Nurse Manager Resume—Sample and 25+ Writing Tips

You’re in your element—

In situations that make many people uncomfortable.

But—

There’s something for which your training has done little to prepare you.

Of all the stages of looking for a job—

Getting a resume together can be the most difficult.

It’s also the thing you get the least feedback on when it gets rejected.

This article is here to help you write your best nurse manager resume yet.

In this guide:

• A nurse manager resume sample easily better than most.
• How to create compelling nurse manager job descriptions for your resume.
• How to write a resume for nurse manager jobs that stands out.
• Expert tips and examples to boost your chances of landing your dream job.

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We have all kinds of nursing resume guides, but maybe you’re looking to make a sideways step into a related career or straight up management? We have those guides, too:

• ICU (Critical Care) Nurse Resume
• Certified Nursing Assistant / CNA Resume
• Medical Assistant Resume
• Nursing Student Resume
• LPN Resume
• New Grad Nursing (RN) Resume
• Medical Resume
• EMT / Paramedic Resume
• Caregiver Resume
• Dental Assistant Resume
• PCT Resume
• Phlebotomist Resume
• Social Work Resume
• Medical Receptionist Resume
• Medical School Resume
• Resume for Graduate School Application
• Manager Resume
• Project Manager Resume
• Supervisor Resume
• Office Manager Resume

Nurse Manager Resume Sample You Can Copy and Use

Now here’s how to write a nurse manager resume they’ll love:

1. Choose the Right Nurse Manager Resume Format

Nurses’ stations look very similar throughout the country.

There’s a good reason for this:

Keeping things predictable saves time and brain space.

Make your resume format clean and logical. Here’s how:

Nurse Manager Resume Format

• Use the chronological resume format to show your most recent achievements first.
• Pick a suitable resume font like a Garamond in 11–12 pt.
• Use one-inch margins in your resumeand don’t bunch up your text on the page.
• How long should a resume be? Go to a maximum of two pages only if you have two or more decades of experience.
• Include these resume sections: Resume Heading, Profile, Experience, Education, and Skills.

You’ve probably heard that PDF is better than *.docx for your resume, and you heard right—

But—

Always check that something else isn’t required instead.

Some older ATSs (Applicant Tracking Systems) mightn’t deal so well with resume PDFs, for example. So, apart from using a reliable ATS resume template (which you should always do), you'll also need to use the exact file format specified in the job ad.

2. Write a Compelling Nurse Manager Resume Objective or Summary

Start your nursing manager resume with a bang.

A resume profile, when done right, will give you their undivided attention.

Go with a career summary if have some experience taking on supervisory roles.

Use:

1. One adjective (energetic, reliable, friendly)
2. Job title (Nurse Manager)
3. Years of experience (5+, 10+)
4. How you’ll help (improve patient care)
5. Two or three of your best achievements (logged 1,000 incident-free days, reduced medical supply costs by 15% for the nurses’ office)

These nurse manager resume examples show how:

Nurse Manager Resume Summary

Energetic nurse manager with 5+ years’ experience working in both public and private hospital settings. At SSL Health, reduced discharge paperwork by 20% and improved staff satisfaction metrics by 17%. Seeking opportunity to apply proven management and interpersonal skills in helping Meadowlea Medical expand its cardiology department.

Nurse manager with 5+ years’ experience. At SSL Health, streamlined patient discharge process and implemented new shift handover procedures. Seeking opportunity to join a growing team.

The first example gets it—

It quantifies its achievements and stays focused on what the nurse manager can do for their potential new employer.

Both examples make good use of resume power words.

Write a career objective instead if this will be your first supervisory role:

Nurse Manager Resume Objective

Diligent assistant nurse manager with 2+ years’ experience working in a public hospital setting. At Heath’s Medical Center, managed a 300+ item inventory of medical supplies needed for the nurse’s office and reduced understaffing by 13%. Seeking opportunity to apply proven organizational and interpersonal skills in helping Meadowlea Medical expand its cardiology department.

No experience as a fully fledged nurse manager, but stepped into assistant nurse manager role with great success. Looking to work on a ward with less politics and under a more competent directorship.

The second example gets a lot wrong—

One of those things is focusing on what your employer can do for you. That’s not how this works.

Finding it difficult to get a resume profile together?

Try writing it last:

It’ll be much easier once you have your job descriptions and skills section done.

3. Create Impressive Nurse Manager Job Description and Skills Sections

Forget about convincing them you can do it all—

Show them you’ve already done and done it well.

Make your resume work experience section a showcase of achievements.

How to write resume job descriptions for nurse managers:

1. Take a second to re-read the job ad.
2. Note the nurse manager skills and duties mentioned there.
3. Think of times those skills have let you go above and beyond.
4. Write resume bullet points that describe what you did and how that benefited the hospital.

These nurse manager resume examples show how:

Nurse Manager Resume Job Description

Clinical Nurse Manager

SSL Health

October 2018–present

• Assisted in the development and implementation of 15+ patient-care programs, policies, and procedures.
• Initiated staggered handover meetings between shifts, improving nursing-staff satisfaction metrics by 17%.
• Coordinated care with 15–20 other professionals and ancillary personnel each week.
• Streamlined discharge process, reducing discharge paperwork by 20% and giving patients and their families 12–24 hrs more time to make discharge arrangements. 

Clinical Nurse Manager

SSL Health

2018–present

• Assisted in the development and implementation of patient-care programs, policies, and procedures.
• Initiated staggered handover meetings between shifts.
• Coordinated care with other professionals and ancillary personnel.
• Streamlined patient discharge process. 

Big difference—

And yet both examples are from the same candidate.

The trick?

Focus on the value you brought to your employer and put numbers to everything you can.

One more thing—

Write a skills section.

More is not better here:

Select a few key skills to put on your resume from the job ad.

This is an example of how you can target your resume to a particular nurse manager position.

The lists below are just there to give you an idea of what you’re aiming for.

Skills for a Nurse Manager Resume

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4. Turn Your Education From a Formality Into a Reason to Hire You

Your nursing degree wasn’t easy to get—

Do all that effort justice by getting your resume education section right.

List your degrees, school names, and years attended.

But then—

Add bullets that point to key skills and attributes.

This nurse manager resume sample shows how:

Nurse Manager Resume Example—Education Section

BS in Nursing

Griffiths University, Denver, CO

2009–2013

• Pursued a passion for critical care coursework.
• Maintained a 3.95 GPA.

5. Inject Extra Sections Into Your Nurse Manager Resume

Time to really set yourself apart from the competition:

Most nursing manager resumes stop with experience, education, and skills sections.

Power-walk right on past them.

Add one or two extra sections:

• Additional Activities
• Foreign Languages
• Classes Taken
• Awards
• List of Hobbies and Interests
• Volunteering
• Certifications on a Resume
• Professional References

These two nurse manager resume examples show yes vs no:

Nurse Manager Resume Examples—Extra Sections

Certifications and Licenses

• RN (licence no. 987654321)
• CMSRN
• BLS
• ACLS

Professional Memberships

• Colorado Nurses Association (CNA)

Hobbies

• Hiking
• Weirdcore music
• Making candles from smaller candles

Awards

• Colorado State Twirling Champion (under 5s), 1998

Night shift, meet day shift.

The golden rule: everything you mention has to be 100% relevant to the job at hand, always.

One last step:

You’ll need to write a cover letter to go with your nurse manager resume.

Not including one is like not washing your hands between patients—

Easier, but a bad idea.

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Key Points

For a nurse manager resume that gets interviews:

• Use the nurse manager resume template up top. It’s exactly what hiring managers are looking for.
• Put nurse manager achievementsin your profile, work history, and education sections to show what you’re capable of.
• Pick the right nurse manager skills. The right skills are the ones mentioned in the job ad, period.
• Write a nurse manager cover letter. It’s your opportunity to signpost your passion for the job and besides, it’s usually not optional.

Still not sure how to write a resume for a nurse manager position? Or maybe you’ve got some advice to share. Drop us a line down below, we’ll be happy to get back to you.

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At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.