In today’s competitive healthcare job market, your resume is more than just a piece of paper, it’s your personal marketing tool. Whether you’re a recent nursing graduate or a seasoned RN with years of experience, your resume needs to communicate your skills, experience, and passion for patient care in a clear and compelling way.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to crafting a nursing resume that gets noticed and lands interviews.
1. Contact Information
Make it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to reach you. Include:
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Full Name
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Professional Title (e.g., Registered Nurse, BSN, RN-BC)
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Phone Number (with a professional voicemail)
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Email Address (avoid casual addresses; use your name)
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City & State (full address is optional)
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LinkedIn Profile (if updated and professional)
💡 Tip: Place this at the top and keep it clean and uncluttered.
2. Professional Summary
Skip the generic “objective” statements and focus on a short, powerful summary. This should be 2–4 sentences highlighting:
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Years of nursing experience
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Areas of expertise (e.g., critical care, pediatrics, ER)
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Key strengths (e.g., patient advocacy, clinical judgment, leadership)
Example:
Compassionate RN with 5+ years in high-acuity hospital settings, specializing in cardiac care. Proven ability to deliver evidence-based interventions, mentor junior nurses, and improve patient outcomes in fast-paced environments.
3. Licenses & Certifications
List your RN license and any relevant certifications prominently, recruiters often scan for these first.
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Registered Nurse (RN) – State & License Number
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Basic Life Support (BLS)
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Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
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Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
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Specialty certifications (e.g., CCRN, CEN, ONC)
💡 Tip: Keep this in its own section so it’s easy to find.
4. Core Competencies / Skills
A bullet-point list of your top hard and soft skills helps your resume pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and gives a quick skills snapshot.
Examples:
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Patient Assessment & Triage
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Electronic Medical Records (Epic, Cerner)
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Medication Administration & Safety
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Patient & Family Education
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Critical Thinking & Decision-Making
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Team Collaboration & Leadership
5. Professional Experience
This is the heart of your resume. For each position, include:
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Job Title
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Employer Name & Location
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Dates of Employment
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Achievements & Responsibilities (use bullet points)
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Quantify impact when possible (numbers grab attention)
Example:
Registered Nurse – Cardiac Unit
XYZ Medical Center, Boston, MA | Jan 2020 – Present
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Manage care for 5–6 high-acuity patients per shift, ensuring adherence to evidence-based protocols.
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Implemented patient education program that improved discharge satisfaction scores by 15%.
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Precepted 4 new nurses, improving onboarding efficiency by 30%.
6. Education
List your nursing degree(s) in reverse chronological order.
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Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), University Name, Year
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Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), School Name, Year
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Any relevant honors or distinctions
7. Volunteer Work & Professional Involvement (Optional but Valuable)
Highlight volunteer nursing work, medical missions, or involvement in professional organizations like:
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American Nurses Association (ANA)
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Sigma Theta Tau International
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Specialty-focused associations (e.g., Emergency Nurses Association)
This shows your commitment to the profession beyond your day-to-day role.
8. Formatting & Final Touches
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Keep your resume one page if you have less than 10 years of experience; two pages max otherwise.
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Use clear section headings and bullet points.
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Stick to a clean, professional font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
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Proofread for typos — attention to detail matters in nursing!
Final Thoughts
A great nursing resume tells your professional story while aligning with the needs of the employer. Focus on specific skills, measurable achievements, and your dedication to patient care. Tailor it for each application, and you’ll significantly increase your chances of getting that interview.