Resume Example
Registered Nurse Resume Example
Highlight patient safety, clinical judgment, and coordinated care. This sample focuses on bedside execution and measurable outcomes.
Classic Professional
Traditional single-column ATS-optimized layout. Best for conservative industries.
Keywords
Sample bullets
- Managed 4 to 6 med-surg patients per shift, coordinating labs, imaging, and IV therapy with 99% barcode scan compliance.
- Reduced patient falls by 18% through risk scoring, hourly rounding, and safety protocol adherence.
- Partnered with physicians, PT/OT, and case management to streamline care plans and reduce average length of stay by 0.5 days.
Soft skills
- Clinical judgment
- Calm under pressure
- Patient advocacy
- Clear handoffs
- Team coordination
- Empathy with patients and families
- Prioritization and time management
Certifications
- RN license
- BLS
- ACLS
- BSN
- CCRN
- CEN
Why this works
- Shows hands-on clinical delivery tied to safety and quality metrics.
- Demonstrates interdisciplinary coordination across the care team.
- Highlights compliance and documentation discipline in high-volume settings.
Step-by-Step Guide
How to Write a Registered Nurse Resume
Lead with your specialty and credentials
Start your summary with your nursing specialty (ICU, ER, Med-Surg, Pediatrics), years of experience, and key credentials. Include your state license number and certifications (BLS, ACLS, specialty certs) prominently. Hiring managers scan for these first.
Highlight patient outcomes and safety
Nursing resumes should emphasize patient care quality. Include metrics like patient satisfaction scores, fall rates, infection rates, or medication error rates for your unit. 'Maintained 0 CAUTI incidents over 18 months' demonstrates quality impact.
Show clinical skills and competencies
List specific clinical skills relevant to your target role: IV insertion, ventilator management, wound care, medication administration, EHR systems (Epic, Cerner). Tailor this section to match the job posting's requirements.
Demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration
Nursing is team-based. Highlight how you've worked with physicians, PT/OT, case management, and other team members. Mention care coordination, SBAR handoffs, and discharge planning to show you understand the full care continuum.
Include relevant training and certifications
List all active certifications with expiration dates. Include specialized training, preceptor experience, and any unit-specific competencies. For travel nurses, highlight your adaptability across different facilities and EHR systems.
Summary Examples
Good vs. Bad Resume Summaries
“ICU RN with 6 years of critical care experience managing ventilated patients, vasoactive drips, and CRRT. Consistently achieved 95%+ patient satisfaction scores. CCRN certified with expertise in rapid response and sepsis protocols.”
Specific specialty, years of experience, key competencies (ventilator, drips, CRRT), metrics, and relevant certification.
“Compassionate nurse with excellent bedside manner and strong communication skills. Team player dedicated to providing quality patient care.”
Generic soft skills expected of all nurses. No specialty, no clinical skills, no metrics or certifications mentioned.
“Travel nurse (Med-Surg/Telemetry) with 4 years across 10+ facilities. Adapts quickly to new EHR systems and unit protocols while maintaining quality metrics. Reduced patient falls 20% through proactive rounding implementation.”
Travel context clear, adaptability highlighted, concrete achievement with metric, shows process improvement mindset.
“Dedicated RN looking for growth opportunities in a supportive environment. Passionate about helping patients and families during difficult times.”
Reads like a cover letter, not a resume summary. No clinical details, no specialty, no measurable contributions.
Action Verbs
Power Words for Registered Nurse Resumes
Common Mistakes
What to Avoid
- ✗Omitting license number and certification expiration dates
- ✗Using generic descriptions like 'provided patient care' without specifics
- ✗Missing clinical skills relevant to your target unit
- ✗Failing to quantify patient load, unit size, or quality metrics
- ✗Not highlighting EHR proficiency (Epic, Cerner) which is often a screening criterion
- ✗Forgetting to mention specialty certifications that differentiate you from other candidates
Salary ranges
| Level | US | EU | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | USD 65,000-75,000 | EUR 44,800-51,700 | CAD 75,400-87,000 |
| Mid | USD 80,000-95,000 | EUR 55,100-65,500 | CAD 92,800-110,100 |
| Senior | USD 95,000-120,000 | EUR 65,500-82,800 | CAD 110,100-139,200 |
Market themes
- Specialty premiums for ICU, ER, OR, and travel roles
- Strong demand with steady growth through 2034
US hot markets
- California
- Hawaii
- Oregon
- Washington
- Alaska
EU hot markets
- London
- Dublin
- Amsterdam
Canada hot markets
- Toronto
- Vancouver
- Calgary
FAQ
Common questions about this role
What should a registered nurse resume emphasize?
Patient safety, clinical skills, documentation quality, and outcomes like falls, readmissions, or patient satisfaction. Lead with your specialty area and patient population (med-surg, ICU, pediatrics, etc.).
Which certifications should RNs include?
State RN license (with license number), BLS/ACLS, and unit-specific certifications such as CCRN, CEN, or PALS. Include expiration dates and any specialty certifications relevant to your target unit.
How do nurses show impact without traditional business metrics?
Use clinical outcomes: patient falls, infection rates, HCAHPS scores, medication error rates, and length of stay. 'Achieved 0 CAUTI incidents over 12 months on 30-bed unit' demonstrates quality impact.
What skills should RNs highlight?
Clinical skills (IV insertion, wound care, ventilator management), EHR systems (Epic, Cerner), patient education, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Tailor skills to your specialty and target unit.
How long should a nursing resume be?
One page for new grads and nurses with under 10 years experience. Two pages are acceptable for experienced nurses with extensive certifications, specialties, or leadership roles.
Should travel nurses format their resume differently?
List assignments with facility type, unit, bed count, and patient acuity. Highlight adaptability: 'Successfully onboarded to 8 facilities across 3 EHR systems while maintaining consistent patient satisfaction scores.'
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