Nursing CV—Nurse CV Examples and 25+ Writing Tips

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

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I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your CV.”
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Looking for other medical CV samples? Have a look at our dedicated guides:

• Caregiver CV
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) CV
• Dental Assistant CV
• Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurse CV
• Medical Assistant CV
• Nurse Practitioner CV
• LPN CV
• Nursing Student CV
• Paramedic / EMT CV
• Pharmacist CV
• Phlebotomist CV
• Pharmacy Technician CV
• Physical Therapist CV
• Doctor CV

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our CV samples.

Nursing CV Template

Now here’s how to make a nursing CV:

1. Start with the Best Nursing CV Format

So important:

Your CV format will make or break you.

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

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

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

2. Write a Healthy Registered Nurse CV Objective or Summary

Sad but true:

Most nurse CVs are clones.

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

So—

Start with a pulse-pounding CV summary.

Use:

1. One adjective (compassionate, energetic, efficient)
2. Job title and licence (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 CV examples show how:

Nursing CV Summary—Examples

Licenced 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.

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 CV samples puts you in the Florence Blake zone.

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

What if You’ve Got No Experience?

How to write a CV with no experience?

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

This entry-level nursing CV example nails it:

Nursing CV Objective—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 CV for nursing jobs like that.

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

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

3. Create a Vibrant Registered Nurse Job Description for CVs

Here’s a relief:

Nurse CVs need just a few achievements.

But—

The best nursing CVs 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 CV bullets with accomplishments that fit like Danskos.

See these nursing CV examples:

Nurse Job Description for CV—Example

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

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.

• 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 CV 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 CV Example—No Experience

No nurse CV experience? Don’t panic.

Your entry-level RN CV can still pull through.

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

Nurse CV Skills

Here’s a CV skills list.

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

Nurse hiring managers hate that more than needle sticks.

So, use the skills in the job offer.

Nursing Skills for CV

Soft Skills	Hard Skills
Communication	Budgeting
Compassion	Patient Education
Critical Thinking	Wound Dressing
Problem Solving	Patient Transport
Confidence	Electronic Health Records (EHR)
Teamwork	Record Keeping
Stamina	Recording Patient Vitals
Ethics	Phlebotomy
Passion for Learning	Care and Discharge Planning
Attention to Detail	Medicine Administration

Expert Hint: According to a Nursing Solutions survey, 45% of hospitals expect to hire more nurses soon. Make the best nurse CV 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 CV in our CV builder now.

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4. Turn Boring Education to a Reason to Hire You

Here’s a lifesaver:

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

Without them, it’ll flatline.

These nursing CV examples show why:

Nursing CV Education—Example

Education

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

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

Education

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

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

Huge difference.

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

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

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

5. Give Your Nursing CV a Shot with These

Here’s where you get hired.

To show you’re Mayo Clinic material—

List a few CV extra sections.

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

These nurse CV examples show the way:

Additional Sections for Nursing CV—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.

Additional Activities

• Volunteer frequently.
• Teach yoga classes.

A+.

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

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

Expert Hint: Send 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 CV a fighting chance.

6. Show Your Licences on a Nursing CV

How to list your licence on an RN CV?

Well—

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

Put it in two places:

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

This nursing CV example shows how:

Licenced Practical Nurse CV—Example

Licence

Registered Nurse, Missouri Board of Nursing, Licence # 0000000

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

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

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

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Want to try a different look? There’s 18 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

Key Points

For a nursing CV that raises heart rates:

• Start with the nursing CV template up top.
• Use accomplishments toinvigorate your RN CV. Fit them to the job like custom scrubs.
• Add numbers to your achievements. Hours, money, and percents will add scale to your nurse CV 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 CNA cover letter.

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

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