The nursing shortage has created unprecedented demand – the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6% growth for RN positions through 2032, with 193,000+ openings annually. But high demand doesn't mean you can skip the resume fundamentals. A strong nursing resume showcases your clinical expertise, empathy, and certifications in a way that resonates with nurse managers and HR teams alike. Here's exactly how to create one.
Anatomy of a Nursing Resume
Nursing resumes follow a specific structure that highlights what matters most to healthcare hiring managers:
Contact Information + License
Include RN license number and state. Many hospitals verify this immediately.
Professional Summary
2-3 sentences highlighting specialty, years of experience, and key strengths.
Licenses & Certifications
RN/LPN license, BLS, ACLS, specialty certifications – these come BEFORE experience.
Clinical Experience
Focus on patient populations, unit types, and measurable achievements.
Education
BSN, ADN, or MSN – include clinical rotations for new graduates.
New Grad Tip
If you're a new graduate with limited experience, put your Educationsection higher and include clinical rotations with specific unit experience, patient loads, and preceptor recommendations. Your clinicals count!
Essential Clinical Skills to List
Your skills section should demonstrate clinical competency. Here are the most valuable skills organized by category:
Core Clinical Skills
Patient Assessment, Medication Administration, IV Therapy, Wound Care, Catheterization, Vital Signs Monitoring, Phlebotomy, Tracheostomy Care, Ventilator Management, Pain Management
Emergency Skills
CPR/BLS, ACLS, Code Blue Response, Triage, Trauma Care, Cardiac Monitoring, Defibrillation, Emergency Medications, Rapid Response Team
EHR/EMR Systems
Epic, Cerner, Meditech, Allscripts, eClinicalWorks, CPOE, Electronic Charting, Medication Reconciliation, Clinical Documentation
Patient Care
Patient Education, Family Communication, Care Plan Development, Discharge Planning, Fall Prevention, Infection Control, Cultural Competency, End-of-Life Care
Pro Tip: Match the Job Posting
Read the job description carefully and mirror their language. If they say "Electronic Health Records," use that phrase instead of "EHR." ATS systems match exact keywords.
Certifications & Licenses
Certifications can be the difference between getting hired and getting passed over. Always list your license first, then certifications:
Example Certifications Section
- • Registered Nurse (RN) – California License #123456 (Active through 2026)
- • Basic Life Support (BLS) – American Heart Association
- • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) – AHA
- • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) – AHA
- • Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) – BCEN
High-value specialty certifications by unit:
ICU/Critical Care
CCRN, CMC, CSC, PCCN
Emergency
CEN, CPEN, CFRN, TCRN
Pediatrics
CPN, CPEN, RNC-NIC
Oncology
OCN, CPHON, BMTCN
Build Your Nursing Resume in Minutes
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Don't just list your job duties – show your impact. Here's how to transform generic statements into powerful achievements:
❌ Generic
"Responsible for patient care and medication administration"
✓ Specific & Impactful
"Managed care for 6-8 patients per shift in 32-bed ICU, reducing medication errors by 15% through enhanced documentation protocols"
More strong bullet point examples:
- Achieved 98% patient satisfaction scores through compassionate care and proactive communication with families
- Trained and mentored 12 new graduate nurses during 6-month preceptorship, with 100% retention rate
- Reduced fall incidents by 25% by implementing hourly rounding protocol on 40-bed med-surg unit
- Coordinated discharge planning for 200+ patients monthly, decreasing readmission rates by 18%
- Led Code Blue response team, successfully resuscitating 15 cardiac arrest patients over 2 years
Tips by Nursing Specialty
ICU/Critical Care Nurses
Emphasize: Ventilator management, hemodynamic monitoring, CRRT, titrating vasoactive drips, complex patient acuity, multidisciplinary collaboration.
"Managed 2-3 critically ill patients on ventilators with multiple vasoactive drips, maintaining hemodynamic stability in 18-bed MICU"
Emergency Room Nurses
Emphasize: Triage experience, trauma care, high-volume environments, rapid assessment, diverse patient populations, crisis management.
"Triaged and provided care to 50+ patients daily in Level 1 trauma center, maintaining door-to-provider time under 15 minutes"
Pediatric Nurses
Emphasize: Age-appropriate care, family-centered approach, growth and development knowledge, medication dosing accuracy, child life collaboration.
"Provided family-centered care to pediatric oncology patients ages 0-18, coordinating with child life specialists to minimize procedure anxiety"
OR/Surgical Nurses
Emphasize: Surgical specialties, sterile technique, instrument knowledge, case preparation, surgeon preferences, patient positioning.
"Circulated and scrubbed for 500+ surgical cases annually including orthopedic, cardiac, and neurosurgical procedures with zero retained foreign object incidents"
Mistakes to Avoid
- ✕Forgetting to include your RN license number and state
- ✕Listing expired certifications without noting renewal in progress
- ✕Using healthcare jargon without spelling out abbreviations at least once
- ✕Not including patient-to-nurse ratios or unit bed counts
- ✕Omitting EHR/EMR system experience
- ✕Writing vague bullet points without quantifiable outcomes
- ✕Including irrelevant non-nursing work experience
- ✕Using an unprofessional email address
License Verification Matters
Many hospitals verify licenses before even calling you for an interview. Always include your license number, state, and expiration date. If you have a compact license (NLC), mention it – it's a major advantage.
The Bottom Line
A strong nursing resume combines clinical expertise, proper credentialing, and quantifiable patient care achievements. Lead with your license, highlight your specialty certifications, and show the impact you've made on patient outcomes.
Whether you're a new graduate or an experienced nurse looking to advance, your resume should tell the story of a compassionate, competent professional who delivers excellent patient care. Use specific numbers, mention your EHR proficiency, and tailor each application to the unit and specialty. Also explore our teacher resume guide for related tips.
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