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PMHNP Resume Writing Tips and Sample

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If you’re looking for a new role as a psychiatric nurse practitioner , updating your PMHNP resume is a must. This is the place to highlight your experience, achievements, and skills so you can land your dream role. It’s worth spending some time on this document to get it right.

Depending on the job you’re applying for, hiring managers might look through several resumes along with your own, so be concise to make their jobs easier. Follow our tips to give yourself the best chance of being hired:

  • Clear formatting: Unlike your NP cover letter , your resume should be formatted for readability; use bulleted sections and short sentences to make it skimmable.
  • Tailor skills: Highlight specialized skills to show that you can fulfill the job requirements. Bonus points if you use the same skills listed in the PMHNP job description .
  • Measure results: When possible, quantify the impact you’ve had in your previous roles. This might include the average patients you’ve seen per day or the satisfaction scores you’ve received from patients.
  • Showcase certifications: Don’t forget to list your relevant memberships and certifications, such as your board certification in psychiatric-mental health nursing, and any specialized training in areas like substance abuse or trauma.

Looking for more clarity as you draft your psychiatric nurse practitioner resume? Our nursing resume guide can help you apply confidently. If you’re looking for PMHNP resume examples, use ours below:

PMHNP Resume Sample

Will b. healing, pmhnp-bc, rn.

7654 Peaceful Path Austin, TX 78613

Dedicated board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with over 5 years of experience providing comprehensive mental health care to diverse patient populations. Seeking to leverage my expertise and passion for patient advocacy in a dynamic mental health setting.

Work Experience

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Austin State Hospital, Inpatient Psychiatric Unit June 20XX — Present

  • Provide comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, diagnoses, and treatment plans for patients across the lifespan, managing a caseload of 50+ patients weekly.
  • Administer and monitor psychotropic medications, ensuring adherence and managing side effects to optimize patient outcomes.
  • Lead a multidisciplinary team in case management, collaborating with therapists, social workers, and primary care providers to deliver holistic care.
  • Conduct individual, group, and family therapy sessions, focusing on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) techniques.
  • Developed a patient education program that increased medication adherence rates by 8% over 12 months.

Nurse Practitioner Intern Various locations August 20xx — May 20xx

  • Created personalized, holistic psychiatric care plans for patients across the lifespan under the supervision of psychiatrists and PMHNPS.
  • Internship sites included substance abuse clinics, adult and pediatric inpatient psychiatric wards, a disordered eating clinic, and outpatient mental health private practice.

Registered Nurse, Full-time Day Shift Cross Creek Hospital, Inpatient Psychiatric Unit August 20XX — May 20XX

  • Delivered high-quality care to acute psychiatric patients, including crisis intervention, de-escalation techniques, and patient safety monitoring.
  • Assisted in individualized care plans, collaborating with physicians, nurses, and mental health professionals to ensure continuity of care.
  • Played a key role in a quality improvement initiative that reduced patient fall rates by 15% within the unit.
  • Provided patient and family education on mental health conditions, treatment options, and coping strategies.

Certifications & Memberships

  • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) — American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
  • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC) — American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification – American Heart Association
  • Member, American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA)
  • American Nurses Association (ANA)
  • Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
  • Psychiatric assessment and diagnosis
  • Psychopharmacology and medication management
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
  • Crisis intervention and de-escalation
  • Patient and family education
  • Multidisciplinary team collaboration
  • Electronic health record (EHR) proficiency

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner University of Texas at Austin Graduated: May 20XX

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) University of Texas at Austin Graduated: May 20XX

PMHNP Salary Expectations

On average, psychiatric nurse practitioners make $120,450 per year in the United States. You might make more or less depending on your experience, certifications, additional specializations, and location.

Curious about where nurse practitioners make the most income? These states have the highest average salaries for NPs:

Apply for Psychiatric NP Roles With IntelyCare

Now that your PMHNP resume is updated, you can easily apply to roles where your work is valued. See our job board of psychiatric NP roles to get started, and filter by location to see jobs in your area.

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New Grad RN No Experience Resume Examples [+4 Samples]

Discover our complete guide and selection of new grad RN resume examples with no experience to use to create your own resume with our easy-to-use resume builder.

Registered Nurse Resume Sample and Template

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s taught us the importance of the work done every day by registered nurses, or RNs. If you’re a new grad hoping to work as a RN, you could have an amazing career ahead of you. As a RN, you’ll spend your working life helping those in need, improving people’s lives, and providing crucial public services in your community.

What’s more, the number of RN jobs available in the US is projected to keep growing. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that RN jobs will increase by 9% by 2030, which means that you can expect a long-lasting and stable career.

RNs enjoy consistent, full-time employment, with a great rate of pay and plenty of opportunities to use the education they have gained. But if you want to stand a chance of finding work as a new grad RN, you’ll need to make sure your resume is up to scratch. Thankfully, the VisualCV team has your back – we’ve prepared an in-depth guide to building a new grad RN resume that will give you an edge as you look for your first job.

Read on for advice and examples that will help you build your first resume!

What is a RN?

A registered nurse is a critical part of the US healthcare system. RNs are licensed medical professionals who provide direct, hands-on care. They can be found working in a wide range of settings, including:

  • Doctors’ offices
  • Nursing homes and care facilities
  • Individual patients’ homes

From day to day, RNs work with doctors and other healthcare professionals to deliver specialized medical care to patients. They might have to administer medicines or other treatments, analyze the results of patient examinations, record patients’ symptoms or medical histories, or develop comprehensive patient care plans. While some of these tasks can only be performed with a doctor’s order, RNs aren’t exactly subordinate to doctors; they have their own specialist training, and often need to make high-impact decisions under pressure.

As RNs progress through their career, they may choose to specialize in a particular field of nursing. Medicine is a wide world, and RNs can specialize almost anywhere. Some of the most popular options include pediatric nursing, emergency room or intensive care nursing, and medical-surgical nursing.

Further down the line, RNs may wish to specialize even further. If they choose to pursue a master’s or a doctoral degree, they could become an advanced practice registered nurse, or APRN. APRNs can specialize in even more focused areas, like midwifery or anesthesia.

But if you want to embark on this long and highly varied career path, you will need to start with the right education. Most new grad RNs have either a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing, or a diploma from an approved nursing program. They also need to have a nursing license, valid in the state where they want to work, in order to find a job.

How to Write a New Grad RN Resume

As a new grad hoping to work as a RN, your resume needs to demonstrate two things. The first is that you have the qualifications and certifications needed to work as a registered nurse. The second is that you have the skills, both hard and soft, to thrive in the role of your choice.

Having only just graduated, you may not have much in the way of direct work experience. However, depending on your degree or diploma program, you should have acquired some combination of clinical training and residency- or internship-based experience. You may also have built some relevant experience through volunteering or hobbies while you were studying.

All of this should be included on your resume. But as a new graduate, employers may be less concerned about your experience than your education and training. Keep that in mind, and make sure that your qualifications are front and center.

In general, a RN resume written by a new graduate should contain the following:

  • Your education
  • Any experience you have
  • Your skills, including any certifications or licenses you have

The Best Format for a RN Resume

When choosing your professionally-designed new grad RN resume template from our selection, think about what hiring managers are looking for from you. Because nursing jobs require a broad combination of education, skills and relevant experience, you may not need a resume format that prioritizes one element over another.

However, as a new graduate, you may want to consider foregrounding your education and certifications on your resume. Look for a format that will allow you to lead with your strongest assets – specifically, the training you’ve invested so much time and money into pursuing.

Later in your career, once you’ve acquired more direct work experience as a RN, you may want to consider a format that balances your education and training with your experience in previous roles.

It’s also important to remember that these days, many hiring managers use an applicant tracking system (or ATS) to sift through resumes. Although this helps companies streamline and speed up the hiring process, it does create some frustration for applicants – many of whom submit great resumes which are simply never seen by a real person. If your resume doesn’t make it past the ATS software, which usually looks for specific keywords based on the job description, it will usually be put aside.

Thankfully, all of VisualCV’s resume templates are built to beat ATS software. When you use one of our templates, you can be sure that your resume’s layout won’t confuse the software and undermine your chances of success. All that matters is the strength of your resume – and with our advice, your resume will be in front of a real hiring manager in no time.

3 New Grad RN Resume Examples

When working on your resume, it’s a good idea to start with your summary – which needs to be a short, to-the-point encapsulation of your best qualities. However, it should also reflect the requirements of the job description, so you will need to tailor it for every role you apply for. Remember, this is the first thing a recruiter will see about you!

As a new graduate, your summary should focus on your educational achievements. Later in your career, you should focus your summary more heavily on your past experience and the qualities that experience proves you possess. 3 summary examples:

  • Recent graduate Registered Nurse with 3.7 GPA and extensive clinical training. Licensed to work in New York State. I’m looking for the first step in my nursing career!
  • Recent graduate RN, licensed in the state of California, with internship-based experience in a busy clinical setting. Strong communication skills and proven ability to thrive under pressure.
  • Licensed RN recent graduate with training and volunteering experience in a variety of clinical setting. Driven to succeed under pressure while delivering the highest standard of care.
  • How Not to Write a New Grad RN Resume Summary

Your summary needs to be clear and concise, and it should be focused on what you have to offer. If your summary is too wordy or personal, it could jeopardize your chances of getting the job. You can use your cover letter to tell the story of why you want the job – your summary is about providing a snapshot of why you fit the requirements.

In fact, not all recruiters agree that a summary on your resume is necessary. If you’re struggling to write a summary that gets right to the point, it’s not the end of the world: you can choose to leave it out. Don’t Do This:

  • I love helping people, so I studied hard for many years to qualify for a bachelor’s degree program in nursing. During my time in college, I took on as many volunteering opportunities as possible to improve my experience. Now that I’ve graduated with a 3.8 GPA, I’m excited to finally become a registered nurse and change people’s lives!

Do You Need a Resume Objective?

For non-entry-level positions, a resume objective is usually considered unnecessary. However, as a new graduate, your resume could benefit from the inclusion of an objective, as well as your resume summary.

If you’re not sure about the difference between the two, it’s simple! A summary is a short description of the qualities and skills you have that make you suitable for the job you want. An objective is an even shorter statement about your career goals, like the industry or the type of job you’re hoping to work in. New Grad RN Resume Objective Example:

  • Licensed Registered Nurse with a BS in Nursing, seeking to apply my training in a new career as a RN.

How to Describe Your Experience on Your New Grad RN Resume

New graduates are often intimidated by the Experience section on their resume. But as a new grad RN, you actually have an advantage over new graduates hoping to enter other professions. You’re much more likely to have received relevant clinical training – as well as opportunities for volunteering work or even internships – as part of your degree program.

All of this can and should form part of your new grad RN resume.

  • Describe Your Experience Effectively

Even when writing about experience that doesn’t come from direct employment, make sure you approach it in a way that reflects the effort you put into it. Don’t just list the tasks you carried out! Write about what you accomplished while carrying out those tasks.

In general, recruiters look for hard facts about your success in any given role – even a volunteering role or an internship. What did you do that made your work stand out? If you can show that you were able to succeed in the past, recruiters are more likely to believe that you can do it again. New Grad RN Resume Experience Example: Volunteer Care Assistant, Shady Pines Nursing Home | 2018-2019

  • Supported home staff in delivering enrichment activities to residents, and achieved consistently high enrichment attendance rates
  • Took responsibility for cleaning and maintaining common areas, ensuring a comfortable and healthy home environment for residents
  • Worked closely with home staff to appraise residents’ health and wellbeing, and to intervene where needed
  • How Not to Describe Your Experience

The worst thing you can do when describing your experience on your resume is write a simple list of the tasks you performed. Hiring managers are likely to know what you did in your previous role! Your job is to show that you were able to do it all well. Don’t Do This: Volunteer Care Assistant, Shady Pines Nursing Home | 2018-2019

  • Delivered enrichment activities
  • Cleaned common areas
  • Monitored residents’ wellbeing

How to List Skills on Your New Grad RN Resume

Knowing which skills to list on your resume can be a challenge. While the job description can act as a useful guide, there are some skills that recruiters will expect you to have by default – and those skills may not be included in the job posting.

For general information about skills on your resume, check out our resume skills guide here!

  • Top New Grad RN Resume Skills in Demand
Hard Skills for New Grad RNsSoft Skills for New Grad RNs
First aidCommunication
CPREmpathy
Patient safetyOrganization
Wound careTime management
Recording informationLeadership
Retaining informationAttention to detail
Technology skillsMotivation
Medical administrationActive listening

Professional Certifications for New Grad RNs

Certifications can be a great way to help your resume stand out. They show hiring managers that you can take the initiative to further your career, and that you take your work seriously. In the medical field, it’s vital for hiring managers to have the confidence that you can perform the tasks necessary to help your patients – certifications are a way to show that you’re truly capable.

With a certification on your resume, you may be able to aim for more specialized positions with higher salaries. Here are a few common certifications for RNs!

  • Basic Life Support (BLS)

This certification proves your ability to perform CPR, as well as your ability to use Automated External Defibrillators. It’s valid for two years at a time, and will need to be renewed after that point has passed. However, it’s a fairly straightforward certification, and you can obtain it from a variety of sources – including the Red Cross.

  • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)

This certification is recommended for new graduates looking to enter the world of nursing. It builds on the foundation laid in the BLS certification, and will confirm to a hiring manager that you can recognize and respond to a cardiovascular emergency.

  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

Whether or not you’re planning to specialize in pediatrics, the PALS could be a great addition to your resume. It certifies your ability to resuscitate and stabilize infants and children in critical condition.

The Most Important Soft Skills for Your RN Resume

Most of what you’re taught during your nursing degree is likely to focus on hard skills. However, hiring managers are likely to be interested in your soft skills, too. These skills will help you out during your day-to-day work as a RN, and will enable you to perform more technical tasks more effectively. And for new graduates, who may be lacking in work experience, soft skills are further evidence that you can do the work you will be asked to do if you get the job.

Here are some of the most important soft skills to include on your new grad RN resume!

  • Communication

Can you talk to practically anyone? Can you explain complex information in a way that people can understand? Can you take the right tone for the situation at hand, to ensure that people listen to what you’re saying?

If so, you have a vital skill that will help you immensely as a RN. You’ll need to communicate complicated and potentially upsetting information to patients, as well as liaise effectively with other medical professionals. Strong communication skills will make these challenging tasks a breeze for you.

First and foremost, working as a RN is about helping patients. If you’re the kind of person who cares about the wellbeing of others, or who is prepared to step in to help those who need it, you will find that the work you do is incredibly rewarding.

On the other hand, if you prefer a job where you don’t have to take responsibility for others’ happiness and comfort, nursing may not be the career for you.

  • Organization

As a RN, you will be asked to balance multiple competing responsibilities every day. Between maintaining medical records, responding to emergency situations, delivering routine patient care, and keeping up a liaison with other medical staff, you’ll always be busy as a nurse! Being able to stay on top of yourself and your workload is a crucial part of the job.

If you highlight your organizational skills on your resume, you’ll be showing hiring managers that you understand the rigors of the job. It’s a good way to show that you’re prepared for the demands of nursing, and it will improve your chances of making it to interview.

New Grad RN Salaries

Nursing is considered to be a respectable and stable career path, with great earning potential. But how much can you expect to make as a new graduate RN?

According to Indeed, new grad RNs can expect to make an average of $38.72 per hour. But check out how you can expect your salary to increase over time:

  • 1 to 2 years: $41.62/hour
  • 3 to 5 years: $43.68/hour
  • 6 to 9 years: $45.26/hour
  • 10 years or more: $50.60/hour
  • Final Thoughts

RNs do incredible work day in, day out. As a new grad RN, you’ll be embarking on a career that will change your life – as well as the lives of all your patients. If you thrive on helping others and relish working under pressure, consider training as a RN!

And when the time comes to start applying for jobs, VisualCV has you covered. Help your resume stand out from the crowd with a VisualCV Pro membership, which will allow you to customize every aspect of your resume. However you choose to present yourself, we’ll give you the tools you need to do it right.

Copyright © 2024 Workstory Inc.

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Nurse.org

The Ultimate Guide to Nursing Resumes in 2024

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

The Ultimate Guide to Nursing Resumes by Nurse.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Initial Employer Research for Nursing Resumes

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

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

Researching Company Culture and Values

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

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

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

Examine Required vs Preferred Nursing Qualifications

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

Required Qualifications

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

Preferred Qualifications

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

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

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

Build a Master Resume

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

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

Use Research to Personalize Your Nursing Resume

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

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

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

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

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

What Is a Resume Reading Robot?

How to get around resume reading robots for nursing jobs

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

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

1. Knockout Questions

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

2. Disqualifying Statements

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

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

3. Keyword Screening

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

How Does ATS Work?

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

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

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

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

What Are the Shortcomings of ATS?

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

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

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

What Other Hiring Technology Might I Encounter?

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

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

Does Every Employer Use ATS?

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

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

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

How to Get Past the ATS

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

How to Spot an ATS

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. Reverse Chronological Nursing Resume

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

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

resume for nursing with no experience

2. Functional Nursing Resume

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

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

resume for nursing with no experience

3. Combination Nursing Resume

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

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

resume for nursing with no experience

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

resume for nursing with no experience

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resume for nursing with no experience

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Special Characters

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

Design Features to Avoid

The following design features are best left off the resume: 

  • Multiple font styles
  • Special characters

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

Contact Information

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

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

Nursing Credentials

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

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

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

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

Phone/Texting Number

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

Email Address

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

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

LinkedIn Profile

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

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

How Your Digital Footprint Impacts Your Nursing Job Search

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

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

Nursing Resume Credential Quick Reference Guide

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

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

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

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

You may also choose to include awards and honors:

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

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

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

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

Professional Summary

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

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

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

How to Write a Professional Summary for a Nursing Resume

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

However, it could definitely include the following information: 

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

Nursing professional summary example: 

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

Nursing Skills and Areas of Expertise

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Certifications and Credentials

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

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

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

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

Work History

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

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

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

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

Work History Format

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

1. Job Title and Specialty

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

2. Facility Name

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

3. Employment Dates  

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

4. Facility-Specific and Unit-Specific Information

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

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

Primary Duties and Accomplishments

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

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

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

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

Write Strong Nursing Resume Bullets

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

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

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

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

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

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

Education and Training

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

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

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

Here’s an example: 

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

Should I Include Graduation Dates on a Nursing Resume?

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

Should I Include My GPA on a Nursing Resume?

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

Should I Include my Non-Nursing Degrees and Credentials?

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

How Do I Add In-Progress Advanced Education Programs?

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

Should I Include my High School Education?

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

Awards, Accomplishments, and Affiliations

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

In this section, you can include: 

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

We suggest the following format: Title, organization, year

Here are a couple of examples:

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

Naming Your Nurse Resume Save File

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

We suggest the following format: firstlast_specialty_resume.doc

Here’s an example:

PennyLite_ICU_resume.doc

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

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

Huge red flag for age discrimination.

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

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

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

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

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

An ATS will not see it there.

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

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

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

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

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

>> Download free nurse resume templates!

What should be included in a nursing resume?

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

How do I write a nurse resume?

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

How do I list my nursing skills on my resume?

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

Do you put RN after your name on a resume?

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

How long should a nurse's resume be?

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

What is your greatest skill as a nurse?

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

How far back should a resume go?

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

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

Angelina Walker

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

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31 Nursing Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

Stephen Greet

  • 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 are in your nursing career, we’ve got 31 nursing resume samples to help you  make a resume online  from scratch or update your current resume to get you your next nursing job in 2024!

Nursing Resume

or download as PDF

Nursing resume example with 10+ years of experience

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

Experienced nurse resume example with 10+ years of experience

  • 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

Nursing student resume example with 4 years of experience

  • 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

New grad nursing resume example

  • 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.

resume for nursing with no experience

  • 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

resume for nursing with no experience

  • 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

resume for nursing with no experience

  • 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

resume for nursing with no experience

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Resume

resume for nursing with no experience

  • 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.

Nursing Home Administrator Resume

resume for nursing with no experience

  • Begin with a careful analysis of the job listing and grasp the matching qualifications, skills, and requirements that resonate with your own experiences. Found them? Fantastic! Now, strategically incorporate those golden nuggets into your resume. In addition, picture how Amanda flaunts her nursing license–if you’ve got similar credentials or those shiny certifications, mention them somewhere in the side column.

Psychiatric Nursing Resume

resume for nursing with no experience

  • Take Sarah, for example. She didn’t just casually namedrop accomplishments like “reducing 30-day readmission rates by 14%” and “spreading awareness of mental health services among 1,280+ community members.” Nope. She made those wins pop out in her resume with bolding and underlining to wow the recruiter from the get-go.

Nursing Manager Resume

resume for nursing with no experience

  • How far back should you go? You wonder. If you have a master’s degree in nursing or healthcare management, make that the centerpiece of your education section. Otherwise, a bachelor’s degree fits the bill! Of course, don’t forget to add the institution’s name and the year you graduated.

Critical Care Nursing Resume

resume for nursing with no experience

  • 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

resume for nursing with no experience

  • 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

resume for nursing with no experience

  • 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

Operating room nurse resume example with 11 years of experience

  • 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

School nurse resume example with 9 years of experience

  • 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

Telemetry nurse resume example with 10 years of experience

  • 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

resume for nursing with no experience

  • 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

Icu nurse resume example with 10+ years of experience

  • 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

Travel nurse resume example with 10+ years of experience

  • 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

resume for nursing with no experience

  • 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

resume for nursing with no experience

  • 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

Telehealth nurse resume example with 9+ years of experience

  • 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

Nurse consultant resume example with 8 years of experience

  • 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

Office nurse resume example with 3 years of experience

  • 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

Home dialysis nurse resume example with 11+ years of experience

  • 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

ER nurse resume example with 10+ years of nursing experience

  • 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

Labor and delivery nurse resume example with 3+ years of experience

  • 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

Nurse manager resume example with 4+ years of experience

  • 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

Pediatric nurse resume example with 4+ years of experience

  • 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

Job seeker stands between two plants and looks through binoculars, searching for job

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.

resume for nursing with no experience

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.

resume for nursing with no experience

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:

Nursing resume contact 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. 

resume for nursing with no experience

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

resume for nursing with no experience

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.

resume for nursing with no experience

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 .

resume for nursing with no experience

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!

resume for nursing with no experience

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

resume for nursing with no experience

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.

resume for nursing with no experience

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: 

Nursing resume licenses section.

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

resume for nursing with no experience

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! 

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Certified Nursing Assistant (No Experience) Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

Certified Nursing Assistant (No Experience) Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

Jacob Meade

  • Resume Examples
  • Resume Text Examples

How To Write a Certified Nursing Assistant (No Experience) Resume

  • Entry-level
  • Senior-level

Certified Nursing Assistant (No Experience) Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

Certified Nursing Assistant (No Experience) Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Ana Baker (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 123 Your Street, New York, NY 12345

A Certified Nursing Assistant with entry-level experience specializing in activities of daily living (ADLs), patient relations, hospital operations, and communication. A strong background in providing patient care with empathy and professionalism. Adept at building relationships and collaborating with diverse clinical teams.

Professional Experience

Certified Nursing Assistant Program, American Red Cross, New York, NY October 2021 – December 2021

  • Provided quality care to patients in coordination with the licensed nurse, which included monitoring vital signs, administering medication, and maintaining catheters
  • Delivered nursing support to aid residents with activities of daily living (ADLs), including bathing, eating, phone calls, and personal hygiene
  • Maintained a safe and clean working environment in alignment with hospital guidelines
  • Transported patients to and from hospital appointments and surgeries

Personal Care Aid, Brooklyn Assisted Living, New York, NY January 2020 – October 2021

  • Delivered support to residents for daily activities, including transport, dressing, meals, bathing, and cleaning
  • Coordinated with registered nurses to ensure patient compliance with medication dosage and schedule
  • Provided updates to nursing supervisor on patient condition and personal needs and created documentation on symptoms

High School Diploma Brooklyn West High School, New York, NY  September 2016 – June 2020

  • Nursing Care
  • Patient Relations
  • Communication
  • Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
  • Relationship Building

Certifications

  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), American Red Cross, 2021

Roger Klein (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 123 Your Street, Boston, MA 12345

A Certified Nursing Assistant with entry-level experience specializing in patient management, interpersonal communication, empathetic care, and medical record keeping. A proven track record of monitoring patient symptoms, vital signs, and conditions in coordination with registered nurses. Adept at driving process improvement efforts for hospital operations.

Certified Nursing Assistant Program, JVS Boston, Boston, MA October 2021 – December 2021

  • Completed six-week training program covering all functions and responsibilities of the nursing assistant position
  • Monitored patient blood pressure, provided support for ADLs, and coordinated patient transport to and from ambulances with supervising nurses
  • Ensured compliance with health and safety regulations during Covid-19, including room sterilization and testing protocols
  • Wrote documentation for nursing teams on patient symptoms and condition

Administrative Assistant, Dr. Rob Ludwig Medical Practice, Boston, MA July 2020 – October 2021

  • Provided administrative support to physicians, registered nurses, and nursing assistants in a private medical practice, which included maintaining medical records, scheduling appointments, and transferring patient calls to appropriate team members
  • Managed calendars for three physicians, contacted patients regarding scheduling conflicts, and developed positive relationships with clients

High School Diploma Amherst High School, Amherst, MA September 2016 – June 2020

  • Vital Signs
  • Patient Monitoring
  • Team Collaboration
  • Medical Terminology
  • Health and Safety Protocols
  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), JVS Boston, 2021

Candace Godfrey (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 123 Your Street, Austin, TX 12345

A Certified Nursing Assistant with entry-level experience, specializing in medical terminology, activities of daily living (ADLs), clinical support, and patient-centered care. A strong history of collaborating with registered nurses to improve quality of life and drive positive patient outcomes.

Adept at maintaining physical and electronic medical records (EHR).

Certified Nursing Assistant Program, Austin Community College, Austin, TX October 2021 – December 2021

  • Provided patient-centered care to residents over the course of a six-week training program, which included interfacing with registered nurses, patients, and families to deliver healthcare services with compassion and respect
  • Delivered assistance to patients and residents with activities of daily living (ADLs) with empathy and understanding to maintain patient rights and dignity
  • Monitored patient vital signs, blood pressure, and symptoms and administered medication and IVs under the direction of the registered nurse
  • Built relationships with patients and families in high-stress medical situations

Medical Transcriptionist, Austin Medical Transcription Services, Austin, TX July 2020 – October 2021

  • Transcribed medical documentation from audio notes, which included maintaining a working knowledge of medical terminology to ensure accuracy and client satisfaction
  • Typed 15+ pathology reports and dictations from nurses and physicians per week
  • Patient-Centered Care
  • Electronic Medical Records (EHR)
  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Austin Community College, Austin, TX 2021

A resume is your professional introduction to potential employers, showcasing your skills, qualifications in working closely with nurses, and passion for patient care. This guide addresses the resume needs of entry-level CNAs, providing real resume examples and expert advice on making a positive impression even without extensive work experience. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a medical professional looking to move into the health care industry, this guide can help you construct a compelling resume that catches the attention of hiring managers and opens doors to rewarding opportunities in the health care sector.

1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your certified nursing assistant qualifications

When crafting your resume profile, the key is to concisely communicate your dedication to technical excellence and passion for patient care. Use two to three sentences to introduce yourself, highlighting your eagerness to learn and grow in the role while contributing to a team. Although you may have limited experience, emphasize any relevant internships, clinical rotations, or volunteer work to showcase your exposure to health care settings. Consider including an impressive stat, such as the number of patients assisted during clinical training or a commendation received from a mentor. Focus on sharing your enthusiasm, commitment to compassionate care, and readiness to embark on a fulfilling career as a CNA.

A CNA with entry-level experience specializing in medical terminology, activities of daily living (ADLs), clinical support, and patient-centered care. A strong history of collaborating with registered nurses to improve quality of life and drive positive patient outcomes. Adept at maintaining physical and electronic medical records (EHR).

2. Add a compelling section featuring your certified nursing assistant experience

Demonstrate the skills you’ve learned from your training program and clinical practice with this professional experience section. Even with limited experience, you can focus on quantifying your contributions to show your value. For example, mention the number of patients you assisted with daily living activities, the successful completion of medical records, or the efficient handling of medical equipment.

Highlight any recognitions or praises from colleagues or supervisors to call attention to your dedication and teamwork skills. As you write each bullet point, use action verbs to add a dynamic element to your writing, emphasizing specific tasks you performed and the positive outcomes achieved. This strategy will better illustrate your accomplishments and help potential employers see the tangible results you can bring to their health care team.

Certified Nursing Assistant Program, Austin Community College, Austin, TX

October 2021 – December 2021

  • Provided patient-centered care to residents over the course of a six-week training program, which included interfacing with registered nurses, patients, and families to deliver health care services with compassion and respect
  • Delivered assistance to patients and residents with ADLs with empathy and understanding to maintain patient rights and dignity

3. Add certified nursing assistant education and certifications

Employers want to see your academic background to ensure you’ve completed the required training and understand core nursing assistant principles. Demonstrate that you possess foundational CNA knowledge with an education section. Starting with your highest level of education, provide the diploma or degree name, institution, location, and graduation date.

As a licensed health care professional, you must provide your nursing assistant certification information to be considered for the position. Be sure to include additional credentials that set you apart from other candidates. You could list certifications in CPR, first aid, or specialized training in dementia care or medication administration. Create a separate section for certifications formatted similarly. List the certificate name, issuing organization, and date received.

  • [Degree Name]
  • [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
  • High School Diploma
  • Amherst High School, Amherst, MA September 2016 – June 2020
  • [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]

4. List key certified nursing assistant skills and proficiencies

As an entry-level CNA, focus on the essential technical and soft skills required for the position. Study the job description and emphasize your skills matching the employer’s needs. Highlighting your ability to adapt to different patient populations, work collaboratively with medical teams, and maintain a compassionate approach to care will greatly enhance your chances of securing an interview. Take a look at some examples below:

Key Skills and Proficiencies
ADLs Bathing
Clinical operations Interpersonal communications
EHR Empathetic care
Feeding Health and safety
HIPAA Home health care
Medication administration Medical records
Multidisciplinary teams Nursing care
Patient-centered care Patient communication
Patient management Patient transport
Physical examinations Vital signs

How To Pick The Best Certified Nursing Assistant (No Experience) Resume Template

A good resume template for an entry-level CNA will provide a solid framework to clearly and professionally present your qualifications. It should be clean and organized, allowing you to showcase your most relevant accomplishments and skills. As a new CNA with limited work experience, look for a layout that focuses on your education, certifications, and all pertinent volunteer or clinical experience.

Hiring managers should remember you for a straightforward and professional resume, so avoid overly decorative designs that could distract readers from the content. Remember, simplicity and readability are key to ensuring that your resume stands out and effectively communicates your potential as an aspiring CNA.

Frequently Asked Questions: Certified Nursing Assistant (No Experience) Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for certified nursing assistant (no experience) resumes -.

Action verbs are strong, energetic words that give life to your writing, making your resume more engaging and impactful. Consider using some of these words to help hiring managers envision you in the role of a competent and dedicated CNA:

Action Verbs
Assist Collaborate
Communicate Deliver
Diagnose Enhance
Execute Identify
Implement Improve
Interface Manage
Monitor Oversee
Perform Provide
Resolve Support
Conduct Coordinate

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

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for CNAs is projected to experience an average growth of 8% over the next decade. Although there's no shortage of need for health care workers, you'll need to build a strong resume to capitalize on opportunities within the job market.

If you have a specific CNA job opening in mind, tailoring your resume is crucial to stand out as a strong candidate. To do this, review the job description and identify the essential skills and qualifications the employer seeks. Then, customize your resume to highlight your relevant experiences, training, and education that align with the job requirements. By showcasing your fit for the role and addressing the employer's specific needs, you increase your chances of catching the hiring manager's attention and securing an interview.

What is the best certified nursing assistant (no experience) resume format? -

The standard resume format for CNAs is usually the chronological format. This type of resume emphasizes work experience above all else, which may be less advantageous for those with limited experience. However, you can use the experience gained from your CNA program and approach it the same as you would for an official job, listing it in the professional experience section.

Alternatively, the combination format blends chronological and functional aspects, making it viable for CNAs who want to showcase their skills while only providing a brief employment history. This format emphasizes skills and qualifications over work history, making it ideal for highlighting relevant training.

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A compelling cover letter is essential for entry-level CNAs seeking new job opportunities. Tailoring your cover letter to the specific organization you're applying to is the key to increasing your chances of landing an interview. For a comprehensive guide on creating an impactful cover letter, check out our dedicated CNA cover letter guide . For additional inspiration and guidance, explore our entry-level nurse and entry-level dental assistant guides.

Jacob Meade

Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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Resume Tips for New Nurse Graduates without Job Experience

Are you graduating from nursing school soon? If so, you need to start working on your resume to submit to potential employers. Many new nurses do not have any job experience in the health care field and are afraid this may hurt their chances for employment.

In this article, I am going to give you some resume tips on how to make your resume look the best even if you don’t have job experience. In addition, I am going to give you some tricks on how to highlight certain categories of your resume to it look just as desirable as a nurse with experience.

In this article you will learn about:

  • Importance of a resume and cover letter template design
  • Categories to include on your resume and how to highlight them
  • Importance of a cover letter
  • Letters of recommendation

Video on Resume Tips for New Nurse with No Job Experience

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Resume Tips for New Nurses

Make or buy a professional looking resume! The design of your resume is very important. You want to make sure it is pleasing to the eye, has color, organized neatly, and unique to you.

You can create your own resume template or purchase a nice design that stands out among the competition. Resume templates are relatively inexpensive. Here are some resume templates with matching cover letters and a job guide that will walk you through the job hunting process.

resume templates for nurses, nursing resume, nurse resume templates, cover letters

Buy digital copy here

Buy physical copy here ( affiliate ad )

Watch for misspelling or errors! Always proof-read and get someone to look at it as well. It is so embarrassing to misspell something on a resume and you don’t want to look unprofessional.

Include categories that accent your skills! In your resume, you can include whatever categories you want, but make sure you include categories that highlight your skills. For instances, did you graduate in the top of your class or have a high GPA. If so, include this information. In addition, list any volunteer time in a healthcare setting, job shadowing, or summer jobs (this will show you have held down a job).

Lastly (which I think is the most important for new nurses without job experience), is to list your clinical time under “experience”. This will show you have experience because you do. Here is an example using one of our templates:

Sell yourself in your cover letter! The cover letter is your sales pitch to get the manager to look at your resume and call you for an interview…so make it good. I suggest writing 1-2 sentences highlighting your extensive clinical experience during nursing school. Be sure to include any complex tasks you performed and specialties you had clinicals. Then, end with a sentence about being highly motivated and willing to learn.

Include a letter of recommendation from a clinical instructor! This should be a clinical instructor or a registered nurse you worked with during clinicals. Ask them to highlight your work ethic, nursing skills, patient interactions, and attitude during clinicals.

Still in nursing school? If you are still a student, I suggest trying to get a PRN (as needed) job as a nursing assistant. This will allow you to build your resume and possibly easily transition to a registered nurse position when you are ready to graduate. This happened to me and I had an easy time getting a job after nursing school.

Don’t get discouraged! Many employers are looking for new nurses and some even prefer new nurses over nurses with experience. I’ve talked with several nurse managers who said they preferred new nurses because they don’t have bad habits formed yet and can be trained easier. Plus, they tend to bring a fresh “pair of eyes” to the unit and help see things others don’t see.

You may be interested in: “ Nursing Resume Templates and Job Guide by Nurse Sarah ”

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22 Do’s And Don’ts To Get A Job As A New Grad Nurse With No Experience

resume for nursing with no experience

Are you in nursing school or a recent nursing school graduate? Has the thought of applying for jobs got you feeling nervous? Does a lack of experience make you wonder if you will find a job? Perhaps you are asking, “How hard is it to get a job as a new grad nurse with no experience?” If this sounds familiar, you have come to the right place! In this article, I will share 22 do’s and don’ts to get a job as a new grad nurse with no experience in 2023. As you continue reading, you will find tips to help improve your chance of landing a good job, despite a lack of experience in nursing, and help you gain some insight into things you should avoid when searching for work.

Is it Hard to Get a Job as a New Grad Nurse With no Experience?

5 reasons why it is hard to get a job as a new grad nurse with no experience, reason #1: you lack experience, reason #2: many new nurses lack a professional network, reason #3: the nationwide nursing shortage may not affect your local area, reason #4: many employers prefer to hire nurses with a bsn, reason #5: facilities may be looking for rns with a specialty certification, what are the do’s to get a job as a new grad nurse with no experience, do #1: get to know the nursing staff at clinical sites, about the do:, how following this do makes a difference:, do #2: get your resume and curriculum vitae in order, do #3: research potential employers before meeting them, do #4: familiarize yourself with the job description, do #5: consider a nursing internship after graduation, do #6: volunteer in a health-related setting, do #7: join professional nursing organizations, do #8: attend job fairs at healthcare facilities, do #9: prepare for interviews, do #10: think outside the box, do #11: ask nursing instructors for letters of recommendation, what are the don’ts to get a job as a new grad nurse with no experience, don’t #1: do not reschedule your interview, about the don’t:, how following this don’t makes a difference:, don’t #2: do not be the first to mention pay, don’t #3: do not ask about the new employee probation period, don’t #4: never criticize previous employers, don’t #5: do not discuss personal/family issues, don’t #6: avoid coming across as too ambitious, don’t #7: do not decline opportunities to ask questions, don’t #8: do not ask about vacation or sick days, don’t #9: avoid referring the interviewer to your resume, don’t #10: do not rush the interview, don’t #11: do not have inappropriate posts on your social media pages, my final thoughts.

resume for nursing with no experience

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Ivan Shovkoplias

Nurse resume examples & templates

Nurse resume examples & templates

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

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

Entry-level Nurse Resume Example

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

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

This nurse resume example and writing guide will cover:

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

Nurse - This guide will cover

How to write a nurse resume

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

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

How to write a nurse resume

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

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

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

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

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

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  • Doctor resume sample

Choosing the best resume format for nurses

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

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

Nurse resume summary example: Professionalism and empathy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Employment history sample: Diverse experience

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nurse resume education example

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Skills section example: Necessary and valued

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nurse - Basic skill descriptions

Resume layout and formatting: First impressions

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

What's the best resume format for a nurse?

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

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

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

The nurse job market 

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

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

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

Key takeaways for a nurse resume

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

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

Nurse - Key takeaways

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

Nurse Resume Example & How-to Guide for 2024

Background Image

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

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

Are there specific resume strategies that nurses should follow?

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

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

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

Here’s some inspiration to get you started:

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

nurse resume sample

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

How to Format a Nurse Resume

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

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

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

nurse resume format structure

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

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

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

Here’s what we recommend…

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

Use a Nurse Resume Template

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

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

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

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

registered nurse resume example page 1

What to Include in a Nurse Resume

The main sections in a nurse resume are:

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

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

Conferences & Courses

  • Professional Affiliations

Interests & Hobbies

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

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

How to Get Your Contact Information Right

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

For your contacts, include:

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

How to Write a Nurse Resume Summary or Objective

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

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

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

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

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

The main difference between the 2 sections is that…

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Make Your Nurse Work Experience Stand Out

Work experience is the most important section in your resume.

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

  • Position name
  • Company Name
  • Responsibilities & Achievements

Brooklyn Hospital

01/2015 - 06/2019

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

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

Instead of saying:

“Screen patients upon arrival at emergency ward.”

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

So, what’s the difference between the two?

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

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

What if You Don’t Have Work Experience?

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

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

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

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

Use Action Words to Make Your Nurse Resume SHINE!

“Responsible for”

“Worked in”

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

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

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

  • Administered
  • Specialized

How to List Education Right

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

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

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

MSc in Nursing

University of Southern California

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

Clear? Good!

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

  • What if I haven’t finished college?

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

  • Do I list my high school education?

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

  • What goes first, education or experience?

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

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

Top 30 Skills for a Nurse Resume

skills for nurse resume

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

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

Not sure which skills to pick?

Here are some of the most common nurse skills:

Hard Skills for Nurse Resume:

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

Soft Skills for Nurse Resume:

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

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

Certifications for a Nurse Resume

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

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

Other Resume Sections You Can Include

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Make sure to split the languages by proficiency:

  • Intermediate

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

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

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

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

Match Your Cover Letter with Your Resume

Yep, that’s right.

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

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

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

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

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

nurse cover letter structure

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

Contact Details

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

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information

Full name, position, location, email.

Opening Paragraph

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

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

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

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

Closing Paragraph

This is where you:

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

Formal Salutations

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

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

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

  • Medical Assistant Resume
  • Pharmacist Resume
  • Dentist Resume

Key Takeaways

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

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

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

Suggested Reading:

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

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Cover Letters and Resume Samples

Entry Level Registered Nurse Resume No Experience

Navigating the job market as a freshly graduated registered nurse can be daunting, especially when you lack extensive professional experience.

Crafting a compelling resume is an essential step toward securing your first entry-level position in the healthcare field.

Below is an example of how to structure a resume for an entry-level registered nurse with no professional nursing experience:

Sample Resume Entry Level Registered Nurse With No Experience

1234 Main Street Springfield, IL 62704 [email protected] (000) 555-5555

Highly motivated and compassionate recent nursing graduate seeking an entry-level registered nurse position. Poised to provide exceptional patient care and support in a healthcare setting. Passionate about utilizing my skills and education to improve patient outcomes and enhance healthcare quality.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL Graduated: August 2024

Certifications

  • Registered Nurse (RN), Illinois
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification

Clinical Experience

Student nurse intern.

Springfield Memorial Hospital , Springfield, IL January 2024 – April 2024

  • Assisted in the care of an average of 15 patients per shift in various departments, including Medical-Surgical, Pediatrics, and Emergency.
  • Administered medications to approximately 10 patients daily, ensuring accurate dosages and timely delivery.
  • Monitored vital signs for 20+ patients per day and reported any abnormalities to the supervisory nurse.
  • Developed and implemented personalized care plans in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team for over 25 patients.
  • Educated 50+ patients and families on treatment plans, medication administration, and post-discharge care.

Volunteer Experience

Volunteer Nurse Assistant Springfield Community Health Clinic , Springfield, IL June 2023 – December 2023

  • Provided hands-on care, including feeding, bathing, and mobility assistance to an average of 10 patients on a weekly basis.
  • Conducted preliminary health assessments for over 60 patients, directing them to appropriate services and resources.
  • Supported clinic operations by maintaining accurate patient records and scheduling appointments, improving clinic efficiency by 15%.
  • Patient Care & Advocacy
  • Medication Administration
  • Patient & Family Education
  • Electronic Health Records (EHR) Proficiency
  • Clinical Documentation
  • Time Management
  • Team Collaboration
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Achievements

  • Graduated with honors, maintaining a GPA of 3.8/4.0 throughout the nursing program.
  • Recognized for exceptional patient care during clinical rotations, receiving commendations from supervisors.
  • Successfully implemented a patient education program that improved medication adherence rates by 20%.
  • Contributed to a research project on improving nursing workflow, presented findings at the Illinois Nursing Conference 2023.

Professional Memberships

  • American Nurses Association (ANA)
  • Illinois Nurses Association

Available upon request

Entry Level Registered Nurse Resume No Experience Banner

1. How should I format my resume?

Format your resume in a clean, professional manner. Use clearly defined sections such as Objective, Education, Certifications, Clinical Experience, Volunteer Experience, Skills, Achievements, Professional Memberships, and References. Use bullet points for clarity and keep the font consistent and easy to read.

2. What should I include in my objective statement?

Your objective statement should highlight your passion for nursing. It should show your eagerness to provide high-quality patient care. It should also indicate your commitment to utilizing your skills and education to improve patient outcomes. Keep it concise and focused on how you can contribute to the healthcare facility.

3. How can I highlight my education effectively?

Include the full name of your degree, the institution you graduated from, and your graduation date. If you graduated with honors or have a notable GPA, be sure to mention that as well.

4. What certifications are important to list?

Include any relevant nursing certifications you have obtained. Examples include Registered Nurse (RN) certification. Basic Life Support (BLS) or Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also relevant. These demonstrate your qualifications and readiness to work in a clinical setting.

5. How do I showcase my clinical experience?

Detail your clinical experience by listing your roles. Include the healthcare facilities where you worked. Mention the dates of your internships. Specify the tasks and responsibilities you handled. Use quantifiable data (e.g., number of patients assisted or medications administered) to provide concrete examples of your experience.

6. What should I include in the volunteer experience section?

Include any volunteer roles you had that involved hands-on patient care, health assessments, or administrative support within a healthcare setting. Highlight your responsibilities and the impact of your work, such as improving clinic efficiency or patient care.

7. What skills are important to mention?

List skills that are crucial for nursing. These include patient care and advocacy, medication administration, and patient education. Proficiency in electronic health records (EHR) is also important. Clinical documentation, time management, team collaboration, and critical thinking & problem-solving abilities are essential too.

8. How can I present my achievements effectively?

Include any honors, awards, or recognitions you received during your nursing education or clinical rotations. Mention specific projects you contributed to, any improvements in patient care you facilitated, and any presentations at conferences.

9. Should I include professional memberships?

Yes, listing memberships in professional nursing organizations shows your commitment to the profession. These organizations include the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the Illinois Nurses Association. This also demonstrates your engagement with the nursing community.

10. How do I handle references?

Simply state that references are available upon request. Prepare a separate list of professional references to provide when asked. Include former supervisors, faculty members, or colleagues who can speak to your qualifications and experience.

Anna S. As a fellow recent nursing graduate, this sample resume is incredibly helpful! It’s reassuring to see a clear path to crafting a professional resume without extensive experience.

Michael R. Thank you for this detailed guide! The tips on how to highlight clinical and volunteer experiences are particularly useful. It’s hard to stand out as a new nurse, but this definitely gives me a better chance.

Jessica T. The section on how to present achievements is pure gold! I never thought about including my research projects and conference presentations on my resume. This will really set me apart.

Carlos M. Great breakdown on the essential skills to list. I often struggle with what to include and how to phrase it. This guide makes it so much clearer.

Emily K. I appreciate the emphasis on professional memberships. Being part of organizations like ANA shows dedication, and I’ll definitely make sure to list mine now. This template is beyond helpful!

  • 10 Entry-Level Registered Nurse Resume Summary Examples
  • Entry Level Nurse Resume With No Experience
  • Registered Nurse Skills Resume Sample
  • Entry-Level Aesthetic Nurse Resume No Experience

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Resume Worded   |  Proven Resume Examples

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

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

Hiring Manager for Experienced Nurse Roles

Jump to a template:

  • Experienced Nurse
  • Clinical Nurse Manager
  • Nursing Officer
  • Clinical Nurse Consultant
  • Nurse Unit Manager

Get advice on each section of your resume:

Jump to a resource:

  • Experienced Nurse Resume Tips

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.

Experienced nurse resume highlighting specialized skills and leadership experience.

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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.

Highlight your specialized skills - Experienced Nurse Resume

   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.

Show off your leadership skills - Experienced Nurse Resume

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.

Experienced nurse resume template sample with bullet points featuring strong action verbs to highlight career growth

   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.

Bullet points feature strong action verbs to highlight nursing accomplishments - Experienced Nurse Resume

   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.

Emphasize career growth in the nursing field - Experienced Nurse Resume

Clinical Nurse Manager Resume Sample

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

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.

Bullet Point Samples for Experienced Nurse

   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.

Writing Your Experienced Nurse Resume: Section By Section

  summary.

For experienced nurses, a resume summary is an optional section that can be used to provide context and highlight key qualifications not already covered in other sections. While a summary is not required, it can be particularly useful for nurses who are changing specialties or have a lot of experience to summarize. Keep in mind that a resume is already a summary of your qualifications, so avoid repeating information that is already covered elsewhere.

When writing a summary for an experienced nurse resume, focus on your most relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments. Tailor your summary to the specific job you are applying for, and use keywords from the job description to help your resume pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS). However, be sure to avoid overused buzzwords and soft skills that don't provide meaningful information to hiring managers.

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

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

1. Highlight your nursing specialties and expertise

When crafting your summary, focus on your specific areas of expertise within the nursing field. Consider the following examples:

  • Experienced nurse with a passion for patient care and a strong work ethic.
  • Dedicated and compassionate registered nurse with 5+ years of experience.

Instead, highlight your nursing specialties and the depth of your experience, like this:

  • Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) with 7+ years of experience in high-volume ICU and emergency departments.
  • Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) with a proven track record of providing compassionate care to cancer patients and their families.

By showcasing your specific expertise, you demonstrate your value to potential employers and help your resume stand out from other experienced nurses.

2. Quantify your nursing achievements and impact

When possible, use numbers and metrics to quantify your achievements and demonstrate your impact as a nurse. Compare the following examples:

  • Experienced nurse with strong patient care and communication skills.
  • Registered nurse with a history of providing excellent patient care and collaborating with healthcare teams.

Now, see how quantifying your achievements makes your summary more impactful:

  • Trauma nurse with 10+ years of experience managing high-acuity patients, resulting in a 15% reduction in patient complications and a 95% patient satisfaction rate.
  • Skilled ICU nurse who trained and mentored 20+ new graduate nurses, contributing to a 30% improvement in staff retention rates.
ICU Registered Nurse with 6+ years of experience managing high-acuity patients in fast-paced, high-pressure environments. Proven track record of implementing evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes, resulting in a 20% reduction in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and a 25% decrease in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates. Recognized as a leader in staff development, having trained and mentored 15+ new graduate nurses.

  Experience

Your work experience section is the heart of your resume. It's where you show hiring managers what you've accomplished in previous roles, and how that translates to the nursing position you're applying for. Here are some key tips to make your work experience section stand out:

1. Use strong nursing action verbs

When describing your nursing experience, use powerful action verbs that showcase your skills and accomplishments. Avoid generic phrases like "responsible for" or "participated in."

Instead of this:

  • Responsible for assessing patient conditions
  • Participated in creating treatment plans
  • Assessed patient conditions using advanced diagnostic techniques
  • Collaborated with physicians to develop individualized treatment plans

Other strong nursing verbs include: administered, monitored, educated, advocated, and coordinated.

Action Verbs for Experienced Nurse

2. Highlight your nursing specialties and expertise

As an experienced nurse, you likely have specialized skills and certifications. Make sure to highlight these in your work experience to stand out from other candidates. For example:

  • Provided critical care to high-acuity patients in a 20-bed ICU
  • Served as a certified wound care nurse, managing complex wounds
  • Trained as a psychiatric nurse, handling patient crises and providing counseling

If you have experience with specific patient populations, like pediatrics or geriatrics, mention that too. The more specialized and relevant your experience is to the job, the better.

3. Quantify your impact with numbers and metrics

To really make your experience stand out, use numbers and metrics to show the impact you've had in previous roles. This helps hiring managers see the tangible value you can bring to their organization.

Here are some examples:

  • Managed a caseload of 25+ patients per shift
  • Reduced catheter-associated infections by 30% through implementing a new protocol
  • Educated 50+ patients per month on post-surgical care, reducing readmission rates

Think about the patient outcomes you've improved, efficiencies you've created, or money you've saved, and use those numbers in your bullet points.

4. Show your career progression and leadership

Hiring managers love to see career growth and progression on a resume. If you've been promoted, taken on leadership roles, or expanded your responsibilities, make that clear in your work experience section.

Nurse Manager, City Hospital (2018-Present) Charge Nurse, City Hospital (2016-2018) Staff Nurse, City Hospital (2014-2016)

For your most recent or current role, provide more detail and bullet points to show the depth of your experience. For older roles, you can be more concise and focus on the key highlights.

Also mention any leadership experience you have, such as:

  • Supervised and mentored a team of 10 junior nurses
  • Led interdisciplinary care coordination meetings

  Education

The education section of your experienced nurse resume should be concise yet impactful. It's a chance to showcase your academic achievements and relevant certifications. Follow these tips to craft an education section that enhances your resume and sets you apart from other candidates.

How To Write An Education Section - Experienced Nurse Roles

1. List your nursing degree first

As an experienced nurse, your nursing degree is your most important educational credential. Make sure to list it first in your education section.

Here's an example of how to format your nursing degree:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) University of California, Los Angeles Graduated: May 2015

If you have a master's or doctoral degree in nursing, list that first, followed by your bachelor's degree.

2. Include relevant coursework and clinical experience

If you're a recent graduate or have limited work experience, you can bolster your education section by listing relevant coursework and clinical rotations. This shows employers that you have hands-on experience in specific areas of nursing.

However, if you have several years of nursing experience, it's best to focus on your professional accomplishments rather than your coursework. In this case, your education section can be brief:

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), 2018 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), 2013 University of Pennsylvania

3. Highlight your nursing licensure and certifications

In addition to your nursing degree, make sure to include your RN license and any relevant certifications you've earned. These demonstrate your expertise and commitment to professional development.

Here's an example of how to list your nursing license and certifications:

Registered Nurse (RN), California, License #123456, Expires 06/2024 Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), American Heart Association, Expires 12/2023 Certified Critical Care Nurse (CCRN), American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, Expires 09/2024

If you have several certifications, you may want to create a separate "Certifications" section to highlight them.

4. Keep it concise for senior-level positions

If you're a senior-level nurse with extensive experience, your education section should be brief. Employers will be more interested in your professional accomplishments than your academic background.

Here's an example of a concise education section for a senior nurse:

MSN, Nursing Leadership, Emory University BSN, Emory University

Contrast this with an overly detailed education section that includes irrelevant information:

  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Nursing Leadership, Emory University, Graduated May 2005, GPA 3.8
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Emory University, Graduated May 2000, GPA 3.6
  • Relevant Coursework: Nursing Leadership, Healthcare Finance, Healthcare Policy, Nursing Informatics

As a senior nurse, your experience speaks for itself. Keep your education section short and sweet.

  Skills

The skills section of your resume is a key part of showing hiring managers that you are the right fit for the role. As an experienced nurse, it's important to highlight your clinical expertise, certifications, and the tools and techniques you use on the job.

In this section, we'll cover what to include in your skills section, and how to format it for maximum impact.

1. Include a mix of clinical and technical skills

When listing your skills, be sure to include both clinical and technical skills that are relevant to the nursing role you are applying for. Here are some examples:

  • Clinical skills : Patient assessment, wound care, medication administration, IV therapy, patient education
  • Technical skills : Electronic health records (EHR), medical devices, coding and billing software

By including a mix of both clinical and technical skills, you show that you have the well-rounded expertise needed to excel in the role.

2. Use keywords from the job description

Many hospitals and healthcare organizations use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes for relevant keywords. To ensure your resume makes it past the ATS and into the hands of a hiring manager, be sure to include skills and keywords from the job description.

For example, if the job description mentions "ACLS certification" as a requirement, be sure to list that skill on your resume:

ACLS certified BLS certified 12+ years of critical care nursing experience

By contrast, a skills section that lacks specific keywords may get filtered out by the ATS:

Strong clinical skills Excellent patient care Experienced nurse

3. Quantify your skills where possible

Whenever possible, quantify your skills to give hiring managers a sense of the scope and impact of your expertise. For example:

  • Proficient in using Epic EHR for 500+ patient records per week
  • Trained 20+ new graduate nurses on proper medication administration techniques
  • Managed a 12-bed ICU with a patient satisfaction score of 95%

By including numbers and metrics, you provide concrete evidence of your abilities and make your skills more impactful.

4. Tailor your skills to the specific nursing role

While it may be tempting to list every skill you possess on your resume, it's important to tailor your skills section to the specific nursing role you are applying for. Focus on skills that are most relevant and transferable to that particular job.

For example, if you are applying for a pediatric nursing role, highlight skills such as:

  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification
  • Experience with pediatric medication dosing and administration
  • Knowledge of common pediatric illnesses and treatments

By tailoring your skills section, you show the hiring manager that you have the specific expertise they are looking for and increase your chances of landing an interview.

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.

Top Experienced Nurse Skills and Keywords to Include On Your Resume

How to use these skills?

Similar resume templates, case manager.

Nurse Case Manager resume screenshot

Occupational Therapist

An occupational health nurse resume sample that highlights the applicant’s impressive skills and experience.

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Resume Guide: Detailed Insights From Recruiters

  • Nursing Resume Guide & Examples for 2022

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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
  • Other Medical Resumes
  • Experienced Nurse Interview Guide
  • Experienced Nurse Sample Cover Letters
  • Alternative Careers to a Nursing Manager
  • All Resumes
  • Resume Action Verbs

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resume for nursing with no experience

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resume for nursing with no experience

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!

resume for nursing with no experience

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.

resume for nursing with no experience

IMAGES

  1. Nursing Resume Examples Optimized For 2023 + Writing Tips

    resume for nursing with no experience

  2. Nursing Resume Examples Optimized For 2023 + Writing Tips

    resume for nursing with no experience

  3. Use this professional Registered Nurse resume sample to create your own

    resume for nursing with no experience

  4. 7 Nursing Student Resume Examples That Work in 2024

    resume for nursing with no experience

  5. Entry-Level Nursing Student Resume Sample & Tips

    resume for nursing with no experience

  6. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Resume Sample & Writing Tips

    resume for nursing with no experience

COMMENTS

  1. PMHNP Resume Writing Tips and Sample

    Our nursing resume guide can help you apply confidently. If you're looking for PMHNP resume examples, use ours below: PMHNP Resume Sample Will B. Healing, PMHNP-BC, RN. 7654 Peaceful Path Austin, TX 78613. Dedicated board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with over 5 years of experience providing comprehensive mental ...

  2. Intensive Care Unit Nurse Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

    This ICU nurse resume effectively captures the candidate's unique clinical background. The document shows how the candidate contributed to a reduction in patient mortality rates, which immediately draws the attention of the hiring manager. ... (ICU) nurse resume that captures the most compelling aspects of your nursing experience is the best ...

  3. Surgical Tech Cover Letter Examples & Expert Tips · Resume.io

    Include any volunteer or internship experience. Describe any healthcare-related volunteering or internships you've participated in, emphasizing hands-on experience and contributions to patient care. By focusing on these elements, you can effectively showcase your qualifications and enthusiasm for pursuing a career as a surgical tech. Key takeaways

  4. New Grad RN No Experience Resume Examples [+4 Samples]

    As a new graduate, your summary should focus on your educational achievements. Later in your career, you should focus your summary more heavily on your past experience and the qualities that experience proves you possess. 3 summary examples: Recent graduate Registered Nurse with 3.7 GPA and extensive clinical training.

  5. Entry-Level Nurse Resume Example & 5 Writing Tips

    Nursing is a rewarding but demanding career. Only the best candidates get called for interviews and are eventually hired. If you're just starting your nursing career, you'll need a great entry-level nurse resume that displays your relevant experience, education background, and nursing skills to impress the hiring manager. Check out our entry-level nurse resume example and 5 writing tips for help.

  6. Nursing Student Resume With No Experience Sample

    The key is to focus on what you have accomplished academically and practically through clinical rotations and volunteer activities. This page provides a detailed sample resume that showcases your education, clinical experience, skills, volunteer work, and certifications effectively, even if you have no prior work experience in nursing.

  7. 9 Nursing Student Resume Examples That Work in 2024

    Nurses must undergo clinical rotations in school, so you should include this relevant experience on your nursing student resume. If you've held multiple full or part-time nursing roles, you can omit your rotations, but otherwise, leave them in. They're great experience! You'll hear many arguments for and against having a career objective ...

  8. 44 Nursing Resume Examples for 2024

    Real examples and templates of Nursing resumes, updated for your 2024 job search. Download them for free, plus learn how to update your resume for 2024 standards. Resume Worded ... Make sure to highlight your nursing experience, specialized skills, and ability to shape fellow nurses' careers. Buy Template (Word + Google Docs) Download in PDF

  9. Top New Graduate Nurse Resume Tips + Free Templates

    How to Write a New Grad Nurse Resume. There are two basic ways to create a nursing resume : Craft your own version. Use a premade template. For instance, many document editing software systems, such as Word, have built-in templates that can be adapted for your own individual use. In general, no matter if you craft your own resume or use a ...

  10. Ultimate Guide to Nursing Resumes 2024

    The Ultimate Guide to Nursing Resumes in 2024. 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.

  11. 31 Nursing Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

    Writing your job experience bullet points for your nursing resume. Three examples of poor job experience bullet points for nurses: I have eight years of experience in nursing. Generally, you should avoid using "I," and you should include specifics, not just generic statements of experience. I joined the hospital in May.

  12. 26+ Nursing Resume Examples & Writing Guide for 2024

    26+ Nursing Resume Examples & Templates. Written By Lauren Mastroni. Reviewed By Conrad Benz. Use our examples as a reference when writing your own nursing resume to land more interviews. Additionally, check out our writing guide below and nursing cover letter example to complete your application. August 2, 2024.

  13. Entry-Level Aesthetic Nurse Resume No Experience

    Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started: 1. Objective/Summary Statement: Begin your resume with an objective or summary statement that emphasizes your enthusiasm for entering the field of aesthetic nursing. Focus on your willingness to learn and contribute to the practice. 2. Education:

  14. Certified Nursing Assistant (No Experience) Resume Examples and

    How To Write a Certified Nursing Assistant (No Experience) Resume. A resume is your professional introduction to potential employers, showcasing your skills, qualifications in working closely with nurses, and passion for patient care. This guide addresses the resume needs of entry-level CNAs, providing real resume examples and expert advice on ...

  15. 6 New Grad Nursing Resume Examples + How To Write

    A new grad nursing resume is a written profile of qualifications, education, and experience that a new RN writes for a first nursing job. The best place to begin writing a new graduate nurse resume is by understanding exactly what this document is and the difference between an experienced nurse and a beginner nurse resume.

  16. Resume Tips for New Nurse Graduates without Job Experience

    Lastly (which I think is the most important for new nurses without job experience), is to list your clinical time under "experience". This will show you have experience because you do. Here is an example using one of our templates: Sell yourself in your cover letter! The cover letter is your sales pitch to get the manager to look at your ...

  17. Entry-Level Nurse Resume: Example, Template and Writing Tips

    Use these steps to write an entry-level nurse resume: 1. Create a resume header. Create a resume header at the top of the document with your name, contact information and location. Use the first line to share your first and last name. On the following line, provide your professional email address, phone number and your city and state.

  18. 22 Do's And Don'ts To Get A Job As A New Grad Nurse With No Experience

    If you want to get a job as a new grad nurse with no experience, show true interest in the job by familiarizing yourself with the job description for the job you want. ... and gain experience that will boost your resume. DO #7: Join Professional Nursing Organizations About the DO: There are many professional nursing organizations available to ...

  19. New Grad Nurse Resume Example (W/ Templates & Tips!)

    New Grad Nurse Resume Example (W/ Templates & Tips!) 29 February 12 min read. our services are featured in. Content. Top ↑ New Grad Nurse Resume Example 8 Steps for a Great New Grad Nurse Resume #1. Choose a Resume Format #2. Fill In Your Contact Details #3. Write a Convincing Resume Summary (or Objective) #4.

  20. Nurse Resume Examples & Templates (2024) · Resume.io

    Nurse Resume example Complete guide Create a Perfect Resume in 5 minutes using our Resume Examples & Templates. Resume Cover Letter Blog FAQ. ... If you're a new nursing graduate with no work experience, place your education section first, right below the summary. Expert tip .

  21. Nurse Resume Example & How-to Guide for 2024

    A resume objective, on the other hand, is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of your professional goals and aspirations. Nurse Resume Objective Example. Patient-focused nursing student with 2 years of healthcare experience. Pursuing internships as part of career goal to become Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse.

  22. 4 Nursing Student Resume Examples & Templates for 2024

    Here's how to write this section for a nursing student resume: Start with an adjective like compassionate or dedicated. Add your title (Nursing Student, Nursing Assistant). List years of experience (1, 1+, 2). Cite your goal (contribute to patient care at Sunshine Clinic).

  23. Entry Level Registered Nurse Resume No Experience

    Format your resume in a clean, professional manner. Use clearly defined sections such as Objective, Education, Certifications, Clinical Experience, Volunteer Experience, Skills, Achievements, Professional Memberships, and References. Use bullet points for clarity and keep the font consistent and easy to read. 2.

  24. New Grad RN Resume [Sample & How to Write]

    2. Write a thorough education section. The education section of a new grad RN's resume will look a bit different than on a standard resume. Your specializations and related coursework need to be placed front and center to prove you're qualified for the specific nursing role you're applying for.

  25. Experienced Nurse Resume Examples for 2024

    EXPERIENCE. Resume Worded - Austin, USA October 2018 - Present. Clinical Nurse Manager. Increased productivity of nursing staff by 15% by introducing progressive nursing policies and procedures. Enhanced patient care standards resulting in 20% increase in patient satisfaction scores. Managed and coordinated ER operations during peak times ...

  26. New Grad Nurse Resume Template with Examples & Tips

    New Grad Nurse Resume Example. Licensed RN with 2 years of clinical experience. Seeking to become a top nurse at Chicago General Hospital by following protocols and promoting efficiency. As student nurse at Daily Medical Clinic of Chicago, achieved 20% higher-than-average patient satisfaction scores and 97% favorable preceptor evaluations.