, impacting the entire labor market in a very short time. 15 years ago, printing your resume on off-white linen paper and hand-delivering it to employers was the status quo. But as little as five years later, doing so might only get you some perplexed looks and urges to apply online.

Technological advances will continue shaping the job market in 2024.  USC Annenberg reports that up to 55% of companies are making investments in AI recruiting measures. But even now, many employers screen online applicants using resume-reading robots. 

This section explores how these bots impact the hiring process and how to get your nursing resume past them and into a real person's hands.

What Is a Resume Reading Robot?

How to get around resume reading robots for nursing jobs

ATS systems are highly technical but can only do what their program says, unable to come close to human discretion. So, knowing how ATS systems work can help you write a resume that passes their screening.

Here's a brief overview of how employers use ATS software to screen nursing applicants:

1. Knockout Questions

Recruiters can use an ATS to scan for keywords or "knockout questions" like "Do you have an active Washington State Nursing License?" These functions help them swiftly eliminate unqualified candidates.

2. Disqualifying Statements

They may also configure the ATS to include “disqualifying statements.” An ATS searching for these statements will automatically reject nursing resumes with certain keywords or phrases. 

For example, an ATS screening for bachelor's-trained nurses might reject resumes that mention an associate's degree. If you have both, consider listing only your BSN.

3. Keyword Screening

Finally, recruiters may use the ATS to find resumes with exact keywords or phrases. These may include qualifications listed in the job description, degrees, or skills. They can program the ATS to reject any application that does not include their specified keywords.

How Does ATS Work?

Not all ATS systems are created equally. They vary greatly in their functionality and behavior. Most ATS systems are programmed to score resumes according to keywords. However, they can be configured to search and score resumes based on various other criteria.

The results are imperfect. Some ATS systems can't differentiate between titles, such as Clinical Nurse II and Registered Nurse, or distinguish between the terms BLS and Basic Life Support. So how do you navigate these intricacies in your nursing resume?

Best Practice:   R ead the job description and use the exact wording for the qualifications listed that you possess.

If you use acronyms and abbreviations, make sure to spell out the entire word, followed by the shortened version. It would be disappointing to have all the requested qualifications but be filtered out by the ATS because you used only the acronyms when the robot was programmed for the full phrases spelled out.

What Are the Shortcomings of ATS?

The problem is that ATS does not ‘read’ a resume as a human would - it simply collects data. It doesn’t care about aesthetics, either. It is programmed by an employer to search for the right keywords, in the right order, on the right part of the resume.  

Also, the system can get confused pretty easily. For example, if the font is too fancy or if it encounters unrecognizable symbols, it may score the resume as ‘unqualified’ and move on to the next resume. It does what it is configured to do, nothing more and nothing less.

While ATS has streamlined the hiring process for employers, it’s also made job search extremely challenging for the job seeker. In fact, 94% of hiring professionals say that ATS has positively influenced their hiring goals, while 80% of job seekers say that their online job search is stressful.

What Other Hiring Technology Might I Encounter?

Recently, some employers have started to use artificial intelligence in a different way - during the interview process. Rather than having strict ATS filters, they offer more candidates the opportunity to interview, but there is a catch.

You don't interview with the employer but with a computer. In these one-way or “on-demand” interviews, you essentially get the opportunity to record your video response to interview questions. After you submit it, hiring managers or recruiters review the video responses before choosing the candidates for formal interviews.

Does Every Employer Use ATS?

While many employers use ATS, there are definitely employers who still rely on human resource professionals to screen resumes. In those instances, a human resources professional usually skims the resumes and invites the most qualified candidates in for an interview.

The problem here is that most employers will receive hundreds of resumes for a single opening. To get through the resumes quickly, the HR professional may resort to a simple scan of the resumes knowing that even qualified applicants may not make it. It’s simply a way to reduce the number of applicants.

In either case, the goal of the modern resume is to ‘sell’ yourself in an organized, targeted manner for a specific role. The best way to design an effective, attention-grabbing resume is by making strong assertions in the beginning followed by supporting evidence.

How to Get Past the ATS

  • Target your resume to the specific position. Do this by reading job descriptions and selecting keywords noted in the descriptions - competencies, skills sets, education, and experience.
  • Match individual experiences to keywords/key skill sets found within the job posting.  
  • Research the employer and target the resume based on the facility's values and culture. 
  • Make strong assertions within the top ⅓ of the resume.
  • Follow those assertions with supporting evidence.
  • Include a “ Professional Summary ” if you are an experienced Nurse.
  • Only apply to roles that you match 100% of the “Required Qualifications.” 
  • Use simple fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri.
  • Never use smaller than 10-point font. See Part 5 for more styling suggestions. 
  • Use simple black bullet (dots) points, not special bullet symbols.
  • Save your resume as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf format.
  • If using an abbreviation, always spell out the words followed by the abbreviation or acronym. You never know how the abbreviation was entered into the ATS. 
  • Use standard, simple section headers such as “Work History” or “Education.”
  • Settings you’ve worked in 
  • Patient demographics
  • Policies/procedures
  • EMR/EHR used
  • Medications administered
  • Equipment used
  • Don’t use the same title as at your current employer if it is different from the title in the job description. Use the title in the job description. 
  • Don’t overload your resume with keywords. Use them appropriately. Overusing keywords will flag a resume and could cause the ATS to lower your score.
  • Don't forget to support the keywords you use with evidence throughout your resume.
  • Do not put your contact information in the header section because ATS will not see it.
  • Do not include tables because most ATS can’t read them. Other ATS can only read them if their operator programmed them to do so. 
  • Do not use creative section headers such as “Where I’ve Worked” because the ATS likely doesn’t understand what that means.
  • Don’t include a headshot, graphics, special fonts, photos, colored fonts, or unique bullets. 
  • Do not state, “References available upon request.” It takes up too much space and is unnecessary. If employers want references, they’ll ask. 
  • Don’t place skills at the bottom of the resume. Many ATS systems only scan the top ⅓ of the resume for keywords. If you have important keywords at the bottom, the ATS may not see them and could disqualify your resume. 
  • Don’t use “I” statements; resumes should be written in the third person. 
  • Do not rely on resume builder software. Stay in control of your registered nurse resume.

How to Spot an ATS

If you’ve ever visited a job posting and seen an “APPLY NOW” button, you’ve encountered the elusive resume-reading bot. ATS requires candidates to enter data on the front end. 

Maybe you’ve gone through the steps to create a login, complete the application and upload your resume. Perhaps you didn’t realize at the time that you were entering your information into an applicant tracking system.  

Raise your hand if you never heard back from an employer after applying online. Raise your other hand if you received an automated response “thanking” you for your interest and never heard back!

Now, keep in mind that it can be difficult to stand out when you are applying for a job online, especially when there is an ATS involved. As you consider your overall job search strategy, try to think of other ways that can increase your chances of getting a job. Don’t be afraid to ask your network connections for referrals and recommendations, or let friends and family know what type of position you are looking for and where. While your resume is absolutely important, it isn’t the only tool that can lead to you getting a job.

Prior to ever typing words onto your resume, it’s important to first decide on a resume format. There are three types of resume layouts. While we highly recommend the reverse-chronological layout for most nursing professionals, we’d encourage you to make the best choice for yourself.

Here’s a breakdown of the three most popular types of resume layouts: 

1. Reverse Chronological Nursing Resume

This layout focuses on career history and lists jobs in reverse chronological order. We recommend this type of registered nurse resume for the majority of healthcare professionals and will focus the details of this article on the format. It is best suited for:

  • New nursing graduates
  • Nurses with fewer than 5 roles within the past 5-7 years. 
  • Travel Nurses with <10 completed assignments
  • Nurses with experience in only 1-2 specialties
  • Nurses applying for a similar role
  • Nurses wanting to show vertical career progression 

resume sample for nursing job

2. Functional Nursing Resume

This nurse resume layout places emphasis on skills and deemphasizes work history. However, it does not pass the ATS test well, and hiring managers overall do not prefer it. We recommend against this layout for the majority of nursing professionals. Typically, people who use this format are: 

  • Changing careers
  • Have large gaps in employment
  • Do have years of experience in the role in which they are applying

resume sample for nursing job

3. Combination Nursing Resume

This layout is a mixture of the reverse chronological and the functional resume. While it places emphasis on skill sets, abilities, and accomplishments, it also highlights applicable work history. We recommend combination resumes for nursing professionals with the following background, goals, and barriers: 

  • Nurses with experience in multiple specialties and/or medical professions
  • Seasoned travel nurses with >10 completed assignments
  • Nurses with multiple small gaps in employment
  • Nurses looking to change specialties
  • Nurses interested in changing careers

resume sample for nursing job

Writing a nursing resume can feel overwhelming. It’s no easy task! Nowadays, nursing resumes must be able to pass through resume reading software before it even reaches a recruiter. That’s why we’ve put together THREE nurse resume templates to cater to your unique professional needs and employment situation.

resume sample for nursing job

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resume sample for nursing job

The first formatting and design consideration you should make when creating your nursing resume is how well an  ATS will read them. We recommend the following comprehensive design and formatting guidelines to appease common ATS systems:

Many experts believe you can achieve the perfect balance of text to white space in your nursing resume using the following margin settings:

  • Top Margin: 1"
  • Side Margins: .63"

Left alignment is standard since that’s how most people (and robots) read. You may think a justified alignment looks tidier, but it can leave uneven gaps between words and ultimately make text harder to read. 

In the nursing profession, length should not be the focus of the resume. While we recommend 1-2 pages, some nurses may have resumes with 3 (or more) pages.

Don’t stress over length too much. If the resume is slightly over the page amount by a few lines try changing the margin, font style, font size, or shortening statements. The bottom line is it should look visually appealing and should include keywords.

We recommend  Times New Roman or Arial to best utilize the functionality of the ATS. However, this is your personal preference. Take note that Times New Roman can be difficult to read if it is smaller than 11pt.

If you are striving for a resume that looks visually appealing when printed, there are great ways to achieve that without going overboard with design. For example, you could use the “small caps” feature for headings, which keeps the font the same but adds a bit more character and differentiation. Or, you could try a font pairing, using serif fonts for headers and sans serif for body text.

Important Note: Different font styles will take up different amounts of space. See how these identical statements look vastly different despite both being in 11 pt font:

Experienced Travel Nurse with 8 years experience in critical care nursing.

Throughout the resume, there should be different-sized fonts. We recommend the following for each section: 

Name 18 - 22 point
Contact Info 10-11 point
Section Headers 12-14 point
Descriptions 10-11 point

It’s important to note that 10-point font should be the smallest size on the resume. 

While some ATS systems claim to read colors, we encourage you to simply use black. 

Special Characters

We recommend keeping the resume very simple. Basic bullet points (black dots) may be used when desired. Simple lines are acceptable as well. 

Design Features to Avoid

The following design features are best left off the resume: 

  • Multiple font styles
  • Special characters

As you’ve learned, ATS systems skim resumes and locate specific information in the correct order. We’d suggest using the following categories and section headers to optimize your nursing resume for ATS scoring.

Contact Information

This is the first section of the resume and does not require a title. Your name should be front and center. Don’t make the recruiter search for it. Make sure it’s the largest font on the page. While there are varying opinions on the exact placement of the name, we recommend a simple classic version in the following format:

Your name should be the first thing a recruiter, hiring manager, or ATS system sees on your nurse resume. It should share a line with your nursing credentials and be in a bold, readable, 18-22 pt font. If you go by a different name, make sure to list both in this section.

Nursing Credentials

Your nursing credentials should directly follow your first and last name on a nursing resume. The preferred order to list these in is Highest degree earned, Licensure, then National Certifications.

We've included a  credential quick reference guide below to help you fill out your resume perfectly.

The days of listing your home address on a resume are over - most employers don't need this information, and we advise against including it on your resume as a security precaution. However, this is a personal decision you can make at your own discretion.

You should never leave your location off completely because many employers have location parameters set in their ATS systems. Ensure you include your city and state in the contact information portion of your nursing resume.

Phone/Texting Number

Oh, technology! Yes, some employers will actually text their candidates. Make sure to indicate if you receive texts and whether the phone number is a cell phone or a home phone. This is a great time to make sure your voicemail message states your full name and is professional.

Email Address

It is in your best interest to ensure that you have a professional email address that does not reveal your age. Age discrimination is real, and listing your birth year or using an antiquated email service like AOL can definitely trigger it.

Your email address should include a variation of your name and some numbers if necessary. You can even make a totally separate email account and use it only for your job search.

LinkedIn Profile

If you have a LinkedIn profile definitely include it. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, you could be missing out on opportunities. Now is the time to create one!

In your settings, you can easily create a shortened LinkedIn URL that doesn’t have a bunch of random numbers and letters.

How Your Digital Footprint Impacts Your Nursing Job Search

Though you may not list it, you should consider your social media and online presence when you complete the contact information portion of your resume. Potential employers will likely look you up online. Many Recruiters tell us that looking a candidate up on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter is one of the first things they do. So, make sure everything you post online is what you would want an employer to see. 

Additionally, online behavior can benefit you. Do you have a nursing-related website or blog? Are you an Instagram celebrity? Maybe you created a successful YouTube channel when you were a newbie nurse. Include all this on your resume if it relates to nursing. This is all part of your unique brand!

Nursing Resume Credential Quick Reference Guide

According to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (AACN), the preferred order is Highest degree earned, Licensure, and National Certification.

Educational degrees include doctoral degrees (Ph.D., DrPH, DNS, EdD, DNP), master’s degrees (MSN, MS, MA), bachelor’s degrees (BS, BSN, BA), and associate degrees (AD, ADN).

Licensure credentials include RN, LPN, CNA, and APRN.

National certification , which is occasionally voluntary for nurses and obligatory for advanced practice nurses, is awarded through accredited certifying bodies such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), includes RNBC (Registered Nurse-Board Certified) and FNP-BC (Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified).

You may also choose to include awards and honors:

Outstanding achievements in nursing, such as FAAN (Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing).

Other certifications that recognize additional skills, such as the EMT-Basic/EMT, awarded by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

Here is an example of contact information on a nursing resume that puts it all together:

Penny Lite, BSN, RN   Los Angeles, CA | Text/Call: (987) 654 - 3210 | [email protected] | www.linkedin.com/pennylitern

Professional Summary

Don’t make an employer (or ATS) search your entire resume for reasons to invite you to an interview. Tell them right off the top exactly why you are the best candidate for the role.

Every position is unique, and this is your first opportunity to optimize the resume for ATS and to also catch the employer’s eye. Spend a little time to target it and let your qualifications and accomplishments shine. 

While there is some debate about how to introduce your resume, we suggest using a professional summary as opposed to a career objective. The professional summary can be formatted in either a short paragraph or a bulleted list asserting qualifications and providing a concise career snapshot.

How to Write a Professional Summary for a Nursing Resume

Think of your resume summary as an “elevator pitch” - a quick, attention-grabbing, loaded statement that entices the reader to want to continue on. Your professional summary is unique to you and should be targeted to a specific role, just like the cover letters career counselors used to tell us about.

However, it could definitely include the following information: 

  • Number of years of experience in a specialty 
  • Common keywords found in nursing job descriptions e.g., excellent patient care, acute care, family education, compassionate
  • Facility designations or info about facilities 
  • Supervisory experience and number of subordinates
  • Special certifications or awards
  • Language abilities
  • Soft skills such as patience, compassion, and a cooperative spirit

Nursing professional summary example: 

4+ years nursing experience with strong clinical background in critical care (CCU) and intermediate care nursing (IMCU). Proactively streamlines operations, initiates tasks, and supports the healthcare team while prioritizing excellent patient care. Champions patient and family education by providing compassionate, inclusive care that encourages self-sufficiency. Recipient of the Daisy Award. Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Nursing Skills and Areas of Expertise

List your nursing skills within the top ⅓ of the resume - Don't make the common mistake of adding them last. With the popularity of ATS, this mistake could cost you an interview. This is especially true in nursing, as the profession requires very specific skills. 

Additionally, your hard skills should be directly targeted to the role as expressed in the job description. Is the employer asking for a specific EMR that you are experienced with? List it! Are you an expert at starting IVs because of your five years of experience in the emergency room? List it!

This should not be a generic list of skills but a specific list that is as quantified as possible. It’s possible that if you are a newer nurse or are making a specialty pivot you may not have hard skills to include. In that case, it’s okay to omit this section and highlight your transferable  soft nursing skills within your job history.

While most nurses list their license titles on their resumes, it’s been our experience that they leave off a few very important details - most notably, whether the license is active and the expiration date. 

Why is this important? Including this information lets potential employers know that you are ready to start work ASAP. They don’t have to wait for the licensing process. Including your license number is optional, and you can make this decision based on your privacy comfort. The employer will likely be verifying your license online anyway (this is all public information).

If you are an advanced practice nurse, you may decide to leave off license numbers for privacy purposes, especially your DEA number or controlled substance registration number.

Here’s an example of how to list your licensure:

Registered Nurse - California, #RN00101, expires 4/17/2024.

Certifications and Credentials

This is another key section where some important details are typically missing on the nursing resumes we’ve seen. While most nurses list their credentials, it’s important to list them in a specific manner.

Don’t simply list acronyms, as some ATS systems may not be programmed to read shortened versions. Make sure to list the accrediting body, credential/certification number (where applicable), and expiration date. 

Here’s an example of how to list your certifications and credentials: 

Basic Life Support (BLS), American Heart Association, expires: 12/1/2021

Work History

Employers want to know what you can do for them, period.  Nurse recruiters we’ve talked to will zero in on this section. What are they looking for? Evidence, facts, quantifiable points - proof to support the assertions made in your resume summary.

Vague work histories are particularly frustrating to employers - especially when applicants copy and paste job descriptions. To avoid falling into those pitfalls, try incorporating these tips: 

Use simple section headers such as “Work History” or “Relevant Experience,” these are ATS friendly. “What I’ve Done” is not. 

List your experience in reverse chronological order.  If you have a lengthy employment history, you may consider only including the most recent 10-15 years of experience. This will shorten your resume and also limit the chances that you’ll encounter age discrimination. Looking at the big-picture experience from 25 years ago doesn’t necessarily speak to your recent nursing experience because employers care about what you can do for them now.

Work History Format

Adding your work history in a logical format can help your nursing resume beat the ATS and impress recruiters. We recommend using the following format for each work history segment:

1. Job Title and Specialty

This is a controversial subject, but we believe employers care more about what you’ve done than who you’ve worked for. Use the job title as it is listed in the job posting, or use a more industry-wide job title. Registered Nurse as opposed to Clinical Nurse II. 

2. Facility Name

Add the name of the facility or company you worked for after your job title. You can add this on the same line or a different line, but using the same line will optimize space.

3. Employment Dates  

These are important and can be listed in a number of ways. However, it’s been our experience that specific dates are not necessary for a resume. On an application, yes, on a resume, not so much. You can simply list the months and years (mm/yy - present).

4. Facility-Specific and Unit-Specific Information

This information is helpful and important to employers but is left off the majority of resumes we’ve seen, it includes: 

  • Trauma level: level I, II, III
  • Facility Designations 
  • Total Hospital beds
  • Total unit beds

Primary Duties and Accomplishments

This section looks best in a bulleted list of no more than six points and should include duties, noteworthy accomplishments, and achievements. It’s important to emphasize specific duties and not be too vague.

Also, try your best not to simply regurgitate basic nursing duties that would be assumed of your role. This will take up valuable space on your resume and not really tell the reader much about you !

Wondering what specifics to include? Here are a few questions to get those wheels turning:

  • What illnesses, injuries, or traumas do you care for? 
  • What cases do you work on? 
  • What type of medications do you administer and how? 
  • What therapies do you perform? 
  • What equipment do you use? 
  • How have you improved processes? 
  • When have I been first or best?
  • No. 1 achievement in each position?
  • Which achievements have the most impressive numbers?
  • When have I been publicly recognized?

Write Strong Nursing Resume Bullets

Wondering how to order your bullets and what to include? Try this: start with a verb leading to quantifiable data or a specific point and include a relevant duty.

Use our comprehensive tables to build compelling nursing resume bullets that make your achievements shine:

 Adhered  Displayed   Planned  
 Administered  Educated   Preserved 
 Applied  Ensured   Provided
 Assessed  Evaluated   Reacted
 Assisted  Executed   Reported 
 Built  Explained   Responded
 Collaborated  Followed   Scheduled
 Communicated  Helped   Shared
 Contributed  Led   Supervised
 Decided  Listened   Taught
 Delegated  Managed  Tracked
 Delivered  Measured  Trained
 Demonstrated  Negotiated  Treated 
 Developed  Observed  Updated
 Directed  Performed  Wrote
Assertive Friendly Productive
Attentive Hard-working Professional
Balanced Honest Qualified
Broad-minded Independent Realistic
Cheerful Inventive Reliable
Committed Knowledgeable Resourceful
Compassionate Mature Responsible
Conscientious Motivated Sociable
Consistent Objective Tenacious
Creative Patient Traditional
Direct Persistent Trustworthy
Dynamic Practical Unconventional
Eclectic Proactive Unique

Here is a brief work history resume example for nurses that puts it all together:

Registered Nurse, Acute Care - Example Medical Center 09-19 - Present

  • Supervised staff of 15 registered nurses, 8 certified nursing assistants, and 7 paramedics while multitasking excellent patient care. 
  • Cared for up to 4 patients per shift with acute neurological disorders, including strokes, spinal cord injuries, and head trauma.

Education and Training

In the nursing profession, education and training are of utmost importance. If you have work experience, this section can be fairly brief.  You should list your relevant degrees in chronological order. 

There are varying opinions regarding the specific ordering of education. However, we believe that the degree or certification title should be listed first. Employers care firstly that you have the education requirement they need and secondarily where you obtained the requirement. 

We suggest the following format:  Degree or Certification Title (acronym), Institution Name 

Here’s an example: 

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN), University of Washington 

Should I Include Graduation Dates on a Nursing Resume?

You are not required to include your college or high school graduation dates on your nursing resume , as it could reveal your age. Age discrimination is the top form of employment discrimination and affects all age groups. If you graduated more than 10-15 years ago, it may be a good idea to omit the date.  But this is a personal decision you should make at your own discretion.

Should I Include My GPA on a Nursing Resume?

Including your GPA in your nursing resume is optional. If you are particularly proud of your GPA, by all means, add it! However, it is not required. If you graduated with honors that you are proud of, you can definitely include that as well. Again the resume is a unique snapshot of you!

Should I Include my Non-Nursing Degrees and Credentials?

If you possess other degrees not related to nursing, it is not necessary to include those on your nursing resume. Some second-career nurses like to list this information, especially if there has been an interesting career pivot or one that brings a lot of value to your role as a nurse. Remember, you are telling your personal, unique story, and you get to decide what to include.

How Do I Add In-Progress Advanced Education Programs?

If you are currently enrolled in higher education to advance your studies within the nursing field, that should be listed on your resume and state that the degree is pending or in progress. However, if you started a graduate degree program, never finished, and do not plan on finishing, it is unnecessary to include it on the resume. 

Should I Include my High School Education?

Nurses do not need to include their high school diplomas on their resumes. The nursing profession requires completion of higher education, and therefore, your higher degree trumps your diploma. 

Awards, Accomplishments, and Affiliations

Though this section is not required, we encourage including awards and accomplishments that are relevant to the nursing profession. These details will provide the potential employer with more proof and evidence of who you are as a nurse. 

In this section, you can include: 

  • Awards and recognitions that are specific to the hospital or facility where you work, e.g. the Daisy Award, Employee of the Month, and Nursing Excellence Award
  • Professional memberships and affiliations relating to nursing and/or healthcare
  • Volunteer work, if it relates to nursing

We suggest the following format: Title, organization, year

Here are a couple of examples:

  • Recipient, Nursing Excellence Award, Washington Medical Center
  • Volunteer, American Red Cross - Haiti - 2012

Naming Your Nurse Resume Save File

One last thing, saving! Don’t just give your resume any old name! Hiring professionals sometimes receive multiple documents from candidates, and they don’t want to waste time sorting through every document to find the resume. Some prefer to organize resumes by specialty. Tell them exactly which document is your resume. 

We suggest the following format: firstlast_specialty_resume.doc

Here’s an example:

PennyLite_ICU_resume.doc

We’ve seen a lot of resumes over the years, and you might be surprised by the amount of strange information people have included on them. So, here are the top mistakes we’ve seen:

This should be a no-brainer but make sure to proofread and even have another set of eyes proofread for you.

Huge red flag for age discrimination.

An employer could assume your salary is too high or too low, so just don’t list it.

Don’t include things like photos, religious affiliations, Social Security Numbers, marital status, kids.

If you go by a different name, include both your legal name (the one on your license) and your nickname, e.g. Penny "Penelope" Lite.

Make sure your resume includes your most current and relevant positions.

Avoid using pronouns such as “I” statements. A resume should be in the third person.

An ATS will not see it there.

An appropriate email address is [email protected] but not [email protected].

No need to be fancy, a simple ring is fine, and a professional greeting is great!

Recruiters go through hundreds of resumes a day, so keeping track of all those files can be difficult. Make it easy for them.

Woot! If you’ve made it this far you should have an excellent understanding of how to write a great nursing resume. We know it’s a lot of information right now, and we hope that you’ll use the information to advance your career.

For a little more help, try using our free resume templates. And when you’ve landed your next interview, check out the next part in this series, The Complete Guide to Nursing Job Interviews .

>> Download free nurse resume templates!

What should be included in a nursing resume?

  • A nursing resume should include your education, experience, including clinical, work, and volunteer, any certifications you have, and skills. 

How do I write a nurse resume?

  • You can use a template to fill out your nursing resume or fill out your own. 

How do I list my nursing skills on my resume?

  • List skills that are in the job description or outline on the facility’s website. For instance, common nursing skills include critical thinking, teamwork, communication, team management, and high ethical standards. 

Do you put RN after your name on a resume?

  • You can include "RN" or "RN, BSN"  if you have other credentials. If you haven’t passed your NCLEX yet, you can put G.N. for Graduate Nurse.

How long should a nurse's resume be?

  • A nursing resume should be no longer than 1-2 pages. 

What is your greatest skill as a nurse?

  • The most valuable skill you have as a nurse may depend on your exact role and specialty, but in general, communication, kindness, empathy, and critical thinking are highly valued traits as a nurse. 

How far back should a resume go?

  • If you’re a recent graduate, you don’t need to go to high school, just include your college experience and degree. For experienced nurses, include all relevant experience. 

Amanda is an Ivy-league-educated nurse practitioner and career mentor who helps nurses find and land their dream jobs. She founded The Résumé Rx  in 2018 to help nurses with career and résumé strategy  Learn more about Amanda and her products at  www.theresumerx.com  and follow her on Instagram  @theresumerx.

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Angelina has her finger on the pulse of everything nursing. Whether it's a trending news topic, valuable resource or, heartfelt story, Angelina is an expert at producing content that nurses love to read. She specializes in warmly engaging with the nursing community and exponentially growing our social presence.

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9 Registered Nurse (RN) Resume Examples for 2024

Stephen Greet

Best for jobs requiring a traditional resume

A professional resume like this one communicates a more formal tone, but it’s unique enough to still leave a favorable first impression.

Resume Builder

Like this template? Customize this resume and make it your own with the help of our Al-powered suggestions, accent colors, and modern fonts.

  • RN Resume by Education
  • RN Resumes by Experience
  • RN Resumes by Type

Registered nurses (RN) are a profession in very high demand. In addition to a hiring rush during COVID-19, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a 12 percent growth in demand for RNs through 2028.

Nursing is a tough enough profession in its own right. So, don’t be discouraged if you’re struggling to draft your  nurse cover letter  or  write a resume  that puts your best foot forward.

We’re here to help with nine great RN resume samples that guarantee success in the challenging world in 2024. It doesn’t matter if this is your first job out of nursing school or if you’re a seasoned vet; these resumes are a great starting place when writing or updating your own.

Registered Nurse (RN) Resume

or download as PDF

Registered Nurse (RN) resume example with 6 years of experience

Why this resume works

  • You’re undergoing a career change,
  • You just finished nursing school and this is your first RN job, or
  • You’re going to customize it to the  nursing job description .
  • If none of those are relevant to you, skip the objective!
  • Two other relatively common requirements for RN positions (though certainly not all positions) are Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS). Explicitly mention those in your resume if you have them.

RN BSN Resume

RN BSN resume example with 6 years of experience

  • Next, delve into outstanding performances like streamlining shifts and reducing scheduling conflicts. Also, adding measurable impact further elevates your suitability.

New Grad RN Resume

New grad rn resume example with 5 years of experience

  • If the activities are related to healthcare or show you in a professional, positive light and you need some help filling out your new grad RN resume , then include one or two.
  • Color is one way to show some personality on your resume while still portraying professionalism. Try a strong accent color while keeping the color basic everywhere else, as seen in many of our  resume examples .
  • P.S. You can catch this mistake easily when you take advantage of our  resume builder  and its AI-powered tips. 

Experienced RN Resume

Experienced rn resume example with 11 years of experience

  • As you gain more and more experience as an RN, try your best to show a progression in responsibility and ownership on your experienced RN resume. 
  • Here’s the trick: Keep a master copy of every job and a working list of job description bullet points for each. Then, pull from this master list and customize it according to the specific role for which you’re applying now.
  • Two other quick things you can do to fit more content are to reduce vertical spacing and reduce page margins, which is a simple click of a button in our  AI resume maker .
  • Hit the highlights in your resume, but you can delve further into these details when creating a cover letter .

PACU RN Resume

PACU RN resume example with 8 years of experience

  • Take inspiration from Sandra’s resume and ensure you highlight your Registered Nurse (RN) certification alongside your degree. Next, demonstrate work experiences like “cutting down postoperative complications by 26%” and “slashing readmission rates by 17%” to underscore your commitment to the role.

ER RN Resume

ER rn resume example with 7 years of experience

  • Instead of drowning recruiters in a sea of text, cherry-pick the most impactful work experience and hit ‘em with that bold, italics , and underline. It’s going to make your ER RN resume easier to skim through and push your most impressive achievements to the center.

Travel RN Resume

Travel RN resume example with 10 years of experience

  • Mentioning and quantifying outcomes possible through your keen eye and observation (hint: cut documentation errors by 28%) is a great way to make this attribute count.

Med Surg RN Resume

Med surg rn resume example with 7 years of experience

  • Pay attention to the skills, qualifications, and responsibilities listed in the job description to gain ideas on what you should include in your skills section.
  • RNs can work in a ton of different areas in medicine. If you’re applying to a specific job (like Med/Surg Nurse) and you have experience in that area, be sure to match your job title to that of the job description.
  • White space is a commonly overlooked factor in resume design, and if it’s a concern for you, try simplifying the process by picking one of our  free resume templates .

ICU RN Resume

Icu rn resume example with 8 years of experience

  • Check your resume  to ensure you’re using action verbs that propel your bullet points forward and keep hiring personnel engaged.
  • Another way to demonstrate impact is by quantifying it, that is, tying the outcome of your work to a number. By linking a number to your claims, proof of impact becomes clear.
  • Ultimately, nursing is a profession involving people. So if you can show that you’re comfortable with the human aspects of the job (patient care, plans of care, family interactions, etc.), speak as much as possible concerning that experience in your ICU RN resume .

Related resume guides

  • Physician Assistant
  • Medical Assistant

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Nurse Resume Example & How-to Guide for 2024

Background Image

As a nurse, you know a lot about taking care of people and helping them be healthy.

But when it comes to resume writing, maybe you could use a little help of your own.

Are there specific resume strategies that nurses should follow?

Just how detailed do you need to be when describing your medical skill set? And how do you highlight all those certifications you might have?

We’re going to walk you through the entire process of creating a nurse resume step-by-step!

  • A nurse resume example that is proven to work
  • How to write a nurse resume that will get you invited to interviews
  • How to make your nurse resume stand out [with top tips & tricks]

Here’s some inspiration to get you started:

A nurse resume example , created with our very own resume builder:

nurse resume sample

Now, read on to learn how to create a resume that looks as good (or better) than the above example!

How to Format a Nurse Resume

The first step to creating your nurse resume is to decide on a format.

Just like any other career, hiring managers want specific information to jump out at them when reviewing resumes. So nurses need to make sure their resumes are formatted properly.

In 2024, the most common resume format remains the “reverse-chronological” format. So this is your best bet. 

nurse resume format structure

Of course, there are other resume formats you can try…

  • Functional Resume - This format is a lot more about your skills as opposed to professional experience. It’s good if you don’t have a lot of experience, are transferring to a new industry, or have gaps in your employment history.
  • Combination Resume - As the name suggests, a combination resume is a mix between “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological.” Meaning, it focuses both on skills AND work experience. You can use a combination resume if you have a lot of work experience or changing industries.

Once you’ve decided on the format, you need to get your resume layout right.

Here’s what we recommend…

  • Margins - One-inch margins on all sides
  • Font - Pick a font that stands out, but not too much. Do: Ubuntu, Roboto, etc. Don’t: Comic Sans
  • Font Size - Use a font size of 11-12pt for normal text and 14-16pt for headers
  • Line Spacing - Use 1.0 or 1.15 line spacing
  • Resume Length - Don’t go over the 1-page limit. Having trouble fitting everything into one page? Check out these one-page resume templates.
  • As a nurse you have probably earned some certifications for different areas of medicine. Create a dedicated section for your certificates so these stand out in your resume.

Use a Nurse Resume Template

Are you used to creating your resume in Word? Painful isn’t it? 

It’s easy to spend more time tinkering with formatting than it actually takes you to fill in the contents.

Then, you decide to make a single, small layout change, and BAM! Your entire resume layout falls apart.

There’s a better way than using Word: use a nurse resume template .

registered nurse resume example page 1

What to Include in a Nurse Resume

The main sections in a nurse resume are:

  • Contact Information
  • Resume Summary
  • Work Experience
  • Certificates
  • Awards & Recognitions

If you want your resume to stand out more, you can also try these optional sections:

Conferences & Courses

  • Professional Affiliations

Interests & Hobbies

Now, we’re going to go through each of those sections, and explain how to write them.

Not sure which sections to use? Check out our guide to What to Put on a Resume .

How to Get Your Contact Information Right

Maybe you’ve created the perfect resume with amazing content on your skills and experience. But if you mess up the contact section, you won’t be getting a lot of interview invitations (mainly because they won’t be able to call your misspelled phone number).

For your contacts, include:

  • Title - For nurses, your best bet is likely “Registered Nurse”.
  • Phone Number - Double-check, triple-check this. One typo can really mess up your chances of an employer contacting you.
  • Email Address - Make sure to use a professional email address ([email protected]), and avoid that email you created back in 5th grade ([email protected]).
  • (Optional) Location - Applying for a job abroad? Mention your current location.

How to Write a Nurse Resume Summary or Objective

Fun fact - recruiters spend less than 6 seconds reviewing each resume. This isn’t that surprising, though. You can’t expect them to read the hundreds of resumes they receive from end to end.

So, if the recruiter doesn’t see that you’re relevant for the job in a single glance, your resume won’t even be read.

Now, the question is, what can you do to hook the recruiter the moment they look at your resume.

The answer is simple: use a resume summary or objective .

As a quick intro, both the resume summary and objective are sections that go on top of your resume, just under the contact information section.

The main difference between the 2 sections is that…

A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence summary of your professional experiences and achievements.

  • Trauma Certified Registered Nurse with more than five years experience working in emergency care. Compassionate, ethical health-care provider with a proven ability to stay calm during crises. Hold a Master’s of Science in Surgical Nursing. 

A resume objective , on the other hand, is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of your professional goals and aspirations.

  • Patient-focused nursing student with 2 years of healthcare experience. Pursuing internships as part of career goal to become Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse.

So, which one do you pick? A summary, or an objective?

As you can see from the above examples, the key difference between the two is that a Resume Objective is better-suited to those who are new to a field (student, graduate, or switching careers). Always go for a Resume Summary if you have already established your career path.

How to Make Your Nurse Work Experience Stand Out

Work experience is the most important section in your resume.

Sure, your medical skills are super important, but so is your professional experience. Here’s how to structure your work experience section…

  • Position name
  • Company Name
  • Responsibilities & Achievements

Brooklyn Hospital

01/2015 - 06/2019

  • Obtained and recorded patients’ vital signs, intake and output and blood glucose
  • Worked in the cardiatric and oncology wards of the hospital
  • Used EHR software to record patient information

Now, if you really want to stand out, you should focus on talking about your achievements instead of responsibilities.

Instead of saying:

“Screen patients upon arrival at emergency ward.”

“Administered emergency ward intake evaluations for up to 25 patients each hour by measuring vital signs and prioritizing cases accordingly.”

So, what’s the difference between the two?

The second one is more specific . You know exactly what the person did, and you can say that he/she can work efficiently. 

The first example, on the other hand, is too generic. Screening patients could be as basic as checking whether they have health insurance and entering their personal information into the hospital system. There is also no mention of how many patients this person is used to handling.

What if You Don’t Have Work Experience?

Maybe you’re a current student trying to land an internship or a recent graduate looking for your first full-time nursing job?

Fortunately, nursing students or graduates gain plenty of practical experience as they navigate their way through their studies. Only so much of the medical field can be taught in the classroom. 

By the time you are in your second year of school, chances are high you’ve been in a health-care facility helping evaluate and treat patients. You may not be a registered nurse at this point, you can absolutely include the skills and procedures you’ve learned in school on your resume.

If you’re a recent graduate, you might want to check out our guide on how to make a student resume !

Use Action Words to Make Your Nurse Resume SHINE!

“Responsible for”

“Worked in”

These are the most common words you’ll find on ANY resume.

And since you want YOURS to stand out, we’d recommend avoiding them as much as possible.

Instead, use some of these power words to make your responsibilities and achievements stand out:

  • Administered
  • Specialized

How to List Education Right

The next section in any Nurse resume is the “Education.”

This one’s pretty straightforward. Simply list out your education entries, and you’re gold!

  • Degree Type & Major
  • University Name
  • Years Studied
  • GPA, Honours, Courses, and anything else you might want to add

MSc in Nursing

University of Southern California

  • Relevant Courses: Radiological Nursing, Advanced Surgical Procedures, Oncological Diagnostics

Clear? Good!

Before we move on, here are some of the most frequent questions we get about education on a resume (and their answers!):

  • What if I haven’t finished college?

Whether you’re still a student, or you dropped out, you should still mention your degree. All you have to do is include the years studied, and you’re good.

  • Do I list my high school education?

Only if you don’t have a higher education. No one cares about your high school education if you have a B.A.

  • What goes first, education or experience?

If you have any relevant work experience, then experiences go on top. If you don’t, though, then education.

Still have some questions? Check out our guide on how to list education on a resume .

Top 30 Skills for a Nurse Resume

skills for nurse resume

When the HR manager is going through your resume, they’re looking to see if you have the right skills for the job.

Imagine this: you’re the best nurse in the world and your resume is impeccable. BUT, you still get rejected, because you didn’t mention that you know the exact procedures or techniques that the health centre needs. 

Not sure which skills to pick?

Here are some of the most common nurse skills:

Hard Skills for Nurse Resume:

  • Assisting in surgery
  • Administration of medication
  • Chemotherapy administration
  • Bedside monitoring
  • Bladder irrigation
  • Blood administration
  • Emergency room care
  • Healthcare software
  • Infection control
  • Lab testing
  • Intramuscularly injections or IV therapy
  • Maternal care
  • Pain management
  • Physical assessments
  • Psychiatric care
  • Rehabilitation
  • Seizure precautions
  • Surgery preparation
  • Wound irrigation
  • Withdrawal of blood samples

Soft Skills for Nurse Resume:

  • Attention to detail
  • Communication (verbal & written)
  • Critical thinking
  • Physical endurance (since you will work long hours and have to use sometimes heavy equipment or patients)
  • Observation (since you need to track subtle and small changes such as a change in the color or odor)
  • As a general rule, we’d recommend not to go overboard with “Soft Skills.” They are certainly important in the medical field, but they are also harder to back up. Doctors need people with hard skills standing next to them, so give these priority. 

Looking for a more comprehensive list? Here’s a mega-list of 150+ must-have skills in 2024 .

Certifications for a Nurse Resume

As we mentioned before, many nurses will attain special certifications as they progress in their careers. These should be highlighted in your resume. For example:

  • CPR certified through the American Heart Association
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Advanced Holistic Nurse, Board Certified

Other Resume Sections You Can Include

At this point, you’re probably ready to wrap up your resume and call it a day.

After all, we’ve covered all the essential sections, right?

Well, not exactly. See, the #1 goal of your resume is to stand out.

And if your resume looks exactly the same as everyone else’s, that’s where you fail.

If you’re already a good match for the job in terms of skills and experiences, these sections could end up being the deciding factor that gets you hired (and makes you stand out from the rest).

As part of their career development, many nurses will participate or even speak at nursing conferences. These are great to list on a resume because they highlight your dedication to the profession.

Meanwhile, nurses also participate in courses devoted to specialized topics in nursing or medicine. Perhaps these courses don’t involve formal certification in a specific area, but they do demonstrate certain career interests.

For example, maybe after five years of working in nursing, you decide to take a course in End-of-Life Care because it’s an area you may want to pursue future certification. Once you’ve taken the course, there’s no reason not to put it on your resume.

If you’ve got the space, try to include a Conferences & Courses section on your resume.

An extra language or two can always come in handy, even if it doesn’t have anything to do with the position you’re applying for. You never know when a foreign language might help save a life.

If you know any foreign language & have extra space in your resume, feel free to add a language section.

Make sure to split the languages by proficiency:

  • Intermediate

Now, you might be thinking, “what does my hiking hobby have to do with my profession as a nurse?”

Well, nothing, but it does have something to do with you as a person. Strong teamwork is essential in the health-care field, so doctors and administrators are looking for someone they’ll get along with.

And what’s something you can bond with potential employers about? Hobbies and interests, exactly!

Not sure which hobbies & interests you want to mention? We have a guide for that!

Match Your Cover Letter with Your Resume

Yep, that’s right.

You might be thinking, “A cover letter?! Surely the nursing skills on my resume speak for themselves!”

Well, here’s the thing: cover letters are still very important .

They show the recruiter that you’re passionate about working for THIS position in THIS company, and you aren’t just sending your resume all over the place.

Having a solid cover letter with your resume can significantly boost your chances of getting the job.

The first step to writing a convincing cover letter is to get the structure right. Here’s how to do that.

nurse cover letter structure

And here’s what you’d write in each section:

Contact Details

Your personal contact information, including full name, profession, email, phone number, location.

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information

Full name, position, location, email.

Opening Paragraph

Your introduction should be very strong. If you don’t manage to hook the hiring manager here, chances are, they’re not going to read the rest of it. So, mention:

  • The position you’re applying for
  • Your experience summary and top achievement

Once you’ve got the hiring manager hooked, you can go through the rest of your background. Some of the points you can mention here are:

  • Why you want to work for this specific company.
  • Anything you know about the company’s culture.
  • What are your top skills and how are they relevant for the job.
  • If you’ve worked in similar industries or positions.

Closing Paragraph

This is where you:

  • Wrap up any points you missed in the body paragraph
  • Thank the hiring manager for their time
  • End with a call to action. Something like, “I’d love to further discuss how my experience as an X can help the company with Y”

Formal Salutations

Use a formal closing, such as “best regards” or “Sincerely.”

Need more inspiration? We get it - creating a cover letter is very hard work. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with your step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter .

Applying for a different position in the medical field? Our related resume examples can come in handy:

  • Medical Assistant Resume
  • Pharmacist Resume
  • Dentist Resume

Key Takeaways

If you followed everything we just taught you to the T, you’re pretty much guaranteed to land the job.

Now, let’s go through everything we’ve learned real quick:

  • Get the right formatting for your nurse resume. Use a reverse-chronological format, and follow the best practices we mentioned on getting the layout right.
  • Use a resume summary or objective to catch the hiring manager’s attention.
  • In your work experience section, try to talk more about your achievements than your responsibilities.
  • Emphasize hard skills more than soft skills (both are important but hard skills save lives)
  • Match your nurse resume with a convincing cover letter.

Suggested Reading:

  • Use Resume Keywords to Land the Job [880+ Keywords]
  • 26+ Biggest Interview Mistakes (To Avoid in 2024)
  • How to Write a CV That Gets Noticed (With 2024 Examples)

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Nurse resume examples & templates

Nurse resume examples & templates

  • What's the best resume format for a nurse?

The job market for healthcare professionals has changed. Decades ago, it was seen as an exclusive field with limited "space under the sun." But today's unprecedented pressures on the healthcare workforce are creating new opportunities and challenges alike for members of the nursing profession. The need for an exceptional nurse resume, customized to your background and goals, has never been more critical. There is no turning back from milestones like this one reached in 2018: healthcare positions in the U.S. surpassed manufacturing and retail, becoming the largest source of jobs in America . 

Entry-level Nurse Resume Example

Simply put, nurses are in high demand. But this doesn't mean you should settle for the first nurse job listing you see, regardless of its quality. More than ever, it means you can aim for a dream job. And Resume.io is here to help.

We're here to provide our HR research-based guidance, our resume samples , and builder tool so you can get a nursing job opportunity that changes your life for the better. We hope it jumpstarts a career that is stable and fulfilling.

This nurse resume example and writing guide will cover:

  • The role and job outlook for nurses
  • How to write a nurse resume that shines through hundreds of applicants, first passing through the Applicant Tracking software filter
  • Choosing the best format to structure your nurse resume
  • How to showcase your most important skills
  • Ways to impress by custom-tailoring the content and tone of your nurse resume
  • Optimizing each section of your nurse resume
  • Professional resume layout and design hints.

Nurse - This guide will cover

How to write a nurse resume

First, you need to know what sections comprise your nurse resume. Your resume should contain the following elements:

  • The resume header
  • The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
  • The employment history section
  • The resume skills section
  • The education section

How to write a nurse resume

Next, you need to know the technology you are up against.

The job market has become so saturated with candidates that instead of hiring more recruiters, employers rely on electronic screening solutions. Hospital Applicant Tracking System (ATS)  software analyzes your nurse resume for keywords and ranks it against other resumes on the same basis. Only the highest-ranking nurse resumes will get passed on to a human recruiter. 

Keyword matches are the most basic aspect of ATS .  In specific sections of this nurse resume example and guide, we'll offer tips for choosing the correct keywords so your resume doesn't get filtered out by an ATS. 

Be open to alternative interview and resume-submission methods. Video interviews, automated chats and other recruitment tools are used more and more in healthcare. Understanding them rather than avoiding them will give you a competitive edge. 

Need more inspiration? View our other related resumes from the same medical industry

  • Healthcare resume sample
  • CNA resume sample
  • Lactation Consultant resume sample
  • Epidemiologist resume sample
  • Health Care Administration resume sample
  • Dental Receptionist resume sample
  • Endodontist resume sample
  • Nursing Home resume sample
  • Audiologist resume sample
  • Respiratory Therapist resume sample
  • Physician Assistant resume sample
  • Clinic Coordinator resume sample
  • Medical Receptionist resume sample
  • Optometrist resume sample
  • Physical Therapist resume sample
  • Pharmacist resume sample
  • Sonographer resume sample
  • Psychotherapist resume sample
  • Medical Science Liaison resume sample
  • Dental Assistant resume sample
  • Paramedic resume sample
  • Doctor resume sample

Choosing the best resume format for nurses

In most instances, the most suitable format for structuring a nurse resume will be reverse chronological . This generally works well for job seekers in any occupation whose work history follows a linear path in a series of employee positions.In that resume section, progressive job experience and accomplishments are organized by employer/workplace in reverse order from most recent to earliest dates. 

An alternative resume format may be appropriate for nurses who are new to the workforce or changing careers. Those with a more varied occupational background or especially impressive education might also look at the alternative “functional” resume format. It‘s also an option for some self-employed professionals with an assignment or contract-based background. 

Nurse resume summary example: Professionalism and empathy

The summary of your nurse resume should highlight your strongest professional qualifications. But nursing is also one of the most people-focused jobs in the world, so be sure to give your resume summary a touch of warmth and emotion.

There are two equally important factors in writing an effective nurse resume summary. The first relates to perception: the resume summary is your first personal introduction to a human reader, not an automated filter. This is where you present yourself as a caring and warm nurse, not one who comes across as cold and detached.

The second factor comes back to the ATS algorithm for scoring your resume based on keywords. Not every hospital will use scoring filters, but it's better to be on the safe side and not risk having your resume be overlooked on purely technical grounds.

So, how do you know which keywords and professional details are the most important ones? Analyze the nurse job description with care. You'll often find certain qualities, ideas, or technical requirements mentioned more than once, sometimes with different phrasing. This should be your signal that the employer values them more than others.

A recent study from TalentNeutron shows that the second most requested keyword for nurses is "bilingual." In the U.S., the most requested second language is Spanish.   If you speak a second language, even imperfectly, make sure to include this in your summary and/or skills section. If either is too cluttered, put it in the one that has more space. 

Last, but definitely not least, is the human element of your resume summary. Nurses are the heart and soul of many hospitals. Many health facilities rely on nurses to not only perform medical duties but also support patients emotionally and create a warm, caring environment. So, that's exactly the image to project on your nursing resume, alongside your impressive formal qualifications. 

Strive for language that’s energetic and positive, using action verbs that describe your professional outlook and history. 

A passionate and dedicated nurse with over six years of healthcare experience in a variety of medical settings, including private family practices, emergency units, ICU, neonatal units, geriatric units, and rehabilitation centers. Vast experience dealing with a very broad range of medical conditions. Bringing forth the ability to thoroughly and accurately assess the health of patients and prescribe the proper treatment programs for optimal health moving forward. Adept in working as a collaborative team member to ensure that patients receive the highest level of care possible. 

Employment history sample: Diverse experience

Nurses comprise one of the most diverse professions in terms of background and age. While past nursing positions always take priority in the employment history section of your nurse resume, you can also highlight your varied life and job experience.

There's plenty of good news to go around for anyone seeking to work as a nurse. For starters, top hospitals are happy to hire certified nurses even if they're not graduates in their 20s. In fact, nursing applicants 40 years and older who are transitioning from other careers and have rich life experience are becoming more common. 

Medical-administrative terms may vary from country to country, and even from state to state in the U.S. So look carefully at the job listing vocabulary, or even visit the employer's website, to make sure your resume wording is matches.

Also, remember there are differences between healthcare facilities in different locations. Include helpful details in your nurse resume about your previous workplaces to clarify. Here are some examples:

  • Facility type: rehabilitation hospital, acute care, long-term care, teaching hospital, etc. If applicable, specify trauma center level (1 to 5).
  • Type of hospital unit (ICU, MS, ER, and so on) and any specifics such as dealing with patient overflows.
  • Bed count (both facility and unit) and other indications of the scope of your responsibilities.

Refer to initiatives you were responsible for, milestones, team efforts, and measurable results. For example, did you help develop new policies or procedures? Did you receive favorable patient review scores?

Newly graduated nurses with little or no work experience should include their clinical rotations. Relevant past employment in other professions also belongs here.

Nursing Assistant, St. Joseph's Medical Center, Dallas  October 2019 - July 2021 

  • Worked to the best of my ability with an interdisciplinary team to provide optimum care to patients.
  • Assisted patients with admittance and release.
  • Assisted nurses and physicians in carrying out all treatments and day-to-day protocols.

Float Nurse, University of Iowa Medical Center, Iowa City  September 2017 - September 2019 

  • Provided high level patient care during heavy patient load periods needing additional personnel.
  • Assisted hospital staff and other RNs in day-to-day tasks in accordance with patient care plans and physician's orders.
  • Assisted with duties in the ER, Rehab, and Med-Surg units.
  • Provided a level of care in accordance with the medical center's stellar reputation.

Nurse Extern, Mayo Clinic of Austin, Austin  August 2016 - August 2017 

  • Assisted with obtaining personal information of patients and prepared paperwork in a timely and efficient manner.
  • Worked to maintain a neat and functional admitting department, conducive to high-quality care.
  • Provided quick assessments and helped to determine the treatment needed for patients requiring critical care.

Nurse resume education example

Some occupations don't put too much emphasis on formal credentials but the medical and other healthcare professions absolutely do. Not only is high-caliber training a vital requirement for nurses, but it could have a bearing on your resume. If you're applying for a nurse job in the U.S., the education section has a HIGHER-than-usual priority in your nurse resume. 

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has developed recommendations regarding the order of your formal credentials and where they are placed in relation to other sections.

  • If you're an experienced nursing professional, the education section can go either above or below your employment history . This can be at your discretion, or according to local standards or employer preference.   
  • If you're a new nursing graduate with no work experience, place your education section first, right below the summary.

Are you using the resume.io builder to create your nurse resume? It's easy to list your licenses or similar credentials in the "school" field of the education section. Just as you would normally identify the college or other learning institutions, indicate the jurisdiction/organization that issued your nursing licenses or designations. 

Where does the information go, and in what order? The ANCC recommends the following priority for listing credentials in nurse resumes:

  • Highest earned degree —  in your education section .
  • Licensure — in your summary and/or education section. For a considerable number of licenses, you can create a custom "Licenses" section below the section you use.
  • State designations or requirements (such as APRN, NP, etc.) — once again, in your summary and/or education section.
  • National certifications — in your education section or create a separate section for these.
  • Awards and honors  (from schools, professional organizations, past jobs, etc.) — placement as above.
  • Other certifications (optional, ONLY if space allows) —  in your education section or create a custom section.

Our resume builder tool really simplifies this whole process. It is very flexible for easily adjusting or adding to the template sample categories. You can rearrange sections up and down, easily fill in sample fields as you choose or create custom "Licenses" and "Certifications" sections. 

  • Master of Nursing, Iowa State University, Iowa City  January 2015 - August 2018  - Graduated with a 3.8 GPA.    
  • Bachelor of Biology, University of Arizona, Phoenix  August 2011 - May 2015  - Member of Student Nursing Association.

Skills section example: Necessary and valued

Nurses work at the intersection of practical knowledge, technology, and softer human interaction. The nurse job is about versatility, and so is your skills section. It's important to show equal love to both your hard and soft skills categories.

Hard skills enable your day-to-day productivity as a nurse, and your ability to solve most clinical and administrative problems. Specifically, they will vary depending on your past nurse education and experience. 

Pay close attention to the nurse skills listed in the job description and descriptive wording. Using the same terminology not only ensures you pass the ATS but also shows the recruiter that you're an attentive, detail-oriented nurse.

Remember we mentioned an additional language as being the second-most requested nurse skill? Well, TalentNeutron studies reveal the MOST commonly requested are computer skills — especially electronic medical/hospital records software. Common program packages are Meditech and Epic software.

In the U.S., knowing your way around billing codes (ICD10 and ICD9) is also a common advantage. 

Soft skills are the more abstract, people-oriented attributes you have as a nurse. They reflect your ability to interact positively with patients, understand the people around you, feel subtle emotional shifts or just generally be a kind, warm individual. 

  • Patient advocacy
  • Strong interpersonal communication skills
  • Teamwork skills
  • Trauma and ER experience
  • Knowledgeable in medical terminology and  procedures

Nurse - Basic skill descriptions

Resume layout and formatting: First impressions

The visual appearance of your nurse resume is what employers will notice first about your job application. That makes it the first impression they will have about you. A messy, cluttered resume format or a poorly organized resume layout that lacks clearly defined sections may hurt your chances of being considered for an amazing professional nurse opportunity.

What's the best resume format for a nurse?

Visual structure conveys character on your resume. Consider how your resume layout, design, and formatting could project attentiveness, a focus on details, and a certain measure of discipline.  A template can help you achieve this without looking too cold or rigidly formal (like the resume of a lawyer or auditor, for example). The Resume.io collection has a wide variety of resume styles to choose from, including those with the perfect balance of "disciplined" and "emotional." We suggest the Paris, New York, Stockholm, and Santiago templates as a great fit for a nurse resume. 

These templates can also protect you from being unwittingly sabotaged by formatting that may not translate well to electronic systems, or is not readable at all. 

Use field-tested templates backed by metrics. These samples are beautifully designed and attention-grabbing. These templates will also help you avoid hidden technical pitfalls. 

The nurse job market 

So, what is the nurse job market like nowadays? The simple answer: it's wide open for candidates. 

Developed countries have a high demand for nurses. In 2017, the American Nurses Association (ANA) projected that the U.S. will need one million more registered nurses by 2022 to fulfill the nation's needs. By 2022, when RN retirements will have opened up more than a half-million replacement positions, there will be far more registered nurse jobs available than any other profession , at more than 100,000 per year.  That nursing shortage has taken an added toll on the health and well-being of nurses during the pandemic crisis. According to a March 2021 survey report by the American Nurses Foundation , the ANA’s charitable and philanthropic arm, 41% of nurses stating they plan to leave the profession cited insufficient staffing as a reason. The number was higher — 48% — among nurses who treat COVID-19 patients directly.

The BLS projects a 9% growth in the job market for nurses between 2020 and 2030, as fast as the average occupation. 

Key takeaways for a nurse resume

  • To get an amazing job instead of a mediocre one, your resume needs all the advantages available.
  • Start the resume writing process armed with knowledge and the appropriate technological tools.
  • Each resume section should be tailored to the job listing wherever appropriate.
  • Whenever possible, provide details on your past work experience.
  • Pay special attention to the way your nursing credentials are organized in the education section.
  • Write out your skills based on research and the job listing.
  • Your resume layout is incredibly important. Make sure your format is visually pleasing and conforms to the ATS. Resume templates can help.

If you want the perfect tool to save yourself time and win your dream nurse position, use our helpful resume builder with field-tested resume templates!

Nurse - Key takeaways

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

Registered Nurse Resume Examples & Writing Guide

Are you seeking a rewarding career as a Registered Nurse in a high-growth field ? Now is a great time to hunt for your dream job. Our first-class Registered Nurse resume samples are the best starting point to make sure that your resume stands out from the crowd. After all, your resume is the first impression you give to the hiring organization.

Do you want to make sure that your resume will get you that interview? We will walk you through it in detail in this How to make a Resume Guide for a Registered Nurse.

What you can read in this article

12 Registered Nurse Resume Examples

Registered Nurse Resume Example

Or download these examples in PDF at the bottom of this page for free

Registered Nurse Resume Writing Guide

Resume sections.

  • Contact information
  • Profile Summary
  • Work History
  • Achievements
  • Skill Section
  • Certification & licensing
  • Extras: Languages/Awards/Publications/Volunteering/hobbies
  • > Professional information

1. Contact Information

  • First Name and Last Name
  • Physical Address
  • LinkedIn Profile / Portfolio Link

What to highlight in a Registered Nurse Resume

No matter how short or long you have been working as a Registered Nurse, there are a few key things that employers need to know to make sure you are a good fit for their team.

As a Registered Nurse, you’ll play an essential role in promoting health and wellness, and help improve the quality of life of people. Your responsibilities involve caring for all kinds of patients, but it will vary depending on your specialization and the organization. The first thing to highlight in your resume is your experience with a diverse patient population and your specialties such as neonatology, critical care, gerontology, and pediatrics.

Be as specific as possible and use the job description as your guide. Do you have the required responsibilities and qualifications? By mentioning the same words, you speak their language which will lead to recognition. Don’t forget to include this in your summary at the top of your resume, as well as within each position description.

Next, employers are not only looking for skilled Registered Nurses, but they also want to add passion, dedication and commitment to their team. The promise of most healthcare organizations is to provide compassionate care that respects the dignity and rights of the patients. Show your compassion as a Registered Nurse. For instance, mention your role in transforming healthcare and millions of lives as a result and the values you embrace and the passion you bring to achieve this.

Lastly, as a Registered Nurse, you may be required to respond to critical issues on a 24/7 basis. You are frequently required to stand, walk, lift heavy, push, pull, stoop, crouch, twist and reach. You also will be exposed to blood or other body fluids, fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals. Employers need to be sure about your compassion and dedication to help others despite the hard work, long hours and physical parts of the job.

Make sure you include the following details:

  • Current Registered Nurse (RN) license, applicable for practice in the requested state
  • Where are you registered as a nurse?
  • Where did you study? And what is your GPA?
  • Medical and nonmedical volunteer work
  • The placements you did in school
  • How many shifts and how many hours per shift you worked
  • Prior experiences as a Registered Nurse including your duties and responsibilities
  • Your specialization as a Registered Nurse and the line of patients you worked with
  • Proficient in PC software computer skills that include Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook

Career Objectives & Examples

With the little time, hiring managers have to go through all the resumes, you want yours to stand out early on. Write the most critical information first to capture their attention: your value. Keep your career objective concise and to the point. If it catches their attention, they will most likely read the rest of your resume too.

Start your career objective with your years of experience in healthcare, your line of work and your primary responsibilities. Always use the job description as your guide when deciding which responsibilities to add. For instance, if the vacancy emphasizes expertise in making nursing diagnoses and experience with individuals with psychiatric disabilities, mention the same words in your objective. The more you sound like them, the better fit you will seem.

Next, add a line that showcases any outstanding qualities that will help the company, the team and of course the patients. A hiring manager would be interested in your “strong communication skills” and “the ability to use logical reasoning for simple and complex problem-solving.” Include these qualities also in the professional experience section.

Lastly, close with your educational degrees and any certifications you may have that are pertinent to the job.

Two Example Career Objectives:

“A caring and curing Registered Nurse with 5 years of clinical experience in acute care. I have a desire to improve the well-being of patients and my focus is caring for every patient the way we would care for our family members. I strive to provide patients with services designed to achieve quality care and quality of life by combining care and cure treatments.”
“ A loving, flexible and hardworking Registered Nurse with 5 years experience in planning, coordinating and managing the clinical services in various nursing units. Responsible for the coordination and of nursing care and services provided to patients in the various units while facilitating the interdisciplinary team. Experienced in care and treatment involved individuals with a variety of physical, emotional, mental and psychiatric disabilities.”

Nurse Job Descriptions & Responsibilities

Depending on your career stage and educational level, the following proven foundational duties and skill sets would be expected within an applicant’s resume.

  • Provide direct patient care
  • Monitor the health of the patient
  • Maintain and update health records via the electronic system
  • Phone triage
  • Test results
  • Medication refills
  • Conveying plans of care
  • Provide care under the prescribed treatment plan
  • Assess the patient consistent with the Public Health Practice Reference, Nursing Scope, and Standards of Practice
  • Observe and report on the well-being of patients
  • Keep a record of each patient about their medical history and their symptoms
  • Perform diagnostic tests and analyze the results
  • Operate medical equipment
  • Administer medicines to patients
  • Administer treatments to patients
  • Teach your patients about managing their injuries or illness
  • Develop nursing care treatment plans
  • Treat patients for their injuries or illness
  • Perform routine lab work
  • Educate patients about their health
  • Provide leadership by delegating, supervising, and participating in safe nursing care activities
  • Supervise other staff, including other nurses
  • Administer medications and injections
  • Assist doctors
  • Assess the condition of patients
  • Develop treatment plans for patients
  • Discuss treatment plans and explain their conditions to the patient
  • Oversee patient records
  • Write publications about your research
  • Evaluate patient care and identify opportunities for improvement
  • Collaborate with the healthcare team
  • Utilize all available resources to provide quality cost-effective patient care
  • Serve as a role model/preceptor to new graduate nurses and less experienced personnel

Highlight your Nurse Accomplishments

Your experience is more than a list of duties you performed that match the job description. If you want to set yourself apart from other applicants with similar experience, you need a different approach.

Try this different approach by mentioning action-packed statements on what sets you apart, what you are most proud of or what you have accomplished in your previous roles.

Flat, simple duty:

  • The number of patients you took care of
  • The hours you worked per shift
  • How many shifts you worked per week
  • The number of colleagues you worked with

Accomplishment statement:

  • Delivered responsive, compassionate, patient-centered care to a caseload of up to 50 patients per shift
  • While assessing patients consistent with the Public Health Practice Reference, Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice, my main focus is to comfort the patient in a gentle and caring way

Quantifying Your Resume

Can you include specific numbers in your CV? Try to be as accurate as possible:

  • The number of patients you took care of?
  • The hours you worked per shift?
  • How many shifts you worked per week?
  • The number of colleagues you worked with?
  • Maintained all necessary documentation and clinical records of up to 100 patients per day, following office procedures while focusing on patient confidentiality.
  • Performed blood draws and completed necessary lab work of up to 20 patients per day while supporting the patients regarding medications and medical concerns.

Education Section

1989 -1993 Ridgefield High School, High School Diploma Ridgefield, NJ Maintained an 85 average over five years and I achieved a B or better in Biology, Chemistry, and Algebra

1993 – 1997 Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Long Island University, NJ Gained knowledge about meeting the health needs of individuals, families, communities, and populations. College GPA of 3.0

1997 – 1999 Master of Science in Nursing, University of San Francisco Advanced within the field by gaining experience to develop and manage patient care plans.

Nurse Resume Skills Section

Although the Registered Nursing field requires specific educational and technical skills, employers also look for other skills. These so-called soft skills are the type of skills that make you a good employee and colleague. Incorporate these into your career objective and your accomplishment statements.

Qualifications for your skills section:

  • Strong Interpersonal Skills
  • Professionalism
  • Adaptability and Flexibility
  • Self-Starter
  • Compassionate
  • Prioritize and productively manage time to ensure compliance with deadlines
  • Work independently and within diverse teams

Additional Nurse Soft skill Examples

  • Strong problem-solving skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Excellent communication skills both verbal and written skills
  • Ability to communicate productively with individuals
  • Ability to interact productively with multidisciplinary teams
  • Possess planning
  • Conflict resolution
  • Negotiation
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Interact with individuals at all level of the organization
  • Organize, prioritize and manage multiple priorities
  • Professional

Download Registered Nurse Resume Examples

All these downloads are free and in PDF. Do you wish to make all these designs yourself? Then use the resume build tool. Its easy, fast en creates stunning resumes for you:

Registered Nurse Resume Example

Registered Nurse Resume 3.PDF

Registered Nurse Resume Example

Registered Nurse Resume 4.PDF

Registered Nurse Resume Template

Registered Nurse Resume 5.PDF

Registered Nurse Resume Example

Registered Nurse Resume 6.PDF

Registered Nurse Resume Example

Registered Nurse Resume 7.PDF

Registered Nurse Resume

Registered Nurse Resume 8.PDF

Registered Nurse Resume Design

Registered Nurse Resume 9.PDF

Registered Nurse Resume Example

Registered Nurse Resume 10.PDF

Registered Nurse Resume Example

Registered Nurse Resume 11.PDF

RN Resume

Mental Health Nurse Resume

Certificates associated with Registered Nurses

ICD-9ICD-10CPT coding
Nursing Licensure Exam (NCLEX)Basic Life Support BLSCPR certification for the Healthcare Provider

Action Verbs for your Nurse Resume

OrganizedAdministredApplied
AssessedEducatedPlanned
ProvidedObservedMonitored
CoordinatedPrioritizedCared

Specialization and types of nurses

  • Registered Nurse
  • Registered Nurse I
  • Registered Nurse II
  • New Grad Registered Nurse

Professional information of Nurses

Sector : Healthcare Person type : Carer, friendly, steady, professional Education levels : Associate Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), optional a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree Salary indication : From $ 40.000 to $ 110.000 per year Labor market : Great perspective Organizations : Hospitals, outpatient facilities, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, dialysis centers, home healthcare agencies and physicians’ offices.

creative resume format download pdf

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Nurse Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

Nurse Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

Frank Hackett

Nurse Resume Templates and Examples (Downloadable)

Most popular nurse resumes.

  • Critical Care Nurse
  • School Nurse
  • Nurse Manager
  • Medical Surgical Nurse
  • New Grad Nurse
  • Emergency Room Nurse
  • Registered Nurse
  • Resume Text Examples

How To Write a Nurse Resume

  • Entry-Level
  • Senior-Level

Entry-Level

ICU Nurse Resume Example

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Critical Care Nurse Resume Example

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School Nurse Resume Example

level-2+1

Nurse Manager Resume Example

level-3+1

Medical Surgical Nurse Resume Example

level-4+1

New Grad Nurse Resume Example

level-5+1

Emergency Room Nurse Resume Example

level-6+1

Registered Nurse Resume Example

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Nurse Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Jessica Lang (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio 123 Carpenter St., Philadelphia, PA 12345

An RN with three years of experience delivering quality health care services to diverse patient populations. Adept at coordinating with nursing teams and medical personnel to drive positive patient outcomes in high-volume hospital environments.

Professional Experience

Registered Nurse, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA June 2023 – present

  • Deliver nursing care to newborns, infants, and children with acute and ambulatory conditions in a 40-bed unit
  • Perform health exams for illnesses, injuries, and life-threatening conditions, develop treatment plans, and provide emotional support to patients
  • Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of over 15 health care professionals to improve patient outcomes, resulting in a 3% reduction in mortality rates

Student Nurse Practicum, TUV Clinic, Philadelphia, PA March 2023 – June 2023

  • Completed a 150-hour practicum in the surgical ICU under the supervision of an RN and ensured compliance with hospital protocols
  • Prepared surgical tools and operating theaters, replenished medical inventory and equipment, and ensured compliance with sanitation and hygiene regulations
  • Oversaw the preparation of over 12 patients for surgery per day and supported post-surgical care before transfer to the recovery unit

Certifications

  • Registered Nurse, State of Pennsylvania, License #123456, 2023
  • Basic Life Support Certification, American Heart Association 2023
  • Case management
  • Communication
  • Patient-centered care
  • Surgical care

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Nursing  Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, September 2019 – June 2023

Amar Singh (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio 123 Bedford Ave., New York, NY 12345

An RN with seven years of experience providing high-quality, compassionate care to diverse patient populations. A proven track record of collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to enhance clinical workflows and drive positive patient outcomes.

Registered Nurse, St. Andrew’s Hospital, New York, NY October 2019 – present

  • Achieve patient satisfaction ratings of over 93% year-over-year, communicate empathetically with diverse patients, and drive the delivery of patient-centered care
  • Coordinate events to provide long-term patients with entertainment options and activities to raise morale of patients suffering from debilitating illnesses
  • Collaborate with local nonprofits on fundraisers to expand the hospital children’s library and incorporate tablet computers and game consoles

Registered Nurse, Brooklyn Medical Center, New York, NY May 2016 – October 2019

  • Delivered high-quality care to a diverse range of patients at a trauma center with over 300 beds and a 1-to-5 patient ratio
  • Coordinated with multidisciplinary teams to improve care delivery, resulting in a 15% increase in patient satisfaction
  • Served as the voice of the Trauma Center on committees such as the JCAHO Readiness Taskforce and the Readmission Reduction Planning Committee
  • Registered Nurse, State of New York, License #123456, 2016
  • Basic Life Support Certification, American Heart Association 2016
  • Clinical operations
  • Pediatric care

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Nursing  Columbia University, New York, NY September 2012 – May 2016

Skyler Thompson (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio 123 Bridge St., Boston, MA 12345

A patient-focused RN with over 12 years of experience in post-operative care and rehabilitation. Administered patient-centered care using individual care plans. Achieved consistently high levels of patient satisfaction by delivering compassionate care and emotional support.

Registered Nurse, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA November 2016 – present

  • Communicate empathetically with diverse patients, build rapport, and drive the delivery of patient-centered care to achieve a 94% patient satisfaction rating
  • Support an interdisciplinary team with direct nursing care for patients and assist with developing care plans to improve patient outcomes
  • Lead, mentor, and coach a team of more than 15 LPNs and identify opportunities to enhance clinical workflows, resulting in a 10% reduction in average wait times

Registered Nurse, St. Luke’s Hospital, Boston, MA May 2011 – November 2016

  • Coordinated with nursing teams and physicians to improve clinical operations, patient intake, and discharge, which increased the number of patients seen in 30 minutes or less from 72% to 80%
  • Conducted comprehensive assessments for new patients and prepared individualized care plans with physicians for a 175-bed unit
  • Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), 2016
  • Registered Nurse, State of Massachusetts, License #123456, 2011
  • Advanced Pediatric Life Support, American Heart Association 2011
  • Nurse management
  • Process improvement
  • Trauma care

Master of Science (B.S.) Nursing  Harvard University, Cambridge, MA September 2014 – May 2016

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Nursing  Boston College, Boston, MA September 2007 – May 2011

An attention-grabbing nursing resume will showcase your relevant certifications, experience, and accomplishments. To advance your career, use specific information about the type of nursing work you’ve done before, including data such as patient load, efficiency and satisfaction rates, and number of team members you supervised, if applicable. Focus on your skills and tangible examples from your career to illustrate your unique background within the health care industry.

1. Write a brief summary of your nurse qualifications

Your profile, also known as the summary of qualifications, is one of the most important aspects of a resume. It’s the first thing the hiring managers see when they review your document, so provide an impactful snapshot of your professional career.

One way to approach the summary is to incorporate three to four specializations related to the job you’re applying for in the first sentence, such as patient-centered care, patient education, acute care, and health care management. Leading with your specializations will show hiring managers that you have some of the key qualifications the organization seeks within seconds of reviewing your resume. Below are examples to guide you in creating your professional profile:

Senior-Level Profile Example

A registered nurse (RN) with over 10 years of experience providing high-quality, compassionate care to pediatric patients. A proven track record of collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to enhance clinical workflows and drive positive patient outcomes.

Entry-Level Profile Example

A RN with three years of experience delivering quality health care services to diverse patient populations. Adept at coordinating with nursing teams and medical personnel to drive positive patient outcomes in high-volume hospital environments.

2. Outline your nurse experience in a compelling list

The key to crafting a compelling professional experience section is to create bullet points that draw attention to your strongest career achievements within the health care sector. As you translate your experience into bullet points, establish a sense of scope for your achievements. For instance, if you worked in a high-volume hospital, display the nurse-to-patient ratio or the number of beds. These details will help hiring managers better understand how your background can benefit their team and organization.

Senior-Level Professional Experience Example

  • Communicated empathetically with diverse patients, built rapport, and drove the delivery of patient-centered care to achieve a 94% patient satisfaction rating
  • Supported an interdisciplinary team with direct nursing care for patients and assisted with developing care plans to improve patient outcomes
  • Led, mentor, and coached a team of more than 15 LPNs and identified opportunities to enhance clinical workflows, resulting in a 10% reduction in average wait times

Entry-Level Professional Experience Example

3. add nurse education and certifications.

Along with your education and nursing licensure, consider including any additional certifications or training courses you completed throughout your nursing career. This information is essential if you plan on pursuing a position in a specialized unit, such as oncology or pediatrics. Obtaining additional certifications will also show hiring managers your array of knowledge of various areas of health care, which may differentiate you from the competition.

  • [Degree Name]
  • [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Nursing
  • College of Notre Dame, Baltimore, MD, September 2014 – June 2018
  • [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
  • Registered Nurse, State of Maryland, License #12345, 2010
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certified, American Heart Association, 2010

4. Make a list of your nurse-related skills and proficiencies

Applying to jobs doesn’t just mean impressing the hiring manager. It means getting past the applicant tracking systems (ATS). An ATS automatically sorts resumes into categories and highlights candidates with the right keywords, instantly identifying the best matches for each job posting. The more keywords you use in your resume, the more likely you can make it to the hiring manager’s desk and land an interview. Here are some of the phrases you might use to demonstrate your skills as a nursing applicant:

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) Acute care
Case management EKGs
Electronic Health Records (EHR) HIPAA
Medication administration Oncology
Orthopedics Patient-centered care
Patient discharge Patient intake
Patient relations Pediatric care
Post-operative (post-op) care Surgical care
Telemetry Treatment planning
Physical examinations Pre-operative (pre-op) care
Trauma care Triage
Wound care  

How To Pick the Best Nurse Resume Template

As a nursing professional, you must select a well-organized and straightforward template. If your template has bulky graphics or distracting colors, you may draw the hiring manager’s eye away from your accomplishments. When in doubt, choose a well-structured template that keeps the reader’s focus on why you’re qualified for the position rather than only on visual appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions: Nurse Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for nurse resumes -.

It’s easy to run short on action verbs during the resume-building process. Often a limited number of verbs accurately convey your work experience and career achievements, especially as a health care professional. Incorporating a mix of action verbs can enhance the impact of your bullet points and improve the reading experience. To keep your content fresh and engaging, we’ve compiled a list of action verbs to craft your nurse resume:

Action Verbs
Administered Analyzed
Collaborated Communicated
Conducted Coordinated
Delivered Diagnosed
Enhanced Identified
Implemented Improved
Interfaced Led
Managed Oversaw
Performed Provided
Resolved Supported
Treated  

How do you align your resume with a job posting? -

Although nursing positions are expected to increase by 6% over the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , you’ll still need to tailor your resume to the job description to maximize your chances of landing the interview. One of the most important aspects of creating a strong nurse resume is highlighting the nuances of your experiences within the health care industry.

For instance, if you’re applying to an organization with a strong reputation for patient-centered care standards, you may want to include insights showcasing your patient advocacy history. If you’re pursuing a position in an oncology unit, you might emphasize your background in interfacing with cancer patients or supporting physicians during surgeries. Tailoring your resume to individual job postings is the best way to differentiate yourself from the competition during the job search process.

What is the best nurse resume format? -

Always use a reverse chronological format when crafting your nurse resume. This will ensure that your most recent achievements are featured at the top of your document. It’s best to avoid using a functional resume format in most instances, as this approach highlights skill sets without providing context or specific accomplishments for the hiring manager.

Although not every job posting will require a cover letter, many organizations still ask for them during the hiring process. To maximize the impact of your cover letter, mention something unique about the hospital’s reputation or work culture. Including this information will show hiring managers that you’ve researched beforehand and are genuinely interested in the position. For more guidance, you can visit our nurse cover letter guide.

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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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Build a Resume to Enhance Your Career

  • The Nursing Career Ladder: CNA to LPN/LVN to RN Learn More
  • Common Healthcare Interview Questions and Answers Learn More
  • Nurse Cover Letter Examples and Templates Learn More
  • Entry-Level Nurse Cover Letter Examples and Templates Learn More

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6 New Grad Nursing Resume Examples + How To Write

resume sample for nursing job

Are you a new grad nurse or about to complete your nursing degree? If so, congratulations on your impressive accomplishment! At this point, you may be wondering what is your next action in the strategy to secure a job. If so, read on for vital information to help you successfully navigate the unchartered territory of finding employment as a nurse. Preparing a top-notch resume is an essential step in securing a position after graduation. When thinking about how to compose a resume, you might ask, what are some exceptional examples of new grad nursing resumes? This article, 6 best new grad nursing resume examples, will guide you through the process of creating a professional new grad nursing resume that is sure to impress. Additionally, well-structured resume examples will visually aid you in designing your resume that is sure to catch the eye of your future employer.

What Exactly is a New Grad Nursing Resume?

How is a new grad nursing resume different from an experienced nursing resume, 4 reasons why an exceptional resume makes a difference to new grad nurses, 1. you may be competing with experienced nurses-, 2. there may be many candidates-, 3. highlights new skills-, 4. helps to get your foot in the door-, what are some exceptional examples of new grad nursing resumes, example #1: resume of diane joyner, diane joyner, licenses and credentialing, clinical experience, student nurse.

• Performed new mom, baby and labor and delivery patient care duties on a 12-bed obstetrics unit. • Team leader for student nurse rotation on 2 occasions. • Developed nursing care plans on 2-3 patients each week. • Completed 75 clinical hours in obstetrics.

• Performed patient care duties on a busy 28-bed pediatric unit. Commended by clinical instructor, preceptor, and unit nurses for ease of adaptation, enthusiasm, and expert nursing care of children on unit. • Team leader for colleagues on 4 occasions. • Developed nursing care plans on 3-10 patients per week. • Developed and instituted engaging quiet activity lessons and entertainment boxes for children while in the hospital. • For children in quarantine, developed exercises to promote circulation and heart health while recovering in isolation, if applicable. • Completed 75 clinical hours in Pediatrics.

• Provided nursing care in a busy inner-city ER, ICU, and CCU. • Completed 90 hours total of critical care clinical hours. • Evaluated at 100% by the instructor for competence in critical care skills.

• Completed 30 outpatient hours as a public health nurse, either traveling for home visits or at a community clinic. • Evaluated and developed plans of care for patients from 7 months to 70 years old. • Completed 30 additional outpatient hours in a public elementary and middle school.

• Performed basic nursing care in a 400-bed community hospital with 2-4 adult patients daily. • Administered nursing services to seniors and disabled patients in community rehab and nursing facilities. • Completed 100 hours total of med-surg clinical hours.

Work History

Certified nurses aid.

• Performed basic hygiene and health aide services in a 300-bed nursing facility during vacations and summer.

Secretary to Bloomsburg University Department of Nursing

• Performed basic office duties such as filing, answering phones, and typing reports.

Babysitter for 2 diabetic sisters

• Hired to babysit and carefully monitor 2 diabetic children where carb counting, blood sugar monitoring, and insulin injections were necessary.

• Hostess, waitress, cook, and dishwasher duties as needed in a bustling restaurant.

Volunteer Work

• Mother of a newborn • Candy striper • Campus Catholic Organization • Church nursery worker • St Francis Soup Kitchen • Campus blood drive

What Makes This An Exceptional New Grad Registered Nurse Resume:

Example #2: resume of jan beck, licenses and credentialing.

1/2021-4/2021 Boseman, Montana

• Performed new mom, baby, and labor and delivery patient care duties on an 8-bed birthing center. • Developed nursing care plans on 1-2 patients each week. • Completed 75 clinical hours in obstetrics.

9/2020-11/2020 Boseman, Montana

• Performed patient care duties on a busy 20-bed pediatric unit. • Developed nursing care plans on 2-4 patients per week. • Completed 75 clinical hours in Pediatrics.

1/2020-5/2020 Boseman, Montana

• Provided nursing care ER, ICU, and CCU. • Completed 90 hours total of critical care clinical hours. • Evaluated at 99% by the instructor for competence in critical care skills. • Selected consistently by the staff and clinical instructor to work on Covid and burn units along with special cases.

11/2019-12/2019 Boseman, Montana

• Completed 30 psychiatric clinical hours at a 150-bed psychiatric hospital. • Completed psychiatric evaluations and instituted and monitored mental health treatment plans on 2 patients per day.

9/2019-10/2019 Boseman, Montana

• Completed 30 outpatient hours in a high school health clinic.

1/2019- 5/2019 Boseman, Montana

• Performed basic adult nursing care in a 200-bed community hospital with 2-4 patients daily. • Completed 100 hours total of med-surg clinical hours.

WORK HISTORY

University lab assistant.

5/2019-Present Boseman, Montana

• Selected by nursing faculty to assist in Anatomy and Physiology labs along with Microbiology lab.

Student Tutor

1/2020-Present Boseman, Montana

• Tutored students in course work for science, health, computer technology.

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Graduated second in nursing class with a 3.96 GPA • Received 4.0 in all clinical rotations • Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society • Award for future nurse in excellence and scholarship

Example #3: Resume of Joan Zimmerman

Joan zimmerman.

1/2021-4/2021

• Completed 60 clinical hours rotating between urgent care and family health clinic. • The preceptor stated she felt very confident in all skills and knowledge to independently care for patients under her supervision.

9/2020-11/2020

• Performed patient care duties on a busy 60-bed pediatric unit. • Developed nursing care plans on 2-4 patients per day. • Completed 75 clinical hours in Pediatrics.

1/2020-5/2020

• Provided nursing care ER, ICU, and CCU. • Completed 90 hours total of critical care clinical hours. • Evaluated at 100% by the instructor for competence in critical care skills. • Team head 3 out of 10-week rotation. • Nurses on the unit commented daily on my advanced knowledge of cardiovascular conditions and ability to handle patient care efficiently.

11/2019-12/2019

• Completed 30 psychiatric clinical hours at a 241-bed psychiatric hospital. • Completed psychiatric evaluations and instituted and monitored mental health treatment plans on 2 patients per day.

9/2019-10/2019

• Completed 60 outpatient hours rotating between units for women’s health, labor and delivery, NICU, PICU, and newborn nursery.

1/2019-5/2019

• Performed basic nursing care on adults in a busy 600-bed hospital with 2-4 patients daily. • Completed 100 hours total of med-surg clinical hours.

Walmart Cashier

5/2017-Present

Honors and Awards

• Graduated first in nursing class with a 3.99 GPA • Received 4.0 in all clinical rotations • Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society • Future Nurse Leader Award • School of Nursing Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award

Volunteer and Leadership Experience

• President of Student Nursing Association • Captain of the high school basketball team

Example #4: Resume of Lizzie Arndt

Lizzie arndt.

1/2021-5/2021 Jersey City, New Jersey

• Completed 60 clinical hours performing home health services on patients of a variety of ages and conditions, including prenatal and postnatal care. • Developed new mom instructional videos on breastfeeding and bathing.

9/2020-11/2020 Eastman, New Jersey

• Performed patient care duties on a busy 62-bed pediatric unit. • Developed nursing care plans on 2-4 patients per day. • Completed 75 clinical hours in Pediatrics. • Rotated onto pediatric burn unit.

1/2020-5/2020 Eastman, New Jersey

• Provided nursing care ER, ICU, CCU, and adult burn unit. • Completed 90 hours total of critical care clinical hours.

11/2019-12/2019 Eastman, New Jersey

• Completed 30 psychiatric clinical hours at a state prison on both men’s and women’s units. • Completed psychiatric evaluations and instituted and monitored mental health treatment plans on 1-3 patients per day.

9/2019-10/2019 Eastman, New Jersey

• Completed 60 outpatient hours rotating between units for women’s health, labor and delivery and NICU, PICU, and newborn nursery. • Achieved 100% on clinical skills and knowledge testing. • Developed competency checklist for pre- and post-natal teaching of pregnant women and new moms. • Established support reference material for new mom packet.

1/2019- 5/2019 Eastman, New Jersey

• Performed basic adult nursing care in a busy 575-bed hospital with 2-4 patients daily. • Completed 100 hours total of med-surg clinical hours in the hospital and adjoining rehabilitation center.

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard

5/2017-Present Jersey City, New Jersey

• Graduated first in nursing class with a 3.95 GPA • Received 4.0 in all clinical rotations • Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society • Outstanding Nursing Student Award • Scholarship for swimming • Scholarship for academic excellence

Extra-Curricular Activities

• Division I swimming all 4 years in college

Example #5: Resume of Lynn Horton

Lynn horton.

• Performed new mom, baby and labor and delivery patient care duties on a 50-bed women’s health unit. • Completed 75 clinical hours in obstetrics.

• Performed patient care duties on a busy 20-bed pediatric unit. • Developed nursing care plans on 2-4 patients per week. • Rotated onto pediatric oncology unit to care for 1-2 oncology patients per day. • Completed 75 clinical hours in Pediatrics.

• Provided nursing care in ER, ICU, and CCU units. • Completed 96 hours total of critical care clinical hours.

• Completed 30 psychiatric clinical hours at a 40-bed detox and substance abuse facility. • Completed psychiatric evaluations and instituted and monitored mental health treatment plans on 2-3 patients per day. • Assisted nursing and psychiatric staff with detox and substance abuse treatment and therapy.

• Completed 30 outpatient hours in a home health agency to include care for adults and children with cancer.

• Performed basic nursing care in a 600-bed community hospital with 2-4 patients daily. • Completed 100 hours total of med-surg clinical hours.

Certified Nurse Assistant

• Provided comfort and basic care to adult patients with cancer.

• Graduated Magna Cum Laude • Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society • Award for future nurse in excellence and scholarship

Volunteer and Extra-curricular Activities

• Served as a companion and nurse’s aide to a friend dying of cancer • Division III university softball player

Example #6: Resume of Paul Linney

Paul linney.

1/2021-4/2021 Tampa, Florida

• Performed new mom, baby and labor and delivery patient care duties on a 30-bed birthing center. • Performed basic nursing and prenatal care to walk-in women’s health center. • Completed 75 clinical hours in obstetrics and women’s health.

9/2020-11/2020 Tampa, Florida

• Performed patient care duties on a busy 38-bed pediatric unit. • Developed nursing care plans on 2-3 patients per week. • Completed 75 clinical hours in Pediatrics.

1/2020-5/2020 Tampa, Florida

• Provided nursing care in ER, ICU, and CCU units. • Completed 90 hours total of critical care clinical hours.

10/2019-12/2019 Tampa, Florida

• Completed 30 psychiatric clinical hours on a 62-bed psychiatric unit, which included detox and substance abuse treatment. • Completed psychiatric evaluations and instituted and monitored mental health treatment plans on 2-4 patients per day. • Assisted nursing and psychiatric staff with detox and substance abuse treatment and therapy. • Achieved 100% for clinical rotation. • Selected as team leader 5 out of 8 weeks on unit. • The Nurses and the preceptor remarked weekly about comfort level and ease with working with psychiatric patients.

9/2019-10/2019 St. Pete, Florida

• Completed 30 outpatient hours in a community center for at-risk youth. • Held group sessions for abused and traumatized teens. • Met individually with 2 patients per week for individual counseling and psychiatric sessions and care.

1/2019-5/2019 Tampa, Florida

• Performed basic nursing care in a 300-bed community hospital with 2-4 patients daily. • Completed 100 hours total of med-surg clinical hours.

VOLUNTEER AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

• Boys Club of Clearwater • Paxton Ministries Soup Kitchen • Special Olympics

How to Write an Exceptional New Grad RN Resume?

1. proper format.

• Your name and contact information at the top of the page • Easy to read (not fancy) fonts such as New Times Roman, Arial, and Calibri • Font size 11 or12 • Stay consistent in fonts and style types • Be concise • No abbreviations or slang

2. Summary or objective

• Professional goals • Name of unit and institution where you are applying • Nursing skills and qualities pertinent to the position • Degrees and professional certifications

3. Licenses and credentialing

• The full name of your license or certification • Institution or body that issued license

4. Education

• Official school name • Location of the school • Dates you attended or graduated • Degree that you completed

5. Clinical rotations

• The type of the clinical rotation • Dates of the rotation and total hours completed • Name of institution (and city/state) of clinical • Name of unit you worked on

6. Work history

• Position held, then the name of the company/organization where you worked and the city and state with starting and ending date of hire • In a few words, describe the job

7. Volunteerism

• Church bake sales, nursery work, chicken BBQ worker, soup kitchen, and vacation bible school assistant • Hospital candy striper • Homecoming committee • Musical lighting and props • Prepped dinners for a homeless shelter • Assistant to professor • Staffed nursing department booth for college fairs • Blood pressure checks for health fairs • Assisted with blood drives on campus

8. Honors and awards

9. skills/language summary, 10. appropriate length, 11. match your resume to the job, 12. proofread, 7 common mistakes to avoid when writing your new grad nursing resume, 1. not including non-work experience-, 2. being too modest-, 3. too wordy-, 4. not personalized-, 5. leaving out accomplishments-, 6. not customizing-, 7. not proofing-, 3 consequences of a poorly written new grad rn resume, 1. you may never get an interview-, 2. your resume sets the stage-, 3. you may receive lower compensation-, my final thoughts, frequently asked questions answered by our expert, 1. what is the difference between new grad nurse resume and new grad nurse cv, 2. as a new grad nurse, when should i write my resume, 3. do i need a different resume for each new grad nursing job i apply to, 4. how long is my new grad nursing resume good for, 5. how many words should a resume be for a new graduate nurse, 6. how much time does it take to write an exceptional resume for a new grad nurse, 7. what is the best resume format for new grad nurses, 8. should i put my gpa on my new grad nurse resume, 9. should skills be on my new grad nurse resume, 10. what is a good objective for a new grad nursing resume, 11. how to list registered nurse license on my new grad nursing resume.

• Full name of nursing license • The body that issued the license • Expiration date

12. Should I Put Clinical Experience On My New Grad Nursing Resume?

13. should i include preceptorship on my new grad nursing resume, 14. can i ask someone else to write my new graduate nurse resume, 15. is it a good idea to use ready templates to write my new graduate nurse resume, 16. are there any online apps or tools that make writing a good resume for a new graduate nurse easy.

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Nursing Resume Examples For 2024 (20+ Skills & Templates)

resume sample for nursing job

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Looking to land more Nursing job offers?

You're going to need an awesome resume. This guide is your one-stop-shop for writing a job-winning nursing resume using our proven strategies, skills, templates, and examples.

All of the content in this guide is based on data from coaching thousands of job seekers (just like you!) who went on to land offers at the world's best companies.

If you want to maximize your chances of landing that nursing role, I recommend reading this piece from top to bottom. But if you're just looking for something specific, here's what's included in this guide:

  • What To Know About Writing A Job-Winning Nursing Resume
  • The Best Skills To Include On A Nursing Resume

How To Write A Job-Winning Nursing Resume Summary

How to write offer-winning nursing resume bullets.

  • 3 Nursing Resume Examples

The 8 Best Nursing Resume Templates

Here's the step-by-step breakdown:

Nursing Resume Overview: What To Know To Write A Resume That Wins More Job Offers

What do healthcare centers look for when hiring for a nursing role?

Hospitals and clinics look for nursing candidates with a nursing degree or diploma from an accredited program and a valid nursing license. Certification in a specialty area, such as pediatrics or critical care, may also be preferred.

Nurses should have both technical skills, such as administering medication and using medical equipment, and strong interpersonal skills, such as communication, empathy, and collaboration. They should be adaptable, flexible, able to make quick decisions, and solve problems in complex situations.

Professionalism and ethical standards are also important qualities in nursing roles. Nurses work as part of a larger healthcare team, so employers often look for candidates who are team players and can work effectively with others.

Your resume should show your potential employer that both your personality and your experience encompass all of these things.

Additionally, there are a few best practices you want to follow to write a job-winning nursing resume:

  • Highlight your experience. Highlight your nursing experience that is most relevant to the job you are applying for. Focus on clinical skills, procedures, and technologies you are experienced with.
  • Emphasize your communication and interpersonal skills.  Provide examples of how you have effectively communicated with patients, family members, and colleagues.
  • Include keywords from the job description: ensure your resume is optimized for applicant tracking systems (ATS).
  • Highlight your problem-solving and decision-making skills.  Provide examples of how you have addressed complex issues and made effective decisions.
  • Include any relevant certifications, awards or professional development courses. List any nursing certifications, licenses, and professional memberships you hold.
  • Quantify your work: Use numbers and statistics to quantify your achievements, such as the number of patients you cared for or the success rate of your treatments.
  • Proofread: Carefully proofread your resume for errors and typos, as these can give a negative impression to potential employers (I recommend using the Hemingway App ).

Let's dive deeper into each of these so you have the exact blueprint you need to see success.

The Best Nursing Skills To Include On Your Resume

Keywords are one of the most important factors in your resume. They show employers that your skills align with the role and they also help format your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

If you're not familiar with ATS systems, they are pieces of software used by employers to manage job applications. They scan resumes for keywords and qualifications and make it easier for the employers to filter and search for candidates whose qualifications match the role.

If you want to win more interviews and job offers, you need to have a keyword-optimized resume. There are two ways to find the right keywords:

1. Leverage The 20 Best Nursing Keywords

The first is to leverage our list of the best keywords and skills for a nursing resume.

These keywords were selected from an analysis of real nursing job descriptions sourced from actual job boards. Here they are:

  • Patient Care
  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Team Member
  • Coordination
  • Instruction
  • Flexibility
  • Certification
  • Accountability

2. Use ResyMatch.io To Find The Best Keywords That Are Specific To Your Resume And Target Role

The second method is the one I recommend because it's personalized to your specific resume and target job.

This process lets you find the exact keywords that your resume is missing when compared to the individual role you're applying for

Nursing Keywords

Here's how it works :

  • Open a copy of your updated nursing resume
  • Open a copy of your target nursing job description
  • Head over to ResyMatch.io
  • Copy and paste your nursing resume on the left and then do the same for the job description on the right
  • Hit scan and review the results

ResyMatch is going to scan your resume and compare it to the target job description. It's going to show you the exact keywords and skills you're missing as well as share other feedback you can use to improve your resume.

Here's a video walking through this whole process:

Employers spend an average of six seconds reading your resume.

The key to landing more interviews and offers is to make that time count. That starts with hitting the reader with the exact information they're looking for right at the top of your resume.

Unfortunately, traditional resume advice will lead you to write Summaries and Objectives, which don't accomplish that goal. Winning in today's job market means using a more modern approach, what I like to call a “Highlight Reel.”

Here's how it works:

Highlight Reels: A Proven Way To Start Your Resume And Win More Jobs

The Highlight Reel is exactly what it sounds like.

It's a section at the top of your resume that allows you to pick and choose the best and most relevant experience to feature right at the top of your resume.

It's essentially a highlight reel of your career as it relates to this specific role! I like to think about it as the SportsCenter Top 10 of your resume.

The Highlight Reel resume summary consists of 4 parts:

  • A relevant section title that ties your experience to the role
  • An introductory bullet that summarizes your experience and high level value
  • A few supporting “Case Study” bullets that illustrate specific results, projects, and relevant experience
  • A closing “Extracurricular” bullet to round out your candidacy

For example, if we were writing a Highlight Reel for a nursing role, it might look like this:

Nursing Resume Summary Example

You can see how the first includes the nursing job title, the years of experience this candidate has, and it wraps up with a value-driven pitch for their track record of patient satisfaction.

The next two bullets are “Case Studies” of specific results they drove at their previous employers, again driving home the measurable outcomes of their efforts with metrics. Their last bullet focuses on their achievement in a volunteer role, which demonstrates their level of commitment and dedication to giving back. I like to refer to this type of bullet as “extracurricular”. It gives the employer a more well-rounded view of what this candidate has to offer.

This candidate has provided all of the info any employer would want to see right at the very top of their resume! The best part is, they can customize this section for each and every role they apply for to maximize the relevance of their experience.

Here's one more example of a Nursing Highlight Reel:

Nursing Resume Summary Example

This candidate does a great job of highlighting their years of experience, the results they were able to drive at their previous employers, and includes an extracurricular bullet to round everything out–all the elements of a great Highlight Reel!

If you want more details on writing a killer Highlight Reel, check out my full guide on Highlight Reels here.

Bullets make up the majority of the content in your resume. If you want to win, you need to know how to write bullets that are compelling and value-driven.

Unfortunately, way too many job seekers aren't good at this. They use fluffy, buzzword-fill language and they only talk about the actions that they took rather than the results and outcomes those actions created.

The Anatomy Of A Highly Effective Resume Bullet

If you apply this framework to each of the bullets on your resume, you're going to make them more compelling and your value is going to be crystal clear to the reader. For example, take a look at these resume bullets:

❌ Responsible for maintaining high patient satisfaction scores. 

✅ Increased patient satisfaction scores by 25% over a 6 month period through personalized care plans and effective communication .  

The second bullet makes the candidate's value  so much more clear. It gives information about what the candidate accomplished, how they accomplished it, and also gives a timeframe. That's what we're going for here.

That said, it's one thing to look at the graphic above and try to apply the abstract concept of “35% hard skills” to your bullet. We wanted to make things easy, so we created a tool called ResyBullet.io that will actually give your resume bullet a score and show you how to improve it.

Using ResyBullet To Write Crazy Effective, Job-Winning Nursing Resume Bullets

ResyBullet takes our proprietary “resume bullet formula” and layers it into a tool that's super simple to use. Here's how it works:

  • Head over to ResyBullet.io
  • Copy a bullet from your nursing resume and paste it into the tool, then hit “Analyze”
  • ResyBullet will score your nursing resume bullet and show you exactly what you need to improve
  • You edit your bullet with the recommended changes and scan it again
  • Rinse and repeat until you get a score of 60+
  • Move on to the next bullet in your nursing resume

Let's take a look at how this works for the two resume bullet examples I shared above:

First, we had, “Responsible for maintaining high patient satisfaction scores.”

ResyBullet gave that a score of 0/100.  While it gives insight into the end goal that this candidate was working towards, it includes mostly common words and is missing action words, hard and soft skills and, most importantly, measurable results:

Bad example of a Nursing Resume Bullet Point

Now, let's take a look at our second bullet,  “Increased patient satisfaction scores by 25% over a 6 month period through personalized care plans and effective communication.”

ResyBullet gave that a 60 / 100. Much better! This bullet had more content focused on the specific criteria the hiring team is looking for. We can see by exactly how much they increased patient satisfaction rates and in what timeframe. We can also see the skills used to achieve those results, by providing personalized care plans and using effective communication. This is exactly the kind of results hiring managers are looking for when hiring for a nursing role!

Good example of a Nursing Resume Bullet

Now all you have to do is run each of your bullets through ResyBullet, make the suggested updates, and your resume is going to be jam packed with eye-popping, value-driven content!

And if you want to learn more about the underlying strategies behind writing great resume bullets, check out this guide.

3 Nursing Resume Examples For 2023

Now let's take a look at all of these best practices in action. Here are three resume examples for different situations from people with different backgrounds:

Nursing Resume Example #1: A Traditional Background

Nursing Resume Example #1

Nursing Resume Example #2: A Non-Traditional Background

For our second Nursing Resume Example, we have a candidate who has a non-traditional background. In this case, they are looking to transition into a nursing role from a social work background, so their resume highlights their transferrable skills.  Here's an example of what their resume might look like when applying for nursing roles:

Nursing Resume Example #2

Nursing Resume Example #3: Experienced Nurse Targeting a Nurse Practitioner Role

For our third Nursing Resume Example, we have a candidate who has 10+ years of experience in the nursing field who also holds a Nurse Practitioner certification and is looking for a similar role. Here is an example of what their resume would look like:

Nursing Resume Example #3

At this point, you know all of the basics you'll need to write a nursing resume that wins you more interviews and offers. The only thing left is to take all of that information and apply it to a template that's going to help you get results.

We made that easy with our ResyBuild tool . It has 8 proven templates that were created with the help of recruiters and hiring nurses at the world's best healthcare centers. These templates also bake in thousands of data points we have from the job seekers in our audience who have used them to land job offers.

Just click any of the templates below to start building your resume using proven, recruiter-approved templates:

ResyBuild For Account Manager Resume Templates

Key Takeaways To Wrap Up Your Job-Winning Nursing Resume

You made it! We packed a lot of information into this post so I wanted to distill the key points for you and lay out next steps so you know exactly where to from here.

Here are the 5 steps for writing a job-winning nursing resume:

  • Start with a proven resume template from ResyBuild.io
  • Use ResyMatch.io to find the right keywords and optimize your resume for each nursing role you apply to
  • Start your resume with a Highlight Reel to immediately grab your target employer's attention
  • Use ResyBullet.io to craft compelling, value-driven bullets that pop off the page
  • Compare the draft of your nursing resume to the examples on this page to make sure you're on the right path
  • Use a tool like HemingwayApp to proofread your resume before you submit it

If you follow those steps, you're going to be well on your way to landing more nursing interviews and job offers.

Now that you've got your resume taken care of, check out our guide on writing a job-winning Nursing cover letter (with examples!)

Laura Headshot

Laura Lorta

Laura is an Editor at Cultivated Culture. She transitioned from teaching into the world of content so she's no stranger to career pivots. She also has a bachelors in Entrepreneurship and a Masters in Curriculum & Instruction / Bilingual Education. She currently shares job search advice to help people like you land jobs they love without applying online.

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The Best Nursing Skills for a Resume (List of 20+ Examples)

Examples of the best nursing skills for a resume include clinical proficiency (e.g., advanced life support), patient care, medical assessments, EHR systems…

resume sample for nursing job

The best nursing skills for a resume are those specific to the nursing role you’re applying for. For example, an ICU nurse should highlight skills such as advanced life support, critical care expertise, and proficiency in using ventilators. A pediatric nurse, in turn, should emphasize child health assessments, developmental milestone monitoring, and age-appropriate medication administration. To effectively describe these on a resume, list your most relevant skills in a separate “Skills” section. In the work experience section, use action verbs and numbers to illustrate how you applied your skills in your day-to-day work. Be specific and detailed about your actions and achievements to clearly demonstrate your expertise.

Listing skills that any healthcare professional can claim won’t impress employers. What they crave are specific details showcasing how you applied specialized skills for the exact nursing role you’re applying for. 

This guide goes beyond a nursing skills list. We’ll also walk you through how to describe your use of nursing skills in a hospital or clinical setting to deliver exceptional patient care. This, after all, is how you prove your nursing expertise on a resume and land an interview!

Complete your resume immediately with Rezi AI Resume Builder . Let your resume automatically highlight nursing skills that are tailored to the job description. And the design and layout? It will always stay perfect. Just pick one of the 15+ resume templates and build your resume in minutes.

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What Are Nursing Skills?

Nursing skills encompass a broad range of clinical knowledge, technical proficiency, and interpersonal abilities, all aimed at providing effective and compassionate patient care.

Here’s what sets nursing skills apart from other types of healthcare skills:

  • Holistic care: nurses go beyond medical treatment to provide emotional support, promote well-being, and educate patients for self-care.
  • Patient focus: the responsibilities of a nurse revolve around helping patients through bedside care, monitoring vital signs, administering medications, and assisting with daily activities.
  • Collaboration: nurses work closely with doctors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure a coordinated care plan.

Some of those skills are common across most healthcare professionals. But there are certain skills particularly relevant for nurses: all those skills that illustrate the patient-centered nature of your work.

Are the best nursing skills for a resume the same for all types of nurses? 

The best nursing skills for a resume depend on the specific nursing position you’re applying for. 

Here’s what the best skills to highlight depend on: 

  • Specialty: different nursing specialties, like pediatrics, geriatrics, or critical care, have unique patient populations with specific needs. Highlight skills and experience relevant to that population (e.g., child development for pediatrics).
  • Technical expertise: each nursing position involves specific procedures, equipment, or medications. Prioritize the technical skills directly related to the job’s responsibilities.
  • Job description: focus on the skills that the hospital or clinic is emphasizing in their job description.

Some resume skills , like communication and critical thinking, are essential for all nurses. 

However, specialized roles require specific skills relevant to that field. 

A candidate applying for an emergency room (ER) nurse position, for instance, would prioritize showcasing expertise in using defibrillators and interpreting EKGs to manage cardiac arrest situations. Conversely, a pediatric nurse might emphasize skills in monitoring growth and development milestones and administering age-appropriate medications.

The Best Nursing Skills for a Resume

Here are the best nursing skills for a resume: 

  • Clinical proficiency
  • Patient care
  • Medical assessments
  • Electronic health records (EHR) systems
  • Medication management
  • Medical interventions
  • Pediatric care
  • Geriatric care
  • Communication
  • Critical thinking
  • Time management

These skills are relevant to most nurses, but don’t feel tempted to copy and paste those into your resume and call it a day. 

Always adjust your resume to match the requirements of the position. Double-check the job description to identify the most sought-after skills and make your resume prove that you have them.

If you want to find more skills beyond what’s listed, you can use Rezi AI Skills Explorer to get a list of relevant nursing skills. Here’s how it works: 

  • Pick a category of skills you’re after (e.g., hard skills, technical skills, or soft skills).
  • Enter your industry or field of skills (e.g., nursing, hospital, medicine, and so forth—the more you list, the more suggestions you’ll get).
  • Click “enter.” 

And that’s it! You can try it out for free by signing up here . 

Below, I’ll go into more detail about how to showcase each type of nursing skill most effectively.

1. Clinical proficiency

Clinical proficiency refers to a nurse's expertise in performing medical tasks and procedures accurately and efficiently.

Skills related to clinical proficiency include:

  • Evidence-based practice implementation
  • Aseptic technique
  • Advanced life support skills 

Example of clinical proficiency described on a nursing resume:

Maintained strict aseptic technique during all sterile procedures to prevent infections.

2. Patient care 

Nurses are expected to treat, support, and care for their patients. Show that you can provide physical and emotional support, assist patients in daily activities, and develop individual care plans. 

Skills related to patient care include:

  • Physical and emotional well-being promotion
  • Activities of daily living (ADLs) assistance
  • Individualized care plan development

Example of patient care skills on a nursing resume:

Ensured holistic patient care through continuous assessment and adjustment of care plans.

3. Medical assessments

Medical assessments mean conducting thorough examinations, reviewing medical histories, and identifying patient needs and risks.

Skills related to medical assessments include:

  • Comprehensive physical examinations
  • Patient interview and medical record review
  • Patient needs and risk identification

Example of how to show medical assessments skills on a resume:

Identified patient needs and potential risks through detailed assessments and timely interventions.

4. Electronic health records (EHR) systems

EHR systems are an electronic software used for documenting, retrieving, and interpreting patient information securely and efficiently.

Skills related to EHR systems include:

  • Patient Documentation
  • Accurate and efficient patient care documentation
  • Patient information retrieval and interpretation
  • Patient information confidentiality

Example of EHR systems proficiency shown on a resume: 

Retrieved and interpreted patient information from EHR systems to support informed clinical decision-making.

5. Medication management

All nurses must be capable of administering and managing medications safely and accurately. Nurses should also be able to educate patients on medication use. 

Skills related to medication management include:

  • Medication administration 
  • Medication reconciliation 
  • Patient medication education

Example of medication management skills presented on a resume:

Conducted thorough medication reconciliation to verify accuracy and prevent adverse drug interactions.

6. Medical interventions

Medical interventions include performing specific medical procedures. Examples include wound care, emergency response, and phlebotomy.

Skills related to medical interventions include:

  • Dressing changes, debridement
  • CPR, ACLS (if certified)
  • Blood draws, specimen handling

Example of how to describe medical interventions skills on a resume:

Performed phlebotomy with precision, ensuring accurate blood draws and proper specimen handling.

7. Pediatric care

Pediatric care involves providing specialized healthcare to children. You’ll also monitor developmental milestones and offer age-appropriate education.

Skills related to pediatric care include: 

  • Child health assessments
  • Developmental milestone monitoring
  • Age-appropriate care and education for children and families

Example of how to write about pediatric care skills on a resume:

Conducted comprehensive child health assessments to monitor growth and development.

8. Geriatric care

Geriatric care focuses on addressing the individual healthcare needs of elderly patients, including mobility assistance and infection prevention.

Skills related to geriatric care include:

  • Age-specific care plan implementation
  • Mobility and ADL assistance
  • Infection prevention and control in geriatric care settings

Example of geriatric care skills described on a resume:

Implemented age-specific care plans to help address the needs of geriatric patients.

9. Communication

This is where we enter the soft skills’ territory. And, while many soft or “people” skills are vital for nurses, communication might just be the most important one. Knowing how to convey information succinctly to patients, parents, and colleagues is crucial. 

Nurse-specific skills related to communication include:

  • Active patient listening 
  • Nonverbal communication
  • Presentation
  • Written communication

Example of communication skills on a nursing resume:

Mediated conflicts between patients and healthcare providers to ensure positive patient experiences.

10. Critical thinking

Show employers that you can apply critical thinking to analyze patient data, make sound clinical judgments, and develop solutions based on evidence and assessment. 

Skills related to critical thinking for nurses include: 

  • Patient data analysis for problem and complication identification
  • Sound clinical judgment based on assessment and evidence
  • Patient care challenge solution development and implementation

Example of critical thinking skills described on a resume for a nurse:

Investigated root causes of patient symptoms through detailed analysis and provided targeted care recommendations.

11. Time management

Being a nurse with strong, proven time management skills can help you stand out. Clarify that you can effectively prioritize tasks, manage multiple responsibilities, and maintain an organized work space.

Skills related to time management for nurses include:

  • Task prioritization for timely patient care completion
  • Multitasking in a fast-paced environment
  • Organized work area for patient safety and efficiency

Example of how to showcase time management on a nursing resume:

Efficiently coordinated patient schedules to minimize wait times and improve overall patient satisfaction.

12. Empathy 

Hospitals and clinics can be stressful environments. Knowing how to empathize with patients and show compassion helps build trust and improve their experience, which can help foster positive treatment outcomes. 

Skills related to empathy for nurses include:

  • Compassionate care with emotional well-being consideration
  • Stress reduction techniques
  • Family support

Example of how to describe empathy on a nursing resume:

Advocated for patients' needs, ensuring their voices were heard and acknowledged throughout the entire care process.

The Best Nursing Skills for a Resume Based on Career Level

  • Entry-level nurses should focus on foundational clinical skills and patient care. If you’re writing a resume with no professional experience , double down on your academic background, relevant projects, and qualifications. 
  • Mid-level nurses build on these with more specialized knowledge and leadership abilities.
  • Senior-level nurses emphasize advanced clinical expertise, as well as management, and mentorship.

If you have any further licenses or certifications to mention that help demonstrate your knowledge, include those too. 

However, steer away from adding fluff to try and make your resume look more complete—this is a common resume mistake that new grad nurses tend to make. Your resume should be relevant and speak directly to the organization. 

Entry-level nurse skills 

Entry-level nurse skills are those essential abilities that newly graduated nurses or nurses with minimal experience must possess to provide basic patient care and support. Most of such skills are learned through formal nursing education and training.

  • Basic clinical skills: proficiency in taking vital signs, administering injections, and performing basic wound care.
  • Patient care: assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs), ensuring patient comfort and hygiene.
  • Medication administration: safely and accurately administering medications under supervision.
  • Electronic health records (EHR) systems: basic proficiency in using EHR software for documenting patient information.
  • Communication: clear verbal and written communication with patients and healthcare teams.
  • Empathy and compassion: providing emotional support and understanding to patients.
  • Time management: prioritizing tasks and managing time effectively.
  • Patient education: teaching patients about their conditions, treatments, and self-care practices.
  • Teamwork: collaborating with other healthcare professionals.
  • Infection control: adhering to protocols to prevent the spread of infections.

Mid-level nurse skills

Mid-level nurse skills are those intermediate (and advanced) abilities that nurses with more than 3 years of professional experience typically possess. These skills include specialized clinical knowledge, leadership, and the ability to handle more complex patient care situations.

  • Advanced clinical skills: proficiency in specialized procedures and treatments relevant to specific medical units (e.g., ICU, ER).
  • Patient assessment: conducting detailed assessments and developing individualized care plans.
  • Leadership: leading nursing teams, delegating tasks, and mentoring junior nurses.
  • Critical thinking: analyzing complex patient data and making informed clinical decisions.
  • Advanced medication management: managing and administering complex medication regimens.
  • Specialized EHR skills: advanced use of EHR systems for documentation and data analysis.
  • Patient advocacy: acting as a liaison between patients and the healthcare system to ensure optimal care.
  • Educational roles: providing patient and family education, as well as training new nurses and students.
  • Emergency response: handling medical emergencies with advanced life support skills.
  • Quality improvement: participating in initiatives to improve patient care quality and safety.

Senior nurse skills

Senior-level nurse skills are those highly advanced abilities and extensive expertise that nurses with significant experience and often advanced degrees possess. These skills include top-level clinical knowledge, executive leadership, strategic planning, and a strong focus on mentorship and healthcare improvement.

  • Advanced clinical expertise: mastery in specialized areas such as oncology, cardiology, or critical care.
  • Change management: implementing strategic changes within the healthcare system.
  • Nursing management: overseeing nursing departments, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance with regulations.
  • Strategic leadership: developing and implementing policies and procedures to improve patient care and operational efficiency.
  • Mentorship: guiding and mentoring mid-level and entry-level nurses, fostering professional development.
  • Research initiatives: leading research initiatives and projects, and then applying findings to improve clinical practices.
  • Advanced critical thinking: solving complex patient care challenges and making high-stakes decisions.
  • Policy development: contributing to healthcare policy and advocating for changes to improve patient outcomes.
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration: working with healthcare executives and other departments to improve healthcare delivery.
  • Advanced patient advocacy: championing patient rights and ensuring high standards of care across the organization.
  • Healthcare innovation: implementing new technologies and innovative practices to advance nursing care.

How to Describe Nursing Skills On a Resume

Of course, your resume will feature a dedicated “Skills” section with all your key competencies listed. But such a list in itself might be vague and not 100% convincing. The most effective way to describe nursing skills on a resume is by showcasing specific healthcare achievements. Use clear, concise action verbs and provide tangible examples to highlight the impact of your skills on patient outcomes, such as improved patient satisfaction. 

You should also specify nursing responsibilities that you carried out to make it clear that you know what you’re doing.

Below, I’ll share how to describe nursing skills for different resume sections . 

Or, if you want to check out specific resume examples for different nursing job positions, check out our library of resume examples here .

Summary section

Present your nursing skills in the summary section by immediately mentioning your top nursing skills, qualifications, and achievements. If you have any particular career highlights that demonstrate your skills, now’s the time to bring them up. 

Example of a nursing resume summary with a strong focus on key skills:

Dedicated pediatric nurse with a 5+ year proven track record in child health assessments and patient education, ensuring optimal developmental milestone monitoring.

Objective section

You can still emphasize nursing abilities, qualifications, and experiences in the resume objective section . Tailor your career goals to the job description and mention key nursing competencies that you’re determined to apply to benefit the healthcare facility and its patients. 

Example of how to describe skills in a nursing resume objective section:

Detail-oriented OR Nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and certification in sterile processing. Eager to leverage strong surgical asepsis and communication skills in a fast-paced environment to ensure smooth operating room procedures.

Work experience section

Detail your current and previous nursing or healthcare roles in the work experience section . Focus on how you applied specific nursing skills to make a positive impact on patients and the hospital. Show your abilities through healthcare responsibilities and results you’ve been capable of producing. 

Example of a skills-focused work history entry from a nursing resume:

Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ABC Hospital, City, State June 2018 – Present • Led patient care for a 20-bed ICU, utilizing advanced life support techniques and critical patient assessments, resulting in a 20% increase in patient recovery rates. • Performed emergency interventions, including CPR, intubation, and administration of life-saving medications. • Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualized care plans, which led to a reduction in patient complications by 20%. • Trained and mentored 10 new nursing staff on ICU protocols and procedures. • Managed patient records and documentation, ensuring 100% accuracy and compliance with hospital policies and regulatory standards, leading to zero documentation-related errors in audits.

Education section

All formal academic qualifications belong in the education section . To emphasize nursing skills, mention any educational accomplishments related to healthcare and medicine. If you have years of relevant experience under your belt, you can limit this section to just the degree, school name, and graduation year. If you’re fresh out of nursing school, expand this section, like in the example below.  

Example of an education section highlighting relevant nursing skills: 

Bachelor of Science in Nursing  | University of State | May 2023 Relevant Coursework: Advanced Clinical Nursing, Pediatric Nursing, Geriatric Nursing, Healthcare Informatics, Pharmacology, Medical-Surgical Nursing Graduated with honors, GPA: 3.8/4.0

Additional sections

Here are the most common additional sections to consider including to reiterate your level of nursing skills:

  • Certifications: highlight relevant certifications to showcase your specialized knowledge and commitment to maintaining up-to-date clinical skills. Certifications such as ACLS, PALS, and wound care demonstrate your healthcare knowledge and a dedication to professional development.
  • Projects: detail specific projects to illustrate your ability as a nurse to contribute to healthcare improvements. Projects might include quality improvement initiatives, research studies, or development of patient education programs.
  • Extracurricular activities: focus on extracurricular activities that demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and community involvement. Participation in nursing associations, student nursing organizations, or healthcare-related clubs can highlight your ability to take the initiative, which is a beneficial skill to have as a nurse.
  • Volunteering: showcase your compassionate nature through your community service and volunteering experience . Volunteering in clinics, hospitals, or health programs shows your dedication to helping others. Make it clear that you have the soft skills and personal qualities to excel as a nurse. 

Skills section

Directly state your top nursing skills using specific healthcare terminology. Group related skills together for clarity. 

Clinical skills: patient care, medical procedures, advanced life support Medication management: medication administration, reconciliation, patient education EHR Systems: patient documentation, information retrieval, confidentiality compliance

Let’s recap all the key info about putting nursing skills on a resume: 

  • The best nursing skills for a resume are those tailored toward the particular nursing role you’re applying for. 
  • Highlight your nursing expertise, not just by listing skills in the skills section, but by detailing how you successfully applied them in a clinical setting. 
  • You can also list qualifications and certifications to reinforce your credentials in a particular nursing field. 
  • Prioritize the skills that are most relevant to your target nursing role and job description. 

Above all, make it clear that you can address the specific needs of the hospital or clinic you’re targeting.

What nursing skills do I put on a resume for the operating room?

Focus on your proficiency in perioperative care, including preoperative and postoperative patient assessment and preparation. Highlight your expertise in surgical asepsis, sterilization techniques, and the use of surgical instruments. Include your ability to assist surgeons during procedures, manage anesthesia monitoring, and handle surgical emergencies. Showcase your skills in patient advocacy, effective communication with surgical teams, and adherence to safety protocols and regulatory standards. You can also mention any specialized training or certifications, such as CNOR (Certified Perioperative Nurse), to prove your abilities.

What skills to highlight on a nursing student resume?

On a nursing student resume, highlight skills such as patient care, clinical knowledge, and proficiency in medical software. Emphasize strong communication and teamwork abilities, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. To show these skills on a resume, focus on listing relevant qualifications, certifications, and projects. Mention any hands-on clinical experience, familiarity with medical equipment, and your understanding of healthcare protocols and safety procedures. Additionally, showcase your compassion, attention to detail, and commitment to patient well-being.

What skills should a registered nurse list on a resume?

A registered nurse should list skills such as patient care, advanced clinical knowledge, and proficiency with medical software and electronic health records (EHR) systems. Showcase your expertise in emergency response, medication administration, and patient education. Include specific skills like IV therapy, wound care, and familiarity with medical equipment. Make it clear that you understand nursing healthcare protocols and safety standards. Next, highlight critical thinking, strong communication, and teamwork abilities. For soft skills, emphasize strong communication and interpersonal abilities, which are necessary for interacting with patients, families, and healthcare teams. Time management and organizational skills are also key for handling multiple patients and tasks. Showcase compassion, empathy, attention to detail, and adaptability. 

What are good computer skills to put on a resume for a nurse?

Showcase computer skills that help improve patient care and operational efficiency. Such skills include proficiency in Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems, such as Epic or Cerner, which are crucial for documenting patient information. Being adept in telemedicine platforms, medical billing software, and patient management systems demonstrates your ability to handle administrative tasks. Additionally, competence in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel for data management and analysis, and PowerPoint for presentations, is valuable. Basic troubleshooting skills and knowledge of data privacy regulations, like HIPAA, are also important to ensure the secure and effective use of technology in healthcare settings.

What technical skills should a nurse show on a resume?

Highlight the technical skills that are essential for carrying out your core medical and administrative responsibilities. Such technical skills include clinical proficiency in patient care, knowledge of medical procedures, and proficiency in diagnostic equipment and electronic health records (EHR) systems, which ensure accurate and efficient patient documentation. Competence in administering medications, performing assessments, and managing acute and chronic conditions is crucial. Skills in patient education and health promotion are also vital for improving patient outcomes.

Rezi is an ai resume builder to help you to create a resume that os sure to check the boxes when it comes to applicant tracking systems : Rezi Review by Ashley

Astley Cervania

Astley Cervania is a career writer and editor who has helped hundreds of thousands of job seekers build resumes and cover letters that land interviews. He is a Rezi-acknowledged expert in the field of career advice and has been delivering job success insights for 4+ years, helping readers translate their work background into a compelling job application.

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Remote Nurse Resume Template

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If you're seeking a remote nursing position, your resume needs to reflect your unique set of skills. Remote nursing roles often require a higher level of independence, self-motivation, and tech savvy abilities, as you won't have physical assistance from colleagues or direct supervision. The recent shift towards telehealth and online patient care, especially during COVID-19, has created a surge in these types of roles. When you're putting together your resume, remember that hiring managers for remote roles are looking for specifics - they want to see how your skills translate to the digital realm. With the rise of digital health platforms, telemedicine, and remote patient monitoring, quite a few healthcare providers are seeking remote nurses who are comfortable with technology. While traditional nursing skills are important, you also need to demonstrate your familiarity with these new technologies and how you've used them in patient care. Your resume should not just outline your skills, but also showcase how those skills were applied in a remote context - a nurses' station is vastly different from a home office.

Screenshot of a remote nurse resume showcasing technical competencies and communication skills.

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Recruiter Insight: Why this resume works in 2022

Tips to help you write your remote nurse resume in 2024,    emphasize your technical competencies.

With remote nursing, your ability to use various software and applications for patient care is more important than ever. Include in your resume specific programs and tools you're comfortable using, such as telehealth platforms or electronic health record systems.

Emphasize your technical competencies - Remote Nurse Resume

   Showcase your communication and self-management skills

As a remote nurse, you won't have in-person contact with patients or team members. Demonstrate how you've managed patient care from a distance and the methods of communication you've effectively utilized, such as video calls, emails, and instant messaging.

Showcase your communication and self-management skills - Remote Nurse Resume

Telehealth Nurse Resume Sample

Travel nurse resume sample, registered nurse (home health) resume sample, utilization review nurse resume sample.

As a hiring manager who has recruited for remote nursing positions at companies like Teladoc Health, Humana, and UnitedHealth Group, I've reviewed hundreds of resumes. The best remote nurse resumes effectively highlight the candidate's qualifications, experience, and skills that are most relevant to the job. Here are some tips to help you create a strong resume that will catch the attention of hiring managers and increase your chances of landing a remote nursing position.

   Emphasize your remote nursing experience

Hiring managers want to see that you have experience working as a remote nurse. If you have previous remote nursing experience, make sure to highlight it prominently on your resume.

  • Provided remote triage and patient education to a panel of 500+ patients, resulting in a 95% patient satisfaction rate
  • Conducted 20+ remote patient assessments per day, utilizing telemedicine platforms and electronic health records

If you don't have direct remote nursing experience, emphasize any relevant skills or experiences that demonstrate your ability to work independently and communicate effectively in a remote setting.

  • Experienced nurse with 5+ years of clinical experience
  • Experienced nurse with 5+ years of clinical experience, including 2 years of telemedicine triage and remote patient monitoring

Bullet Point Samples for Remote Nurse

   Highlight your technology skills

Remote nursing relies heavily on technology, so it's important to showcase your proficiency with relevant tools and platforms on your resume.

  • Proficient in using telemedicine platforms such as Doxy.me, Zoom, and Skype to conduct virtual patient consultations
  • Experienced with electronic health record systems, including Epic and Cerner, to document patient interactions and update medical records
  • Skilled in utilizing remote monitoring devices, such as blood pressure cuffs and glucose meters, to track patient vitals and provide timely interventions

Don't just list the technologies you're familiar with; provide specific examples of how you've used them to deliver quality patient care in a remote setting.

   Demonstrate your communication and interpersonal skills

Effective communication is crucial in remote nursing, as you'll be interacting with patients, colleagues, and healthcare providers primarily through virtual channels. Highlight experiences that demonstrate your strong communication and interpersonal skills on your resume.

  • Good communication skills
  • Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills, consistently receiving positive feedback from patients and colleagues
  • Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team of 15+ healthcare professionals to develop and implement personalized care plans for remote patients

Use specific examples to illustrate how you've used your communication skills to build rapport with patients, educate them about their health, and coordinate care with other healthcare providers in a remote setting.

   Quantify your impact and achievements

When describing your nursing experience and accomplishments, use numbers and metrics to quantify your impact whenever possible. This helps hiring managers better understand the scope and significance of your contributions.

  • Managed a caseload of remote patients
  • Reduced hospital readmissions for remote patients
  • Managed a caseload of 50+ remote patients, ensuring timely and accurate documentation of all patient interactions
  • Implemented a remote patient monitoring program that reduced hospital readmissions by 30% over a 6-month period
Spearheaded a remote fall prevention initiative for elderly patients, resulting in a 25% reduction in fall-related injuries and a 95% patient satisfaction rate

   Tailor your resume to the specific job posting

When applying for a remote nursing position, it's essential to tailor your resume to the specific job requirements and company. Review the job posting carefully and identify the key qualifications and skills the employer is looking for.

For example, if the job posting emphasizes experience with a particular telemedicine platform or electronic health record system, make sure to highlight your proficiency with those tools on your resume.

  • Proficient in various telemedicine platforms and electronic health record systems
  • Extensive experience using Teladoc's proprietary telemedicine platform to conduct virtual patient consultations and manage remote patient care

By tailoring your resume to the specific job posting, you demonstrate to the hiring manager that you have the relevant qualifications and experience they're looking for in a remote nurse.

   Include relevant certifications and professional development

In addition to your nursing degree and licensure, highlight any relevant certifications or professional development courses you've completed that are applicable to remote nursing. This shows your commitment to staying current in your field and expanding your skill set.

  • Certified in Telemedicine Nursing (CTN) through the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN)
  • Completed a 20-hour online course on 'Remote Patient Monitoring: Best Practices and Emerging Technologies'
  • Earned a certificate in 'Effective Communication Strategies for Virtual Healthcare Teams' from the American Nurses Association (ANA)

Including these certifications and courses on your resume demonstrates your dedication to professional growth and your ability to adapt to the unique challenges of remote nursing.

Writing Your Remote Nurse Resume: Section By Section

  summary.

A resume summary for a Remote Nurse position is optional, but it can be a valuable addition if you want to provide context or highlight details that may not be immediately apparent from the rest of your resume. It's especially useful if you're changing careers and your past experience doesn't directly align with the Remote Nurse role you're targeting. However, avoid using an objective statement, as it's outdated and doesn't add value to your resume.

When crafting your summary, focus on the most relevant skills, experiences, and achievements that make you a strong candidate for the Remote Nurse position. Avoid repeating information that's already covered in other sections of your resume. Instead, use this space to showcase your unique value proposition and how you can contribute to the organization's success.

How to write a resume summary if you are applying for a Remote Nurse resume

To learn how to write an effective resume summary for your Remote Nurse resume, or figure out if you need one, please read Remote Nurse Resume Summary Examples , or Remote Nurse Resume Objective Examples .

1. Tailor your summary to the remote nursing role

When writing your summary for a Remote Nurse position, it's crucial to tailor it to the specific role and the healthcare organization you're targeting. Research the company and the job description to identify the key skills, qualifications, and experiences they're looking for in a candidate.

For example, if the Remote Nurse position requires strong telehealth experience, highlight your relevant background:

  • Experienced Registered Nurse with 5+ years of telehealth experience, providing remote patient care and support for diverse populations.
  • Skilled in utilizing telehealth platforms, such as [platform name], to deliver high-quality, compassionate care to patients in remote settings.

Avoid generic statements that could apply to any nursing role, such as:

  • Registered Nurse with experience in patient care.
  • Dedicated and compassionate healthcare professional.

2. Showcase your remote work skills and technologies

As a Remote Nurse, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to work independently, communicate effectively, and utilize various technologies to provide patient care. Highlight these skills in your summary to show employers you're well-equipped for the role.

Self-motivated Registered Nurse with a proven track record of delivering exceptional patient care in remote settings. Proficient in using telehealth technologies, such as remote monitoring devices and video conferencing platforms, to assess, diagnose, and treat patients. Strong communication and collaboration skills, ensuring seamless coordination with healthcare teams and patients' families.

Avoid mentioning soft skills without providing context or examples, like:

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Team player
  • Detail-oriented

Instead, demonstrate these skills through your experiences and achievements in your summary and throughout your resume.

  Experience

The work experience section is the heart of your resume as a remote nurse. It's where you show hiring managers how you've applied your nursing skills and knowledge to make an impact in previous roles, even if they weren't remote positions.

In this section, we'll break down the key steps to writing an effective work experience section that will help you stand out and land your next remote nursing job.

1. Use strong nursing action verbs

When describing your nursing experience, use strong action verbs that showcase your skills and accomplishments. Consider verbs like:

  • Assessed patient conditions and developed care plans
  • Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive care
  • Educated patients and families on treatment plans and self-care
  • Monitored vital signs and administered medications

Avoid generic phrases like "responsible for" or "participated in." Instead, use specific verbs that highlight your nursing expertise and the actions you took to drive positive outcomes.

Action Verbs for Remote Nurse

2. Highlight remote nursing skills

When applying for remote nursing positions, it's crucial to showcase any skills or experience you have that are particularly relevant to working remotely. This might include:

  • Proficiency with telehealth platforms and remote monitoring systems
  • Strong digital communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Experience collaborating with dispersed teams
  • Ability to work independently and manage time effectively
Conducted 10+ daily virtual patient assessments via telehealth platform, collaborating with remote interdisciplinary team to develop and implement care plans.

If you don't have direct remote experience, highlight transferable skills that show you're equipped to succeed in a remote environment.

3. Quantify your impact with metrics

Whenever possible, use metrics to quantify your impact and achievements. This helps hiring managers understand the scope of your responsibilities and the value you brought to your previous roles.

For example, instead of saying:

  • Managed patient caseload and provided quality care

Quantify your impact like this:

  • Managed caseload of 25+ patients per shift, maintaining 95%+ patient satisfaction scores and reducing readmission rates by 10%

Other metrics to consider include number of patients served, improvements in patient outcomes, efficiency gains, and cost savings.

4. Show career progression and specialization

Hiring managers want to see that you've grown and advanced in your nursing career. As you list your work experience, make it clear how you've progressed and taken on more responsibility over time.

For example:

Nurse Practitioner, ABC TelehealthPromoted from Registered Nurse to Nurse Practitioner, managing a virtual panel of 150+ chronic disease patients and mentoring a team of 5 RNs

Also highlight any specializations or areas of expertise you've developed, such as pediatrics, geriatrics, or specific conditions like diabetes or mental health. This shows your depth of knowledge and value to potential employers.

  Education

The education section of your resume is an important component that showcases your academic background and qualifications. As a remote nurse, it's crucial to highlight your nursing education and any relevant certifications or training. Here are some tips to help you craft a compelling education section:

How To Write An Education Section - Remote Nurse Roles

1. Highlight your nursing degree

As a remote nurse, your nursing degree is the foundation of your career. Make sure to prominently feature your degree in the education section of your resume.

Include the following details:

  • Name of the degree (e.g., Bachelor of Science in Nursing)
  • Name of the institution
  • Graduation year
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) University of California, Los Angeles 2018

2. Include relevant coursework for new grads

If you are a recent graduate with limited work experience, you can bolster your education section by including relevant coursework. This can demonstrate your knowledge and skills in specific areas of nursing that are applicable to remote nursing positions.

  • Advanced Health Assessment
  • Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring
  • Community Health Nursing

However, avoid listing generic coursework that is not directly related to remote nursing, such as:

  • Introduction to Psychology
  • College Algebra

3. Showcase relevant certifications

In addition to your nursing degree, include any relevant certifications you have earned. These can demonstrate your expertise in specific areas of remote nursing and set you apart from other candidates.

Some examples of relevant certifications for remote nurses include:

  • Certified Telehealth Practitioner (CTP)
  • Certified Case Manager (CCM)
  • Certified Ambulatory Care Nurse (CACN)
Certified Telehealth Practitioner (CTP) American Telemedicine Association 2020

4. Keep it concise for experienced nurses

If you are a senior-level remote nurse with extensive work experience, your education section should be brief and to the point. Include only your highest degree and any relevant certifications.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Johns Hopkins University

Avoid listing outdated or irrelevant education, such as:

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Community College of Baltimore County 1995

  Skills

The skills section of your resume is a critical component that showcases your expertise to potential employers. As a remote nurse, it's essential to highlight the specific skills that make you stand out in this competitive field. In this section, we'll guide you through the process of crafting a compelling skills section that will catch the attention of hiring managers and help you land your dream job.

1. Identify relevant nursing skills

When creating your skills section, focus on the skills that are most relevant to the remote nursing position you're applying for. Review the job description carefully and make a list of the key skills and qualifications the employer is looking for.

Some examples of relevant skills for remote nurses include:

  • Telehealth technologies
  • Electronic health records (EHR) systems
  • Patient assessment and triage
  • Remote patient monitoring
  • Patient education and counseling

By tailoring your skills section to the specific requirements of the job, you'll demonstrate to the employer that you have the expertise they need.

2. Categorize your skills

To make your skills section easy to read and navigate, consider grouping your skills into categories. This will help the hiring manager quickly identify your areas of expertise and see how they align with the job requirements.

For example, you could group your skills like this:

  • Clinical Skills : Patient assessment, medication administration, wound care
  • Technology Skills : Telehealth platforms, EHR systems, remote monitoring devices
  • Communication Skills : Patient education, active listening, written communication

By categorizing your skills, you'll make it easier for the hiring manager to see the value you bring to the role and how you can contribute to the success of their remote nursing team.

3. Be specific and use industry terms

When listing your skills, be as specific as possible and use industry-specific terms to showcase your expertise. Instead of using generic phrases like "good communication skills," provide concrete examples of how you've used these skills in your nursing career.

Good communication skills Proficient in technology Strong attention to detail

Instead, use specific, industry-relevant terms to describe your skills:

Proficient in Zoom and Skype for telehealth consultations Experienced in using Epic and Cerner EHR systems Skilled in remote patient assessment and triage

By using specific, industry-relevant terms, you'll demonstrate to the hiring manager that you have the specialized knowledge and expertise they're looking for in a remote nurse.

4. Optimize for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes and filter out candidates who don't meet their requirements. To ensure your resume makes it past these automated systems, it's important to optimize your skills section with relevant keywords.

Review the job description and identify the key skills and qualifications the employer is looking for. Then, incorporate these keywords into your skills section wherever relevant. For example, if the job description mentions "remote patient monitoring," be sure to include this exact phrase in your skills section.

However, be careful not to overload your skills section with keywords or include irrelevant skills just to get past the ATS. Your skills section should still read naturally and showcase your genuine expertise to the hiring manager.

Skills For Remote Nurse Resumes

Here are examples of popular skills from Remote Nurse job descriptions that you can include on your resume.

  • Patient Education

Customer Service

  • Emergency Nursing
  • Nursing Management
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Clinical Research
  • Critical Care Nursing
  • Nursing Education

Skills Word Cloud For Remote Nurse Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Remote Nurse job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more likely you should include it in your resume.

Top Remote Nurse Skills and Keywords to Include On Your Resume

How to use these skills?

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Remote Nurse Resumes

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  • Template #5: Registered Nurse (Home Health)
  • Template #6: Utilization Review Nurse
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  • Free Remote Nurse Resume Review
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  • 27 Great Resume Summary...

27 Great Resume Summary Examples to Get Hired

20 min read · Updated on June 03, 2024

Marsha Hebert

Your resume summary is the first impression you make on potential employers, so it's crucial to get it right

When it comes to job applications, your resume is often the first point of contact with prospective employers. It's essential to make a good impression right from the start and that's where your resume summary comes in. Your summary is a brief statement at the top of your resume that highlights your skills , experiences , and achievements , making it a key part of your job application.

In this article, you'll learn how to write the ultimate resume summary that will grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. You'll discover what makes a good summary and what to avoid, as well as how to sell yourself effectively to potential employers.

You may be wondering: what exactly is a resume summary and how do I write one? We'll answer these questions and provide examples of professional summaries for various industries.

By the end of this article, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to create a standout resume summary that will help you to land your dream job.

What is a resume summary?

To understand a resume summary, it's important to understand the challenge that good summaries are designed to overcome. Employers who are looking for new hires often need to compare many dozens or even hundreds of resumes to find the best candidates for the job. Few hiring personnel have the time needed to thoroughly examine every single resume that they receive.

Instead, employers typically spend no more than five or six seconds scanning any given resume. If a resume manages to capture their interest in those few seconds, they'll take the time to read it in greater detail. 

However, if your resume doesn't grab their attention, it's likely to be rejected without any further examination. So, the challenge is to find a way to quickly earn the reader's interest and inspire them to read the rest of the document.

That's where your resume summary comes into play. As you'll see from our resume summary examples, a good summary is the resume equivalent of a salesperson's elevator pitch. 

This brief statement should highlight your experience and job title, one or two key skills, and a couple of your most prominent achievements. When your summary is crafted well, it will provide the employer with a quick overview of your potential value as a new hire.

Once you've written your summary, you should place it right after your contact information and resume headline , so that it's the first thing employers see. If you've done your job properly, that summary will be compelling enough to make the reader want to learn more about the type of value you can bring to the job.

How should you start a resume summary?

After your headline, you should include a brief opening statement that summarizes who you are. This statement should be concise and compelling, and it should clearly communicate your unique value proposition. Here are some examples of strong opening statements:

Innovative Marketing Manager with over five years of experience in developing and executing successful campaigns for Fortune 500 companies

Results-driven Sales Executive with a proven track record of exceeding revenue targets and building strong client relationships

Skilled Customer Service Representative with expertise in problem-solving, conflict resolution, and communication

Tips for writing a resume summary

To make sure you get your summary spot on, follow our top tips:

Be specific

When writing a resume summary, it's essential to be specific and quantify your achievements wherever possible. Instead of saying, "Experienced marketing professional," try saying, "Experienced marketing professional with expertise in managing successful social media campaigns, resulting in increases of up to 30% in website traffic."

This provides concrete evidence of your skills and demonstrates your value to potential employers.

Reflect on your career

When it comes to writing a strong resume summary, you should engage in some self-reflection. Before putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), take some time to think about your key skills, experiences, and achievements. This will help you to identify the most important information to include in your summary. Review your past roles, responsibilities, and accomplishments, and think about how they relate to the job you're applying for. Ask yourself:

What have I achieved in my career?

What skills have I developed?

What makes me stand out from other applicants?

Identify your key skills

One of the most important things to include in your resume summary is your key skills. These are the abilities that set you apart from other candidates and demonstrate your value to potential employers. Begin by making a list of your top skills, then prioritize them based on relevance to the job you're applying for.

Highlight your relevant experiences

Next, think about relevant experiences that you can include in your summary. This includes any previous jobs or internships, volunteer work, or extracurricular activities that have given you valuable experience. Consider what you've learned and achieved in each role and how that relates to the job you're applying for.

You should focus on what is most relevant to your target job. Here are some examples:

Proven ability to increase sales revenue by 20% year on year

Expertise in project management and team leadership

Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft 365

Confident working with a diverse range of clients and stakeholders

Keep it concise

Remember, your resume summary should be concise and to the point. Stick to the most important information and avoid filler words or irrelevant details. A good rule of thumb is to keep your summary to 3-5 sentences.

Use action verbs

When describing your experiences and achievements, use strong action verbs and adverbs to convey a sense of accomplishment and momentum. For example, instead of saying, "Responsible for managing social media accounts," say, "Successfully manages social media accounts."

Quantify your achievements

Wherever possible, use numbers and statistics to quantify your achievements. This provides concrete evidence of your skills and demonstrates your value to potential employers. For example, instead of saying, "Helped to increase sales," say, "Helped to increase sales by 20% in the first year."

Tailor it to the job

Make sure your resume summary is tailored to the job you're applying for. This means highlighting the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the role. Look at the job description and identify the key requirements, and then make sure your summary addresses these points.

Professional resume summary examples

Since there's nothing quite like seeing an example of a great summary, we've compiled twenty-seven great resume summary examples that you can use as inspirational templates for your own perfect resume . Below, you'll find summary examples for a variety of different job roles, including:

Customer Service Representative

Sales Representative

Marketing Manager

Project Manager

Software Developer

Human Resources Manager

Graphic Designer

Registered Nurse

Financial Analyst

Administrative Assistant

Data Entry Clerk 

Business Analyst

Operations Manager 

Mental Health Counselor

High School Teacher

Event Manager

Digital Marketing Manager

Content Marketer

SEO Specialist

Bank Teller

Software Support Specialist

Data Scientist

Dental Assistant

1.     Customer Service Representative resume summary example

"Highly motivated Customer Service Representative with 5 years of experience in delivering service excellence. Skilled in conflict resolution and problem-solving, resulting in a 95% customer satisfaction rate. Proven ability to multitask in fast-paced environments while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail."

Why it works : This summary highlights the candidate's experience and skills while also showcasing their relevant achievements in ensuring customer satisfaction. It mentions how much experience they have and calls out a measurable success.

2.     Sales Representative resume summary example

"Dynamic Sales Representative with a track record of exceeding sales quotas by 20%+. Proficient in consultative sales techniques and relationship building. Exceptional communication and negotiation skills with the ability to close deals."

Why it works : This summary provides a quantifiable achievement to show the candidate's success in their previous sales roles while also highlighting their key skills in relationship building and communication.

3.     Marketing Manager resume summary example

"Strategic Marketing Manager with 7+ years of experience in developing and executing successful marketing campaigns across multiple channels. Skilled in market research and analysis, campaign optimization, and team leadership. Proven track record of driving revenue growth and increasing brand awareness."

Why it works : This summary emphasizes the candidate's experience and leadership skills while also showcasing their ability to drive results through successful marketing campaigns. The candidate has also demonstrated their ability to grow revenues and raise brand awareness.

4.     Project Manager resume summary example

"Accomplished Project Manager, with confidence in leading cross-functional teams and managing project timelines, budgets, and resources. Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to build relationships with stakeholders. Proven track record of delivering projects on time and within budget."

Why it works : This summary highlights the candidate's extensive project management experience and emphasizes their ability to successfully deliver projects while working with multiple stakeholders.

5.     Software Developer resume summary example

"Innovative Software Developer with 5+ years of experience in designing, developing, and implementing complex software applications. Skilled in programming languages including Java, Python, and C++. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in Agile environments to deliver high-quality code on time."

Why it works : This job seeker has taken the time to highlight some of the technical skills they possess, while emphasizing their ability to work in Agile environments. They also call attention to the fact that they can take a software development project from design to implementation.

6.     Human Resources Manager resume summary example

"Experienced Human Resources Manager specializing in talent acquisition, employee relations, and performance management. Skilled in developing and implementing HR policies and procedures that align with business objectives and values. Proven track record of building and managing high-performing teams."

Why it works : This summary highlights the candidate's experience in various HR functions and emphasizes their ability to build and manage teams. It also shows that they can perform managerial functions like developing policies and procedures.

7.     Graphic Designer resume summary example

"Creative Graphic Designer with particular expertise in developing and executing visually stunning designs for print and digital media. Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud, with a focus on typography and layout. Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously."

Why it works : This summary works well because it showcases their technical skills and experience while also emphasizing creativity and an ability to work collaboratively.

8.     Registered Nurse resume summary example

"Compassionate Registered Nurse with over 10 years' experience in providing high-quality patient care. Skilled at patient assessment, medication administration, and treatment plan development. Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport with patients and their families."

Why it works : This summary emphasizes the candidate's clinical and patient care experience and highlights their key nursing and interpersonal skills.

9.     Financial Analyst resume summary example

“Detail-oriented Financial Analyst with a strong background in financial modeling, data analysis, and forecasting. Combines advanced Excel skills with the ability to create and manage financial reports. Able to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.”

Why it works : This summary showcases the applicant's specific skills and experience in financial analysis and highlights their proficiency in Excel, a crucial tool for the role.

10.  Administrative Assistant resume summary example

“Skilled Administrative Assistant with 8 years of experience in administrative support and office administration. Resilient, detail-oriented, and able to work under extreme pressure in a team environment. Excellent interpersonal, client management, and interdepartmental liaison skills. Committed to successful management of multiple simultaneous projects, strict adherence to deadline requirements, and accurate maintenance of schedules, meeting obligations, and records.”

Why it works : An Administrative Assistant wears many hats and experiences many challenges. This resume summary covers a lot of ground to demonstrate that the candidate understands those obstacles and knows how to overcome them.

11.  Data Entry Clerk resume summary example

“Task-driven and results-oriented professional with more than 10 years of experience in data entry, project coordination, and customer service. Uses interpersonal skills including effective communication to build rapport and positive relations with customers, gather vital information, and ensure rapid and accurate entry of data into designated software programs.”

Why it works : This resume summary is effective because it gets right to the heart of the job: dealing with customers and entering data into databases. The candidate also emphasizes their results-focused mindset, project skills, and key soft skills.

12.  Business Analyst resume summary example

“Results-driven Business Analyst with a proven record in expanding profitability by 55% in the retail industry.  Confident carrying out data-focused analysis that provides key insights and recommendations for growth strategies. Strong interpersonal and team building skills, innovative approach to problem-solving , and resolute commitment to efficiency and productivity.”

Why it works : Business analysis is all about using data and research to deliver key insights that result in improved operations and greater business success. This summary hits all the right notes as it focuses on key skills, a solutions-oriented mindset, and notable achievements that reflect real value for employers.

13.  Operations Manager resume summary example

“Results-oriented Operations Manager with more than 10 years of supervisory experience in high-level operational environments. Adept at coordinating both large and small teams, outside consultants, and mid-level management personnel. Successfully introduced Lean manufacturing principles that reduced costs by 32% via waste elimination and process revitalization.”

Why it works : This candidate's summary emphasizes key skills that the employer wants to see in any managerial candidate, while also showcasing their knowledge of best operational practices and a commitment to cost reduction.

14.  Mental Health Counselor resume summary example

“Compassionate Mental Health Counselor with more than a decade of experience addressing mental health issues and behavioral concerns. Proven success in both individual and group counseling environments, assisting clients in gaining insight and understanding of their unique conditions. Specialized focus on working with young adults and families, with an emphasis on addressing substance abuse root causes and other social factors involved in mental health.”

Why it works : This resume summary is notable for citing important skills like empathy and compassion. It also focuses attention on the candidate's experience in dealing with common mental health concerns and hints at their preferred approach to assisting patients.

15.  High School Teacher resume summary example

“Dynamic high school teacher with 12 years of experience developing approved curricula for more than 500 students in grades 9-12. Proven track record of helping students to achieve a 98% passing rate in both Western Civilization and World History instruction. Actively engaged in every aspect of education, at the district, local, and parent-teacher level.”

Why it works : This candidate's resume summary highlights their vast experience, while illustrating their success in ensuring that their students learn what they need to know to pass the class. They also demonstrate their commitment to the educational process by highlighting their involvement in every area of education.

16.  Accountant resume summary example

“Diligent and detail-oriented CPA with seven years of experience in accounting, process improvement, and problem-solving. Skilled at identifying inefficiencies and using reporting to offer insights that can guide employers to better practices and greater profitability. At XYZ Corp., identified labor usage inefficiency that motivated management to introduce new scheduling that eliminated $300,000 in labor waste.”

Why it works : In addition to highlighting a wide range of valuable skills, this candidate also focused on a quantifiable achievement that illustrates real value. This type of summary would certainly capture a hiring manager's attention and make them want to read more!

17.  Event Manager resume summary example

“Resilient and creative Event Manager with 6 years of corporate experience. Detail-oriented perfectionist with experience in project management, team leadership, and customer relations. Successfully organized and executed more than 40 major business conferences, hosting thousands of guests. Major clients have included three Fortune 500 firms with multi-million-dollar event budgets.

Why it works : As Event Managers go, this one has certainly made the rounds. That summary of achievements highlights their ability to manage even large-scale events, dealing with every aspect of the project. How could a serious hiring manager not want to learn more about this candidate?

18.  IT Manager resume summary example

“Dedicated IT Manager with significant experience in an innovative and growing tech firm. Skilled leader with experience in systems analysis, database architecture, problem-solving, and troubleshooting. Superior client satisfaction rate of more than 99%. Created and implemented IT troubleshooting process that reduced internal client service time by 30%.”

Why it works : This IT professional focuses attention on their key leadership skills , while also mentioning the hard skills that any hiring manager is likely to be looking for. There's also a nice nod to their history of satisfying clients, as well as a notable and measurable achievement.

19.  Product Designer resume summary example

“Innovative Design Engineer with 5 years of experience in the development of products and packages. Skilled in market research, brand development and alignment, and design elements. Led team of seventeen Designers in the creation of industrial products that yielded $20 million in sales in the first month after launch.”

Why it works : This resume summary uses some important keywords, action verbs, and descriptive language to describe the candidate's key skills and experiences. It also cites an impressive product design achievement, along with real numbers that showcase value.

20.  Content Marketer resume summary example

“Creative marketing professional with 7 years' experience as a Content Marketer. Skilled writer who understands how written communication empowers business growth and expansion. Expertise in development of compelling content that drives activities across multiple media channels. Adaptable , detail-oriented, and focused on a brand-building approach to content strategy that drives real results. Developed a cross-platform content strategy that boosted sales conversion rates by 37%.

Why it works : This Content Marketer focuses on their key skills and keen insights into how content impacts business profitability. They even included a measurable result that demonstrates their focus on adding value to their employer's bottom line.

21.  SEO Specialist resume summary example

“Results-focused SEO expert with 6 years of experience in keyword mastery, the promotion of sustainable content, and growing organic website search engine rankings. Proven track record of SEO success, using content development and link outreach to expand website traffic activity from 10,000 daily visitors to more than 2,000,000 per year.”

Why it works : Many hiring managers may not fully understand SEO, but they will understand the need to get more eyes on their digital content. This candidate speaks to that need by focusing on website rankings, content, and overall web traffic - while including a quantifiable achievement that demonstrates their ability to make things happen.

22.  Copywriter resume summary example

“Website Copywriter with 5 years of experience in developing content that creates real conversions. Cross-channel expertise including website content, advertising, newsletters, press releases, email, and podcast / video scripts. Proven track record of increasing social traffic by 36% and driving a 22% boost in landing page conversions.”

Why it works : This candidate's summary is focused not only on the type of things they write, but how those content pieces directly contribute to the company's online presence and sales conversion rate. This illustrates the writer's understanding of how their work aligns with their employer's business needs and goals.

23.  Bank Teller resume summary example

“Empathetic and personable Bank Teller with more than 4 years of experience in client interactions at First Bank. Detail-oriented customer management approach, focused on superior customer experiences and client retention. Strict adherence to bank policy, including safety deposit guidelines, customer account security, and due diligence. Efficiently and effectively processed more than 200 client account interactions each day.”

Why it works : For a Bank Teller, much of the role's value lies in the employee's ability to serve as the face of the branch. This summary is effective because it showcases the Teller's knowledge of bank procedures, while also highlighting their commitment to creating an excellent customer experience.

24.  Software Support Specialist resume summary example

“Problem-solving Software Support Specialist with 8 years of experience in customer-facing user assistance. Provided key problem resolution services for hundreds of customers, with a focus on maximizing their satisfaction with the company to increase loyalty and retention. Experienced in both customer and B2B interactions, with a specialized talent for explaining technical problems in language that is easily understood by the average layperson.”

Why it works : This resume summary focuses not only on the candidate's specialized skills in solving computer issues, but also highlights their ability to simplify their explanations to customers.

25.  Data Scientist resume summary example

“Committed Data Scientist focused on analytical insights that can drive company growth and development. More than eight years of experience providing data-driven analysis to Fortune 500 executives, based on comprehensive statistical models and detailed historical data patterns. Successfully provided insights and recommendations used to increase company profits by 32% over a two-year period.”

Why it works : Data science may not seem like the most exciting field, but hiring managers are always on the hunt for candidates who understand why data matters. This candidate's focus on providing insights that can translate into real value for the employer is something that is likely to earn a hiring manager's interest.

26.  Dental Assistant resume summary example

“Dental Assistant with 5 years of experience with patient preparation, processing, and administrative support. Keen attention to detail and a commitment to dental health and aesthetics. Skilled in dental impressions, hands-on assistance during procedures, x-rays, and record maintenance. Fully committed to developing rapport with patients that creates a welcoming environment and a joyful experience.”

Why it works : This candidate's resume summary not only highlights key Dental Assistant requirements, but also conveys their personal approach to teamwork and patient care.

27.  Architect resume summary example

“Creative Architect experienced in high-end architectural design and development oversight. Ten years of proven success in creating sustainable designs that earn rave reviews and commendations from clients. Skilled in adapting to new challenges and working under pressure to achieve every client's vision. Consistently produces designs and project plans that come in on time and under budget, at 10%-30% less cost than industry competitors.”

Why it works : In this summary, the candidate highlights key skills that employers will want to see, while also emphasizing quantifiable results that demonstrate competitive value for the employer. They also showcase their ability to not only design architectural structures but to do so with a conscious awareness of critical factors like budgetary concerns, deadlines, sustainability and market competition.

Bonus: how to write a resume summary if you have no experience

Of course, it's also important to know how to write a resume summary if you have no experience. Here's a quick resume summary example that you can adapt if you are just entering the job market:

“Recent Marketing graduate, seeking an entry-level position to kickstart a career in the field. Demonstrated strong leadership and teamwork skills gained through involvement in various extracurricular activities, including volunteering at local events and leading group projects. Proficient in Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud. Passionate about using marketing strategies to create engaging content and drive brand awareness.”

Why it works: This summary works because it highlights the candidate's relevant hard and soft skills and qualifications, even though they don't have direct career experience. The use of action words such as "demonstrated" and "proficient" shows the candidate's confidence in their abilities, which can be attractive to potential employers, showcasing the candidate's potential for success in an entry-level marketing role.

Key takeaways

A well-written resume summary can make a significant impact on a job application. A good summary should highlight relevant skills and experiences, use clear and concise language, and avoid unnecessary information. Feel free to customize any of the resume summary examples we've provided to help ensure that your resume captures the attention of potential employers.

We know it can be difficult to condense a whole career full of skills and achievements into a paragraph of only a few sentences. If you're unsure about the document you've crafted, why not send it for a free resume review by our team of expert resume writers? 

Recommended reading:

Ask Amanda: How Are a Resume Objective and a Resume Summary Different?

How to Write a Standout Career Summary

Business Acumen: What It Is and How You Can Showcase It On Your Resume

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

See how your resume stacks up.

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Examples

RN (Registered Nurse) Cover Letter

Cover letter maker.

resume sample for nursing job

Applying for a Registered Nurse (RN) position requires more than just a strong resume; it demands a well-crafted cover letter that tells your unique nursing story. In an industry where compassion and dedication are key, an RN cover letter provides a personalized touch to your application, showcasing your specific experiences, skills, and why you want to be part of the healthcare team. Let’s explore what an RN cover letter is and how to write one that leaves a lasting impression.

What is an RN (Registered Nurse) Cover Letter?

An RN cover letter is a formal document that accompanies a Registered Nurse’s resume when applying for a nursing position. It serves as an introduction and provides additional context about the applicant’s qualifications, experiences, and reasons for pursuing a career in nursing. Unlike a resume, an RN cover letter allows the candidate to express their personality and elaborate on specific experiences that make them suitable for the position.

What is an Example of a Cover Letter for an RN?

Below is a good cover letter  example for RN

[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State ZIP Code] [Your Phone Number] [Your Email Address]

[Hiring Manager’s Name] [Hospital/Healthcare Facility Name] [Address] [City, State ZIP Code]

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I am writing to apply for the Registered Nurse position at [Hospital/Healthcare Facility Name], as advertised on [where you found the job posting]. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and [Number] years of hands-on experience in a [specific field, e.g., pediatric, emergency], I am confident in my ability to provide top-notch patient care and contribute positively to your team.

At [Previous Employer], I was responsible for [briefly describe your responsibilities, e.g., administering medications, creating care plans, assisting with surgeries]. My dedication to patient well-being and my ability to work well under pressure have been recognized by both colleagues and supervisors.

What excites me about the opportunity at [Hospital/Healthcare Facility Name] is your commitment to [mention something specific about the hospital/healthcare facility, e.g., innovative treatments, community outreach]. I believe that my skills and values align perfectly with the mission of your institution, and I look forward to the possibility of contributing to your team.

Enclosed is my resume, detailing my professional journey in nursing. I welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience and passion for nursing can align with the needs of your organization.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

[Your Full Name]

[Enclosure: Resume]

This example demonstrates a well-structured RN cover letter. It provides the essential details about the applicant’s qualifications, personalizes the content to the specific institution, and expresses genuine interest in the role. Utilizing such an approach will make your application stand out in the competitive field of nursing.

Cover Letter for an RN

Size: 29 KB

Free RN Cover Letters – Copy & Paste

Rn cover letter format.

Here’s a  great example of a cover letter that can be used as a general template:

[Hiring Manager’s Name] [Hospital Name] [Address] [City, State ZIP Code]

I am excited to submit my application for the Registered Nurse position at [Hospital Name], as advertised on [Job Board/Website]. With a [Your Degree] and [Number of Years] experience in [Specialized Area], I am confident in my abilities to provide excellent care and contribute to your esteemed healthcare team.

[Include a paragraph detailing your professional experience, specific responsibilities, accomplishments, and how they relate to the role you’re applying for.]

Your hospital’s dedication to [mention a particular aspect you admire about the hospital, e.g., patient-centered care, innovative practices] resonates with my professional ethos. I am particularly interested in your [specific department or program], where I believe my skills would be most beneficial.

Enclosed is my resume for your review. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss in further detail how my qualifications align perfectly with the needs of [Hospital Name].

Thank you for considering my application.

To use this cover letter template effectively, you’ll want to personalize the information by replacing the bracketed sections with your specific details. Make sure to align your experiences and skills to match the particular role you’re applying for and highlight the hospital’s unique attributes that resonate with your career goals or values. Keep the tone professional and polite, expressing gratitude for their consideration of your application.

RN Cover Letter Format

Size: 28 KB

RN Cover Letter Without/ No Experience Example

Applying for an RN position without prior professional experience can be challenging, but focusing on your educational background, internships, and transferrable skills can create a strong impression. Here’s an example:

I recently graduated from [Your College/University] with a degree in Nursing and am excited to apply for the Registered Nurse position at [Hospital Name]. Although I have not yet had the opportunity to work as a Registered Nurse, my educational background and clinical internships have equipped me with the foundational skills necessary to excel in this role.

During my studies, I completed [number] hours of clinical training in areas such as [mention specific areas like emergency care, pediatric nursing, etc.]. This hands-on experience, coupled with my dedication to providing compassionate care, has prepared me to take on the challenges of a professional nursing role.

I am impressed by [Hospital Name]’s commitment to [mention a specific aspect, e.g., community outreach, cutting-edge treatments], and I believe that I can contribute fresh insights and energy to your team.

Enclosed is my resume, highlighting my academic achievements and clinical experiences. I would be thrilled to discuss how I can contribute to [Hospital Name] as a Registered Nurse.

Writing an RN cover letter without experience requires emphasis on education and training. Focus on your academic achievements, internships, and any relevant training or certifications. Highlight any transferrable skills from other fields, such as teamwork, communication, or problem-solving. Express your genuine interest in the facility by mentioning specific programs or initiatives you admire, and maintain a formal and respectful tone throughout. By considering these aspects, you can craft a compelling cover letter even without professional experience.

RN Cover Letter Without/ No Experience Example

New Grad RN Cover Letter Example

A new graduate RN cover letter needs to emphasize education, clinical experiences, and enthusiasm for the nursing profession. Here’s an example:

I am thrilled to apply for the Registered Nurse position at [Hospital Name] as a recent graduate from [Your College/University] with a [Your Degree]. My extensive academic background, combined with hands-on clinical experience, has prepared me for the exciting challenges and opportunities in nursing.

During my education, I completed [number] hours of clinical rotations in [mention specific areas], where I learned [specific skills or experiences that relate to the job]. I was particularly inspired by [mention something specific you learned or experienced that fuels your passion for nursing].

I have attached my resume for your review, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my fresh perspective and dedication to patient care align with the values of [Hospital Name].

In New Graduate cover letter , it’s essential to emphasize your educational achievements, clinical rotations, and any special projects or honors that relate to nursing. Showcase your enthusiasm for the profession and highlight how your skills and interests align with the hospital or facility’s mission and values. Personalize the letter to the specific role and maintain a professional and optimistic tone.

New Grad RN Cover Letter Example

Size: 27 KB

Pediatric RN Cover Letter Example

A Pediatric RN cover letter should focus on skills and experiences specifically related to child care and pediatric nursing. Here’s an example:

[Hiring Manager’s Name] [Children’s Hospital Name] [Address] [City, State ZIP Code]

I am applying for the Pediatric Registered Nurse position at [Children’s Hospital Name], a role that combines my passion for children’s healthcare with my professional skills as a nurse. With [Number of Years] experience in pediatric care, I believe I am an ideal fit for your team.

In my current role at [Previous Hospital/Healthcare Facility], I [describe specific responsibilities, achievements, or experiences related to pediatric nursing]. My dedication to providing gentle and compassionate care to children and their families has been a rewarding aspect of my career.

I am particularly drawn to [Children’s Hospital Name] due to your [mention a specific program, initiative, or aspect that interests you].

Enclosed is my resume for your review. I look forward to discussing how my specialized skills in pediatric care can contribute to the exceptional work being done at [Children’s Hospital Name].

When crafting a Pediatric RN cover letter, it’s essential to emphasize your experience, training, and passion for children’s healthcare. Highlight specific examples of your work with children and their families and align your skills with the facility’s mission and programs. Personalize the letter by mentioning something unique about the hospital or facility that resonates with your career goals or values. Keep the tone professional and compassionate, reflecting your commitment to pediatric care.

Pediatric RN Cover Letter Example

Registered Nurse Cover Letter Example

A Registered Nurse cover letter should concisely present your qualifications, experiences, and commitment to providing quality patient care. Here’s an example:

[Hiring Manager’s Name] [Healthcare Facility Name] [Address] [City, State ZIP Code]

I am excited to apply for the Registered Nurse position at [Healthcare Facility Name]. With [Number of Years] of experience in various medical settings, I have honed my nursing skills to provide top-notch care to patients.

I currently work at [Current Hospital/Healthcare Facility], where I [describe specific responsibilities or achievements that are relevant to the RN position]. My commitment to patient care, collaboration with medical teams, and continuous learning have been key to my success.

I am impressed by [Healthcare Facility Name]’s [mention something specific about the facility, like a program, reputation, or mission]. I believe my background aligns perfectly with the values and goals of your team.

Please find my resume enclosed. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications in more detail.

A Registered Nurse cover letter must demonstrate your professional experience, key nursing skills, and dedication to patient care. Tailor the content to the specific role by mentioning relevant experiences and achievements. Highlight aspects of the healthcare facility that align with your career goals or interests. Maintain a concise and professional tone, ensuring that your passion for nursing shines through.

Registered Nurse Cover Letter Example

Sample RN Cover Letter Example

A sample RN cover letter can help guide you in crafting your personalized application. Here’s an example:

I am writing to express my interest in the Registered Nurse position at [Healthcare Facility Name]. With a diverse background in nursing, including [specific areas of expertise or experience], I am confident in my ability to contribute positively to your team.

At my current role at [Current Hospital/Healthcare Facility], I have [mention specific responsibilities, achievements, or skills that relate to the RN role]. I am committed to continuing my professional growth and delivering exceptional care to patients.

I admire [Healthcare Facility Name]’s dedication to [mention a specific program, initiative, or mission that attracts you]. I believe my skills and values align well with your organization.

Enclosed is my resume for your review. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further.

A sample RN cover letter should serve as a template to help you craft your unique application. Focus on showcasing your nursing skills, experiences, and any specialized areas of expertise that are relevant to the role. Personalize the letter by mentioning specific aspects of the healthcare facility that resonate with you. Keep the content concise and professional, highlighting your genuine interest in the position and dedication to nursing.

Sample RN Cover Letter Example

Graduate RN Cover Letter Example

A graduate RN cover letter should showcase your education, enthusiasm, and readiness to embark on your nursing career. Here’s an example:

I am thrilled to apply for the Registered Nurse position at [Healthcare Facility Name] as a recent graduate of [Nursing School Name]. My educational background and hands-on clinical experiences have prepared me to transition smoothly into a professional nursing role.

During my clinical rotations, I [describe specific responsibilities or achievements, such as patient care, collaboration, or special projects]. I was consistently praised for my attention to detail, empathy, and commitment to patient-centered care.

I am particularly attracted to [Healthcare Facility Name] because of [mention specific programs, values, or initiatives that align with your goals]. I believe I can contribute positively to your team and uphold the high standards of care you are known for.

Enclosed is my resume, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications in further detail.

For a Graduate RN cover letter, focus on your educational achievements, clinical rotations, and eagerness to start your nursing career. Emphasize specific experiences that highlight your potential as a nurse. Tailor your content to the facility’s mission and values, showing why you are a great fit for their team. Maintain a positive tone that reflects your enthusiasm for the role.

Graduate RN Cover Letter Example

ICU Registered Nurse Cover Letter Example

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Registered Nurses have specialized skills and experiences that should be highlighted. Here’s an example:

I am writing to apply for the ICU Registered Nurse position at [Healthcare Facility Name]. With [Number of Years] of experience in critical care nursing, I have developed a strong foundation in providing compassionate, evidence-based care to critically ill patients.

At my current position in [Current Hospital’s ICU Department], I [mention specific responsibilities or achievements, such as patient assessments, care planning, or collaboration with medical teams]. I am well-versed in the latest ICU technologies and protocols, and I continually strive to enhance my skills.

I am drawn to [Healthcare Facility Name]’s reputation for excellence in critical care and believe my expertise aligns with your team’s high standards.

An ICU Registered Nurse cover letter should emphasize your specialized experience in intensive care, including skills, technologies, and patient care protocols. Highlight achievements that demonstrate your ability to thrive in a high-stress environment. Personalize the letter to the specific healthcare facility by mentioning what attracts you to their ICU department. Maintain a professional and confident tone.

ICU Registered Nurse Cover Letter Example

Med Surg Cover Letter Example

Medical-Surgical (Med Surg) Nurses work in a challenging and multifaceted environment. Here’s an example to help you apply for a Med Surg nursing role:

I am excited to submit my application for the Medical-Surgical Nurse position at [Healthcare Facility Name]. With [Number of Years] years of experience in Med Surg nursing, I have honed my skills in patient care, treatment planning, and teamwork.

In my current role at [Current Hospital’s Med Surg Department], I have [mention specific responsibilities or achievements such as managing a diverse caseload, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, or improving patient outcomes]. My adaptability and attention to detail have been vital to my success.

I am drawn to [Healthcare Facility Name] because of [mention specific programs, values, or initiatives]. I am confident that I can contribute positively to your nursing team.

Enclosed is my resume for your review. I look forward to discussing my qualifications in more detail.

In a Med Surg cover letter, highlight your experience in managing various medical and surgical conditions, working with diverse patient populations, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams. Emphasize your adaptability, attention to detail, and commitment to patient care. Tailor the content to reflect the specific facility’s values and mission, showing how you align with their goals.

Med Surg Cover Letter Example

Staff Nurse Cover Letter Example

Staff Nurses play a critical role in healthcare facilities, providing direct patient care and support. Here’s an example:

I am writing to apply for the Staff Nurse position at [Healthcare Facility Name]. With a robust background in nursing and a dedication to patient-centered care, I believe I am an ideal candidate for this role.

During my [Number of Years] years as a Staff Nurse at [Previous Hospital], I [describe specific responsibilities or achievements, such as patient assessments, care coordination, or staff mentoring]. My strong communication skills and collaborative approach have contributed to positive patient outcomes.

I admire [Healthcare Facility Name]’s commitment to [mention specific values, programs, or initiatives], and I am eager to contribute my skills and expertise to your team.

A Staff Nurse cover letter should focus on your nursing experience, collaboration skills, and commitment to patient care. Highlight specific responsibilities or achievements that demonstrate your proficiency in nursing practice. Personalize the content to reflect the healthcare facility’s values and mission, and show how you can contribute positively to their team.

Staff Nurse Cover Letter Example

Nursing Student Cover Letter Example

Nursing students, whether pursuing an RN, BSN, or another nursing program, often need to write cover letters for internships or entry-level positions. Here’s a guide for nursing students:

I am writing to apply for the [Specific Nursing Position] at [Healthcare Facility Name]. As a nursing student at [University Name] with [Number of Years or Semesters] of academic and clinical experience, I am eager to bring my passion for healthcare and dedication to patient well-being to your team.

During my studies, I have gained hands-on experience in [specific nursing areas, e.g., patient assessments, care planning, administering medications]. My clinical rotations at [Hospital or Clinic Name] taught me valuable skills in [mention skills, e.g., teamwork, communication, critical thinking].

I admire [Healthcare Facility Name]’s focus on [mention specific values, programs, or initiatives] and believe I can make a positive contribution as a [Specific Nursing Position].

Enclosed is my resume for your consideration. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further.

As a nursing student, your student cover letter should emphasize your academic achievements, clinical experience, and commitment to patient care. Highlight specific skills you have learned during your studies and how they apply to the role you are seeking. Be sure to tailor the content to the specific facility’s values and mission.

Nursing Student Cover Letter Example

Professional RN Cover Letter Example

A professional RN cover letter reflects a seasoned nursing professional’s skills, expertise, and contributions to healthcare. Here’s an example:

I am writing to apply for the Registered Nurse position at [Healthcare Facility Name]. With [Number of Years] years of experience in various healthcare settings, I bring extensive knowledge, leadership skills, and a track record of improving patient outcomes.

At [Current or Previous Workplace], I spearheaded initiatives to [describe specific achievements, e.g., reduce patient readmission rates, improve staff training, enhance patient satisfaction]. My collaboration with multidisciplinary teams has been central to my success.

I am drawn to [Healthcare Facility Name] because of its [mention specific values, programs, or initiatives]. I believe I can contribute substantially to your goals as a Registered Nurse.

Enclosed is my resume for your review. I look forward to discussing how I can contribute to [Healthcare Facility Name].

For a Professional RN cover letter, emphasize your extensive nursing experience, leadership qualities, and specific achievements that demonstrate your value. Align your qualifications with the facility’s values and mission, and articulate how you can contribute positively to their team.

Professional RN Cover Letter Example

RN Cover Letter for Resume Example

When attaching an RN cover letter to your resume , ensure it complements the information in your resume and adds additional context. Here’s an example:

I am applying for the Registered Nurse position at [Healthcare Facility Name], as advertised. With a strong foundation in nursing practice and a commitment to patient-centered care, I believe I can be a valuable addition to your team.

In my current role at [Current Hospital or Clinic], I have had the opportunity to [describe specific responsibilities, achievements, or initiatives that align with the job description]. My ability to adapt to various clinical environments and collaborate effectively with healthcare professionals sets me apart.

I am impressed by [Healthcare Facility Name]’s [mention specific values, programs, or initiatives], and I see a strong alignment between your goals and my professional values.

Enclosed is my resume for your consideration. I look forward to discussing my qualifications further.

When crafting an RN cover letter for your resume, focus on how your qualifications and experience align with the specific role and the healthcare facility’s values. Provide examples that complement the information in your resume, offering additional insight into your skills, achievements, and professional interests.

RN Cover Letter for Resume Example

General RN Cover Letter Example

I am writing to apply for the Registered Nurse position at [Healthcare Facility Name]. With a rich background in nursing and a commitment to patient care, I bring a comprehensive skill set that I believe fits perfectly with your team’s values.

In my current role at [Current Healthcare Facility], I have honed my abilities in [mention skills such as patient care, team collaboration, record-keeping], contributing to an increase in patient satisfaction scores. My passion for nursing is reflected in my daily interaction with patients and healthcare professionals alike.

I admire [Healthcare Facility Name]’s approach to [mention specific values, programs, or initiatives], and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my expertise to such a dynamic environment.

Enclosed is my resume for your review. I look forward to discussing my qualifications further.

A general cover letter should be adaptable and applicable to various RN positions. Focus on key skills and experiences that demonstrate your versatility and commitment to patient care. Tailor your letter to the specific facility and role you are applying to, highlighting your alignment with their mission and values.

General RN Cover Letter Example

Postpartum RN Cover Letter Example

I am writing to express my interest in the Postpartum Registered Nurse position at [Healthcare Facility Name]. With specialized experience in postpartum care, I am dedicated to providing compassionate support to mothers and newborns during this critical period.

In my current position at [Current Hospital or Clinic], I have successfully managed the care of [number of patients] postpartum patients, focusing on [mention specific aspects such as monitoring vital signs, lactation support, emotional well-being]. My approach emphasizes education, empathy, and evidence-based practices.

I am particularly drawn to [Healthcare Facility Name] because of its commitment to [mention specific values, programs, or initiatives related to postpartum care]. I believe my skills and passion align perfectly with your goals.

When crafting a cover letter for a postpartum RN role, focus on your specialized skills and experiences in this area. Detail your approach to postpartum care and how you personalize it to meet the unique needs of each patient. Demonstrate your alignment with the facility’s values and initiatives related to maternal and newborn care.

Postpartum RN Cover Letter Example

Short RN Cover Letter Example

I am applying for the Registered Nurse position at [Healthcare Facility Name]. With [Number of Years] years of experience, I have honed my skills in patient care, team collaboration, and clinical judgment.

I admire [Healthcare Facility Name]’s commitment to [specific values or initiatives] and believe my expertise aligns with your goals.

Enclosed is my resume. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further.

A short cover letter should be concise yet impactful. Focus on key skills, experiences, and your alignment with the facility’s values. Though brief, ensure it conveys your enthusiasm and suitability for the role.

Short RN Cover Letter Example

Size: 26 KB

Nurse Practitioner RN Cover Letter Example

I am writing to apply for the Nurse Practitioner position at [Healthcare Facility Name]. As a Registered Nurse with advanced practice certification, I bring a combination of clinical expertise and leadership abilities to foster patient-centered care.

At [Current Healthcare Facility], I have taken on roles that involve [describe specific responsibilities and achievements such as diagnosing illnesses, prescribing treatments, mentoring staff]. My focus on evidence-based practice and continuous professional development has led to improved patient outcomes.

I am particularly drawn to [Healthcare Facility Name] due to its [mention specific values, programs, or initiatives]. I see great potential for contributing my skills and knowledge as a Nurse Practitioner to your esteemed organization.

When writing a cover letter for a Nurse Practitioner role, emphasize your advanced practice skills, leadership qualities, and commitment to evidence-based care. Detail specific achievements that demonstrate your capability in this advanced role and align your values with those of the healthcare facility.

Nurse Practitioner RN Cover Letter Example

Remote RN Cover Letter Example

[Hiring Manager’s Name] [Healthcare Organization Name] [Address] [City, State ZIP Code]

I am writing to apply for the Remote Registered Nurse position at [Healthcare Organization Name]. With extensive experience in telehealth and remote nursing, I bring a strong ability to provide compassionate and efficient care from a distance.

During my tenure at [Current Organization], I have managed [specific tasks such as patient consultations, telehealth appointments, remote monitoring], ensuring that patients receive timely and quality care. My skills in communication, technology, and patient education have proven essential in this role.

I admire [Healthcare Organization Name]’s innovative approach to remote healthcare, and I believe my expertise aligns perfectly with your goals and values.

Enclosed is my resume for your review. I look forward to discussing how I can contribute to your remote healthcare team.

A Remote RN cover letter should highlight your experience and skills specific to remote and telehealth nursing. Detail how you have adapted traditional nursing practices to a virtual environment and how your abilities align with the organization’s innovative healthcare approach.

Remote RN Cover Letter Example

RN Cover Letter for Job Application Example

I am writing to apply for the Registered Nurse position advertised at [Healthcare Facility Name]. My nursing background, clinical expertise, and commitment to patient-centered care make me a strong fit for this role.

In my previous role at [Former Healthcare Facility], I was responsible for [specific duties such as patient assessments, care planning, team coordination]. My success in these areas can be attributed to my dedication to continuous learning and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

What attracts me to [Healthcare Facility Name] is your focus on [mention specific values or initiatives]. I am confident that my skills and values align with those of your organization.

Please find my resume enclosed. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my qualifications further.

An RN cover letter for a job application should be tailored to the specific job posting. Focus on how your experience and skills align with the responsibilities and values mentioned in the advertisement. Make sure to express your enthusiasm for the role and how your background matches the facility’s needs.

RN Cover Letter for Job Application Example

Telehealth RN Cover Letter Example

I am writing to apply for the Telehealth Registered Nurse position at [Healthcare Organization Name]. With specialized experience in telehealth, I am adept at leveraging technology to provide patient care across distances.

At [Current Organization], I have led telehealth initiatives, conducting virtual consultations, monitoring patient progress, and educating patients on health management. My commitment to accessible healthcare aligns with [Healthcare Organization Name]’s mission to expand care to underserved communities.

I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to your telehealth team and help advance your innovative approach to healthcare.

Enclosed is my resume for your consideration.

A Telehealth RN cover letter should showcase your skills in virtual healthcare delivery. Highlight specific initiatives, experiences, and technologies you have worked with, and align your mission with the organization’s focus on accessible and innovative healthcare.

Telehealth RN Cover Letter Example

What do you write in a Cover Letter for a Registered Nurse Role?

When writing a cover letter for a Registered Nurse role, it’s crucial to address specific aspects of the nursing profession. Key points to include are:

1. Introduction: Introduce yourself and mention the nursing position you’re applying for. 2. Professional Experience: Highlight your relevant nursing experience, skills, and areas of specialization. 3. Education and Certifications: Mention your nursing degree and any specialized certifications. 4. Compassion and Commitment: Emphasize your dedication to patient care and healing. 5. Alignment with Organization’s Values: Research the healthcare facility’s mission and express how it resonates with your professional ethos. 6. Call to Action: Include a closing statement expressing your desire for an interview or further discussion.

How Do I Write a Cover Letter for a Registered Nurse?

Writing a cover letter for a Registered Nurse role requires a focused approach. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Start with Research: Understand the specific needs and values of the healthcare organization. 2. Use Professional Tone and Format: Keep the tone professional and follow a standard cover letter format. 3. Highlight Relevant Skills: Focus on nursing skills like patient care, clinical expertise, team collaboration, and any specialized training. 4. Showcase Accomplishments: Provide examples of your successes in previous roles. 5. Personalize Your Cover Letter: Tailor your cover letter to the specific RN position, referencing the job posting.

Tips for Writing a Registered Nurse Cover Letter

Writing a standout Registered Nurse cover letter requires careful consideration. Here are some specific tips:

1. Be Specific and Concise: Clearly articulate your qualifications without unnecessary filler. 2. Use Action Verbs: Utilize action verbs like ‘administered,’ ‘coordinated,’ ‘led,’ to demonstrate your experiences. 3. Include Real Examples: Share tangible examples of how you’ve impacted patient care or improved processes. 4. Express Passion for Nursing: Show your genuine passion for nursing and commitment to patient wellbeing. 5. Proofread Carefully: Ensure there are no typos or grammatical errors.

Crafting a compelling Registered Nurse cover letter involves articulating your professional experience, passion, and alignment with the healthcare organization’s mission. It serves as a personalized introduction that demonstrates why you are the ideal candidate for the role.

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COMMENTS

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