In nursing, your clinical skills are the foundation of your professional value. They demonstrate not only your ability to deliver safe, effective patient care but also your readiness to thrive in a variety of healthcare settings.
However, simply listing “clinical skills” on your resume isn’t enough — you need to highlight them in a way that catches a recruiter’s attention and gets past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
Here’s how to effectively showcase your clinical skills so your nursing resume stands out.
Clinical skills are hands-on, patient-focused abilities you’ve learned through education, training, and experience. These may include:
💡 Tip: Review the job description to see which skills the employer values most.
Don’t bury your skills deep in your job history — give them their own spotlight.
✅ Use bullet points for easy scanning.
✅ Group related skills together (e.g., “Patient Care,” “Technical Skills,” “Diagnostic Procedures”).
✅ Include both hard and soft skills if relevant to patient interaction.
Example:
Clinical Skills
Your skills carry more weight when backed by real-world application. In your work history:
✅ Describe how you’ve used specific skills in patient care.
✅ Quantify your impact when possible.
Example:
Certifications show that your skills are current and verified by industry standards. Examples:
Place them in a separate “Certifications & Licenses” section for visibility.
Each healthcare facility values different clinical skills based on its patient population and services.
✅ If applying to a cardiac unit, highlight EKG interpretation, telemetry monitoring, and ACLS.
✅ If applying to pediatrics, emphasize child assessments, pediatric dosing, and family education.
💡 Tip: The more your resume mirrors the job description, the higher your chances of passing ATS filters.
While it’s tempting to list every skill you’ve ever learned, focus on the ones that:
Your clinical skills are a key selling point as a nurse — but only if they’re presented strategically. By creating a dedicated section, integrating skills into your achievements, and tailoring them to each role, you’ll create a nursing resume that’s both ATS-friendly and compelling to hiring managers.