Nursing Resume Examples, Template, Objective

A thorough manual for crafting a nursing resume. Explore exemplary nursing resume samples, access an adaptable nursing resume template, and heed valuable writing advice.

Nursing ranks among the rapidly expanding professions in the job market. However, assuming job acquisition is guaranteed by simply contacting the nearest hospital may not be accurate. Despite abundant job openings, not all nursing positions are equally appealing. Given the high qualifications of most nurses, investing time in optimizing your nursing resume becomes crucial for gaining an edge over the competition. Take a moment to breathe; you’re on the path to crafting an outstanding nursing resume.

This guide will show you: 

• An exemplary nursing resume, surpassing 9 out of 10 others.
• Guidance on composing a nursing resume that boosts your interview opportunities.
• Tips and illustrations on effectively highlighting your value in a nursing resume.
• Crafting the finest summary or objective for a nursing resume.

Nursing Resume Example

Alina Rodriguez

Registered Nurse

123-456-7890

[email protected]

linkedin.com/in/alina.rodriguez

Summary

Compassionate and dedicated Registered Nurse with over 5 years of experience providing quality patient care in fast-paced hospital settings. Eager to support Care Craft Center in delivering top-tier medical care by leveraging skills in patient assessment, care plan development, and health education. Reduced medication administration errors by 25% through initiating and developing a robust medication protocol at Heal Hospital.

Experience

Registered Nurse

Heal Hospital (ICU), Pittsburgh, PA

January 2017–Present

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

• Conducting comprehensive patient assessments.
• Developing tailored care plans for a monthly average of 20 patients.
• Administering medications and treatments, maintaining a 98% accuracy rate.
• Educating patients and family members on disease prevention and post-hospital treatment.

Key Achievement:

• Reduced medication administration errors by 25% by initiating and developing a robust medication protocol.

Licensed Practical Nurse

VitalCare Health Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA

June 2015–December 2016

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

• Provided nursing care under the supervision of a registered nurse.
• Assisted in the implementation of individualized patient care plans.
• Performed basic nursing procedures such as wound dressings and vital signs monitoring.

Key Achievement:

• Acknowledged for excellent patient care in the 2016 employee performance review.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

August 2011–May 2015

Relevant extracurricular activities

• Member of the Student Nurses Association
• Volunteered at local health fairs to provide basic screenings and health education.

Skills

• Patient Assessment and Care Plan Development
• Patient Education
• Medication Administration
• Emergency Room Experience
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong problem-solving abilities
• Superior organizational skills
• Attention to detail

Certifications

• Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN), Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, 2018

Languages

• English—Native
• Spanish—Intermediate

Interests

• Running half-marathons for charity.
• Volunteering at a local animal shelter.

 

1. Opt for the Appropriate Structure for a Professional Nursing Resume

The nursing profession operates in a fast-paced environment that values protocol and sanitation. So, it’s important that these values are evident in your resume.

Here’s how to format your nursing resume the right way:

• Opt for a conventional format, such as the reverse-chronological resume style.
• Select a resume design that optimizes white space and employs easily readable subheadings.
• Set your resume margins at 1″ and incorporate double-spacing between different sections.
• Choose a timeless and legible font for your resume.
• Preserve the layout by saving your resume as a PDF.
• When naming your resume file, utilize your full name and job title.

2. Incorporate Contact Details into Your Nursing Resume

Begin with the standard contact details in your resume header:

• Your Name
• An Updated Phone Number
• A Professional Email Address

Also, contemplate including your license type and number.

Recruiters often encounter applications from individuals who lack the necessary qualifications. This is often attributed to a significant number of people submitting resumes without thoroughly reviewing the job description.

As a result, recruiters appreciate having licensure information upfront, allowing them to efficiently screen out resumes that do not meet the specified requirements. This approach saves them time and effort in the initial evaluation process.

 

3. Craft a Compelling Objective or Summary for Your Nursing Resume

Should you opt for a nursing resume objective or a summary statement for your resume profile?

If you are a recent graduate, someone changing careers, or a nurse seeking a specialized role, it’s advisable to select an objective for your nursing resume. Resume objectives are suitable for individuals with limited on-the-job experience, typically emphasizing training and career goals.

 

4.Harmonize the Responsibilities on Your Nursing Resume With

A nurse’s professional experience section differs significantly from resumes in other professions.

While resumes in various fields focus on achievements, nurses must also incorporate fundamental responsibilities to avoid being overlooked in the job screening process.

Ensuring that your professional nursing resume strikes a balance by including both hard skills, soft skills, and technical skills is crucial. This is because nursing comprises numerous subspecialties, and specifying responsibilities allows recruiters to gauge whether you possess the necessary mix of hard and soft skills. For instance, if you’re applying for a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) position, including CNA duties on your resume is essential.

Even if your job title aligns with the one in the job description, the workplace environment may necessitate distinct technical skills and certifications.

 

5.Include Your Nursing Credentials in Your Resume

When you transition to the education and qualifications section, things can become intricate.

Nurses often accumulate numerous qualifications and certifications, making it challenging to organize them systematically on a nursing resume.

Questions may arise: What should be prioritized? Should awards, licenses, or certifications take precedence on the resume? Should they be listed separately or together?

Maintaining a balance is crucial to avoid an excessive number of section headers. For instance, if you possess only one license, creating a separate section labeled “Licenses” might be redundant.

Fortunately, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) foresaw this issue and devised a standardized method for listing credentials.

Your Education Section

Place your education section at the forefront. It is acceptable to position it before your experience section, particularly if you are a recent graduate. For those with some experience, it should follow the experience section.

On a nursing resume, prioritize your highest degree as it represents a permanent qualification. Arrange them with the highest degree first, followed by lower degrees. In cases where you hold two equal degrees, prioritize the most relevant one at the top.

Your Licensure

Incorporate your license in the education section following your degrees. Alternatively, you can dedicate a distinct section titled “Licenses.”

State Designations

These certifications grant nurses the authorization to practice at advanced levels within specific states. Examples encompass certifications such as Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Nurse Practitioner (NP), and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).

Your Certifications
Reserve a separate section for any certificates, licenses, or additional training you have acquired.

Awards and Honors
Recognition can stem from your academic tenure, professional affiliations, nursing organizations, or prior employment.

Additional Certifications
If space permits, consider including other relevant certifications, particularly non-nursing certifications applicable to your targeted job.

Adhering to industry standards in structuring your resume is advisable. This ensures recruiters can swiftly locate the information they seek.

6. Incorporate State Designations in Your Professional Nursing Resume

Suppose you possess a certification enabling advanced-level practice in a specific state. It is essential to specify the name of that state in your resume.

Merely stating that you are an Advanced Practical Nurse (APN) is insufficient, as each state has distinct criteria for nursing subspecialties. Additionally, using certain titles without permission from the state’s nursing board might be unlawful.

Include the name of the state after your license information to denote a state designation. If your state designation aligns with your license, there’s no need to duplicate the information.

For instance, if your Registered Nursing license falls under the Nursing Licensure Compact, it is advisable to mention the State Nursing Board that granted your designation.

 

7. Ensure the Inclusion of Recognitions and Achievements on Your Nursing Resume

Awards and Honors encompass acknowledgments received from educational institutions, nursing organizations, social clubs, hospitals, and other healthcare entities.

Specify the award’s name, the granting organization, and the date of receipt when listing them on your resume.

 

8. Incorporate Resume Keywords Aligned with Your Nursing Proficiencies

The majority of the skills you include should be drawn from the job description, constituting your resume keywords. These are the skills recruiters seek when scanning through your resume.

Identifying the most crucial skills can be determined by job descriptions explicitly designating them as desirable or mandatory. Alternatively, you can peruse similar job descriptions or explore LinkedIn profiles of fellow nursing professionals, noting recurring skills, which can be presumed as essential for a nursing resume.

Don’t hesitate to incorporate pertinent technical skills, even if not explicitly mentioned in the job description.

See, you can divide skills for a nursing resume into four categories:

• Basic Care
• Job-related Technical Skills or Specialties
• Administrative Skills
• Computer Skills

Differentiate computer skills from technical skills. With many hospitals transitioning to electronic records, possessing computer skills can be advantageous. Review the job description for specified billing or recording software. Even if no specific software is mentioned, include your computer skills. This positions you ahead of the curve if the organization is contemplating a shift to digital records.

Technical skills extend beyond those necessitating additional certifications. They encompass tasks that individuals without an LPN or RN license might find challenging.

List of Nursing Skills for Your Resume

Basic Care

• Wound Dressing and Care
• Patient Education
• Medicine Administration
• Blood Pressure Monitoring
• Daily Living Tasks
• Hygiene Assistance
• Glucose Checks
• Patient Transport
• Blood and Stool Specimen Collection

Technical Skills

• Urgent Care and Emergency Care, Trauma 2
• NIH Stroke Scale Patient Assessment
• Monitoring Mother’s Vital Signs and Fetal Heart Rate
• Phlebotomy – IV Therapy and Blood Drawing
• Rehabilitation Therapy
• Use of X-Ray, MRI, CAT Scans
• 12-Lead ECG Interpretation and Placements
• Automatic Implantable Cardioverter- Defibrillator (AICD) Insertions
• G-Tube Feedings and Care

Computer Skills

• Instant ECG App
• Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
• Billing Codes ICD10
• Billing Codes ICD9
• Epic Software
• Meditech
• Electronic Heart Record (EHR)

Admin Skills

• Record-Keeping
• Budgeting
• Recording Patient Vitals
• Communicating With Patients and Their Visitors
• Coordinating Patient Care with Nurse Manager or Doctor
• Training Other Nurses
• Care and Discharge Planning

 

9.Include Your Affiliation with Professional Organizations

It’s highly likely that you are a member of a professional nursing association, given the myriad affiliations available for nurses, ranging from academic to national organizations and specialized groups.

Recruiters are interested in knowing about your affiliation with any professional associations, particularly if you have received awards or held significant positions within these 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:

1. The name of the organization.
2. The admission date to the organization.
3. Any positions you have held.
4. A description of your role within the group.

10.Compose a Corresponding Cover Letter for Your Nursing Resume

Crafting a cover letter remains essential, even for a nursing resume. Draft a concise letter highlighting your top qualifications, and include notable achievements from your recent employment.

Additionally, make an effort to identify the recipient of your letter, allowing you to address it directly to them.

While some may question the value of cover letters for nursing resumes, dismissing them as a potential waste of time, the worst-case scenario is that it consumes just 15 minutes of your time.