nursing resume examples australia

Australian Registered Nurse Resume Example & Writing Guide

Resume example & tips for Australian registered nurses.

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Contributing Editor | HR, careers & job search

I founded three separate companies over the past decade to help leaders and organisations do their best work. Arielle Executive helps leaders get noticed while Arielle Partners & Talent Avenue connect organisations to Australia's best leadership talent.

Last updated: January 3rd, 2024

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While the number of job opportunities in nursing is strong, you’ll find that roles at the best Australian hospitals are very competitive. You’ll need a great resume to give yourself the best possible chance of becoming a registered nurse (RN) in 2024.

To help you, I’ve created an Australian registered nurse resume example .

It will provide you with a foundation for writing a great nursing resume, saving you a lot of time in the process. To give yourself an even bigger head-start, consider using my recommended:

• free resume builder , if you’re on a budget
• top-rated resume writing service , if you’re a senior hospitality manager

Australian Registered Nurse Resume Example.

This resume example belongs to a fictional Australian registered nurse. Look through it, then read my tips below each page to see what makes it effective. Draw on them to write a similarly high-powered resume for yourself.

Here’s why this resume is likely to stand out:

• Clean & well-organised structure.  Strong attention to detail and clear thinking are two of the most important personality traits that determine a nurse’s potential for success. Use subtle graphics to create a sense of order and check for grammar and spelling issues, sub-communicating that you possess these traits.
• Essential contact info only . Provide your mobile phone number (while you’re there, make sure that your voicemail is recent and professional), and your email address.
• LinkedIn is not essential, but I recommend including one – especially if you’re applying for a theatre or supervisor nurse role.
• DOB, gender and photograph are not required.
• Engaging profile . Write a compelling, authentic narrative that spotlights your most relevant skills, recent achievements and personality traits. Point to the values and drivers that make you who you are. Don’t be boring and generic!
• Key skills/assets . Use this section to highlight your most notable achievements. Think of this section as the “Greatest Hits” of your nursing career.

The two most important features of this page are:

• Reverse format.  Ideal for a registered nurse, the  reverse-chronological resume format  places your most recent and relevant experience at the top of the page. The experience you gained at the beginning of your career follows right behind, providing context and a sense of career progression.
• Achievements . Be sure to kick off your achievements with action verbs, quantify them, and never confuse them with responsibilities.

Many registered nurses miss job opportunities because they fail to write a strong last page. Contrary to a popular belief, this page isn’t an afterthought that never gets read.

When two nursing candidates are evenly matched, information on this page often gets used as a tiebreaker:

• Correct resume length . The resume of a registered nurse should be between two and three pages long.
• Additional history.  If you had a career before nursing, or you have some very junior roles in your background, this is where you put them.
• References. Australian employers don’t expect you to list your referees on your resume. Simply write “References Available Upon Request” at the very end – and be sure to prep your referees!

Australian Registered Nurse Resume Templates.

Resume templates and online resume builders help you write your nursing resume 3X faster. By providing you with a structure and starting content, they help you get past the dreaded stage where you stare at a blinking cursor on an empty page, wondering what to write.

I recommend that you use one of these free templates from Resume.io :

Of course, if you’re terrible at writing about yourself, you can always hire one of the best resume writers in Australia to do it for you. Resume writers in Sydney and in Melbourne have helped thousands of nurses grow their careers.

Job Outlook For Registered Nurses In Australia.

Registered nurses are in huge demand, and projections indicate that Australia needs to train at least 40400 new nurses by 2026 to meet the need.

This is on top of the 30% surge that the profession has seen between 2017 and 2022.

The average weekly earnings of a registered nurse are $1,937.

Related Australian Resume Examples.

• Australian Business Analyst Resume Example
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• Australian Senior Executive Resume Example
• Australian IT Project Manager Resume Example
• Australian Hospitality Management Resume Example
• Australian Graduate Resume Example
• Australian Customer Service Resume Example
• Australian Chef Resume Example

P.S. Are you a registered nurse looking for a job in Australia? What challenges have you encountered in the job market? Share your experience in the job market below, and I’ll provide you with customised advice to help you get a great job in nursing.

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Nursing Resume Tips & CV Template

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How to write the perfect nursing resume

A nursing resume or CV showcases your skills and experience when applying for a nursing job in Australia. As a nurse, you have likely dedicated your career to helping others. However, when it comes to crafting a resume that effectively communicates your skills and experience, it can be challenging to know where to begin. Your resume is your first impression to potential employers, and a well-crafted one can make all the difference in securing the job you want. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on how to create a CV for nurses. And if you’re looking for additional support, we also take a quick look at some of the reputable resume writing services that can help take your resume to the next level.

1. Identify yourself

Most nursing resumes are overloaded with personal details that are not relevant. All you need to include at the top of your CV is your name, contact number, address, and email. If you have a LinkedIn profile or website that will add more weight, drop that in too. There is no need to include a profile picture, your age, or gender. Your resume is of no use if they cannot fully identify and contact you for an interview.

2. Why should they hire you?

Throw out your elevator pitch right at the beginning. A resume is not merely a record of where you have been employed. It is something that should show relevant skills and qualifications. Separate your hard and soft skills to help the hiring personnel know you have exactly what they are looking for. Summarise the highlights of your career in direct bullet points or sentences.

3. Keep it relevant

Nursing is a broad profession, and there are many things that you can do as a nurse. The person who is looking at your resume is looking for someone who is most suitable for the job. Meaning you shouldn’t talk about your summer job working at a bar, when you’re applying to be an OR nurse.

Don’t forget to include seminars and certifications that you have completed during your career. Add in any research that you have done, reports, presentations, and other assignments. These will help demonstrate not only your professionalism but your desire to grow and improve your nursing practice.

4. Be measurable

Accomplishments should always be quantifiable. Use numbers to emphasise your achievement and give the employer a solid grasp of what it entailed. For example, state that you were able to improve staff efficiency by 10% through changes made in the staffing schedule. Make it known that you were able to raise $6,000 in a short fund-raising campaign for a pediatric unit. And don’t forget to explain how you made it happen.

5. Provide references

We often make a mistake of adding a close friend in our CV. However, the reason why hiring managers contact references is to establish your experience, employment, and professionalism. Put in at least two referees, preferably someone who was your superior (ie. manager, supervisor). Make sure that you have asked their permission to do so. It’s advised that you do not go beyond three referees who are sure to vouch for your professionalism and work ethic. Avoid putting in “reference available upon request,” unless you are in a sensitive situation.

6. Tailor it to the role

Use keywords that will capture the attention of the hiring manager. More often than not, these can be seen in the job description. Study what they need and clearly state how you will apply your knowledge and skills to answer the needs of the institution. Tailor your CV to match each of the criteria they are searching for. For example, you might consider including the CPD course or training you recently completed that corresponds to responsibility in the job description.

Avoid fluffing up your skills or overstating your experience. Employers don’t want to read paragraphs about every little task that you have done. But rather, how you will be the one to help them ease their workload and improve the performance of your healthcare institution.

7. Practice honesty

Many nursing positions are highly desirable because of the challenge they offer. However, putting skills and experiences that you don’t have is not becoming of a professional nurse. Sure it may land you an interview. However, hiring managers are trained to know if you’re giving false statements about yourself, and the reality will be obvious once you start the role. If you’re applying for a position and you have zero knowledge in a specific area, be upfront about it, or leave it off your resume. Then state how you learn quickly and demonstrate your ability to do so.

8. Be direct

Write short, sharp, and to the point. There is no need to write long sentences about everything that you have done as a nurse. More often than not, less is more. You want to give them enough information to assess whether you’re appropriate for the role, but don’t bog them down with too much detail. As much as possible, do not go beyond two pages in a resume. The person screening your application is a busy individual and will likely only skim through your CV. So it’s important that you make sure your highlights stand out!

Be as short as succinct as possible. Avoid highfalutin words to make an impression. The more complicated the resume, the more likely a key skill will be overlooked.

9. Keep it simple

Do not be tempted to use fancy fonts and layouts in your resume. It is always a show of professionalism when you present a resume that is well-written. Use readable fonts, applying proper headings to draw the reader’s attention to what you want them to see. Fonts commonly used are Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, and Verdana. Keep it at 12pt size, and stick to 1 or 2 dark colours.

Incorporating these tips will help you create a compelling nursing resume. Remember to pair it with a well-written cover letter tailored to the specific job you’re applying for. This will help communicate why your a great fit for the role and enhance your chances of securing the position.

To help you get started, we have provided a sample resume template below.

Still need help?

If you’re struggling to craft the perfect resume, you might want to consider using a professional resume writing service or CV builder. Resume writing services specialise in helping job-seekers create a CV that will catch the attention of hiring managers. In addition to showcasing your skill and experience in the best possible light, these services also help you avoid common mistakes, catch any grammatical or spelling errors, and optimise your CV for the specific type of nursing role you’re applying for.

Try these Resume Writing Services

Resume.io – free cv builder.

Resume.io allows you to build your own CV using one of their job-winning resume templates. They claim to have identified the exact structure that hiring managers respond to and have helped over 15,000,000 people successfully build  resumes at elite companies such as PWC, BMW and T-Mobile. Build your own resume from scratch or start with a template specifically for nurses .

TopResume – Get your CV reviewed for FREE

Myperfectresume – cv builder with free trial.

With the My Perfect Resume CV Builder, you can pick from dozens of high-qualiy CV templates, or start with one of their professionally crafted Registered Nurse examples. My Perfect Resume will help you every step of the way with tools, guides and expert advice. See for yourself — it’s fast, easy and backed by experts!

Nursing CV Template

Lyndsey martin resume.

45 Lindsay Avenue, Sydney NSW 2027 [email protected] +61 2 4892 4567

Career Summary

Clinical nurse specialist with eight years working experience seeking to apply and develop skills to change lives. With strong dedication for patient advocacy, my goal is to create care plans for patients in acute and chronic health care setting. Desiring for a change of environment for a wider clinical experience.

• Data analysis
• Conflict resolution
• Patient teaching
• Record keeping
• Strategic planning
• Outcome monitoring
• Wound dressing
• Medicine Administration

Work History

Clinical nurse specialist.

Nepean Hospital, Kingswood, NSW January 2015 – Present

• Designed, implemented, and evaluated patient-specific programs of care
• Handled patients with chronic and acute health problems
• Provided assistance to doctors on clinical procedures
• Directed non-clinical staff
• Provided patient counseling and health education

Registered Nurse

St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, NSW February 2010 – January 2015

• Coordinated quality nursing care for a diverse group of clients within a designated ‘team’
• Used a problem-solving approach involving assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation in the provision of quality nursing care to the client/family
• Taught the client/family about their identified health needs by creating an environment which enables them to be responsible for their own health
• Liaised closely with community service providers and attend relevant meetings to coordinate client care
• Act as client advocate as required

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

University of Notre Dame, Sydney NSW March 2019

Chloe Brown Chief Nurse, Nepean Hospital, Kingswood, NSW

+61 2 2264 6871

Alira Jones Pediatrician, Napean Hospital, Kingswood, NSW

+61 2 6587 3484

A CV is a critical document in any job search, and it’s often the first impression that a potential employer has of you. It’s essential to create a CV that is concise, professional, and highlights your relevant skills and experiences. However, crafting a compelling resume can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not familiar with the latest industry standards or the latest trends in resume design. Hopefully after reading some of these tips you will be able to create a winning CV to land your next nursing role.

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Acute Care Nurse Resume Examples - Australian Format and Tips

Crafting a compelling resume for the role of an Acute Care Nurse requires a balance of technical expertise, interpersonal skills, and a commitment to providing high-quality patient care. This template is designed to guide you in presenting your qualifications effectively, ensuring that your resume stands out in the competitive field of healthcare. Use the provided tips and key points to tailor your resume to the specific requirements of the Acute Care Nurse position.

Resume examples for top Acute Care Nurse jobs

Use the following guidelines and resume examples to choose the best resume format.

Acute Care Nurse Resume Example

Introduction

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on crafting a standout resume for the role of an Acute Care Nurse. In this section, we will cover essential aspects such as salary details in AUD, key points related to the job role, tips on making your resume stand out, frequently asked questions with detailed answers, interview preparation tips, and a brief description of an ideal resume for an Acute Care Nurse.

Salary Details in AUD

Competitive compensation is crucial for any profession, and the role of an Acute Care Nurse is no exception. In Australia, Acute Care Nurses can expect an annual salary ranging from $70,000 to $90,000 AUD, depending on factors such as experience, location, and additional qualifications.

Key Points on the Acute Care Nurse Job Role

• Patient Care Expertise: Acute Care Nurses excel in providing specialized care to patients with complex medical conditions.
• Critical Thinking Skills: The role demands quick and effective decision-making in high-pressure situations.
• Collaborative Team Player: Acute Care Nurses work closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive patient care.
• Advanced Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in handling advanced medical equipment and technology is a key requirement.
• Emotional Resilience: The ability to handle emotionally charged situations with empathy and professionalism is vital.
• Continuous Learning: Staying updated with the latest medical advancements is crucial for success in this role.

How to Make Your Resume Stand Out for Acute Care Nurse Position

• Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume to align with the specific requirements of the Acute Care Nurse position.
• Highlight Relevant Experience: Emphasize your experience in acute care settings and showcase achievements that demonstrate your impact.
• Quantify Achievements: Use metrics to quantify your accomplishments, such as the number of patients handled or successful outcomes.
• Showcase Certifications: Highlight any relevant certifications, demonstrating your commitment to professional development.
• Strong Action Verbs: Use powerful verbs to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments, creating a dynamic and engaging resume.
• Professional Presentation: Ensure a clean and professional layout, with attention to formatting and readability.

Frequently Asked Questions about Acute Care Nurse Resumes

• Q: What should be the ideal length of an Acute Care Nurse resume?

 A: Ideally, keep your resume concise, limiting it to one to two pages. Focus on relevant experience and qualifications.

• Q: How important is including a cover letter with my resume?

A: A well-crafted cover letter complements your resume, providing additional insights into your suitability for the role. It is highly recommended.

• Q: Should I include references on my resume?

A: References can be provided upon request. Instead, use the limited space on your resume to showcase your skills and experiences.

• Q: Is it necessary to include a professional summary at the beginning of my resume?

A: Yes, a concise professional summary provides recruiters with a quick overview of your qualifications and sets the tone for the rest of the resume.

• Q: How far back should I go in detailing my work experience?

A: Focus on the most recent 10-15 years of relevant experience. Highlight accomplishments and responsibilities that align with the Acute Care Nurse role.

Interview Preparation Tips for Acute Care Nurse Position

• Research the Organization: Gain a thorough understanding of the healthcare facility's values, mission, and culture.
• Review Common Questions: Prepare responses for common nursing interview questions, emphasizing your expertise in acute care.
• Demonstrate Critical Thinking: Be ready to showcase your ability to make quick and effective decisions in high-pressure situations.
• Highlight Team Collaboration: Discuss instances where you effectively collaborated with a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
• Stay Updated with Industry Trends: Demonstrate your commitment to professional growth by showcasing knowledge of current trends and advancements in acute care.

More Resume Examples for the Next Step in Your Acute Care Nurse Resume Career jobs

• Acute Care Nurse Resume
• Advanced Practice Rn Resume
• Caregiver Resume
• Er Nurse Resume
• Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Resume
• Labor And Delivery Nurse Resume
• Nurse Practitioner Resume
• Nursing Assistant Resume
• Oncology Nurse Resume
• Pediatric Nurse Resume
• Registered Nurse Resume
• Public School Nurse Resume
• Trauma Nurse Resume

More Cover Examples for the Next Step in Your Acute Care Nurse Cover Career jobs

• Acute Care Nurse Cover Letter
• Advanced Practice Rn Cover Letter
• Caregiver Cover Letter
• Chief Nursing Officer Cover Letter
• Er Nurse Cover Letter
• Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter
• Labor And Delivery Nurse Cover Letter
• Lpn Cover Letter
• Nurse Practitioner Cover Letter
• Nursing Assistant Cover Letter
• Oncology Nurse Cover Letter
• Pediatric Nurse Cover Letter
• Registered Nurse Cover Letter
• Public School Nurse Cover Letter
• Trauma Nurse Cover Letter

Get started with a winning resume template

700+ hr-approved australian resume examples to elevate your career.

Discover the pathway to career excellence with our extensive collection of 700+ meticulously crafted Australian resume examples. Designed to captivate employers and seamlessly navigate Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), our samples adhere to Australian resume format standards. Whether you're a seasoned professional, a recent graduate, or embarking on a career transition, our diverse range of formats ensures you can create a compelling resume that stands out. Say goodbye to missed opportunities and embrace a future filled with job interviews. Your next career milestone is just a click away.

As a nurse, you know a lot about taking care of people and helping them be healthy.

But when it comes to resume writing, maybe you could use a little help of your own.

Are there specific resume strategies that nurses should follow?

Just how detailed do you need to be when describing your medical skill set? And how do you highlight all those certifications you might have?

We’re going to walk you through the entire process of creating a nurse resume step-by-step!

• A nurse resume example that is proven to work
• How to write a nurse resume that will get you invited to interviews
• How to make your nurse resume stand out [with top tips & tricks]

Here’s some inspiration to get you started:

A nurse resume example , created with our very own resume builder:

Now, read on to learn how to create a resume that looks as good (or better) than the above example!

How to Format a Nurse Resume

The first step to creating your nurse resume is to decide on a format.

Just like any other career, hiring managers want specific information to jump out at them when reviewing resumes. So nurses need to make sure their resumes are formatted properly.

In 2024, the most common resume format remains the “reverse-chronological” format. So this is your best bet. 

Of course, there are other resume formats you can try…

• Functional Resume - This format is a lot more about your skills as opposed to professional experience. It’s good if you don’t have a lot of experience, are transferring to a new industry, or have gaps in your employment history.
• Combination Resume - As the name suggests, a combination resume is a mix between “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological.” Meaning, it focuses both on skills AND work experience. You can use a combination resume if you have a lot of work experience or changing industries.

Once you’ve decided on the format, you need to get your resume layout right.

Here’s what we recommend…

• Margins - One-inch margins on all sides
• Font - Pick a font that stands out, but not too much. Do: Ubuntu, Roboto, etc. Don’t: Comic Sans
• Font Size - Use a font size of 11-12pt for normal text and 14-16pt for headers
• Line Spacing - Use 1.0 or 1.15 line spacing
• Resume Length - Don’t go over the 1-page limit. Having trouble fitting everything into one page? Check out these one-page resume templates.
• As a nurse you have probably earned some certifications for different areas of medicine. Create a dedicated section for your certificates so these stand out in your resume.

Use a Nurse Resume Template

Are you used to creating your resume in Word? Painful isn’t it? 

It’s easy to spend more time tinkering with formatting than it actually takes you to fill in the contents.

Then, you decide to make a single, small layout change, and BAM! Your entire resume layout falls apart.

There’s a better way than using Word: use a nurse resume template .

What to Include in a Nurse Resume

The main sections in a nurse resume are:

• Contact Information
• Resume Summary
• Work Experience
• Certificates
• Awards & Recognitions

If you want your resume to stand out more, you can also try these optional sections:

Conferences & Courses

• Professional Affiliations

Interests & Hobbies

Now, we’re going to go through each of those sections, and explain how to write them.

Not sure which sections to use? Check out our guide to What to Put on a Resume .

How to Get Your Contact Information Right

Maybe you’ve created the perfect resume with amazing content on your skills and experience. But if you mess up the contact section, you won’t be getting a lot of interview invitations (mainly because they won’t be able to call your misspelled phone number).

For your contacts, include:

• Title - For nurses, your best bet is likely “Registered Nurse”.
• Phone Number - Double-check, triple-check this. One typo can really mess up your chances of an employer contacting you.
• Email Address - Make sure to use a professional email address ([email protected]), and avoid that email you created back in 5th grade ([email protected]).
• (Optional) Location - Applying for a job abroad? Mention your current location.

How to Write a Nurse Resume Summary or Objective

Fun fact - recruiters spend less than 6 seconds reviewing each resume. This isn’t that surprising, though. You can’t expect them to read the hundreds of resumes they receive from end to end.

So, if the recruiter doesn’t see that you’re relevant for the job in a single glance, your resume won’t even be read.

Now, the question is, what can you do to hook the recruiter the moment they look at your resume.

The answer is simple: use a resume summary or objective .

As a quick intro, both the resume summary and objective are sections that go on top of your resume, just under the contact information section.

The main difference between the 2 sections is that…

A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence summary of your professional experiences and achievements.

• Trauma Certified Registered Nurse with more than five years experience working in emergency care. Compassionate, ethical health-care provider with a proven ability to stay calm during crises. Hold a Master’s of Science in Surgical Nursing. 

A resume objective , on the other hand, is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of your professional goals and aspirations.

• Patient-focused nursing student with 2 years of healthcare experience. Pursuing internships as part of career goal to become Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse.

So, which one do you pick? A summary, or an objective?

As you can see from the above examples, the key difference between the two is that a Resume Objective is better-suited to those who are new to a field (student, graduate, or switching careers). Always go for a Resume Summary if you have already established your career path.

How to Make Your Nurse Work Experience Stand Out

Work experience is the most important section in your resume.

Sure, your medical skills are super important, but so is your professional experience. Here’s how to structure your work experience section…

• Position name
• Company Name
• Responsibilities & Achievements

Brooklyn Hospital

01/2015 - 06/2019

• Obtained and recorded patients’ vital signs, intake and output and blood glucose
• Worked in the cardiatric and oncology wards of the hospital
• Used EHR software to record patient information

Now, if you really want to stand out, you should focus on talking about your achievements instead of responsibilities.

Instead of saying:

“Screen patients upon arrival at emergency ward.”

“Administered emergency ward intake evaluations for up to 25 patients each hour by measuring vital signs and prioritizing cases accordingly.”

So, what’s the difference between the two?

The second one is more specific . You know exactly what the person did, and you can say that he/she can work efficiently. 

The first example, on the other hand, is too generic. Screening patients could be as basic as checking whether they have health insurance and entering their personal information into the hospital system. There is also no mention of how many patients this person is used to handling.

What if You Don’t Have Work Experience?

Maybe you’re a current student trying to land an internship or a recent graduate looking for your first full-time nursing job?

Fortunately, nursing students or graduates gain plenty of practical experience as they navigate their way through their studies. Only so much of the medical field can be taught in the classroom. 

By the time you are in your second year of school, chances are high you’ve been in a health-care facility helping evaluate and treat patients. You may not be a registered nurse at this point, you can absolutely include the skills and procedures you’ve learned in school on your resume.

If you’re a recent graduate, you might want to check out our guide on how to make a student resume !

Use Action Words to Make Your Nurse Resume SHINE!

“Responsible for”

“Worked in”

These are the most common words you’ll find on ANY resume.

And since you want YOURS to stand out, we’d recommend avoiding them as much as possible.

Instead, use some of these power words to make your responsibilities and achievements stand out:

• Administered
• Specialized

How to List Education Right

The next section in any Nurse resume is the “Education.”

This one’s pretty straightforward. Simply list out your education entries, and you’re gold!

• Degree Type & Major
• University Name
• Years Studied
• GPA, Honours, Courses, and anything else you might want to add

MSc in Nursing

University of Southern California

• Relevant Courses: Radiological Nursing, Advanced Surgical Procedures, Oncological Diagnostics

Clear? Good!

Before we move on, here are some of the most frequent questions we get about education on a resume (and their answers!):

• What if I haven’t finished college?

Whether you’re still a student, or you dropped out, you should still mention your degree. All you have to do is include the years studied, and you’re good.

• Do I list my high school education?

Only if you don’t have a higher education. No one cares about your high school education if you have a B.A.

• What goes first, education or experience?

If you have any relevant work experience, then experiences go on top. If you don’t, though, then education.

Still have some questions? Check out our guide on how to list education on a resume .

Top 30 Skills for a Nurse Resume

When the HR manager is going through your resume, they’re looking to see if you have the right skills for the job.

Imagine this: you’re the best nurse in the world and your resume is impeccable. BUT, you still get rejected, because you didn’t mention that you know the exact procedures or techniques that the health centre needs. 

Not sure which skills to pick?

Here are some of the most common nurse skills:

Hard Skills for Nurse Resume:

• Assisting in surgery
• Administration of medication
• Chemotherapy administration
• Bedside monitoring
• Bladder irrigation
• Blood administration
• Emergency room care
• Healthcare software
• Infection control
• Lab testing
• Intramuscularly injections or IV therapy
• Maternal care
• Pain management
• Physical assessments
• Psychiatric care
• Rehabilitation
• Seizure precautions
• Surgery preparation
• Wound irrigation
• Withdrawal of blood samples

Soft Skills for Nurse Resume:

• Attention to detail
• Communication (verbal & written)
• Critical thinking
• Physical endurance (since you will work long hours and have to use sometimes heavy equipment or patients)
• Observation (since you need to track subtle and small changes such as a change in the color or odor)
• As a general rule, we’d recommend not to go overboard with “Soft Skills.” They are certainly important in the medical field, but they are also harder to back up. Doctors need people with hard skills standing next to them, so give these priority. 

Looking for a more comprehensive list? Here’s a mega-list of 150+ must-have skills in 2024 .

Certifications for a Nurse Resume

As we mentioned before, many nurses will attain special certifications as they progress in their careers. These should be highlighted in your resume. For example:

• CPR certified through the American Heart Association
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Advanced Holistic Nurse, Board Certified

Other Resume Sections You Can Include

At this point, you’re probably ready to wrap up your resume and call it a day.

After all, we’ve covered all the essential sections, right?

Well, not exactly. See, the #1 goal of your resume is to stand out.

And if your resume looks exactly the same as everyone else’s, that’s where you fail.

If you’re already a good match for the job in terms of skills and experiences, these sections could end up being the deciding factor that gets you hired (and makes you stand out from the rest).

As part of their career development, many nurses will participate or even speak at nursing conferences. These are great to list on a resume because they highlight your dedication to the profession.

Meanwhile, nurses also participate in courses devoted to specialized topics in nursing or medicine. Perhaps these courses don’t involve formal certification in a specific area, but they do demonstrate certain career interests.

For example, maybe after five years of working in nursing, you decide to take a course in End-of-Life Care because it’s an area you may want to pursue future certification. Once you’ve taken the course, there’s no reason not to put it on your resume.

If you’ve got the space, try to include a Conferences & Courses section on your resume.

An extra language or two can always come in handy, even if it doesn’t have anything to do with the position you’re applying for. You never know when a foreign language might help save a life.

If you know any foreign language & have extra space in your resume, feel free to add a language section.

Make sure to split the languages by proficiency:

• Intermediate

Now, you might be thinking, “what does my hiking hobby have to do with my profession as a nurse?”

Well, nothing, but it does have something to do with you as a person. Strong teamwork is essential in the health-care field, so doctors and administrators are looking for someone they’ll get along with.

And what’s something you can bond with potential employers about? Hobbies and interests, exactly!

Not sure which hobbies & interests you want to mention? We have a guide for that!

Match Your Cover Letter with Your Resume

Yep, that’s right.

You might be thinking, “A cover letter?! Surely the nursing skills on my resume speak for themselves!”

Well, here’s the thing: cover letters are still very important .

They show the recruiter that you’re passionate about working for THIS position in THIS company, and you aren’t just sending your resume all over the place.

Having a solid cover letter with your resume can significantly boost your chances of getting the job.

The first step to writing a convincing cover letter is to get the structure right. Here’s how to do that.

And here’s what you’d write in each section:

Contact Details

Your personal contact information, including full name, profession, email, phone number, location.

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information

Full name, position, location, email.

Opening Paragraph

Your introduction should be very strong. If you don’t manage to hook the hiring manager here, chances are, they’re not going to read the rest of it. So, mention:

• The position you’re applying for
• Your experience summary and top achievement

Once you’ve got the hiring manager hooked, you can go through the rest of your background. Some of the points you can mention here are:

• Why you want to work for this specific company.
• Anything you know about the company’s culture.
• What are your top skills and how are they relevant for the job.
• If you’ve worked in similar industries or positions.

Closing Paragraph

This is where you:

• Wrap up any points you missed in the body paragraph
• Thank the hiring manager for their time
• End with a call to action. Something like, “I’d love to further discuss how my experience as an X can help the company with Y”

Formal Salutations

Use a formal closing, such as “best regards” or “Sincerely.”

Need more inspiration? We get it - creating a cover letter is very hard work. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with your step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter .

Applying for a different position in the medical field? Our related resume examples can come in handy:

• Medical Assistant Resume
• Pharmacist Resume
• Dentist Resume

Key Takeaways

If you followed everything we just taught you to the T, you’re pretty much guaranteed to land the job.

Now, let’s go through everything we’ve learned real quick:

• Get the right formatting for your nurse resume. Use a reverse-chronological format, and follow the best practices we mentioned on getting the layout right.
• Use a resume summary or objective to catch the hiring manager’s attention.
• In your work experience section, try to talk more about your achievements than your responsibilities.
• Emphasize hard skills more than soft skills (both are important but hard skills save lives)
• Match your nurse resume with a convincing cover letter.

Suggested Reading:

• Use Resume Keywords to Land the Job [880+ Keywords]
• 26+ Biggest Interview Mistakes (To Avoid in 2024)
• How to Write a CV That Gets Noticed (With 2024 Examples)

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