resume sample nurses experience

Build my resume

• Resume builder
• Build a better resume in minutes
• Resume examples
• 2,000+ examples that work in 2024
• Resume templates
• 184 free templates for all levels
• Cover letters
• Cover letter generator
• It's like magic, we promise
• Cover letter examples
• Free downloads in Word & Docs

28 Nursing Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

• Nursing Resumes
• Nursing Student Resumes
• Nursing Resumes by Credentials
• Nursing Resumes by Role

Writing Your Nursing Resume

Although the demand for nurses is growing, getting a job in the nursing industry isn’t easy, especially if you’re making a start or submitting a letter of resignation at your current position. 

How are you supposed to know how to  write a stunning resume  so employers will immediately want to hire you and create a cover letter detailing your accomplishments? 

Getting into the nursing field is tough, so  we analyzed dozens of nursing resumes to learn what works and what doesn’t to help you get a great nursing job .

No matter your specialty or where you’re in your nursing career, we’ve got 28 nursing resume samples to help you  build a resume  from scratch or update your current resume to get you your next nursing job in 2024!

Nursing Resume

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• One of the quickest ways to do so is by including your licenses in your title. This clearly signals to the employer that you’re qualified for the position.
• Adding an optional licenses section is another way to demonstrate your abilities, so if you have the room, make sure to add that section.
• Instead, tailor your resume to the  nursing job description . What keywords did they list? What responsibilities do they expect you to complete? Use this as your guide to include what employers most want to see.

Experienced Nurse Resume

• Some professions require CVs for senior-level officials, while other industries are fine with a resume no matter their seniority level. Check the job description to see what kind of information the employer requires, so you know what to write.
• Try to demonstrate the different specific responsibilities you’ve had throughout your career. What kinds of clinical techniques have you done? For example, have you assisted with ADLs, administered particular tests, or diagnosed specific types of diseases?

Nursing Student Resume

• The key is to be specific about what you contributed or learned during your time in school.
• How did you assist your peers or supervisors? Did you witness anything especially noteworthy? What did you learn? Listing details like these helps employers qualify your abilities. 
• While an objective is strictly optional, it’s a great way to convey your excitement for the position and some of your relevant skills. 

New Grad Nursing Resume

• If you lack experience, that’s okay! Just include more details about your clinical rotations. You can also mention non-healthcare-specific work experience if you have it.
• For example, does the job description talk a lot about compassionate care? Then you should include the phrase “compassion” in your skills section.

• As you progress, unleash quantified achievements in your previous roles, emphasizing how you helped patients and improved outcomes (hint: reducing medication errors by 28% and enhancing patient safety).

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Resume

• In addition to your title, if you have any certifications or additional licenses, include them on your resume in a designated section.
• If you’re struggling to know what to write on your CNA resume, it can help to look at  CNA resume examples  and local CNA job descriptions to determine what employers want to see and what metrics to include. 

RN BSN Resume

• Go beyond helping patients and list all the times you’ve helped doctors treat a condition more quickly or improved after-surgery recovery rates. Add how you’ve endeavored to assist patients remotely during tough times (if any) such as providing remote sessions during COVID-19.

Registered Nurse Resume

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Resume

• If your current specialization is different from the job description, don’t stress! You should still be specific about your experience, but focus on transferable skills that go hand-in-hand with other fields.
• For example, do you specialize in long-term care, nephrology, or developmental disabilities? Include how you applied those abilities throughout your LPN resume.
• Of course, you need to include where you got your nursing degree, but don’t stop there! Adding a certifications or licenses section can show off your training and catch a hiring manager’s eye quickly.

Critical Care Nursing Resume

• Gain promotion and assume a new role with greater responsibility after that. Use this to show your dedication by backing your achievements with numbers.

Director of Nursing Resume

• List down all the variety of software you’re proficient in and write how you’ve used each right from the beginning of your career. Last but not least, never forget to add your RN license!

NICU Nurse Resume

• Use the career objective to frame your clinical experience through the lens of NICU by highlighting your ability to communicate with families or work in high-pressure environments.

Operating Room Nurse Resume

• Surgeons are always seeking cutting-edge technology that can unlock new medical capabilities. Showcase your expertise in working with these innovative systems—like robotic arms—to enhance your operating room nurse resume .

School Nurse Resume

• Are you skilled in using platforms specific to educational institutions, such as SchoolMessenger? Include them on your school nurse resume to prove that you’re prepared to handle the caseload.

Telemetry Nurse Resume

• You can bolster your telemetry nurse resume by listing any special certifications that further qualify you for the task, such as Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS).

Nurse Practitioner Resume

• The best format for nurses in 2024 is the reverse-chronological format since it shows how you’ve grown your skills over the years. However, if you have a gap in your job experience, there are other formats you can use to disguise that.
• Adding a few splashes of color to your  nurse practitioner resume  makes it look prettier and helps readability. Just be sure to choose a color that is easy on the eye (no neons, please).

ICU Nurse Resume

• To avoid the fear of the blank page, start by using a  resume outline  to give you a basic structure to follow and show you what your finished resume should look like.
• So, when you’re writing the work experience bullet points, use general responsibilities like “provided effective care”), but be specific about how you helped your patients (and what resulted from your ministrations). 

Travel Nurse Resume

• To help stand out above the competition, clarify your work experience sections so employers know if you’ve had traveling nurse contracts or not. 
• More likely than not, you don’t need a resume objective or summary, nor do you need to list individual projects. Remember that you can go into more detail about achievements and skills in your  nursing cover letter .

Charge Nurse Resume

• For example, have you had the opportunity to manage or lead co-workers? Have you ever trained a nurse and oversaw scheduling? Be specific about how you’ve managed projects and people and what resulted from your leadership.
• Want to know a quick and easy way to write a  charge nurse resume ? Start by using a  resume template  to format your information, then fill in the blanks with specific details about your past experience and skills.

Chief Nursing Officer Resume

• This formatting showcases your career growth and leadership development by highlighting your most recent (and likely most relevant) job. 
• We recommend you include six to 10 skills, with at least 70 percent hard skills such as BLS, QA/QC, federal compliance, and fiscal health analysis.

Telehealth Nurse Resume

• Luckily, there are multiple  resume tips  you can incorporate to make your resume a cut above the rest, including choosing specific hard skills in your skills section and formatting your resume in reverse-chronological order.
• If you have a degree higher than a high school diploma, ignore your high school information since employers don’t need it. If you have multiple nursing degrees, include all of them.

Nurse Consultant Resume

• Use business-related numbers like sales growth or revenue/profit increases to demonstrate your worth as an employee.
• Don’t forget to add other sections to showcase your training and certifications.
• If you decide to include these sections, keep them brief and include only what’s relevant to the job you’re seeking.

Office Nurse Resume

• Do your homework on the environment you’re applying to work in, and ensure you showcase why you’re a good fit for that specific job. After all, an ER unit with high patient turnover may be much more interested in your high-efficiency standards than an in-home clinic that consistently services a much smaller patient load.
• Sure, your resume may look good when you finish writing it, but have you run it through a  resume checker  yet? You might not realize you’ve been using passive voice or inconsistent punctuation, and even though you’re not applying for a job as an English Teacher, a hiring manager won’t be thrilled if you overlook little details when they’re going to literally put lives in your hands.

Home Dialysis Nurse Resume

• Unfortunately, as much as it may be interesting for you to look back over your life history, most hiring managers won’t be quite as thrilled about the prospect. Adding a career summary to your resume can give recruiters the highlights, without drowning them in a sea of information.
• Trust us on this, nothing bothers a hiring manager more than a resume that is 1.01 pages long.

ER Nurse Resume

• Certifications like the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) depict that you’ve done the work and undergone the rigorous training needed to be an ER nurse.

Labor and Delivery Nurse Resume

• If you’ve spent your time outside work organizing events to promote women’s health and reproductive rights, it’s a powerful statement that shows your passion and commitment and deserves to be mentioned in your resume.

Nurse Manager Resume

• If you’re well versed with a particular HR management tool or medical management software, it’s one less thing a hospital or healthcare center will have to train you on.

Pediatric Nurse Resume

• An extensive program, like a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, from an esteemed institute like Johns Hopkins University, for example, is a worthy inclusion in your pediatric nurse resume , demonstrating that you’ve learned from the best.

Related resume guides

• Physician Assistant
• Dental Assistant

Hiring managers typically receive a torrent of resumes whenever there’s an open position, so if you prepare your nursing resume haphazardly, you are more likely to get the boot than the job. To avoid that sad scenario, you need to make your nursing resume readable, logical, and pleasing to the eye. It should showcase your skills and experience while being ATS-compliant, and it should show off a bit of your personality, too. 

It make sound like an impossible task, but before your get overwhelmed, start by taking it one step at a time. First, choose your formatting style: reverse-chronological, functional, or hybrid.

Reverse-chronological, functional, and combination/hybrid format

A well-structured resume is essential for your job search. Even if your resume has perfect content, if your resume isn’t easy to skim at a glance, it’s unlikely you’ll be called for an interview. Your content matters, but so does  how  you present that content. Therefore, proper  resume formatting  is a salient feature you don’t want to get wrong.

There are three popular formatting options for designing your resume in 2024: reverse-chronological, functional, and hybrid. 

• Focuses more on your skills
• Ideal for a recent graduate or an entry-level candidate
• Reverse-chronological format
• The most common format
• Lists relevant experiences and skills in reverse-chronological order
• The best for making it past the ATS
• Combines functional and reverse-chronological features
• Highlights both your skills and experience
• Ideal if you have a handful of experience or are re-entering the workforce

The best bet for a nursing resume would be the reverse-chronological format. This helps the recruiter see your upward career progression. If you started as an intern in a given health organization, and then moved up the career ladder to become a full-fledged nurse, your potential employer will be able to track your progression and assess your qualifications faster.

Contact header

It’s important to include the relevant contact header information in the right order. If you’re a nurse, your   contact header should have the following:

• Your name —Employers won’t automatically know you, so you need to include your first and last name. 
• Phone number —Use your personal cellphone number instead of a work phone in case a potential employer calls when you’re not on the job.
• Email address —Include a professional email address, preferably combining your first and last name.
• City & state —This is optional but recommended so employers know if you’re local. 
• LinkedIn —Some employers require your LinkedIn profile, but even if it’s not mandatory, it’s helpful for employers to see your career progression.

The contact header should be, you guessed it, at the top of the page. Good font choices are Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri, all at 12 point size. When it comes to color, remain conservative with black and white. Some  resume templates  can format your resume to strikingly display your contact information, just like this header:

Will your nursing resume beat the ATS?

Optimizing your resume for the Application Tracking System (ATS) increases your chances of being called for an interview. The ATS is a tool that many companies use to quickly scan resumes and weed out applicants without relying on someone to read through them first.

Most resumes aren’t designed to beat ATS, and end up being filtered out before they ever reach the recruiter. However, if you know how to properly  format your resume , you’ll pass the ATS scan and make your way to a person. Here’s what you should know about the role of fonts, font size, margins, header names, logical order, skills, and page length, as far as ATS-friendly resumes are concerned:

• ATS-friendly fonts make it easy for a computer to read your resume. Some of the most commonly used ATS-friendly fonts include: Times New Roman, Calibri, and Arial. Preferably, they should have a font size of 10-12 points.
• Beyond just font type, font size also matters. Preferably, your body font size should be 10-12 points, while your headers can be bigger.
• Margins also matter, since the ATS automatically assumes your margins are the standard size of one-inch all around. Any bigger or smaller, and the ATS might mis-read your resume.
• Keywords are the main focus of the ATS, so make sure your skill keywords and header names match what’s in the job description.
• The ATS is not sensitive to the number of pages, but one page is the standard across professions. 

Writing your nursing resume

Putting together an effective nursing resume may seem overwhelming and not worth your effort. However, putting in the extra effort now will pay off when you get an interview. And remember, you’re not doing this alone. We’re dedicated to helping you  write an amazing resume  by providing advice on common frustrating decisions like this:

• When an objective is most useful on your nursing resume
• When a summary can be the preferred choice
• How to list your most relevant nursing work history
• Adding volunteer work and academic endeavors when work history is light

Do you need an objective or summary on your nursing resume?

When crafting your nursing resume, you have the option to use career objectives and summaries.

When to include a career objective in your resume:

• You can use an objective when changing or modifying your career.
• For instance, if you plan to change from a surgical assistant registered nurse to an emergency room registered nurse, you’d use an objective to highlight that you’re pursuing a new subfield within nursing.
• Use a career objective if you’re looking for an entry-level job and lack experience. 

When a summary is right for your resume:

• Use a summary to highlight your most valuable experience and skills. These are ideal when you have vast experience in nursing.
• For example, if you’ve worked in a health setting for 10 or more years, you can include a summary.
• A summary is effective for connecting varied work experiences.

When not to use objectives or summaries:

• Skip the objective or summary if you’re not planning to customize it to each position you apply for. Otherwise, it’s generic filler that takes up too much white space.
• This lacks specificity and reads “I just need a job to pay the bills.” While that may be true, employers want to know you’re passionate about your work and will improve your workplace.
• This lacks depth and work history details that should hallmark a summary. It’s void of substantial expertise, specializations, and skill specifics.

When objectives or summaries are worth including:

• This objective highlights the years of experience and the candidate’s field of expertise while also naming the potential employer.
• This summary highlights their years of experience, the key areas they’ve worked in, and their specialities within those fields.

Nursing work experience?

Don’t forget to indicate relevant experience in your resume. While we wouldn’t recommend including every job you’ve had since you were 16, you can get away with adding work experience from different fields if you’re an entry-level candidate.

However, if you’re applying for a senior position, you’ll need to include at least  three  nursing positions on your resume, especially if you’re applying for a managerial or specialty position. For instance, a director of care management requires nine years of experience, four of which must be managerial.

Conversely, a registered nurse position may require one year of direct patient care. The responsibilities, in this case, are not very demanding. If you lack experience overall, you can include any academic projects and volunteer work that is relevant to the  nursing job description .

Writing your job experience bullet points for your nursing resume

Three examples of poor job experience bullet points for nurses:

• Generally, you should avoid using “I,” and you should include specifics, not just generic statements of experience.
• This bullet includes “I” and lacks job specifics and quantifiable metrics.
• Although it may sound nice on the surface, it doesn’t answer exactly what the patient did and the results of their work.

Three examples of good job experience bullet points for nurses:

• This uses an action verb combined with quantifiable metrics.
• Again, this uses an action verb but furthermore, it describes exactly what the candidate provided (primary care training). 
• Specific, pertinent job duties show employers your skills and can also help you pass the ATS; two thumbs up for this one!

Quantify your impact as a nurse

When preparing your resume, remember that no employer wants to waste time reading vague statements about your performance. Instead, they want to see supporting details. So, whenever you can, you should quantify your impact and achievements.

For instance, if you say you “served many patients daily,” a potential employer might wonder about the exact number because ‘many’ is a relative term.

Examples of how to quantify metrics:

Suppose the  nursing job description  asks for a training specialist who can train other nurses. In that case, you can indicate the number of training sessions you conducted per day in your previous employment.

• Number of clinical training sessions per day
• Trained 75% of new hires on pre and postoperative care >20 days per month

Some of the health facilities labor under tremendous pressure. The number of patients you serve per day can help potential employers gauge whether you will cope well under pressure. So, it’s lucrative to include the number of patients you served per a specific amount of time.

• Number of patients served in a day 
• Worked in a setting with a 6:1 patient-nurse ratio, receiving 400+ visitors per day

Top skills for your nursing resume

It’s helpful to understand the differences between hard and soft skills to list in your  resume skills section . Keep the number of skills you list in between six and 10 to avoid overwhelming the reader.

Hard skills are those tools you use to do the job, aka technical abilities that require training. 

Examples of hard skills:

• ERM systems
• Medical documentation
• Infant and child care
• Emergency care
• Ambulatory care
• CPR certified

On the other hand, soft skills are abilities that are harder to quantify and are more personality-based.

Examples of soft skills:

• Communication 
• Professionalism
• Positive attitude

Get noticed! Look for keywords within a job description:

• Many companies use ATS to scan resumes for keywords from the job description, so it’s in your best interest to include the right keywords.
• Include keywords in both your  nursing cover letter  and resume. 
• Choosing keywords from the job description helps you customize your resume and thus, makes you more appealing to the hiring manager.
• Employing the right keywords makes your resume relevant and noticeable, giving you an edge over the competition.

Nursing education and certifications

When preparing your nursing resume, include all the elements that will increase your chances of getting the job. You need to indicate the following:

• Your education level
• Any certifications or licenses
• Your experience in other nursing environments
• Your years of experience as a nurse

On the topic of licenses, you need to share your area of specialization. Specialists include registered nurses (RNs), certified registered nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists. Including your area(s) of expertise helps potential employers determine whether you’re the right candidate for the job.

Besides, including this information is easy to do and shouldn’t take up much space! Simply place certifications and licenses in a short section toward the bottom of your resume: 

Should you add projects, interests, or hobbies to your nursing resume?

Most of the time, you don’t need to include projects or  interests/hobbies on your resume . However, you may be able to add them depending on your level of experience and the type of role you’re seeking.

If you’re an experienced nurse, you’ve likely gained tangible experience that’s more important than undergraduate projects you’ve completed. Instead, you should highlight your key areas of experience and show your new employer how you’ll impact their business.

In the same vein, you may not need to indicate your hobbies or interests unless it’s encouraged. However, you can gain an advantage over the competition if you have strong qualifications and hobbies that match the company culture. 

To help you determine whether or not to include hobbies, visit the company’s website and read the “About Us” section to gauge whether they have a unique cultural fit. 

If you’re an entry-level candidate or a recent graduate, listing hobbies and projects can help you fill space and showcase your personality. However, it’s always good to review the job description to ensure these additions are relevant. Either way, keep the project and hobbies lists short and at the bottom of your resume.

Examples of hobbies/interests:

• Volunteering for community health services
• Learning new languages

Examples of projects:

• Organized and led breast cancer awareness campaign for two consecutive semesters
• Researched mental and psychiatric issues for semester-long experiment

Adjust your nursing resume for every job application

Remember to customize your resume when applying for a new job. Even if you’re only applying for specific roles, like LPN jobs, that doesn’t mean every job description for that title requires the same qualifications. There’s usually something unique to each position. Thus, for every application, make sure you tailor the following sections:

• (These can stay mostly the same, but you should adjust responsibilities and keywords slightly.)

To recap, each job description comes with different skill requisites. Furthermore, remember to note keywords you can use within the body of your resume and cover letter.

Your nursing resume must be error-free

As a nurse, you need to show the hiring manager that you’re observant and have an eye for detail. Remember, you’ll be working with patients and should demonstrate accuracy and precision. To ensure a flawless resume, run your document through a  resume checker  and have your colleagues proofread it. Don’t let typos cost you a job!

Confidently land your next Nursing gig

Many job seekers languish in the job market, especially considering the number of nursing graduates produced by universities each year and the fierce competition. So, you must be creative and savvy to survive the market. Happily, you’ve already taken the first steps by reading this guide, so congratulations!

We know you’ve worked hard to get this far, and we wish you all the best as you write a power-packed nursing resume and get ready for interviews in 2024! 

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.

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.

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?

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 

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

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

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.

By clicking download, you agree to receive email newsletters and special offers from Nurse.org. You may unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe link, found at the bottom of every email.

Your request has been received. Thanks!

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: 

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:

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:

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.

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.

Plus, get exclusive access to discounts for nurses, stay informed on the latest nurse news, and learn how to take the next steps in your career.

By clicking “Join Now”, you agree to receive email newsletters and special offers from Nurse.org. We will not sell or distribute your email address to any third party, and you may unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe link, found at the bottom of every email.

Resume Worded   |  Proven Resume Examples

• Resume Examples
• Medical Resumes
• Nursing Resume Guide & Examples

Experienced Nurse Resume Examples: Proven To Get You Hired In 2024

Experienced Nurse Resume Template

Download in google doc, word or pdf for free. designed to pass resume screening software in 2022., experienced nurse resume sample.

As an experienced nurse, you've seen it all. You're the backbone of the healthcare system, working long hours to care for patients and being a team leader. In recent years, the healthcare industry has seen a growth in roles that require experienced nurses due to an aging population and the increasing complexity of care. When tailoring your resume for this role, it's important to highlight your experience, specialized skills, and the results you've achieved. While the pandemic has put nursing roles in the spotlight, it's also crucial to show how you adapted during these challenging times. Hiring managers are looking for nurses who can handle crises, adapt to changes quickly, and take a lead role in a team. Showcase your resilience and leadership skills in your resume and make sure it feels personal. No two nursing roles are ever the same, just as no two resumes should ever be identical.

We're just getting the template ready for you, just a second left.

Recruiter Insight: Why this resume works in 2022

Tips to help you write your experienced nurse resume in 2024,    highlight your specialized skills.

As an experienced nurse, you've no doubt gained some specialized skills. Perhaps you're an expert in critical care, or you've got a knack for pediatric nursing. Highlight these specialties on your resume. Not only do they showcase your experience, but they also show you're a nurse with a wider skill set.

   Show off your leadership skills

In a job where difficult decisions are made daily, leadership is crucial. You may have mentored new nurses, spearheaded a new initiative, or simply taken charge in a crisis. Show hiring managers you're not just a team player, but a potential team leader. It's these qualities that differentiate experienced nurses from the rest.

As an experienced nurse, you’ll want to emphasize your experience in the field and advanced skill set. You may find yourself moving into positions of leadership or other increased responsibilities, which means highlighting transferable skills and evidence of solid career progression. Your accomplishments are key — instead of listing as many bullet points as you can, consider your most impressive achievements, particularly ones that demonstrate leadership and commitment.

   Bullet points feature strong action verbs to highlight nursing accomplishments

Choosing the right action verb is key to presenting your accomplishments in a positive, proactive light. Verbs like “assisted” and “collaborated” show your ability to work well in a large healthcare team, while ones like “organized,” “coordinated,” and “spearheaded” emphasize your willingness to take on leadership roles and higher-level responsibilities.

   Emphasize career growth in the nursing field

As you move on to more experienced roles, you’ll want to emphasize career progression in your resume. You can demonstrate growth through your job titles, bullet points, or both. Even if you haven’t been formally promoted or your job titles don’t show an obvious progression, you can make this clear by highlighting increased responsibilities in your accomplishments.

Clinical Nurse Manager Resume Sample

Nursing officer resume sample, clinical nurse consultant resume sample, nurse unit manager resume sample.

• Experienced Nurse Resume Tips

We spoke with experienced nurse recruiters and hiring managers at top healthcare organizations like Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Cleveland Clinic to gather their best tips for experienced nurse resumes. Here's what they shared:

   Quantify your nursing achievements

Numbers speak louder than words. Whenever possible, use specific metrics to showcase your accomplishments:

• Managed a 20-bed ICU unit with a 95% patient satisfaction rate
• Reduced catheter-associated urinary tract infections by 30% through implementing a new protocol
• Trained and mentored 15 new graduate nurses

Quantifying your achievements helps hiring managers understand the scope and impact of your work.

   Tailor your resume to the specific role

Avoid using the same generic resume for every job application. Instead:

• Read the job description carefully and identify the key skills and experience required
• Highlight your most relevant qualifications that match the job requirements
• Use similar language and terminology as the job posting

Tailoring your resume shows the hiring manager that you're a strong fit for the specific role and increases your chances of getting an interview.

   Showcase your specialized nursing skills

As an experienced nurse, you likely have specialized skills in certain areas. Make sure to highlight these on your resume:

• Proficient in caring for high-risk obstetrics patients
• Skilled in managing ventilated patients and titrating drips
• Experienced in caring for post-operative orthopedic patients

Avoid simply listing basic nursing skills that every nurse has:

• Vital signs
• Medication administration
• Patient assessment

Instead, focus on the specialized skills that set you apart from other candidates.

   Include relevant certifications and credentials

Certifications demonstrate your expertise and commitment to professional development. Be sure to include any relevant certifications you have earned:

• CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse)
• CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse)
• OCN (Oncology Certified Nurse)

List your certifications in a separate section on your resume to make them easy for hiring managers to find. Also, include the expiration date if applicable to show that your certification is current.

   Highlight your leadership experience

As an experienced nurse, you may have taken on leadership roles such as:

• Charge nurse responsible for overseeing a 30-bed med-surg unit
• Preceptor for 10 new graduate nurses during their orientation
• Unit council representative collaborating with management on quality improvement initiatives

Leadership experience is highly valued by employers, as it demonstrates your ability to take on additional responsibility and mentor others. If you have served in any leadership capacities, make sure to include them prominently on your resume.

   Show your career progression

Hiring managers want to see that you have progressed in your nursing career over time. Make sure your resume reflects your professional growth:

2018-Present: ICU Nurse, City Hospital 2016-2018: ER Nurse, County Medical Center 2014-2016: Med-Surg Nurse, Regional Health System

By showing your career progression, you demonstrate your ability to take on increasing levels of responsibility and advance in your nursing career.

In contrast, a resume that shows a stagnant career progression may raise red flags:

2012-Present: Staff Nurse, ABC Hospital 2010-2012: Staff Nurse, XYZ Clinic 2008-2010: Staff Nurse, 123 Nursing Home

If you have held the same position for many years without any advancement, consider highlighting how your responsibilities and skills have grown in the role over time.

Skills For Experienced Nurse Resumes

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

• Patient Safety
• Nursing Process
• Quality Improvement
• Medical-Surgical
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Public Health
• Strategic Planning

Skills Word Cloud For Experienced Nurse Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Experienced 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.

How to use these skills?

Similar resume templates, case manager.

Occupational Therapist

• Quality Control Resume Guide
• Clinical Research Resume Guide
• Medical Billing Resume Guide
• Nursing Resume Guide
• SLP Resume Guide

Resume Guide: Detailed Insights From Recruiters

• Nursing Resume Guide & Examples for 2022

Improve your Experienced Nurse resume, instantly.

Use our free resume checker to get expert feedback on your resume. You will:

•  Get a resume score compared to other Experienced Nurse resumes in your industry.

•  Fix all your resume's mistakes.

•  Find the Experienced Nurse skills your resume is missing.

•  Get rid of hidden red flags the hiring managers and resume screeners look for.

It's instant, free and trusted by 1+ million job seekers globally. Get a better resume, guaranteed .

Experienced Nurse Resumes

• Template #1: Experienced Nurse
• Template #2: Experienced Nurse
• Template #3: Experienced Nurse
• Template #4: Clinical Nurse Manager
• Template #5: Nursing Officer
• Template #6: Clinical Nurse Consultant
• Template #7: Nurse Unit Manager
• Skills for Experienced Nurse Resumes
• Free Experienced Nurse Resume Review
• Similar Nursing Resume Templates
• Other Medical Resumes
• Experienced Nurse Interview Guide
• Experienced Nurse Sample Cover Letters
• Nursing - 2024 Resume Guide
• Alternative Careers to a Nursing Manager
• All Resumes
• Resume Action Verbs

Download this PDF template.

Creating an account is free and takes five seconds. you'll get access to the pdf version of this resume template., choose an option..

• Have an account? Sign in

E-mail Please enter a valid email address This email address hasn't been signed up yet, or it has already been signed up with Facebook or Google login.

Password Show Your password needs to be between 6 and 50 characters long, and must contain at least 1 letter and 1 number. It looks like your password is incorrect.

Remember me

Forgot your password?

Sign up to get access to Resume Worded's Career Coaching platform in less than 2 minutes

Name Please enter your name correctly

E-mail Remember to use a real email address that you have access to. You will need to confirm your email address before you get access to our features, so please enter it correctly. Please enter a valid email address, or another email address to sign up. We unfortunately can't accept that email domain right now. This email address has already been taken, or you've already signed up via Google or Facebook login. We currently are experiencing a very high server load so Email signup is currently disabled for the next 24 hours. Please sign up with Google or Facebook to continue! We apologize for the inconvenience!

Password Show Your password needs to be between 6 and 50 characters long, and must contain at least 1 letter and 1 number.

Receive resume templates, real resume samples, and updates monthly via email

By continuing, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Lost your password? Please enter the email address you used when you signed up. We'll send you a link to create a new password.

E-mail This email address either hasn't been signed up yet, or you signed up with Facebook or Google. This email address doesn't look valid.

Back to log-in

These professional templates are optimized to beat resume screeners (i.e. the Applicant Tracking System). You can download the templates in Word, Google Docs, or PDF. For free (limited time).

   access samples from top resumes, get inspired by real bullet points that helped candidates get into top companies.,    get a resume score., find out how effective your resume really is. you'll get access to our confidential resume review tool which will tell you how recruiters see your resume..

Writing an effective resume has never been easier .

Upgrade to resume worded pro to unlock your full resume review., get this resume template (+ 43 others), plus proven bullet points., for a small one-time fee, you'll get everything you need to write a winning resume in your industry., here's what you'll get:.

• 📄 Get the editable resume template in Google Docs + Word . Plus, you'll also get all 43 other templates .
• ✍️ Get sample bullet points that worked for others in your industry . Copy proven lines and tailor them to your resume.
• 🎯 Optimized to pass all resume screeners (i.e. ATS) . All templates have been professionally designed by recruiters and 100% readable by ATS.

Buy now. Instant delivery via email.

  instant access. one-time only., what's your email address.

I had a clear uptick in responses after using your template. I got many compliments on it from senior hiring staff, and my resume scored way higher when I ran it through ATS resume scanners because it was more readable. Thank you!

Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.

Nurse Resume Example & How-to Guide for 2024

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:

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. 

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 .

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

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.

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)

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

• • Managed 3 RNs and 5 CNAs for an 18-bed unit on an acute care unit
• • Performed infection control in 5 different patient care units
• • Provided education and emotional support for trauma to 50+ patients
• • Created meal plans for 100+ patients
• • Managed the medical records and personal care for 600+ patients
• • Completed and recorded vital signs and led the activities of daily living for 200+ patients weekly
• • Formulated medical assessments, diagnoses and plan-of-care for 100+ patients
• • Assisted patients with limited mobility in all necessary movement
• • Maintained 96% positive patient scores for compassion and empathy
• • Performed CPR, BLS and ACLS to 20+ patients combined
• • Provided direct patient care to 100+ adult and geriatric patients in various telemetry settings
• • Completed 6 weeks of clinical simulation training
• • Helped 100+ patients by giving health education
• • Created a safe and warm environment for a group of 200+ young patients
• • Oversaw a 33-bed acute care unit and administered medications

30 Nurse Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Customize this resume with ease using our seamless online resume builder.

All resume examples in this guide

New Grad Nurse

Nurse Assistant

Aesthetic Nurse

Agency Nurse

Clinical Nurse

Clinical Research Nurse

Company Nurse

Critical Care Nurse

Dental Nurse

Hemodialysis Nurse

Infection Control Nurse

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Medical Surgical Nurse

Nurse Anesthetist

Nurse Practitioner

Occupational Health Nurse

Pediatric Nurse

Perioperative Nurse

Practice Nurse

School Nurse

Staff Nurse

Surgical Nurse

Telemetry Nurse

Travel Nurse

Veterinary Nurse

Nurse Manager

Nurse Educator

Charge Nurse

Registered Nurse resume example

Resume Guide

Nurse Resume Example

Resume Format

Resume Experience

Hard & Soft Skills

Certifications & Education

Resume Summary & Objective

Additional Resume Sections

Key Takeaways

By Experience

Nursing is a noble and fulfilling profession that most enter for the love of providing high-quality, compassionate patient care, rather than to build an impressive resume.

Highlighting professional skills, qualifications, and achievements can be difficult for humble , patient -care focused nurses . However, it’s a crucial first step to secure a position where you can make a meaningful impact on patient’s lives in the competitive healthcare field.

This  guide, including examples and protips, aims to simplify the process of transforming your nursing resume from merely a document to a powerful narrative showcasing your expertise and telling the story of your passion for healing that resonates with recruiters.

While this resume guide will provide best practices for the nursing field in general, check out these additional resumes for particular nursing specializations.

• ER nurse resume  
• Dental nurse resume
• Charge nurse resume
• ICU nurse resume
• Head nurse resume
• Nurse manager resume  
• Pediatric nurse resume
• Registered nurse cover letter

Nurse  resume example

Here’s what this applicant does well in their resume:

• Clinical experience and leadership: Highlights 8 years of experience as a Registered Nurse, showcasing leadership by managing a team of RNs and CNAs, which is crucial for the role.
• Specific skills and certifications: Emphasizes key nursing skills and certifications like CPR, BLS, and ACLS, which are essential for patient care and safety.
• Diverse patient care and education: Demonstrates versatility in nursing by providing details of working in different patient care units, offering emotional support and health education to a diverse patient population.

How to format a nurse  resume

The nursing job market can be quite competitive. That’s why utilizing every aspect of your resume for optimal impact, including formatting, is crucial.

Formatting is your first opportunity to draw attention and make an impression on employers. To ensure your resume is well-organized, professional, and memorable, consider the following formatting best practices:

• Creative Elements -   Include creative elements  like colors and decorative patterns to make your resume unique and memorable.
• Header Content - A prominent header  featuring your name, desired job title, and contact information  lets employers know who you are at a glance.  
• Ordering -  Listing all section examples in reverse chronological order  ensures your most recent and, therefore, relevant certifications and experiences appear first.

Understanding the role of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) is critical, especially in nursing, where job demands may vary considerably from position to position.

ATS analyzes text on resumes, looking for precise keywords or phrases corresponding to skills and qualifications needed for a particular job. Employers use these systems to quickly sort and prioritize resumes to view the most qualified candidates. ATS-optimized formatting enables ATS to recognize and parse the information on your resume accurately, improving the likelihood it reaches the employer.

Here’s what’s considered “best practices” for ATS-optimized formatting on your resume:

• Fonts - Select ATS-friendly fonts matching the overall style of your resume. Some ATS-friendly fonts are Calibri, Arial, and Times New Roman. However, by employing these overused fonts, you may miss a chance to make your resume stand out. For interesting, modern font options with great readability, try Rubik, Lato, Montserrat, Raleway, Exo 2, or Volkhov, all available on the Enhancv Resume Builder.
• Document Type - Doc or PDF files  are typical for resumes and most easily analyzed by ATS.
• Creative Elements in Text - Avoid using nonessential stylistic features within text. Elements such as emojis and non-standard date formats can impede ATS’ ability to recognize information in these sections.
• Headings and Subheadings - Ensure resume sections are logically organized and include simple, precise headings. Standard section titles ensure ATS accurately recognizes and extracts information from these sections.

Is your resume good enough?

Drop your resume here or choose a file . PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.

To improve the organization and ATS optimization of your resume, include the following top-recommended sections,

The top sections on a nurse's resume:

• Professional Experience: Demonstrates the nurse's clinical skills and healthcare knowledge.
• Education: Highlights relevant nursing education and certifications.
• Licenses and Certifications: Showcases the nurse's qualifications and legal ability to practice.
• Clinical Skills: Details specific medical nursing skills, demonstrating job suitability.
• Awards and Recognitions: Reflects the nurse's excellence and dedication in nursing.

While all nurses have unique backgrounds and qualifications, recruiters specifically seek out candidates that mention particular skills and abilities. Include the following qualifications within your resume sections to ensure your resume gets noticed:

What recruiters want to see on your resume:

• Medical Skills: Recruiters prioritize these skills because they demonstrate a nurse's capacity to effectively handle the health needs of patients and respond appropriately in emergencies.
• Interpersonal Skills: Soft skills like empathy, communication, and patient advocacy are sought after as they are vital in providing quality patient care.
• Certification and Licensure: These are important to hiring managers as they confirm the individual has met the required nursing standards to practice in the state, ensuring patient safety.
• Specific Training or Specialization: Recruiters value these as they demonstrate a nurse's expertise in specific areas of patient care necessary in particular departments or units.
• Clinical Experience: This is prioritized as it provides evidence of a nurse's ability to effectively apply learned skills and knowledge in a practical setting.

How to write your nurse resume experience

The experience section  of your nurse resume isn’t just an opportunity to share your previous employment. It’s also an opportunity to share practical clinical experiences and internships. In describing these experiences, you will also share the nursing skills and abilities you developed and your achievements in these positions.

The high demand for nurses and the broad range of required tasks in nursing positions means applicants will come from diverse backgrounds with varying qualifications.

Determining which employment experiences are most relevant to the available position can be challenging.

The best way to demonstrate your experiences align with an available position is to create a targeted experience section .

To quickly and easily create a targeted nurse resume for individual applications, follow these steps:  

• Create a resume template including a complete list of your experiences, certifications, education, and skills.
• Make a copy of the template for each new application.
• Review the job description for each new job you apply to, paying close attention to ideal candidate descriptions.
• In the copy of the template, delete all examples that don't align with the job description.
• Edit remaining examples to ensure they include keywords  copied directly from the job description for increased ATS optimization.

A common mistake in the experience section of nurse resumes is detailing duties instead of highlighting skills development and achievements accomplished. Writing detailed descriptions incorporating keywords demonstrates not only what you did but how successfully you did it.

Take a look at the following experience examples to better understand how quality descriptions can boost your resume's experience section.

• • Received recognition for maintaining a high standard of care, with positive patient feedback and acknowledgment from hospital leadership.
• • Acted as a charge nurse.
• • Attended professional development workshops and training sessions.
• • Participated in hospital-wide initiatives, including quality improvement projects.

This example fails to use action verbs  and details to describe how their achievements in this position resulted from their efforts. The resulting example comes across as a list of assigned tasks and passive results. And the applicant has missed opportunities to incorporate keywords and accomplishments.

• • Earned 'Nurse of the Month' recognition in Sept. 2022 for maintaining a high standard of care, with positive patient feedback and input from hospital leadership.
• • Acted as a charge nurse, overseeing the coordination of patient care activities, maintaining a positive team environment, and effectively delegating tasks to ensure optimal patient care delivery.
• • Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to develop and implement hospital-wide initiatives, including quality improvement projects that led to a 15% reduction in patient readmission rates.
• • Engaged in monthly professional development, attending workshops and training sessions to enhance skills and stay current with industry advancements.

Describing what the applicant did and achieved using active verbs significantly improves this experience example. For example, instead of “receiving recognition,” they “earned” a specific award. Additionally, by including the criteria for the award, they incorporated keywords recruiters look for on nursing resumes, such as “high standard of care” and “leadership.” This experience description indicates the applicant achieved a great deal and was highly successful in this position.

How to quantify the impact on your resume

An effective way to boost the impact of your nurse resume  is to include quantifiable evidence of your skills in experience descriptions. These are tangible, measurable, or verifiable details that highlight your accomplishments  in past jobs.

Sharing a percentage representing significant increases in efficiency or patient satisfaction or a reduction in wait times or adverse outcomes such as medical errors or readmission rates, like the example from the prior section, is an excellent way to quantify the impact.

However, you can quantify your impact in many other ways besides statistics or percentages. Here are a few additional options for using numbers and data  to quantify your skills in your experience descriptions:

• Specify how many years of experience you have in similar healthcare settings to quantify your expertise and illustrate suitability for the available position.
• If available, Including high patient satisfaction scores is a practical way to highlight patient care skills and a commitment to providing exceptional care.
• Note the number of medical procedures you have completed to showcase your vast repertoire of practical skills, such as injections or wound dressings.
• The number of emergencies you have handled establishes your capacity to perform under pressure.
• Citing how many medical software or equipment you’re proficient in emphasizes your technical acumen.
• The number of patients typically seen in an office or patient censuses in an average shift demonstrates productivity and efficiency in managing large caseloads.
• If you’ve held a leadership role such as charge nurse, mention the size of the team you coordinated to highlight leadership skills and the ability to manage large teams.
• Stating how many medical training sessions, workshops, and certifications you’ve completed indicates your commitment to professional development and continuing education.

When selecting quantitative data on your resume, remember to be selective by including only the most relevant for the available job. For example, a recruiter hiring for an emergency care facility would be more impressed with your year of experience in emergency care than your knowledge of medical software in a small, private psychiatry office.

How do I write a nurse resume with no experience

… shortages have plagued the nursing profession since 1998.

Projections indicate the need to hire up to a million new nursing professionals by 2024 to meet the growing demand. This is good news for anyone considering becoming a nurse, as they are almost guaranteed placement.

incrediblehealth.com

Ongoing demand for nurses has created numerous opportunities for nursing students and those entering the field. Some employers even offer certification assistance and graduation contingent employment for nursing students. However, competition for these positions may be competitive.

To write a nurse resume that establishes your potential to succeed in a nursing career without experience , follow these steps:

• Compile a list of keywords from the job description.
• Brainstorm previous related experiences showcasing the same keyword skills and knowledge from your list.

Relevant Non-Nursing Employment To Include on your Resume

Non-nursing employment experience in one of these healthcare settings can provide evidence of a background using medical terminology, medical software, patient communication, empathy, and compassion.

• Clinics and Physician's Offices
• Long-Term Care Facilities
• Home Healthcare
• Community Health Centers
• Public Health Organizations
• Research and Clinical Trials
• Telehealth and Telemedicine
• Rehabilitation Centers
• Ambulatory Surgery Centers
• Health Insurance Companies
• Include practical clinical experiences, internships, and volunteer experiences . These can be listed with employment experiences, if closely related to nursing, or incorporated as separate sections.
• Avoid including irrelevant work experiences  or outdated experiences .
• To add credibility, include tangible evidence of transferable skills, such as certifications and quantifiable data.
• List experiences in reverse chronological order to ensure your most recent and relevant examples appear first.

For those without nursing experience , your cover letter is an excellent opportunity to offer further detail about past jobs and describe how skills and knowledge acquired outside the field are transferable to the open job.

Without experience, this section aims to share transferable skills and background knowledge, especially in the medical field. Therefore, your experience section should still be targeted to highlight your potential to succeed in a particular nurse position.

How to list your hard skills and soft skills on your resume

Highly valued skills in nursing may vary greatly depending on factors like the specialty, size and specialty of the medical facility, patient demographics, and number of employees. The skills section  of your nurse resume is an opportunity to highlight how your hard and soft skills demonstrate your suitability for a particular job.

For example, an urgent care facility treating high volumes of patients daily will value skills like an expansive repertoire of medical knowledge and procedures and an ability to thrive in fast-paced environments. On the other hand, a small oncology office treating the same patients regularly will appreciate specialized knowledge of oncology terminology and treatments and skills related to compassionate patient care and education.

Hard Skills

The skills necessary to perform a particular job are known as hard skills . These typically require study, training, and practice. In the medical field, they may even require certification.

In nursing, these skills often relate to technical abilities , like using office software and equipment and performing medical procedures, such as taking vitals.

When considering which skills to include on your resume, consult this list of the top hard skills sought by recruiters:

Best hard skills for your nurse resume

• Patient Assessment
• Medical Software (EHR systems)
• Medication Administration
• Vital signs monitoring
• CPR Certified
• Patient Care Planning
• Infection Control
• Emergency Care
• Documentation Skills
• Knowledge of Medical Equipment
• Surgical Assistance
• Clinical Decision Making
• HIPAA Compliance
• Patient Education
• Diabetes Management
• Cardiac Care
• Dialysis Procedures

Soft Skills

Some of the most highly valued skills in nursing are soft skills . The intrinsic, personal skills that demonstrate your ability to provide excellent patient care and satisfaction.

Employers may be willing to train applicants in hard skills. However, the intrinsic nature of soft skills makes them difficult to teach. Therefore, including as many relevant and transferable soft skills as possible on your nurse resume is essential.

These are some of the top soft skills employers look for in nuses:

Best soft skills for your nurse resume

• Empathy  
• Communication  
• Patience  
• Resilience  
• Critical Thinking
• Adaptability  
• Teamwork  
• Time Management  
• Leadership  
• Attention to Detail
• Stress Management  
• Problem-Solving
• Cultural Competency
• Composure under pressure
• Prioritization Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Conflict Resolution

Follow these steps to write your nursing resume's skills sections:

• Format your skills section as a simple list without elaboration or examples.
• Differentiate between hard and soft skills by listing them in separate subsections.
• Target your skills section using keyword skills from the job description.
• Write these keyword skills precisely as they appear in the job description to enhance ATS analysis.
• Never lie about or exaggerate your skills on your resume.
• Ensure consistency between your experience and skills sections by listing the skills mentioned in the experience section in the skills section and vice versa.

Nursing Terminology on Your Resume

Including medical terminologies demonstrates experience in and familiarity with the field, however, excessive jargon or abbreviations can confuse hiring managers who might not have a nursing background. Therefore, you must balance nursing lingo and generally understood terms on your resume.

How to list your certifications and education on your resume

Certifications and Continuing Education are essential for nurses. Though nursing roles and industries have differing requirements.

For example, an RN must complete a nursing education program such as an ADN or BSN, pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), and acquire state licensure.

An LPN doesn't need a degree but must complete a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Program, pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), and acquire state licensure.

Detailing all your training and certifications can bog down your resume, making it tough for recruiters to recognize your most valuable qualifications. To prevent this, tailor these sections to each application by sharing only examples aligned to the employer's requirements and reinforcing your targeted skills.

• Follow these steps to write ATS-optimized certification and education sections:
• Create separate sections titled "Education" and "Certifications" to allow ATS to parse information from your resume accurately.
• List all degrees and certifications chronologically, putting your most recent and relevant at the top.

To craft a powerful education section ,  follow these guidelines:

• For each degree, include the name of the institution, its’ location, the dates attended, and the title of your degree.
• Continuing education courses required for maintaining nurse licensing can be listed in the education section, however, if the section is excessively long, you can separate them into a separate “CE Courses” section as well.
• Including your GPA is optional unless the job description specifies a minimum requirement.
• You can include brief statements about relevant exceptional  coursework achievements  in the example description.

Here’s an example of how an excellent education example:

• • Online bridge program from RN to MSN

Best practices for listing examples on your resume's certification section :

• Include the name of the certification, the certifying institution, and the year obtained.
• Limit your certifications to those specifically named or directly related to the required skills mentioned in the job description. For example, if you held an LPN certification before becoming an RN, which is no longer valid, you shouldn't list this. The background will be relevant in your experience section, and the certification is implied.
• Limit certifications to current, unexpired credentials.
• If a certification requires renewal to remain valid, include the date first acquired as well as the most recent renewal date or a "valid through" date. For certifications you have held long-term, this demonstrates soft skills such as organization and responsibility.

The following are some of the most highly sought-after certifications for nurses and should be included on your resume whenever relevant.

How to write your nurse resume summary or objective

A summary or objective section, sometimes called “ Resume Profiles ” or “ Personal Statements ,” is a powerful tool for contextualizing the data and facts on your resume and how it corresponds to your career progression and goals.

The goal of either a summary or an objective is to briefly clarify how your experiences and qualifications make you a suitable candidate for an available job.

Follow these best practices to write either a summary or an objective:

• Customize the statement to match the specific job you're applying for, emphasizing relevant skills and experiences.
• Start sentences with action verbs to make your summary dynamic and impactful.
• Be brief. A summary should only be 3-5 sentences.

The primary difference between a summary and an objective is that a summary statement  focuses on how your employment experience aligns with an available job. In contrast, an objective statement  concentrates on your future career goals to illustrate how they correspond with the position.

A summary is preferable for nurses with extensive experience well aligned to the available job, for example, in the same nursing specialty. It highlights how your past successes indicate your potential to succeed in that particular role.

To write a summary for your nurse resume, follow these best practices:  

• Highlight your most relevant skills or experiences that directly overlap with the job description.
• Briefly mention your years of experience to provide context for your level of expertise.
• Write an impactful summary using keywords  directly from the job description, highlighting your well-aligned keyword experiences and skills.
• Use details such as naming specific software, medical equipment, procedures, and certifications to reinforce the relevance of your experiences.  
• Convey your enthusiasm for the opportunity to continue providing high-quality patient care in the medical field in this position.

A common mistake on nurse resumes is to write a personal statement that is too general for a specialty nursing role. Check out how the following summary is improved by targeting it to critical care nursing.

This well-written summary provides quality information. However, the highlighted skills and experience are too general. If the term "critical care" were removed from the first sentence, this statement could apply to almost any nursing position, failing to target skills valued in critical care. As a result, the applicant misses many opportunities to incorporate key terms and demonstrate that their experiences are valuable in a critical care setting.  

This summary does a much better job of focusing on highly valued skills in a critical care environment, such as speed, accuracy, reacting in high-pressure situations, and providing compassionate care.

An objective section is better suited for nurses with limited experience in similar positions or applying for their first job. It allows you to focus on how you plan to use your background to achieve career goals while contributing to the success of the medical team.

To write your nurse resume objective, follow these best practices:

• Describe the type of position you are seeking.
• Share relevant or transferable skills that will help you succeed in the position using keywords  directly from the job description.
• Clearly state your career goals and enthusiasm to work towards them in the role.
• Highlight valuable contributions you can make while learning and gaining experience.
• Avoid generic phrases. Instead, focus on specific skills and goals that set you apart.

Rephrasing specifics from the “Qualifications” or “Ideal Candidate” sections of a job description is a great way to guarantee you mention the skills and qualifications most valued by the employer.

Additional sections for a nurse resume

In addition to the top-resume sections , including one or more of these additional resume sections  highlights qualifications or accomplishments and helps you stand out among the other applicants.

• Languages: Excellent patient communication is a cornerstone of the healthcare industry. Therefore, being multilingual is a valuable asset in nursing. Including a language section  is an effective way to set yourself apart from other applicants.
• Volunteer Experience: Include healthcare-related volunteer work or community service to demonstrate a commitment to giving back and supporting the community.
• Leadership Experience: To demonstrate extensive experience leading teams and initiatives, share your past leadership roles, such as charge nurse, preceptor, or committee member.
• Achievements and Awards: If you’ve received recognition in your nursing education or work in the past, consider including an awards and achievements section  to support your stated skills. In addition to individual awards, you can include awards your office or team received, such as being voted the top healthcare facility in your community.
• Passion:  If you have a personal experience that drives and motivates you as a nurse, sharing it establishes your passion for and dedication to nursing excellence. For example, a childhood battle with cancer that led you to oncology or losing a loved one in an accident that motivated you to specialize in emergency medicine.  
• Professional Associations: A professional Associations section highlights your dedication to ongoing improvement and staying current in nursing. If you’d like to include a professional association membership to your resume, consider joining one of the leading professional associations for nurses below.

How to write a nurse specialization section:

Nursing is a broad field with many specializations, such as pediatric, surgical, and psychiatric nursing. If you have extensive experience or certification in a particular medical specialty that directly corresponds to the position you're applying for, consider including a specialization section to highlight your qualifications.

Include the following in your nurse specialization section should include the following:

• The title of your nurse specialization
• Specialty-specific employment experience
• Specialty-specific education or certifications
• Valuable Hard skills in the specialization, including technical skills  such as using emergency equipment and technologies, including defibrillators, cardiac monitors, and infusion pumps as an ER nurse
• Knowledge and experience of typical medical procedures and equipment used in the specialty
• Relevant soft skills. For instance, child-friendly communication and patience in pediatric nursing.

Here is an example of how your specialization section should appear on your nurse resume:

While a specialization section demonstrates knowledge, skills, and qualifications, it should only be included as a unique section if applying to a nurse job in a particular specialty. For instance, the above example would be relevant only for employment in a cardiac care position. Otherwise, this information may be incorporated into other resume sections , such as the experience section, to demonstrate your capacity to master specialized skills.

Key takeaways

Organizing the extensive skills and qualifications necessary in nursing is one of the most challenging aspects of writing a nurse resume. Review these key takeaways to ensure your most valuable, unique skills, experiences, and qualifications are accurately reflected on your resume:

• Targeted resumes include only experiences and skills relevant to an available position as found in the job description.
• ATS-optimized formatting helps ensure your nurse resume reaches employers for review.
• Providing quantifiable evidence of achievements in your nursing experience demonstrates your impact in past jobs.
• Include education and certifications required for nursing jobs in reverse chronological order to ensure your most recent and relevant appear first.
• Give context to the information on your resume by including either a summary or an objective section, depending on your experience in similar nursing positions.
• Include a specialization section to highlight your background and expertise in the available nursing position in the same specialty.

Nurse resume examples

Explore additional nurse resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

As a new graduate nurse entering the healthcare field, you are expected to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during your nursing education to provide safe and effective patient care. Your resume should showcase your clinical rotations, hands-on experiences in various healthcare settings, and any specialized training, such as Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification. Emphasize your ability to work with interdisciplinary teams, adapt to different clinical environments, and contribute to a positive patient experience.

A nurse assistant plays a vital role in the healthcare setting, providing basic care and support to patients under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. They are responsible for tasks such as bathing, dressing, feeding, and monitoring vital signs. On a nurse assistant resume, it's essential to demonstrate hands-on experience in these areas and showcase any specialized training, such as completion of a state-approved nurse assistant training program or obtaining a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential.

Nurse managers are experienced nursing professionals who assume leadership roles in healthcare settings, overseeing nursing staff and managing patient care services. Your nurse manager resume should demonstrate your expertise in nursing practice, as well as your ability to lead, motivate, and support a team of nursing professionals. Emphasize your experience in managing clinical operations, developing and implementing policies and procedures, and ensuring compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards.

Nurse educators are experienced nursing professionals who play a vital role in preparing the next generation of nurses by teaching, mentoring, and guiding them in academic and clinical settings. Your nurse educator resume should demonstrate your expertise in nursing practice, curriculum development, and instructional design. Emphasize your experience in teaching and evaluating nursing students, developing lesson plans, and coordinating clinical experiences in various healthcare settings.

Staff nurses are registered nurses who provide direct patient care across a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, and home health agencies. Your staff nurse resume should demonstrate your expertise in assessing patient needs, implementing individualized care plans, and collaborating with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to optimize patient outcomes. Emphasize your ability to administer medications, monitor patient progress, and provide education and support to patients and their families.

Looking to build your own Nurse resume?

• Resume Examples

Frequently asked questions about nurse resumes

How long should i make my nurse resume, what is the best format for a nurse resume, which nurse skills are most important to add to your resume, what are some examples of certifications to include in a nurse resume, how can i make my nurse resume stand out, do i need to include a cover letter with my nurse resume, how to send a follow up networking email after no response, a guide to finding a headhunter, short term job resume, should i put a job i got fired from on my resume, how to get a job after being fired: 10 sure-fire steps to get you back in the game, compétences linguistiques sur un cv : comment expliquer la connaissance et la maîtrise d’une langue.

• Create Resume
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Preferences
• Resume Templates
• AI Resume Builder
• Resume Summary Generator
• Resume Formats
• Resume Checker
• Resume Skills
• How to Write a Resume
• Modern Resume Templates
• Simple Resume Templates
• Cover Letter Builder
• Cover Letter Examples
• Cover Letter Templates
• Cover Letter Formats
• How to Write a Cover Letter
• Resume Guides
• Cover Letter Guides
• Job Interview Guides
• Job Interview Questions
• Career Resources
• Meet our customers
• Career resources
• English (UK)
• French (FR)
• German (DE)
• Spanish (ES)
• Swedish (SE)

© 2024 . All rights reserved.

Made with love by people who care.

Registered Nurse Resume Examples & Template [2024]

• December 20, 2023
• In Resumes & Cover Letters

Craft a winning Registered Nurse Resume with our comprehensive guide, packed with essential tips and insights. Discover key sections, including work experience, education, and skills, to highlight your expertise in patient care, medication administration, and electronic health records. Learn how to showcase your qualifications effectively and tailor your resume to stand out in the competitive nursing industry.

Are you struggling to present yourself as the best candidate for a registered nurse position? The foundation lies in a strong resume that showcases your skills and experiences and how they relate to the specific job requirements. If you’re not confident in your resume-writing abilities,  we’re here to assist . 

How to write a nursing resume in 7 steps

Step 1: use a registered nurse resume template , step 2:  format your contact information section, step 3: craft a strong summary statement for a registered nurse, step 4: showcase your professional experience, step 5: emphasize top nursing skills, step 6:  listing relevant degrees, certifications, and licenses, step 7: tailor your (rn) resume for specific job applications, step 8: include registered nurse cover letter, faq: registered nurse resume, q1: how many pages should a nursing resume be, q2: how do i address employment gaps in my nursing resume, key sections of a registered nurse resume.

When creating a registered nurse’s resume, it is important to include the following sections:

• Contact information
• Resume summary/objective statement
• Work experience
• Education and certification
• Professional recognitions

Additional Sections (Optional)

• Continuing education, additional training, publications, etc.
• Volunteer work or community involvement related to healthcare

When creating a nurse resume, it can be helpful to use a template that is specifically  designed  for nursing professionals.

Registered Nurse Resume Template 150020 Download it here →

Resume Template in Microsoft Word, Pages

• Ease of use : Resumeway provides pre-designed professional  resume templates  that you can easily customize with your information.
• Professional appearance : Templates with a clean and professional look, making it easy to create a visually appealing resume.
• No additional cost : Once you have access to Microsoft Word or Pages, you can use the templates without any additional charges 

Remember, using a nurse resume template can provide a solid foundation for creating your resume, but it’s important to customize it to showcase your unique qualifications and experiences.

• Place your contact information at the  top of your resume  so that it is easily visible to employers.
• Use a  larger font size  for your name to enhance its visibility and make it stand out.
• Format the rest of your contact details in a way that is  clear and easy to read . You can place them in one or two lines below your name.
• Avoid placing your contact information in the header section of a Word document, as not all applicant tracking systems can properly read and parse information stored in this section.

Make sure to double-check your contact details for accuracy and professionalism.

Read more: 20+ Resume Headline Examples: Stand Out from the Crowd

Crafting an attractive summary for a registered nurse resume requires highlighting your  unique qualifications , skills, and accomplishments in a concise and compelling manner. Tips for creating an attention-grabbing  summary :

• Start with a strong opening : Begin your summary with a captivating phrase or sentence that immediately grabs the reader’s attention. Consider using  action verbs  or powerful adjectives to describe your nursing expertise.
• Highlight your key qualifications : Outline your most relevant qualifications, such as your nursing degree, certifications, and any specialized training or areas of expertise. Emphasize the skills and knowledge that set you apart from other applicants.
• Showcase your experience : Briefly summarize your nursing experience, focusing on the settings you’ve worked in (e.g., hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities) and any notable achievements or responsibilities. Use quantifiable metrics and concrete examples to showcase the extent of your influence.
• Emphasize your patient-centered approach : Highlight your commitment to providing exceptional patient care and promoting positive health outcomes. Mention your ability to establish rapport with patients, communicate effectively, and advocate for their needs.
• Include relevant skills : Incorporate a list of  key skills  that are essential to the nursing profession, such as clinical assessment, medication administration, care planning, and teamwork. Customize your skills to align with the specific requirements of the position you are seeking.
• Keep it concise : Aim for a summary that is concise and to the point, ideally consisting of two to three sentences. Avoid using jargon or overly technical language that may be difficult for non-medical professionals to understand.

Example #1: Senior Registered Nurse Resume Summary “Experienced Pediatric Nurse with 15+ years of expertise focused on neonatal care. Proven track record in NICU environments, having reduced infant readmissions by 20%. Recognized for providing compassionate and individualized patient care.“

Example#2: Junior Registered Nurse Resume Objective “Recent graduate from Michigan University’s Nursing Program, equipped with the latest knowledge in clinical care. Eager to apply learned concepts in a real-world setting and grow as a healthcare professional.”

Read more: 20+ Resume Summary Examples for 2024 [+How-to Guide]

A well-crafted nurse work experience section is essential for a standout resume. It allows you to showcase your relevant work experience and accomplishments in the field. To make the most impact, keep these tips in mind:

• Focus on achievements : Instead of simply listing your responsibilities, highlight your accomplishments  and the impact you made in your previous roles. For example, mention any improvements in patient outcomes, successful implementation of new protocols, or recognition you received for your work.
• Quantify your impact : Whenever possible, include numbers or percentages to quantify your achievements. For instance, mention the number of patients you cared for, the success rates of treatments you administered, or any awards or recognition you received.
• Tailor to the job description : Review the job description and identify the key skills and qualifications the employer is seeking. Customize your experience section to highlight how your previous roles align with those requirements.
• Include specialized experience : If you have experience in a particular specialty or have worked in different healthcare settings, such as hospitals, clinics, or home healthcare, be sure to highlight that experience. It can help you stand out from other applicants.

Charge Nurse Heavenly Care Hospital, New York, NY / June 2016-November 2017

• Led a team of 12 nurses, enhancing the patient-to-nurse ratio by 20%.
• Introduced a patient feedback system, resulting in a 15% increase in patient satisfaction.
• Reduced patient readmission rates by 10% through the implementation of comprehensive discharge procedures.
• Streamlined the patient intake process, reducing wait times by an average of 30 minutes.
• Participated in the design and execution of a new infection control protocol, leading to a 40% decrease in hospital-acquired infections.
• Organized quarterly interdisciplinary team meetings, fostering improved communication and a 15% reduction in clinical errors.

When creating a successful nurse resume, it’s important to include a combination of technical (hard skills) and  soft skills  that demonstrate your expertise and suitability for the role.

Here are some top skills to consider:

Read more: 50+ Hard Skills For Your Resume [In 2024]

When listing relevant degrees, certifications, and licenses on a Registered Nurse resume, it’s important to highlight your qualifications and credentials. Here are some guidelines to follow:

• List your highest level of education first, such as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.
• When listing multiple degrees, arrange them in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recent one.
• Include the full degree name, such as “Bachelor of Science in Nursing” or “Master of Science in Nursing,” rather than abbreviations like “BSN” or “MSN”.

Certifications and Licenses

• Include relevant certifications and licenses that are required or preferred for the nursing position you are applying for.
• Examples of certifications for nurses include Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN), Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), or Certified Critical Care Nurse (CCRN).
• List certifications after your degrees, using the appropriate initials or acronyms. For example, “MD, MPH, DABFM” or “DNP, PMHNP-BC”.
• If you hold a nursing license, be sure to include it, such as “Registered Nurse (RN)” or “Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)”.
• Create a separate section on your resume specifically for your degrees, certifications, and licenses.
• Use a clear and organized format, such as bullet points or a table, to list your qualifications.

When tailoring your registered nurse resume for specific job applications, consider the following tips:

• Review the job description : Carefully read the  job description  to understand the specific requirements and qualifications sought by the employer. Pay attention to keywords and phrases that are mentioned multiple times.
• Customize your professional summary : To highlight the skills and qualifications that make you an excellent fit for the specific job, tailor your professional summary or objective statement. Showcase your alignment with the position by incorporating keywords from the job description.
• Highlight relevant skills : Emphasize the skills that are directly relevant to the job you’re applying for. Include both technical skills (e.g., wound care, patient education, medication administration) and soft skills (e.g., compassion, teamwork, problem-solving) that are valued in the nursing profession.
• Focus on relevant experience : When listing your work experience, prioritize and expand upon the roles and responsibilities that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. Provide specific examples of how you have demonstrated your skills and achieved positive outcomes in previous positions.
• Include certifications and specializations : Highlight any certifications, specializations, or advanced training that are relevant to the job. This could include certifications in areas such as critical care, pediatrics, or geriatrics.
• Quantify achievements : Quantify your achievements to provide concrete evidence of your impact. For example, mention the number of patients you have cared for, the percentage of improvement in patient outcomes, or any awards or recognition you have received.

Remember, tailoring your resume for each specific job application increases your chances of standing out to employers and demonstrates your genuine interest in the position.

When writing a  cover letter  for a registered nurse position, consider the following tips:

• Introduction:  Start with a strong opening paragraph that states your interest in the position and briefly highlights your qualifications and experience. Mention how you learned about the job opening.
• Body Paragraphs:  In the following paragraphs, expand on your relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments. Focus on how your qualifications align with the requirements of the job. Use specific examples to demonstrate your abilities and showcase your passion for nursing.
• Closing:  In the closing paragraph, express your enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to the healthcare team. I would like to express my sincere appreciation for considering my application I am eager to provide any additional information or references that might be required.

Registered Nurse Cover Letter Template 150020 Download it here →

The ideal length of a registered nurse resume can vary depending on factors such as the level of experience and the specific job application requirements. In summary, a registered nurse resume should generally be around 1-2 pages, focusing on the most relevant information and showcasing career progression and achievements. Remember to tailor the length of your resume based on your specific circumstances and the job application requirements.

Addressing employment  gaps  in your registered nurse resume is important to provide clarity and alleviate any concerns employers may have. Here are some tips:

• Be brief and direct:  Address the employment gaps briefly and directly in one or two sentences on your resume.
• Focus on overall professional goals:  Explain how the employment gap allowed you to pursue opportunities that align with your overall professional nursing career goals.
• Highlight relevant experiences:  If you engaged in any relevant activities during the employment gap, such as volunteering or continuing education, mention them to showcase your commitment to professional growth.
• Consider a functional resume:  If you have extensive employment gaps, you may consider using a functional resume format that highlights your skills and achievements rather than focusing on chronological work history.

Remember, honesty and transparency are key when addressing employment gaps. Use these tips to effectively address the gaps in your registered nurse resume and showcase your qualifications and experiences.

Popular related posts:

• How to Choose the Right Resume Template (+Examples)
• Project Manager Resume Examples & Templates for 2023
• Resume Objective Examples for 2023 [+How-to Guide]
• Soft Skills for Resume to Land Your Dream Job During COVID-19
• How To Write a Cover Letter With No Experience in 9 Steps

Get Expert Resume Writing Help

No time to polish your resume, cover letter, thank-you letter, or LinkedIn? Our resume-writing experts are ready to check your documents right now.

• No products in the cart.
• Resume Writing Service
• Free Resume Review
• Resume Templates
• Career Advice

Nurse Resume: Top Tips, Templates & Examples

Taking care of patients and ensuring they receive their medicine and treatment is what a Nurse does. Is it time for your resume to receive a dose of medicine? If that’s the case, use our personalized resume templates to treat your job application and get to treating patients.

Nurse Resume Example MSWord® Give your job prospects the best treatment with our Nurse Resume template available in Word format.

The nurse job market is highly competitive and not everyone makes it among the most successful professionals in the field. Nurses might be needed at all times, but without a decent resume, one cannot hope to get the job they apply for.  

Because of this, you need to know how to stand out from the crowd ; and the best way to do that is to write the best professional resume . 

To learn how to write a resume for a nurse position, read as we share the best nurse resume and provide you with invaluable nurse resume examples as well as full nurse resume templates you can learn from.

Nurse Resume Sample

Check out this nice nurse resume sample . It can give you an idea of what your resume should look like.

[Chris Carrington]

[Registered Nurse]

[2190 Barrow Street, New York, NY | +1-404-766-8554 | [email protected]]

Licensed RN with 7+ years of clinical experience, seeking to ensure top quality care at Evangelical Medical Center through proven daily care skills. Maintained 97% patient satisfaction at Best Body Health. Successfully onboarded and trained more than 15 new nurses.

Registered Nurse

Best Body Health – New York, NY

02/2011 to Present

• Handled both long-term and short-term health care plans and safety for 20+ patients. Awarded 12+ times for speed, efficiency, and problem-solving skills by the preceptor.
• Assisted patients with limited mobility in all necessary movement training. Maintained 98% positive patient scores for patience, cooperation, and compassion.
• Created assessments, diagnoses, and plan-of-care for high-volume of patients. 
• Onboarded 16 new nurses and trained them in quality, personalized care, and compliance policies.

Key Achievement

• Personally supervised the refurbishing of meeting rooms in order to create a more comfortable, friendly space for difficult discussions with patients and/or their families.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

University of Alaska

Completion: 2011

• Patient Assessment
• Safe and Speedy Patient Transfers
• Stress Management
• Attention to Detail
• Decision-Making
• Microsoft Office

Certifications

• Registered Nurse, Alaska Board of Nursing
• Phlebotomy Certification
• Patient Care Technician Certification
• Basic Life Support Certification (BLS)
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
• CPR Certification
• Elementary psychology training undergone
• German (Conversational)

Personal Interests

• Young patient and child care
• Nursing workshops and training
• Everyday Emergency Podcast

What’s the Best Nurse Resume Format?

There are several ways to format your nurse resume so that it leaves the best impression before your employer.

Also, there are several different nursing resume formats you can consider for your resume, depending on your professional skills and experience. And whilst all formats differ, here is what to keep in mind when writing either one: 

• Keep it short – preferably a page long
• Use a simple and standard font
• Don’t repeat yourself
• Use numbers and percentages to back your claims
• Avoid large chunks of text
• Avoid pictures and graphs
• Check your resume for mistakes in grammar, spelling, and punctuation
• Make sure you have several resumes at hand for different types of job positions

The content of your resume should always be centered around the following categories of information:

• Education information
• Past work experiences
• Summary or objective
• Additional extra sections

The order in which these sections are presented can vary, which is where we get the resume subtypes:

• The (Reverse) Chronological Format . This one is the easiest and most used format. It starts with your most recent achievement or job position and lists the rest of the information in reverse chronological order. This is a straightforward format that’s ideal for entry-level candidates, and it’s the default resume format most people go for. 
• The Functional Format . With this format, you’re trying to prioritize your skills and what you can do. As with the previous format, you start with the summary or objective but instead of going into the experience or education section next, you list your skills instead. You’ll add the rest of the sections according to relevance.
• The Combination Format . Finally, with the combined format, you can get the best of both worlds by listing both skills and tangible achievements simultaneously. In many cases, this is the right way to go, as it’ll ensure the best impression before the employer. 

Now that we’ve covered the basics of how you can structure your professional nursing resume, let’s go into all the sections separately and see what each of them should cover. 

How to Write a Nurse Resume Summary or Resume Objective?

At first glance, a resume summary and resume objective may seem to be the same thing, but there’s a subtle difference between them. 

Prioritize your skills section , and try to stand out as an individual person with ambitions and achievements in the final, extra section of the nurse resume.

A professional resume summary focuses on what you’ve done in your career so far. It summarizes your experience, while resume objectives focus on what you’re looking to do with your career in the future .

A resume objective is intended for applicants who are yet to properly embark upon their careers . This section serves as a way for them to showcase their abilities, expectations, and education in a way that appeals to the employer.  

So, if you are an experienced nurse , with years of experience in the industry and looking to change careers, a nurse resume summary will be your best pick. 

On that note, you can even specifically tailor your entire resume around what you can do and what you did before, and if you have both experience and skills , a hybrid resume format might be the ideal choice.

Nurse Resume Summary Example

Let’s look at some concrete examples of what a good resume summary should look like and not look like.

Pediatric RN with many years of experience overseeing the medication and health records of elderly patients.

As you can see, this person seems a bit too modest, so much so, that they didn’t bother to say anything past the bare minimum.

Anyone can state such facts, and this lack of attitude will get you nowhere.

Multilingual Pediatric RN with 20+ years of experience in the intensive, geriatric, and neonatal care units of a public state hospital. Looking to leverage management experience in the role of Pediatric RN at the Royal Hospital Center.

This example is perfect since it’s backed by numbers, clearly states where the person worked before and what they did, and outlines the direction in which they want to take their career.

Nurse Resume Objective Example

And now for your objective, here is a pattern to avoid:

Recently licensed RN searching for an interesting nursing role in a medical facility where I can test out my skills and see how they work.

It’s okay to be honest, but this person seems a bit too honest – you’re trying to persuade employers to give you a chance, not tell them that you’re planning on using them as a testing ground.

What if you find out that nursing isn’t for you? Will a patient have to suffer due to your indecisiveness? 

Here is what a nicely compiled objective section should look like: 

Reliable licensed RN trained to work in high-stress environments, and excelling in mental skills, such as staying calm under pressure. Looking to leverage my meticulous record-keeping and analytical skills in order to gain experience as a Nurse.

This applicant sees their lack of experience as a challenge rather than a drawback.

They’re obviously enthusiastic about everything they’ve learned and seem to have a lot to offer to any employee of interest.

Clean, neat, and to the point is what you are after when writing this part.

How to Describe Your Nurse Experience on Your Resume?

In many cases, the experience section of your resume is the most important one.

If you are an experienced nurse , new employers will want to see what you’ve achieved in the past and how you excelled in your previous jobs. What’s more, this section is the right place to mention any outstanding work achievement that you’re proud of.

In the case of nurses, it’s important to stress that you have to point out what kind of nurse exactly you are.

Did you focus specifically on pediatric care? Are elderly patients your specialty? Perhaps you work best with children? Maybe you only worked in a special type of medical facility? 

Whatever the case, you want to clearly state the type of nurse you were and provide examples of relevant work experience stating how many patients you’ve taken care of, how many new nurses you’ve supervised, and whether you’ve been commended by a supervisor.

All of this will count as a plus.

If the job position lists a keyword they want to see in a candidate’s experience – use this keyword in your resume – only make sure it does apply to you.   

Nurse Resume Examples: Experience

Here are some experience examples from a nurse’s resume to illustrate what this section should look like:

Nurse Hell’s Kitchen Hospital 2017 – 2019

• Screened patients upon arrival at the emergency ward.
• Took care of patients.
• Recorded information taken from cases.

The lack of detail provided here is limited – there’s unclear information regarding the employment time and even scarcer information on patient care.

Such a layout will put potential employers off your resume , and you will not be considered for the positions. 

To learn how to write a sample resume for nurses with experience right, here is what to consider:

Nurse Hell’s Kitchen Hospital 02/2014 – 07/2018

• Obtained, tracked, recorded, and reported patients’ vital signs, intake, and output, and blood levels.
• Worked in the pediatric and oncology wards of the hospital.
• Used EHR software in order to keep records related to patient information.
• Made emergency ward intake evaluations for up to 30 patients every hour by measuring their vital signs and hierarchically prioritizing cases accordingly.

This is a textbook example of what a good experience section should look like.

It offers detailed information about particular cases along with records and a thorough explanation of the candidate’s past nursing duties. 

How to Write the Education Section for a Nurse?

In many cases, especially if you opt for the (reverse) chronological format of a resume, the education section will be the second-most important one.

It should provide employers with a clear view of what training you’ve had and the type of degree you earned to verify those claims. 

As a rule of thumb, the education section in your resume should contain the following information:

• The name of the institution where you studied.
• The dates and years of your studies.
• Your overall GPA score (if it’s impressive, otherwise leave it out) .
• The title (degree) you’ve obtained.
• The location of the teaching facility.
• Awards you received , commendations, or achievements you may have earned during your studies.

All of this, especially if you’re still inexperienced, will make or break your overall education section. Below, let’s see a few practical examples of what this section looks like. 

Nurse Resume Education Section

When it comes to writing the education section right, you need to know what is considered the wrong way to write it. Here is a sample to avoid: 

BA in Nursing University of California, Riverside

• Learned basic nursing duties

As you can see, an education section of this sort is information depraved and almost not worth adding.

Not only does it lack fundamental information that all employers are interested in, but it presents you as a disinterested applicant. 

Master of Science in Nursing University of California, Berkeley – California 2012 – 2016

• Relevant Courses: Patient Care, Ethics, Radiological Nursing, Advanced Surgical Procedures, Oncological Diagnostics
• Nursing Assistant In-Training of the Year, 2015

This, on the other hand, is a great example.

All necessary information is provided in one place and everything can be easily verified.

Aside from clarity and legitimacy, we can also see that the applicant was devoted to their studies , carried out some relevant coursework , and did their best to learn whatever it took to become a great nurse. 

The Best Nurse Skills for a Resume

Even though we mentioned that the experience and education sections are of incredible importance for nurse resumes, the skills section is particularly relevant in this field too. 

Unlike people in other professions, nurses heavily depend on their life-saving and caring skills, so in many cases, the skills section of your resume will speak more loudly than any other section.

Nurses tend to specialize in particular medicinal fields or work with specific types of patients, which helps them sharpen a particular set of skills that may not always be relevant to other nursing roles.

This is why it’s essential to mention the exact skills you can offer to the facility where you apply, so you are more essential to what they are looking for instead of just being a general nurse. 

Another thing to also pay attention to is the difference between soft and hard skills . 

Hard skills are professional skills that you have acquired during your education and past work experiences.

Such can include diagnostics, caring, registering patients, regular overseeing, etc.

Soft skills are inter-human and communication skills that are also of paramount importance for this profession.

After all, nurses should not only tend to their patient’s physical health but also calm them down when they are distressed, reassure them, and gently navigate them through all the steps of their treatment, as well as needing to demonstrate problem-solving skills in times of emergency.

In essence, soft skills are psychological skills needed in your day-to-day working life.

Here are some of the best examples of nursing-related hard and soft skills in your resume – and which skills to stick to. 

Soft Skills

• Communication
• Psychological skills
• Empathy and a critical approach to problems
• Physical endurance and mental fortitude
• Teamwork and collaboration

Hard Skills

• EMR software
• Assisting in surgery
• Seizure detection, prevention, and rehabilitation
• Administration of different types of therapy

Aside from these, you also need to know your particular strengths and make sure to emphasize them.

List both hard and soft skills separately and, if needed, separate your technical skills (such as Microsoft Office proficiency, for example) in a different column.

Persuade potential employers that you know exactly what you can and can’t offer and, if what you can offer is relevant to the position they’re looking to fill in, you’ll undoubtedly be given a chance to work for them.

And, if the job position requires a certain skill you have – hard or soft – ensure you list it first and use it as a keyword for your resume. 

How to Add Other Sections for an Effective Resume?

In most cases, impressive nursing experience, education, and skills will do the heavy lifting in making you look good before employers.

However, adding other, additional, extra sections will help elevate your resume up a notch and give them a realistic image of who you are as a person and as a professional.  

There are different aspects you can add to the Other section for nurse resumes. Wherever you include, be sure that it aims to emphasize your existing strengths without having to specifically evade or even mention your weak points. 

Have you acquired additional certifications ? This is the place to put them. Any courses? List them here. Attended conferences, or took part in nationwide projects?

If you speak any foreign languages it can really be a bonus to your resume , as in healthcare industries you are likely to come into contact with patients from other countries who would prefer to speak to a nurse or doctor in their native language.

Mention that in this section, it will make all the difference. Finally, have you received any awards, or maybe published some relevant articles in your field ? This also belongs in the Extra section. 

Finally, you can even add some extracurricular activities such as volunteering . This shows potential employers that:

• You’re still a person with a rich life outside your job, and
• Things you do in your free time are relevant and go well with your main profession.

It’s up to you to paint yourself in the best light possible in this section, but don’t forget to remain short and concise. Also, if possible, back everything with numbers, the year of attendance, the name or title of the thing in question, etc.

Nurse Resume Sample Extra Sections

This is an example of what a good other activities section of a nurse’s resume could look like:

• Registered Nurse (RN): License number – 4294713
• New York State Board of Licensing, Relevant since April 2016
• Board Certified Advanced Holistic Care Nurse, 2016
• CPR Certification, 2016
• Clinical Nurse Specialist Certification, 2017
• English – native
• German – native
• Italian – intermediate
• Spanish – basic

Conferences/Courses

• Patient Care and Mindfulness Training Course , Nursery Board of Kentucky, 2017
• Presentation of topic How Empathy Helps Patients Deal with Trauma at New York State Medicinal Conference, February 2019

Hobbies/Interests

• Volunteer at a local animal care center
• Ice skating
• Professional swimming
• Outdoor hiking

Awards/Honors

• Regional Nursing Foundation Award for Best Nurse, New York, 2018
• State of New York Advanced Nursing Healthcare Award, New York, 2020

Of course, feel free to improvise and add whatever you have to add in this section. However, do not be tempted to lie on your resume in this part (or any other section!), it will probably backfire at a later stage in the selection process.

Avoid including categories that don’t apply to your interests. Play to your strengths to maximize your chances of getting that job.

Key Takeaway

That pretty much sums up the essentials that need to be covered when creating a successful nurse resume.

• Follow the examples provided and see how your own, personal experiences, education, and acquired skills can be inserted into these resume templates.
• Above all, remember to remain honest about your capabilities and to be sharp and clear about all information that you provide.
• Prioritize your skills section , and try to stand out as an individual person with ambitions and achievements in the final, extra section of the nurse resume. Choose the right format to avoid confusion with your professional experience and skills.
• Get the employer’s attention by using action words and selected keywords that apply to the job opening. 

With these tips, you can most certainly hop aboard the employment train and find a nurse position that meets your needs – and vice versa.

Good luck with your application and make sure to browse our professional resume templates ! 

Free Resume Templates

Using resume templates that are proven to work will help you to move your career search forward. Start and customize as many resumes as you need with our free resume builder .

Thanks for using our free templates!

Enjoy ResumeGiants? We’d love it if you’d leave a review – it’d help others!

We hope we’ve helped you to move closer to your dream job.  Have you found our resources helpful? If so, share your experiences with others – leave a review! (10 seconds max)

How to bridge the experience gap by supporting nurses of all tenures

From baby boomers to Gen Zers, the question of how the four generations comprising today’s workforce 1 Elka Torpey, “Millennials in the labor force, projected 2019‒29,” US Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2020. can best work together gets a lot of attention. Personal and professional experiences, levels of training, employer expectations, and career outlook can vary across generations. In nursing, tenure is a particularly nuanced factor that adds complexity to the discussion on workforce dynamics and may be one of the more definitive features of employee experience and, ultimately, retention.

About the authors

As healthcare organizations and other stakeholders refine their strategies for bolstering the nursing workforce, it is critical to incorporate the nuanced needs and preferences of nurses at different stages of their careers. To this end, we surveyed 5,772 nurses across tenures in October 2023 as part of an ongoing research collaboration between the American Nurses Foundation (the Foundation) and McKinsey (see sidebar, “About the research collaboration between the American Nurses Foundation and McKinsey”). The survey results provide insights into opportunities to bridge the experience gap and support nurses across their career continuum.

The survey analyzed three specific nurse cohorts: early-tenure nurses (less than five years of nursing experience), midtenure nurses (five to less than 21 years), and most-tenured nurses (21 or more years). When notable differences were reported within these cohorts, the specific tenure range was also noted.

About the research collaboration between the American Nurses Foundation and McKinsey

The American Nurses Foundation (the Foundation) is a national research, educational, and philanthropic affiliate of the American Nurses Association committed to advancing the nursing profession by serving as a thought leader, catalyst for action, convener, and funding conduit. The Foundation and McKinsey have partnered to assess and report on trends related to the nursing profession. A foundational part of this effort is jointly publishing novel insights related to supporting nurses throughout their careers. The first publication from the research partnership, “ Understanding and prioritizing nurses’ mental health and well-being ,” was based on a survey conducted in April and May 2023. 1 “ Understanding and prioritizing nurses’ mental health and well-being ,” McKinsey, November 6, 2023.

This is the second publication from the research partnership and is based on a survey of 5,772 nurses across the United States, conducted in October 2023. The intent of this new research is to better understand surveyed nurses’ experiences, needs, preferences, and career intentions.

As part of the research, we asked nurses to share how much nursing experience they had based on these categories: less than two years, two to four, five to ten, 11 to 20, 21 to 30, 31 to 40, 41 to 50, and more than 50 years. Respondents were provided a disclaimer prior to completing the survey that results would be anonymous and shared only in aggregate. All survey questions were based on the experiences of the individual professional. All questions were also optional for survey respondents; therefore, the number of responses may vary by question. Additionally, publicly shared examples, tools, and healthcare systems referenced in this article are representative of actions that stakeholders are taking to address workforce challenges.

Across all experience levels, intent to leave the bedside remains high for surveyed nurses. About 30 percent of survey respondents indicated they were at least somewhat likely to leave their positions in the next six months. This is particularly acute in the early-tenure population, where a greater proportion of surveyed nurses reported considering leaving (about 45 percent) compared with midtenure (31 percent) and most-tenured nurses (27 percent).

The early-tenure population is particularly important to retain as more experienced nurses reach retirement age. Supporting and retaining midtenure and most-tenured nurses is also crucial given the critical role they play in teaching and mentoring those newer to the profession. In fact, finding creative ways to enable not only nurses nearing retirement but also those already retired to participate in direct patient care activities or coaching could help fill part of the experience void—and this cohort appears open to doing so if their needs and preferences were met.

We asked nurses who indicated they were currently or previously retired what would make them consider returning to clinical nursing. Of the 179 survey respondents, 45 percent reported that having the ability to set their own schedule would make them consider returning to clinical nursing, 34 percent wanted the ability to serve as an educator, and 31 percent wanted the ability to mentor nurses. Surveyed nurses across tenures indicated that there is a need to enact structures that would enable more robust onboarding and training for new nurses, promote team building, and create safe working environments through policies designed to prevent incivility and bullying.

Understanding the common needs of the nursing workforce as well as unique tenure-specific qualities can help hospital leaders find tangible ways to create collaborative and sustainable environments that would benefit nurses across the entirety of their careers. In this article, we explore how a positive team environment, across and between all tenures, can promote well-being and holistic employee health.

How the work environment can affect nurses

It’s no surprise that a team environment can substantially affect both health and burnout. Positive team characteristics, such as a sense of belonging, psychological safety, opportunities to learn and grow, and coworker support, were among the top indicators of an employee’s holistic health, according to a global survey  conducted by the McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) across industries last year. 2 Jacqueline Brassey, Brad Herbig, Barbara Jeffery, and Drew Ungerman, “ Reframing employee health: Moving beyond burnout to holistic health ,” McKinsey Health Institute, November 2, 2023. Negative team characteristics, such as toxic workplace behavior and interpersonal conflict, were strongly linked with burnout.

MHI’s findings were reflected in the sentiments of early-tenure nurses in our survey. These respondents indicated that they were looking for a work environment where they felt supported and could learn from more-tenured nurses, but reported sometimes experiencing a negative environment, which can contribute to burnout. While in our May 2023 survey, nurses overall reported that they were indeed feeling burned out and that their mental health was suffering , nurses with less than five years of experience more often reported lower satisfaction with their roles, greater intent to leave their roles, and experiencing burnout. 3 “ Understanding and prioritizing nurses’ mental health and well-being ,” McKinsey, November 6, 2023.

In our October 2023 survey, we examined how negative sentiments after working a shift may be affecting nurses’ intent to leave. We asked nurses to select an adjective or sentiment for how they felt after they finished working a shift with each nursing tenure, including their peer group. When we compared intent to leave with the sentiments each nurse shared, there was a positive correlation between those who reported more negative sentiments and those who reported a greater intent to leave. This is particularly salient for stakeholders, as it provides a glimpse into how culture and team dynamics may affect nurses and their likelihood to stay in their current roles.

Nurses’ sentiments about working with those of different tenures

To better understand the overall nursing experience, it is important to evaluate each tenure, including the unique needs, preferences, and experiences of the nurses in each tenure, as well as where there is common ground among tenures. Not surprisingly, we found some distinct nuances to each group’s professional experience but also many commonalities to build upon.

Our joint research highlighted that nurses’ experiences working with different tenures may affect how they feel at the end of their shifts (Exhibit 1)—even though nurses are likely to tell you there is no such thing as a typical shift or day for them.

Surveyed nurses were asked to select the top sentiments they felt after working a shift. Early-tenure nurses more often reported feeling supported by midtenure nurses (29 percent) than feeling supported by most-tenured nurses (17 percent). Early-tenure nurses also more often said that they felt frustrated by their most-tenured colleagues (12 percent), compared with midtenure nurses (8 percent). Additionally, early-tenure nurses more often reported feeling intimidated by most-tenured nurses (12 percent) than by their midtenure coworkers (2 percent).

Despite these negative sentiments, however, about 75 percent of early-tenure nurse respondents reported that they agreed or strongly agreed that they enjoyed working with most-tenured nurses. More than 80 percent reported that they viewed most-tenured nurses as “a great resource to learn from” (Exhibit 2). These sentiments were consistent across early-tenure nurses with less than two years of experience and those with more than two years but less than five years of experience.

These two early-tenure nurse subsets differed, however, when reflecting on shifts with midtenure colleagues, most evidently on whether midtenure nurses “have the time and capacity to train and coach them.” About 25 percent of those with less than two years of experience reported that they disagreed or strongly disagreed, compared with about 11 percent of nurses with more than two years but less than five years of experience.

Midtenure and most-tenured nurses were fairly aligned with each other in terms of how they felt about working with early-tenure nurses. Midtenure and most-tenured nurses reported feeling hopeful, like a leader, and respected. Yet they also noted being exhausted and concerned after a shift with early-tenure nurses. In fact, only half of most-tenured and midtenure nurses reported that they got enough support from early-tenure nurses.

This response may indicate that midtenure nurses feel that early-tenure nurses entering the workforce require more support than they can provide (for example, if they are managing more complex patients while also training new joiners). Nonetheless, about 75 percent of both midtenure and most-tenured nurse respondents shared that they enjoyed working with early-tenure nurses (Exhibit 3). Greater than 70 percent of midtenure and most-tenured nurses said they felt energized or personally fulfilled by supporting early-tenure nurses in learning and developing, but more than 33 percent reported that they didn’t have the time or capacity to train or coach others.

Actions to improve collaborative work across tenures

To address the unique challenges facing each tenure and strengthen retention, it is imperative for organizations to evaluate how and where to deploy resources that best match the needs of nurses across their career continuum. To identify tactical, actionable solutions, organizations need a better understanding of what initiatives nurses think could improve the experience of a multitenure workforce and how to create environments that are more collaborative. We also looked at additional cross-cutting strategies for recruitment and retention, such as flexibility.

Ultimately, the interventions an organization chooses will depend on the makeup of its staff and the organization’s goals for its nursing pipeline. However, by using the preferences that the nurses in our survey shared, there are three potential avenues that organizations can consider.

Enhance flexibility for all

Providing schedule flexibility could be helpful not only for nurses who are currently practicing but also to potentially bring back retired nurses. Nearly a third of respondents reported that their employers didn’t offer any type of shift flexibility. Among those who worked at places offering some schedule flexibility, more than 30 percent of early-tenure nurses reported feeling neutral to very dissatisfied with the available options, and 25 percent of midtenure and most-tenured nurses reported the same.

We asked nurses to select all the flexible-schedule options that mattered the most to them (Exhibit 4). Across all tenures, nurses expressed a desire for self-scheduling (for example, everyone gets to select the days and shifts they work for the entirety of the published schedule). This was particularly important for early-tenure nurses, with 46 percent selecting this as an important scheduling option. Additionally, all nurses wanted their employers to offer variable and flexible shift lengths (for example, four, six, eight, ten, and 12 hours). Among early-tenure nurses, 36 percent selected this as a desired scheduling option, while 32 percent of midtenure nurses chose this option. Early-tenure nurses also requested flexible and variable start times (for example, 7:00 a.m., 8:00 p.m., et cetera), while midtenure and most-tenured nurses opted for hybrid working options.

Some organizations have started utilizing technology to support flexible scheduling options. For example, Providence partnered with healthcare platform CareRev to provide unclaimed shifts to nurses or care providers in nontraditional increments, such as 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., which could then free up nurses to perform daytime activities such as dropping off and picking up their kids from school. 4 “Flexible staffing models cut costs, attract workers,” Becker’s Hospital Review , January 2, 2024. Similarly, SSM Health partnered with the app ShiftMed to offer open shifts to its workforce. The partnership gave SSM Health the opportunity to pilot flexible shift options, start times, and roles and allowed them to fill more than 85 percent of their 25,000 posted shifts per quarter. 5 “How on-demand staffing benefited SSM Health,” Becker’s Hospital Review , December 28, 2023.

The exodus from the workforce of the many nurses nearing retirement age 6 Nursing workforce fact sheet, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, updated July 2023. may mean the loss of decades of expertise and institutional knowledge. Some organizations have implemented programs that provide flexibility and schedule relief to these most-tenured preretirement nurses. Indeed, being able to set their own schedule was the top response among the 1,640 respondents who identified as eligible for retirement, with 46 percent sharing that this would encourage them to consider delaying their retirement. And 45 percent of nurses who were currently or previously retired indicated that this would make them consider rejoining the workforce.

Examples of organizations that have focused on bringing nurses back to their organizations by using flexibility include Henry Ford Health and Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. Henry Ford Health focused on outreach to nurses who left the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. It offered flexible opportunities, including internal travel nurse programs and weekend-only options. This strategy resulted in about 25 percent of nurses returning to the organization. 7 Mackenzie Bean and Erica Carbajal, “How Henry Ford rehired 25% of nurses who left during the pandemic,” Becker’s Hospital Review , February 15, 2023. Similarly, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare concentrated on opportunities it called “knowledge worker” roles, which may be less physically demanding than a bedside position and allow nurses to participate in its innovative nursing models, including remote intensive care unit care and virtual nursing. 8 Mackenzie Bean and Erica Carbajal, “How Henry Ford rehired 25% of nurses who left during the pandemic,”  Becker’s Hospital Review , February 15, 2023.

Bolster mentorship opportunities

Asking nurses how they felt after working a shift revealed a road map of what they need, as well as the barriers they encounter when nurses don’t have the time or resources to follow this plan. Early-tenure nurses indicated they wanted to learn from their midtenure and most-tenured coworkers, with 18 percent ranking formal mentorship programs as a top initiative to support a positive work environment. About 72 percent of midtenure and most-tenured nurses shared that they felt energized and fulfilled when they could teach and coach their early-tenure colleagues. However, only about 60 percent of midtenure and most-tenured nurses shared that they had adequate time or capacity to coach and teach. This can lead to sentiments of confusion, burnout, intimidation, and frustration.

Although many nurses are already feeling stretched and mentally exhausted, there may be a key group of nurses with the expertise, bandwidth, and desire to support onboarding and mentoring programs. We asked nurses who had not yet retired to select the top three things that their employers could do for them to consider staying in their role. While the ability to set their own schedule was the top response (46 percent), 27 percent reported that being able to work as a nurse educator or in a virtual-nurse capacity would be attractive.

Among nurses who have retired or were previously retired, similar sentiments were shared (Exhibit 5). More than 30 percent reported that being able to serve as an educator or focus on mentoring newer nurses would be enough to make them consider rejoining the workforce.

As a growing number of nurses reach retirement age, organizations have an opportunity to create roles that honor the expertise of these often more-tenured nurses while promoting a work environment that is collaborative and positive for early-tenure nurses. Facilities within the Mass General Brigham healthcare system piloted a formal mentoring program in which early-tenure nurses meet every two weeks for three months with more-tenured nurses. The organization considers this to be paid educational time. Reviews from the pilot show that job satisfaction increased for both new and experienced nurses. 9 “New nurse mentorship program provides ongoing connections, deepens professional investment,” Cooley Dickinson Health Care, April 15, 2022. Similarly, the AARP Center for Health Equity through Nursing is recruiting working and retired nurses for its mentorship program, which is focused on nursing students in underrepresented communities, as part of its Campaign for Action focused on health equity. 10 “Help wanted: Nurse mentors for a more diverse nurse workforce,” Campaign for Action, April 11, 2023.

In addition, adequate support for new graduates entering the workforce was indicated as the number-one contributor toward a positive work environment among all three tenure cohorts. For example, the Practice Transition Accreditation Program, an evidence-based accredited registered nurse residency and fellowship program created by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), demonstrated an 85.3 percent retention over 12 months, compared with the industry average of 71.3 percent. 11 “ANCC PTAP accredited programs: Data gathered from PTAP accredited RN programs Oct. 2022–Sept. 2023,” American Nurses Credentialing Center; ANCC is a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA), while McKinsey’s partner for this research, American Nurses Foundation, is ANA’s research, education, and charitable affiliate.

Promote team building and safe spaces

Personal working styles in any work environment can vary greatly depending on the individual; however, in healthcare specifically, teams should work cohesively and collaboratively. When surveyed nurses were asked to choose the top three most important factors for creating a collaborative working environment, nurses across all tenures selected team building as a top initiative.

Healthcare organizations may not need to look far to find processes to support better collaboration and understanding among team members. Many organizations use after-action reviews following patient safety events to assess and reflect on what went well and what needs to be improved to prevent such future incidents. 12 Catherine Hogan et al., “Effect of after action review on safety culture and second victim experience and its implementation in an Irish hospital: A mixed methods study protocol,” PLoS One , 2021, Volume 16, Issue 11. Additionally, it may be beneficial for departments to conduct more frequent check-ins, huddles, and team-building exercises to give nurses and health professionals an opportunity to share experiences and establish norms for their working culture. Often conducted at the beginning of shifts, huddles may also allow departments to set up working models and provide a platform for staff to get to know one another more informally, which can build trust and professional collaboration.

Another example initiative that could help build a more supportive environment is the Schwartz Rounds program. It was established as a contrast to traditional patient rounding, which tends to focus on patient needs and barriers to care. Instead, the Schwartz Rounds program offers healthcare providers time and space to discuss the social and emotional issues they face while caring for patients and families. The benefits include improved teamwork, better interdisciplinary communication, and a greater appreciation for different roles and disciplines, as well as a decrease in feelings of stress and isolation.

Other actions that stakeholders can consider include establishing and enforcing policies that create space for nurses to feel safe at work. Among early-tenure and midtenure nurses, 12 percent reported that a top priority was formal policies and enforcement against bullying (Exhibit 6). Bullying, incivility, and verbal abuse can lead to a degradation of safe, quality care and affect an individual’s sense of well-being, creating an unhealthy work environment. 13 “Incivility, bullying, and workplace violence,” ANA, July 22, 2015.

Supporting nurses across their career continuum

Addressing the complexity of this multitenure, multigenerational workforce is critical to supporting the healthcare workforce and ensuring an adequate pipeline of nurses eager and engaged in the profession. Many surveyed nurses expressed positive sentiments toward their peers and colleagues but also shared structural challenges that may be preventing them from fully appreciating the potential benefits of a multitenure workforce.

Bolstering cross-tenure relationships would increase trust and collaboration among nurses, not only increasing the likelihood that they stay in the profession but also improving productivity and engagement in real time. How to address these challenges will depend on the makeup of each specific workforce, but stakeholders can start by evolving their workforce strategies to ensure that tenure-specific needs and preferences are considered.

Gretchen Berlin, RN , is a senior partner in McKinsey’s Washington, DC, office, where Faith Burns is an associate partner; Stephanie Hammer, RN , is a consultant in the Denver office; and Mhoire Murphy is a partner in the Boston office. Adriane Griffen is a vice president at the American Nurses Foundation; Amy Hanley is a program manager at the Foundation; and Kate Judge is the executive director of the Foundation.

The authors wish to thank the nurses, physicians, and staff on the front lines who are caring for patients and communities. They also wish to thank Beth Bravo, Brad Herbig, and Deirdre Keane for their contributions to this article.

This article was edited by Querida Anderson, a senior editor in the New York office.

Explore a career with us

Related articles.

Understanding and prioritizing nurses’ mental health and well-being

Nursing in 2023: How hospitals are confronting shortages

Reimagining the nursing workload: Finding time to close the workforce gap