How to Write the Best Registered Nurse Resume [With Template]

Nursing is a demanding yet rewarding profession that requires a combination of technical skills, compassion, and dedication. To secure your dream nursing job, a well-crafted registered nurse resume is a must. This guide will walk you through the steps of creating a standout resume that highlights your qualifications and achievements. We’ll also highlight some of the best ways to find nurse jobs in your area.

Understanding the Basics

Every registered nurse resume will be different, but they should all contain a few of the same elements.

• Header: This is where you’ll put your name, contact information like phone number or email, and your job title.
• Summary/Objective: This is where you’ll make a statement about your key qualifications and career goals. If you’re the type of nurse who wants to eventually make it into a leadership role, this is a great place to put that. 
• Experience: The experience section is where you’ll list all of your previous nursing positions. Make sure you list all of your duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments in this section.
• Education: You’ll list your nursing education and any other certifications in this section.
• Skills: Use the skills section to list out your hard skills (technical abilities) and soft skills (relational qualities)
• Certifications: Some registered nurse resumes will list certifications separately from their education section. If you decide to keep them together you won’t need this section.

Tailoring Your Registered Nurse Resume

Remember to tailor your resume to each specific job application. Creating a template and changing the necessary words to match the keywords in the job description is a good idea. By taking the time to create a template, you’ll save time when you apply for jobs. Tailoring your resume helps you stand out from other candidates.

Creating a Strong Summary/Objective

Your summary or objective should provide a quick overview of your qualifications and career aspirations. Use strong action verbs and quantify your achievements whenever possible. For example:

Instead of: “Provided patient care”

Try: “Increased patient satisfaction by 20% through effective communication and compassionate care”

3 Tips for Your Summary/Objective

1. Be concise: Try to keep your summary within a few sentences long. 
2. Use keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description to increase your chances of passing through applicant tracking systems (ATS).
3. Highlight your selling points: What sets you apart from other RNs? Emphasize your strengths and experiences.

Showcasing Your Experience

List your most recent nursing experience first and use bullet points to describe the most important responsibilities and accomplishments. Be sure to quantify your achievements whenever it’s possible. Here’s an example:

Instead of: “Assisted with patient admissions.”

Try: “Efficiently processes 30+ patient admissions per day, ensuring accurate documentation and timely care.

5 Tips for Your Experience Section

1. Use action verbs: Begin each bullet with strong action verbs like “Managed,” “Implemented,” “Developed,” or “Achieved.”
2. Quantify Your Achievements: As we previously mentioned, using numbers and percentages to quantify your accomplishments can help your registered nurse resume stand out.
3. Highlight skills: Use your experience section to highlight the types of skills you used in each position. Things like critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork.
4. Tailor to the job: Focus your experience and skills on things mentioned in the nursing job description.
5. Use the STAR method: The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) can help you structure your bullet points.

Emphasizing Education and Certifications

Include your nursing degree, what school you attended, and the year you graduated. Also, list any relevant nursing certifications or licenses. If you’ve participated in any useful continued education courses you can also list them here.

3 Tips for Your Education Section 

1. List your highest degree first: If you have multiple degrees related to nursing, list your highest level of education first.
2. Include certifications: List any nursing certifications or licenses you hold. Make sure you include the issuing organization and expiration date.
3. Highlight continuing education: Mention any relevant continued education courses that may help you stand out from other nurses.

Showcase Your Skills

Highlight all of your hard skills like administering medication and performing procedures. Then list your soft skills like communication, teamwork, and empathy. Make sure you quantify your skills whenever possible to demonstrate your proficiency.

3 Tips for Your Skills Section

1. Categorize your skills: Group your skills into categories like technical skills, interpersonal skills, and computer skills.
2. Use Keywords: Use keywords from the job description related to nursing and the specific job you’re applying for to help your chances of being found by applicant tracking systems (ATS)
3. Provide examples: Everyone can make up a skill. By providing examples of times you’ve used your skills in previous roles will help you show the recruiters you have actually used these skills.

Formatting and Layout

Make sure your resume looks professional. Try to keep it as short as possible while making sure you have all the relevant information. Make sure you proofread your registered nurse resume before you send it. Eliminate any typos or grammatical errors that would make your resume stand out in the wrong way.

4 Tips for Formatting and Layout

1. Use consistent font: Make sure the font you use is easy to read. It’s okay to use a couple of different fonts to separate headings from paragraph text. But it’s best to keep each font as simple as possible.
2. Maintain a clear layout: Use heading, bullet points, and white space to improve readability.
3. Keep it concise: You don’t need to go into a ton of detail. That’s what the interview is for. Try to keep your resume 2-3 pages.
4. Proofread: Make sure you don’t have any spelling or grammatical errors. It’s a good idea to have someone proofread your resume for you before you send it out.

Writing a New Grad Nursing Resume

New grads should try to include everything we listed above on their resume. However, some nurses will graduate college with little to no experience working in healthcare. You should focus your resume on relevant coursework or clinical experiences. Some nurses work as CNAs or CMTs while they go to college. If that’s you, make sure you highlight that experience and talk about how it helped you develop teamwork skills, or how what you learned can be applied to your new role as an RN.

Additional Registered Nurse Resume Tips

• Consider a functional resume: If you have gaps in your employment history or are changing careers, a functional resume may be a better option. This format focuses on your skills and accomplishments rather than your work history.
• Use a resume template: Many online resources offer free resume templates that can help you create a professional-looking document.
• Get feedback: Ask a friend, family member, or career counselor to review your resume and provide feedback.
• Network with other nurses: Networking can help you learn about job opportunities and get advice on resume writing.
• Stay up-to-date on industry trends: Keep yourself informed about the latest trends and developments in the nursing field.

By following these guidelines and incorporating the additional tips, you can create a compelling resume that effectively showcases your skills and qualifications to potential employers. Remember to tailor your resume to each specific job application and seek feedback from others to ensure its quality.