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Nursing Resume—Nurse Resume Examples and 25+ Writing Tips

A nursing resume template that gets interviews. Write your nurse resume fast, with Expert Hints and good and bad nursing resume examples.

Tom Gerencer
Career Writer at ResumeLab
Nursing Resume—Nurse Resume Examples and 25+ Writing Tips

What makes this nursing resume template perfect?

 

Well—

 

It doesn’t just show work history and education.

 

It spotlights achievements that make you irresistible.

 

That makes it stand out like Deborah Burger in neon scrubs.

 

Do it right, and the nurse hiring manager will spill her coffee reaching for the phone.

 

This guide will show you:

  • A nursing resume example better than most.
  • How to write a resume for nurse jobs that gets more interviews.
  • The key to a flawless registered nurse job description on a resume.
  • Why your choice of nurse resume accomplishments is life or death.

 

Save hours of work and get a job-winning resume like this. Try our resume builder for free. Start by choosing a resume template.

 

Create your resume now

 

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What users say about ResumeLab:

I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your resume.”
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I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work!
Dylan 

My previous resume was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful!
George

Create your resume now

 

Looking for other medical resume samples? Have a look at our dedicated guides:

 

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Resume Samples.

 

Nursing Resume Template

 

Lily Gerstaecker
Registered Nurse (RN): 0000000

 

Personal Info

 

Phone: 816-786-5158
Email: lilygerstaecker@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/lilygerstaecker
twitter.com/lilygerstaecker

 

Summary

 

Licensed RN with 7+ years of experience and proven skills in wound dressing and patient education. Seeking to promote healthcare excellence at North Kansas City Hospital. Cut nurse turnover 20% at Saint Luke's through better work standards. Raised patient scores 22% by improving patient communication.

 

License

 

Registered Nurse, Missouri Board of Nursing, License # 0000000

 

Nursing Experience

 

Charge Nurse
Saint Luke's Hospital
2015–2019

  • In charge of team of 5 nurses in a busy hospital ward. Triaged patients, determined plan-of-care, managed unit's budget and revenue.
  • Trained 3 nurses in hospital policies and procedures.
  • Decreased RN turnover 20% through better training and work standards.
  • Increased patient review scores for all ward nurses 22% in HCAHPS surveys. Raised scores through better communication standards.
  • Slashed stockroom waste 30% with new just-in-time inventory system.

 

Nurse
North Kansas City Hospital
2013–2015

  • Managed care, goal attainment, and safety for 6 patients. Commended by charge nurse 7x for teamwork and efficiency.
  • Handled patient education and exam prep. Received 98% positive patient scores.
  • Maintained 100% HIPAA compliance at all times.
  • Assisted with relocation of stockroom. Cut wasted foot traffic by 70%.
  • Through better mobilization, cut bedsores by 34%.

 

Precept Nurse
Kauffman Health
2013–2013

  • Recorded vital signs and patient histories for 10 patients per shift. Received 99% correct scores from preceptor for accuracy of data.
  • Maintained patient satisfaction scores 25% above average.
  • Through fall-prevention adherence, kept falls 20% below unit average.
  • Repeatedly evaluated at 99% for wound-dressing skills.

 

Education

 

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, St. Luke's College
2010–2013

  • Vice President, Student Nursing Association.
  • Pursued a passion for phlebotomy classes.
  • Teacher's assistant, patient education and wound dressing.

 

Certifications

 

  • Phlebotomy Certification
  • Patient Care Technician Certification

 

Volunteer Experience

 

  • 2015 Volunteer nurse, Bourgmont Homeless Shelter, 1x per month.
  • 2015 Volunteer educator, American Red Cross, 1x per month.

 

Additional Activities

 

  • Regular listener, Daily Nurse Podcast.
  • Teach weekly yoga classes for fun and self-care.

 

Hard Skills: Patient Education, Wound Dressing, Phlebotomy, Record Keeping, Medicine Administration

 

Soft Skills: Compassion, Teamwork, Problem Solving, Confidence, Stamina

 

Now here’s how to make a nursing resume:

 

1. Start with the Best Nursing Resume Format

 

So important:

 

Your resume format will make or break you.

 

It’s got to show you know a canule from a cantaloupe.

  • Begin with the reverse-chronological resume format. It shows your latest, greatest nursing resume achievements first.
  • Use the best resume fonts in 10–14pt. Include 1-inch margins, clear headings, and lots of white space for ease-of-use.
  • Make a one-page resume unless you’re more experienced than Clara Barton.
  • Lead with a resume header. In it, put your name, RN license #, phone, and email. No street address or photo.
  • Next, add a registered nurse resume objective, work experience, and education.
  • Add resume extras like certifications, volunteer work, and additional activities. They’ll invigorate your RN resume.

Expert Hint: Save your resume as a PDF unless the job offer contraindicates it. RN resume PDFs don’t go critical when you click “send.” Even better, they’re machine-readable in 2023.

2. Write a Healthy Registered Nurse Resume Objective or Summary

 

Sad but true:

 

Most nurse resumes are clones.

 

Employers skim through piles of them and barely see the words.

 

So—

 

Start with a pulse-pounding resume summary.

 

Use:

 

  1. One adjective (compassionate, energetic, efficient)
  2. Job title and license (Registered Nurse (RN): 0000000)
  3. Years of experience (2+, 7+)
  4. How you’ll help (promote healthcare excellence)
  5. Best 2–3 achievements (cut nurse turnover 20%, saved 4 hours per week with better inventory management)

 

These charge nurse resume examples show how:

 

Nursing Resume Summary—Examples

Good Example
Licensed RN with 7+ years of nursing experience and proven skills in wound dressing and patient education. Seeking to foster healthcare excellence at North Kansas City Hospital. Cut nurse turnover 20% at Saint Luke's through better work standards. Raised patient scores 22% by improving patient communication.
Bad Example
Professional nurse, highly skilled in wound dressing, patient care, phlebotomy, medicine administration, and record keeping. Have worked as a registered nurse in two hospitals and one medical clinic with combined total of seven years of experience.

Full recovery.

 

The first of those nursing resume samples puts you in the Florence Blake zone.

 

It’s chock-full of achievements that prove nurse resume skills.

 

What if You’ve Got No Experience?

 

How to write a resume with no experience?

 

In an entry-level RN resume or new graduate nurse practitioner resume, show achievements. Get them from your clinical experience or precept nurse experience.

 

This entry-level nursing resume example nails it:

 

Nursing Resume Objective—Example

Good Example
Energetic Registered Nurse with 10 months of clinical experience, seeking to enhance patient care at Mercy Hospital through proven skills in daily care, triage, and wound dressing. Maintained 25% above-average patient scores at Kauffman Health. Kept falls 20% below unit average.

That’s so much better than “I haven’t had any nurse jobs yet.” Even with no experience, you can have a resume for nursing jobs like that.

 

What about your goals in a resume objective? In 2023 you’ll get more respect if you show how you can work toward the facility’s targets instead.

Expert Hint: Write your nursing resume summary last. That’ll give you plenty of great supplies to pull from.

3. Create a Vibrant Registered Nurse Job Description for Resumes

 

Here’s a relief:

 

Nurse resumes need just a few achievements.

 

But—

 

The best nursing resumes pick them carefully.

 

To do it right:

 

  1. Dig through the job offer.
  2. Highlight the nursing duties and responsibilities you see.
  3. Stuff your resume bullets with accomplishments that fit like Danskos.

 

See these nursing resume examples:

 

Nurse Job Description for Resume—Example

 

Job ad wants these RN resume skills: (1) triage (2) training (3) communication (4) inventory.

Good Example

Nursing Experience

 

Charge Nurse
Saint Luke's Hospital
2015–2019

  • In charge of team of 5 nurses in a busy hospital ward. Triaged patients, determined plan-of-care, managed unit's budget and revenue.
  • Trained 3 nurses in hospital policies and procedures.
  • Decreased RN turnover 20% through better training and work standards.
  • Increased patient review scores for all ward nurses 22% in HCAHPS surveys. Raised scores through better communication standards.
  • Slashed stockroom waste 30% with new just-in-time inventory system.
Bad Example
  • In charge of team of nurses in a busy hospital ward. Handled plan of care and patient security. Took patient vitals and handled wound dressing.
  • Transported patients between wards.
  • Worked to lower nurse turnover on the ward.
  • Tasked with increasing patient review scores.
  • Maintained HIPAA compliance.

Eek!

 

The second of those RN resume examples is on life support. The first is Cleveland-Clinic-worthy.

 

The job-matching accomplishments make it thrive.

 

And—

 

The numbers show your skills are healthy.

 

Entry-Level Nursing Resume Example—No Experience

 

No nurse resume experience? Don’t panic.

 

Your entry-level RN resume can still pull through.

 

Fill it with accomplishments. This entry-level nurse resume example shows how:

 

Precept Nurse
Kauffman Health
2013–2013

  • Recorded vital signs and patient histories for 10 patients per shift. Received 99% correct scores from preceptor for accuracy of data.
  • Maintained patient satisfaction scores 25% above average.
  • Through fall-prevention adherence, kept falls 20% below unit average.
  • Repeatedly evaluated at 99% for wound-dressing skills.

 

Nurse Resume Skills

 

Here’s a resume skills list.

 

Don’t copy-paste it to your resume for nurses.

 

Nurse hiring managers hate that more than needle sticks.

 

So, use the skills in the job offer.

 

Nursing Skills for Resume
Soft SkillsHard Skills
CommunicationBudgeting
CompassionPatient Education
Critical ThinkingWound Dressing
Problem SolvingPatient Transport
ConfidenceElectronic Health Records (EHR)
TeamworkRecord Keeping
StaminaRecording Patient Vitals
EthicsPhlebotomy
Passion for LearningCare and Discharge Planning
Attention to DetailMedicine Administration

Expert Hint: According to a Nursing Solutions survey, 45% of hospitals expect to hire more nurses soon. Make the best nurse resume you can to get the best hospital jobs.

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.

 

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOW

 

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOWcreate your resume now

Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now.

 

4. Turn Boring Education to a Reason to Hire You

 

Here’s a lifesaver:

 

On a great nurse resume, even your education section needs achievements.

 

Without them, it’ll flatline.

 

These nursing resume examples show why:

 

Nursing Resume Education—Example

Good Example

Education

 

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, St. Luke's College
2010–2013

  • Vice President, Student Nursing Association.
  • Pursued a passion for phlebotomy classes.
  • Teacher's assistant, patient education and wound dressing.
Bad Example

Education

 

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, St. Luke's College
2010–2013

  • Graduated May 2013
  • GPA 2.8
  • Excelled in English classes.

Huge difference.

 

The first of those registered nurse resume samples is A&0x100.

 

It shows your RN resume skills weren’t born yesterday.

Expert Hint: Is your nursing resume experience still bedridden? Segment your education into projects and positions. Then load each one with accomplishments.

5. Give Your Nursing Resume a Shot with These

 

Here’s where you get hired.

 

To show you’re Mayo Clinic material—

 

List a few resume extra sections.

 

They’ll make your resume for nursing jobs stand out like a limb signature.

 

These nurse resume examples show the way:

 

Additional Sections for Nursing Resume—Example

Good Example

Certifications

 

  • Phlebotomy Certification
  • Patient Care Technician Certification

 

Volunteer Experience

 

  • 2015 Volunteer nurse, Bourgmont Homeless Shelter, 1x per month.
  • 2015 Volunteer educator, American Red Cross, 1x per month.

 

Additional Activities

 

  • Regular listener, Daily Nurse Podcast.
  • Teach weekly yoga classes for fun and self-care.
Bad Example

Additional Activities

 

  • Volunteer frequently.
  • Teach yoga classes.

A+.

 

Why does the first of those RN resume samples pass the assessment?

 

It shows your nursing skills are Jackson-Memorial-sized by adding wards full of achievements.

Expert Hint: Do you know how to write a cover letter for RN positions? Make it passionate, but keep it focused on the employer’s needs and how you’ll fill them. You can get some inspiration from these nurse cover letter examples. You’ll give your nursing resume a fighting chance.

6. Show Your Licenses on a Nursing Resume

 

How to list your license on an RN resume?

 

Well—

 

You don’t want the busy nurse manager to miss it.

 

Put it in two places:

  • By your name
  • In a special RN License section right below your summary.

 

This nursing resume example shows how:

 

Licensed Practical Nurse Resume—Example

Good Example

License

 

Registered Nurse, Missouri Board of Nursing, License # 0000000

For placement, see the nurse resume template at the top.

Expert Hint: Worried about putting your RN license number on a nursing resume? Don’t be. They’re public knowledge. Anyone can look them up.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

 

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOW

 

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOWcreate your cover letter now

Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

 

Key Points

 

For a nursing resume that raises heart rates:

  • Start with the nursing resume template up top.
  • Use accomplishments toinvigorate your RN resume. Fit them to the job like custom scrubs.
  • Add numbers to your achievements. Hours, money, and percents will add scale to your nurse resume skills.
  • Send a nursing cover letter. Make it passionate and pin it to the employer’s needs. You can also check one of our more specific cover letter guides like the new grad RN cover letterRN cover letter, or CNA cover letter.

 

Got questions on how to write a good nurse resume? Not sure how to pick achievements for your resume for nurses? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply.

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Tom Gerencer
Tom Gerencer is a career advice writer and a resume expert at ResumeLab. Tom has been featured on BBC News, NBC, The Economist, Business Insider, Fast Company, and dozens of other outlets. His insights, commentary, and articles reach over a million readers every month. With inside knowledge of key industry players and in-depth research, Tom helps job seekers with advice across all professions and career stages. Tom holds a degree in English from Colby College.

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