A strong nursing resume can directly impact whether you land interviews in today’s competitive healthcare job market. Whether you’re applying for roles in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, telehealth, or international healthcare systems, your resume needs to be skills-focused, patient-centered, and ATS-friendly.
This guide includes the best nursing resume examples, templates you can copy, top skills to list, and expert tips to help you get noticed by recruiters and nurse managers.
Best Nursing Resume Example (General)
Emily R. Johnson, RN
Registered Nurse • Chicago, IL
Email | Phone | LinkedIn | License Number | Certifications (BLS, ACLS)
Professional Summary
Compassionate Registered Nurse with 5+ years of experience delivering high-quality patient care in fast-paced hospital environments. Skilled in care planning, triage, medication administration, and EHR documentation. Reduced patient readmission rates by 15% through improved care coordination. Seeking to contribute clinical expertise and patient advocacy to a progressive healthcare team.
Core Skills
- Patient Care: Assessments, triage, wound care, bedside care
- Clinical: Medication administration, IV therapy, care planning
- Tools: Epic, Cerner, Meditech, EHR charting
- Specialties: Cardiology, ICU, Med-Surg, Telemetry
- Soft Skills: Communication, teamwork, empathy, attention to detail
Work Experience
Registered Nurse — Mercy General Hospital | 2021–Present
- Managed care for 20+ patients per shift in a fast-paced medical-surgical unit.
- Reduced medication errors by 18% through improved verification and documentation.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to enhance care plans and patient satisfaction.
- Trained 8 new nurses and nursing assistants, improving onboarding efficiency.
Staff Nurse — Riverside Community Clinic | 2019–2021
- Performed patient triage, vitals, and assessments for 60–80 daily visits.
- Improved appointment flow by 22% with streamlined intake processes.
- Delivered patient education on chronic disease management and medication usage.
Education
B.S. in Nursing (BSN) — University of Illinois Chicago
Certifications
Registered Nurse (RN License) • BLS • ACLS • PALS (optional)
New Graduate Nursing Resume Example
Professional Summary
Recent BSN graduate with hands-on clinical training in pediatrics, emergency care, and medical-surgical units. Known for strong patient communication, teamwork, and meticulous documentation. Seeking an entry-level RN position to apply evidence-based care and grow clinical skills.
Key Highlights
- Completed 1200+ clinical hours across 4 major hospital departments.
- Created care plans and assisted in wound care, med administration, and triage.
- Received faculty recognition for professionalism and patient empathy.
- Proficient in Epic EHR and patient documentation.
Senior Nurse Resume Example
Professional Summary
Senior Registered Nurse with 10+ years of experience leading clinical teams, improving workflows, and enhancing patient care across acute care and specialty units. Proven ability to mentor new nurses, reduce errors, and increase patient satisfaction. Strong leadership, decision-making, and crisis-management skills.
Highlights
- Supervised a team of 12+ nurses and assistants.
- Improved care coordination, reducing readmissions by 20%.
- Implemented new charting protocols, cutting documentation time by 30%.
- Led quality improvement initiatives recognized at the hospital level.
Best Resume Format for Nursing (ATS-Friendly)
The best resume format for nurses—whether you’re applying in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, or internationally—is the reverse-chronological format. This structure is preferred by healthcare recruiters and ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software because it clearly highlights your most recent clinical experience and qualifications.
Required Sections
- Contact information
- Professional summary
- Skills (clinical • technical • soft skills)
- Work experience
- Achievements with measurable outcomes
- Education
- Certifications (RN, CPR, and other specialty credentials)
Optional Sections
- Clinical rotations (ideal for nursing students and new grads)
- Technical skills (EHR and charting systems)
- Languages (important for global healthcare environments)
- Volunteer experience (clinics, health outreach, community care)
- Awards & recognition (e.g., “Nurse of the Year,” “Patient Care Excellence Award”)
Top Skills for a Nursing Resume
Clinical Skills
- Patient assessments
- Medication administration
- Wound care & dressing changes
- IV therapy
- Triage & emergency prioritization
- Monitoring vital signs
- Care planning & care coordination
- Infection control procedures
- Telemetry monitoring
- Emergency response
Technical Skills
- EHR systems: Epic, Cerner, Meditech
- Digital charting & documentation
- Patient monitoring equipment
- Telehealth & remote care platforms
Soft Skills
- Clear communication
- Empathy & patient advocacy
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork & collaboration
- Adaptability under pressure
Nursing Resume Tips to Get More Interviews
1. Use measurable results—and make them specific.
Employers want to see the real impact of your work.
Examples:
- “Reduced patient wait times by 20% during high-volume shifts.”
- “Improved charting accuracy by 15% by standardizing documentation practices.”
- “Provided care to 25–30 patients per shift in a fast-paced unit.”
2. Highlight certifications
Globally recognized certifications make your resume stand out:
- RN License
- BLS
- ACLS
- PALS
- TNCC
- CCRN
3. Name the EHR systems you’re experienced with
Many healthcare organizations specifically require familiarity with:
- Epic
- Cerner
- Meditech
4. Tailor your resume to your nursing specialty.
Make sure you align your experience with the department you're applying to:
- ICU
- ER
- Pediatrics
- Oncology
- Geriatrics
- Telehealth
- Surgical
- Mental health
5. Keep it to one page (unless you are senior-level).
Recruiters often scan nursing resumes in 7–10 seconds, so clarity and brevity matter.
Nursing Resume Template
[Your Name], RN
City, State | Email | Phone | LinkedIn | License Number | CertificationsProfessional Summary
A 2–3 sentence summary showcasing your nursing experience, specialties, technical skills, and measurable achievements.
Skills
- Clinical:
- Technical:
- Soft Skills:
Work Experience
Job Title | Organization | Dates
- Achievement with metric
- Patient care responsibility
- Tools or EHR systems used
- Measurable clinical or operational impact
Education
Degree, School Name, Graduation Year
Certifications
- RN License
- BLS
- ACLS
- PALS
- Specialty certs
Projects / Clinical Rotations (optional for new grads)
Project or Rotation — Tools/Skills Used
Short description + measurable outcome (if available)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need clinical experience to get hired?
Not necessarily. New grad nurses with strong clinical rotations, soft skills, and certifications remain highly employable globally.
Should I include metrics on my nursing resume?
Yes—numbers significantly increase your chances of getting interviews because they demonstrate real performance.
Is one page enough for a nursing resume?
Yes. One page is ideal for entry-level and mid-level nurses. Two pages are recommended only for senior or specialized roles.
Should I list all my certifications?
List only relevant and active certifications that apply to your target role or specialty.
