20+ Nursing Resume Examples (Template, Skills Guide)

20+ Nursing Resume Examples (Template, Skills Guide) Take a deep breath, you are on your way to writing the perfect nursing resume.But first think about this:Nursing is one of the fastest growing jobs on the market and registered nurses are in high demand.So, why would you need to worry about your resume?There are plenty of jobs to go around. Youll snag one even if you send the most generic resume possible to the nearest hospital. Right?It may be easy for nurses to find job openings, but its still a good idea to optimize your resume before applying.See, most nurses, like you, are well qualified.Taking the time to optimize your nursing resume gives you an edge over the competition.What have you got to lose?This guide will show you:A nursing resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.How to write a nursing resume that will land you more interviews.Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a nursing resume.How to describe your experience on a resume for a nurse to get any job you want.Here's a sample resume for a nurse made using our resume builder.Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.Sample Nursing ResumeSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowAre you a specific nurse? No problem. See:Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) ResumeCharge Nurse ResumeEmergency Room (ER) Nurse ResumeLabor and Delivery Nurse ResumeLicensed Practical Nurse (LPN) ResumeMed-Surg Nurse ResumeNurse Practitioner ResumeNursing Student ResumeOperating Room (OR) Nurse ResumePediatric Nurse ResumeRegistered Nurse (RN) ResumeAnd for other medical resumes see:Radiologic Technologist ResumeCase Manger ResumeMedical Assistant ResumePhlebotomy ResumePhysician CVHealthcare Resume Massage Therapist ResumePatient Care Technician ResumePublic Health ResumeMedical Student CVCaregiver ResumeProfessional Resumes: Examples for 500+ Jobs1How to Format a Professional Nursing ResumeThe nursing profession operates in a fast-paced environment that values protocol and sanitation.So, its important that these values are evident in your resume.Choose a traditional format like the reverse-chronological resume format. Such a format places emphasis on your experience and education.Also, go with a layout that makes good use of white space and easy-to-read subheadings. And be sure to choose a classic, legible font.Unless instructed otherwise, save your resume as a PDF to preserve the layout. Use your complete name and job title to name your file.Still not sure about how to format your nursing resume? Want to see other types of resume formats? Read our guide: 3 Resume Formats: How To Choose The Best One [Examples]2Consider Adding Extra Contact Information to Your Nursing ResumeSt art with the usual information:Your NameAn Updated Phone NumberA Professional Email AddressAnd consider adding your license type and number.Many recruiters still receive applications from under-qualified applicants. Thats because a surprising number of people send resumes without reading the job description.Thats why recruiters prefer seeing licensure information before reading through an entire resume. It saves them time, so they dont have to read resumes that dont meet the requirements.RightAnne Smith, RN. (93626) - a.smith@gmail.com - (857) 365-8237WrongAnne Smith - a.smith@gmail.com - (857) 365-8237Need more examples of how to put the basics on your nursing resume? Need to brush up on your resume making knowledge? Read our guide: How To Build A Resume: A Step-By-Step Guide (+30 Examples)Want to transition to a doctor role? Get our free checklist and learn what makes a job-winning resume: Doctor Resume Sample Guide for MDs and DOs.3How to Write Nursing Resume Summary or Objective Should you write a nursing resume objective or summary statement?Are you a fresh graduate, career changer, or a nurse looking for a niche or specific role? Then you should choose an objective for a nursing resume. Resume objectives are for applicants who dont have a lot of on-the-job experience.RightDependable licensed RN trained to work in high-stress environments and stay calm under pressure. Seeking to leverage meticulous record-keeping and analytical skills to gain experience as a Nurse.WrongNewly licensed RN looking for a challenging nursing role in a medical facility where I can put my skills to the test.Applicants with experience in the industry should use a resume summary.RightMulti-lingual Pediatric RN with 15+ years of experience in the intensive and neonatal care units of a community hospital. Seeking to leverage management experience in the role of Pediatric RN at General Hospital.WrongPediatric RN with years of experience supervising the medication and health records of newborns.Pro Tip: A resume summary is also a good place to put your hours of availability.When making a resume in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.Create my resume nowWhen youre done, Zetys resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.Nursing is a 24-7 job. Adding your hours of availability will help the hiring manager place you better. Especially if youre applying for a general position instead of responding to a job offer.Need more examples of nursing resume objectives and summary statements? Read our guides: +20 Resume Objective Examples - Use Them On Your Resume (Tips) AND How To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See4Balance Your Nursing Resume Duties With AchievementsA nurses experience section is nothing like what you see on resumes for other jobs.In other professions, resumes are achievement-driven. Nurses must also include bas ic responsibilities to avoid getting screened out of a job.Its important to make sure your professional nursing resume balances both and includes both hard skills, soft skills, and technical skills.Why?Nursing is a field with a ton of subspecialties. Listing specific responsibilities allows recruiters to know that you have the right set of hard skills vs soft skills.Lets say your job title matches the title on the job description. Even then, the workplace setting might require different technical skills and certifications.So, when you include duties on your nursing resume, follow these steps:Provide Details:RightWrongSwan-Ganz CathetersCathetersBe Specific:RightWrongProvided care for elderly Renal patients.Provided patient care.Add Duties From the Job DescriptionOnce youre done, go back and see if you can highlight any of your duties by adding an accomplishment.Want to know how to write accomplishments on a professional nursing resume? Dont know what kind of achievements to choose? Read our guide: Achievements To Put On A Resume - Complete Guide (+30 Examples)5Three Things to Add to a Nursing Resume Experience SectionNumber of Beds:The recruiter will want to know if you have experience working in a similar sized hospital or unit that matches the prospective job.Susan WhitmanSr. Vice President and CFO at Freedom Healthcare StaffingUnit Type:Have you ever worked in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), an Emergency Room (ER), a Labor and Delivery Unit (LD), or a Telemetry Unit (TELE)? Staff or travel?Be sure to include the unit type under each job in your experience section.Also, include information about the admittance of trauma patients or overflow patients from other units. That way, recruiters know the type of patients you can handle.Listing the type of unit youve worked in illustrates that you have a particular set of basic skills.For example:Nurses assigned to Telemetry Units work with patients that need constant monitoring. The critical nature of some patients su ggests that the environment is fast-paced. TELE Nurses can handle several patients at once and deal with unexpected problems.Compare that to:An Operating Room (OR) Nurse who assists patients and doctors during all stages of surgery. Instead of handling several patients, an OR nurse handles one procedure at a time.Facility Type:Different facilities have different environments and daily tasks. Nurses also work with different equipment.So, a nursing home nurse is not going to have the same experience as a nurse working in an urgent care facility. Urgent care facilities are fast-paced with patients coming and going. Nursing homes have permanent residents that require long-term care.Both are demanding jobs. But the stamina, skills, and certifications are different.Lets say you work in a facility for the elderly. You still need to add the type of facility to differentiate your skills.Lets say you work in an assisted living facility. You dont need to provide injury or illness-specific care for patients. But nurses who work in nursing homes do.Thats why its important to mention the type of facilities youve worked for in the past.Sample Nursing Resume Experience SectionsFor a Case ManagerRightRN Case Manager, In-patient PediatricsMay 2005 August 2007Northwest Community Hospital, IllinoisSupervised all patient care provided by Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses, and Nurse Technicians handling a 25-bed unit.Interviewed potential nurses to ensure their experience and skills met the demands of our unit.Managed the units revenue and budget, including the allocation of funds for patient care, equipment, and staff supplies.WrongRN Case ManagerSeptember 2015 - PresentCare Focus - Saint Paul, MNConducted initial nursing assessments of new patient admissions.Interviewed nursing applicants.Handled unit record-keeping.As you can see, the first candidate added the unit type (In-patient Pediatrics), the facility type (Community Hospital), and the number of beds (25).Want to make your nursing resume experience section even better? Consider adding action words. Read our guide to find out how to use the best action words on a resume for nurses: +80 Examples of Resume Action Words For Every Profession6How to Write Nursing Credentials on a ResumeOnce you move on to your education and qualifications, things can get messy.Nurses can end up with tons of qualifications and certifications. Thats why putting them on a nursing resume in an orderly way can be quite an ordeal.What should go where? Should you put awards, licenses, or certifications first? Should you list them in different sections or together?You dont want to add too many section headers. Lets say you only have one license. Adding a separate section for Licenses would be a waste of space.Good news. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) anticipated the problem. So, they created a standardized way to list credentials.Preferred order:Your Education Section - Your education section should co me first. Its okay to put it before your experience section when youre a fresh graduate. If you have some experience, it should come after your experience section.Your highest degree should come first on a nursing resume because its a permanent qualification. List your highest degree followed by lower degrees. If you have two equal degrees, list the most relevant one first.Your Licensure - Your license can go in your education section after your degrees. You can also create a separate section titled Licenses.State Designations - These are certifications that give nurses the authority to practice at more advanced levels in specific states. Examples include Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Nurse Practitioner (NP), and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) certifications.Your Certifications - Any certificates that youve received or extra training should go in this separate section.Awards and Honors: Awards and honors can come from your time at school, from professional affiliations , from nursing organizations, or from previous jobs that youve held.Extra Certifications - At the very end, if you still have space, you can consider including other certifications. These would include non-nursing certifications that are relevant to the job youre targeting.Its a good idea to organize your resume according to industry standards. Recruiters are expecting resumes organized in a particular way. Conforming means they can find everything they want fast.Want to know what else could go on a resume for nurses? Find out what should always show up on a professional resume. Read our guide: What To Put On A Resume To Make It Perfect [Tips Examples]7Nursing Resume Tips for Your Education SectionAre you writing an entry-level resume for nursing? If yes, your education section will include your biggest achievements to date - your degrees.Consider putting your education at the top of your resume after the introduction. New grad nursing resumes will be short on experience. So, draw attention to your education instead.Are you writing a professional nursing resume after a few years of experience? In that case, you can put your education lower on your resume after your experience section.Regardless, always start your education section by listing your highest degree first.Be sure to include the following information:The name of your alma mater.The dates when you entered and left school. If youre still at school, write in progress as your end date and add your expected date of completion.The degree youve obtained.The location of your school.Your GPA if it was 3.5 and above.There are no hard and fast rules about how to order this information. If you went to a fancy school, you might want to lead with that.But the best nursing resume samples lead with the type of degree - BSN or MSN for example.Thats because nursing is a profession that requires you to have a degree.Recruiters will scan your resume looking for that particular information. Make it easy on them.Right20 13 - 2015 Masters of Science in NursingJohn Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore MarylandStill need nursing resume samples of how to add your degree? Want to find out what kind of extra information can go in an education section? Read our guide: How To Put Your Education On A Resume (Tips Examples)8The Best Nursing Resume Tips for Adding License InformationWhen it comes to licensure, youve got two options.The first is to list your licenses in your education section after youve listed your degrees. That works best if you have one or two licenses. Otherwise, you can create a separate section for your licenses.Lets say you decide to add your license to your education section.You can consider titling the section Education and Licensure instead of Education. That way recruiters know youve included information about your licensure in your education section.So, whether youre making a registered nurse resume or a licensed practical nurse resume - location is the biggest issue.On ce youve figured that out, the hard part is over.But how do you make a license entry on your nursing resume?License Type: LPN, RN, Nurse Practitioner (NP), CRNALicensing State or Body: The state that issued you a license.License Name: The name you used on the licenses.License Number: Youve already included this in your contact information, but it doesnt hurt to add it again.Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC): If your license falls under the NLC, youll want to indicate that it does so. Having a license that falls under the NLC allows you to practice in states included in the agreement. Thats especially important for nurses applying for out-of-state jobs.License Expiration Date: The alternative is to put Active Since and add the month and year the license was activated.Sample Nursing Resume License Entry:Registered Nurse (RN): License number 2263731New York State Board Licensing, Active since January 2012Or:Registered Nurse: 173162Massachusetts Board of Registration in NursingActive until November 2017For Compact License holders:Registered Nurse: License Number 132779, Active since 2014Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), Maine State Board LicensingPro Tip: License numbers are in the public domain. Recruiters can look up your number online via the States Board of Nursing website.Putting the number on your nursing resume saves recruiters time and energy.Show recruiters right away that you have the required licensure. That way theyll know quicker that youre qualified for the job. Win, win.9Add State Designations to a Professional Nursing ResumeLets say you have a certification to practice at advanced levels in a particular state. Its important to put the name of that state on your resume.You can not just put that you are an Advanced Practical Nurse (APN). Thats because each state has different criteria for subspecialties in the nursing profession. Also, it may be illegal to use certain titles without permission from the states nursing board.Put the name of the state after yo ur license information to show a state designation. Lets say your state designation matches your license. Then theres no need to include the same information twice.Lets say that your Registered Nursing license falls under the Nursing Licensure Compact. Then its best to include the State Nursing Board that granted your designation.Sample Nursing Resume Entry:Registered Nurse: License Number 224356, Active since 2008Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), Kentucky Board of NursingClinical Nurse Specialist, 2012, Tennessee State Board of NursingNursing resume tips are great, but you might want to take a second to check out the tips that take any resume from average to amazing. Read our guide: 42 Amazing Resume Tips That You Can Use In 30 Minutes [Examples]10Heres How to List Certifications on a Resume for NursesCertifications show your ongoing improvements in the nursing profession. They also show that you have specialized skills.Accredited and nationally recognized institutions issue certifica tions. Examples of such institutions include the American Board of Neuroscience Nursing (ABNN) and the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN).RNs are not required by law to get certifications to work in specific medical units.For example, you dont need a Medical Surgical Nursing Certification (CMSRN) to work in operating rooms in many states.But many hospitals are willing to pay extra. Some at least focus on candidates who have this certification.Include the following information when listing certifications on your resume:Name of the Certification and the Acronym: For example, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN).Its always best to write out acronyms. You should never assume the reader knows all industry jargon. At the same time, acronyms are important for Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software. Be sure to include acronyms that you find in the job description.The Certifying Organizati onThe Certificates Expiration Date: You can put the date that you acquired the certificate if there is it does not expire.The Certification Number (where appropriate)Sample nursing resume certification entries:Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association, Current - 2018Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Current - 2017There are tons of nursing certifications, and its impossible to list them all. So, here are two sources that can give you an idea of whats available.The American Board of Nursing Specialties - includes a list of organizations and the certifications they issue.The Lippincotts Nursing Center - includes the organizations phone numbers and email addresses.At this point, you may start to worry about resume length. How long should a resume be? Find out by reading our guide: How Long Should A Resume Be? Everything You Need To Know11Be Sure to Include Awards and Honors on Your Nursing Resume Awards and Honors can include recognition received from school, nursing organizations, social clubs, hospitals, and other healthcare units.List the name of the award, the awarding body, and the date received.Sample Nursing Resume Award Entry:Promise of Nursing Regional Faculty Fellowship Grant, 2012Foundation of the National Nursing Students AssociationSchool of Nursing Alumni Award, 2010New York UniversityOne other section you can consider adding is a Hobbies and Interests section. It adds personality to your resume. Adding personal interests works best on entry-level or new grad nursing resumes. Read our guide: +20 Best Examples Of Hobbies Interests To Put On A Resume (5 Tips)12Skills for a Nursing Resume - How to Find the Best KeywordsMost of the skills you list should come from the job description.These are your resume keywords. They are also the skills that recruiters try to find while scanning your resume.But how do you know which skills are the most important?Sometimes the j ob description will tell you that a skill is desirable or mandatory. If not, you can try checking out other job descriptions like yours.You can also check out LinkedIn profiles of other nursing professionals.Look for repeated skills. You can assume that these are important skills for a nursing resume.What other skills should you put on a resume for nurses?Dont be afraid to include relevant technical skills not mentioned in the job description.See, you can divide skills for a nursing resume into four categories:Basic CareJob-related Technical Skills or SpecialtiesAdministrative SkillsComputer SkillsDont confuse computer skills with technical skills. Many hospitals are switching to electronic records. So, having computer skills can give you a leg up.Check the job description for specific types of billing or recording software.If theres no specific software or program listed, include your computer skills anyway. That way youre ahead of the game if theyre planning to switch to digital r ecords soon.Technical skills arent limited to those that require extra certifications. Technical skills can include anything that a person without a LPN or RN license may find hard to do.Below is a list of skills for a nursing resume. Of course, the list isnt exhaustive.Nursing Resume SkillsBasic CareTechnical SkillsComputer SkillsAdmin SkillsWound Dressing and CareUrgent Care and Emergency Care, Trauma 2Instant ECG AppRecord-KeepingPatient EducationNIH Stroke Scale Patient AssessmentElectronic Medical Record (EMR)BudgetingMedicine AdministrationMonitoring Mother's Vital Signs and Fetal Heart RateBilling Codes ICD10Recording Patient VitalsBlood Pressure MonitoringPhlebotomy - IV Therapy and Blood DrawingBilling Codes ICD9Communicating With Patients and Their VisitorsDaily Living TasksRehabilitation TherapyEpic SoftwareCoordinating Patient Care with Nurse Manager or DoctorHygiene AssistanceUse of X-Ray, MRI, CAT ScansMeditechTraining Other NursesGlucose Checks12-Lead ECG Interpretati on and PlacementsElectronic Heart Record (EHR)Care and Discharge PlanningPatient TransportAutomatic Implantable Cardioverter- Defibrillator (AICD) InsertionsBlood and Stool Specimen CollectionG-Tube Feedings and CareFocus on the skills matching the position.This will give you an advantage over the other candidates. Especially in the context of a large skills gap in the healthcare sector.Want more examples of skills that recruiters like to see on resumes? Not sure how to list skills for a nursing resume? Weve got you covered. Read our guide: +30 Best Examples Of What Skills To Put On A Resume (Proven Tips)13Dont Forget to Add Your Professional AssociationsThe chances are that you belong to a professional nursing association of some sort. Thats because there are thousands of affiliations for nurses.Some of them are academic affiliations. Others are national organizations or groups for specific kinds of specialists.Regardless, recruiters will want to know if your affiliation with any p rofessional associations. Especially if youve received awards or held important positions within the organizations.Some examples include:Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing (Academic)American Association of Critical Care Nurses (Specialist)Michigan Nurses Association (State-specific)If you decide to add associations to your professional nursing resume, include the following information:The name of the organization.The date the organization admitted you.Any offices that youve held.A description of your role within the group.Pro Tip: There are different ways to order such information on your resume. You dont need to list the group you joined most recently first.Its best if you order them according to prestige - personal and perceived. Put associations at the top if you held an office or had an important role. You can also lead with affiliations that have prestigious reputations in the industry.Youre almost finished with your professional nursing resume. But first, you need to tailor it to the job description. Dont know how? Read our guide: 6 Proven Tips On How To Tailor Your Resume To The Job Description14How to Write a Cover Letter for a Nursing ResumeIt is still necessary to write a cover letter. For a nursing resume, write a brief letter that focuses on your highest qualifications. Add a few accomplishments from your most recent job.Also, it is worth it to find out who will read your letter so that you can address it to that person.Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here.Here's what it may look like:See more cover letter templates and start writing.Some aren't sold on the whole idea of cover letters written for nursing resumes. They say it's a waste of time.But, at worst, it's a waste of 15 minutes of your time.The alternative? A wasted opportunity.Not sure how to write a cover letter? Weve got you covered. Read our guide: How To Write A Cover Letter [Complete Guide With Examples]Key TakeawayWriting a short, customized nursing resume might be a challenge. But its possible if you do your research and use the right strategies.To write a nursing resume:Only use a resume objective if youre a fresh graduate or are changing specializations.Include your license type and the number beside your name and contact information.Include the number of beds, the facility type, and the unit type for each job you held.List your qualifications in the correct order: education, license, state designations, certifications, and awards and honors.Prioritize the skills mentioned in the job description.Proofread your resume and write a personalized cover letter.Do you have any questions on how to make a nursing resume? Let us know in the comments!