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Table of contents

Registered nurse resume examples
Choose the right resume format for your registered nurse resume
How to write a registered nurse resume in 5 simple steps
Add a cover letter
Key takeaways for your registered nurse resume
FAQs from job seekers

Nursing is a unique blend of skill and compassion. You have the ability to comfort patients by anticipating their needs while performing intricate medical interventions — all while keeping your cool in a high-stress environment. You’re like a superhero in scrubs!

But even superheroes need a sidekick. If you’re struggling to get noticed by recruiters, we’ve got your back.

Our guide provides easy-to-follow instructions for creating a standout registered nurse resume. By following along, you’ll be able to showcase your skills, accomplishments and unique experiences, whether you work in a hospital, clinic or nursing home. Our resume samples can also serve as a source of information.

This guide will show you:

Examples of registered nurse resumes for candidates with and without experience.
What makes a registered nurse resume example stand out.
Tips and strategies for writing registered nurse resumes.
What to include in each section of your registered nurse resume.
How to select the appropriate resume template and format for the position.

If you’re ready to make your resume today, head directly to our Resume Maker. There, you can choose a design of your liking and get advice and easy-to-edit, auto-generated text for every section.

Registered nurse resume examples

Entry-level registered nurse resume example

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What makes this a great registered nurse resume sample

Utilizes an appropriate resume format
This applicant is applying for an entry-level position, and they have smartly picked a functional format, which emphasizes skills rather than work history.
Effectively showcases skills
As a registered nurse, there are a variety of technical and soft skills to highlight on your resume — something handled perfectly across the multiple skills sections in the example above.
Incorporates relevant experience and achievements
Entry-level job seekers lack work experience, but this resume makes the most of it by focusing on qualifications and abilities.

Experienced registered nurse resume example

Resume experienced example registered nurse

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What makes this a great registered nurse resume sample

Nice choice of action verbs
The resume above uses action words, giving the work experience section a more active, engaged tone that’s attractive to employers.
Smart use of quantifiable achievements
This candidate elevates their work history by focusing on the results of their accomplishments and using data to drive the point home.
Uses the right format for someone with experience
A registered nurse with workplace experience should generally follow a chronological resume format so hiring managers can see the candidate’s work experience in reverse-chronological order.

Looking for a specific job title? Check out our other nursing resumes:

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Choose the right resume format for your registered nurse resume

Want to land that registered nurse job? Then you must look good in front of recruiters. But how?

You can start by choosing a resume format that works for you.

Experienced candidates should use a chronological resume format, which showcases work experience and a solid, consistent career progression.
Those with less experience or anyone who wishes to emphasize their skills may find a combination or functional format more suitable.

To learn more about formatting your resume to showcase your qualifications in the best light, explore our detailed formatting guide.

Select an appropriate registered nurse resume template

Create your resume

Every resume template includes the essential sections, from a professional summary or resume objective to skills, work history and education. To take your resume to the next level, choose a template that truly complements your career aspirations.

As nursing is part of the medical field, you may want to select a simple resume template that’s clean and professional. If that doesn’t seem right, check out other styles like modern resumes or creative templates. You’re sure to find one you love.

How to write a registered nurse resume in 5 simple steps

While registered nurses are in high demand, there’s still competition for certain positions. The secret to standing out is putting together a personalized resume for every application. Here’s how you do it.

Step 1

Examine the registered nurse job description

The best resumes are customized for the job. You’ll know what the employer is looking for by looking closely at the job ad. Which keywords do they include in the job description? What are the requirements?

Candidates who successfully mention the right keywords have the best shot of getting called in for an interview.

Step 2

Write a professional summary or resume objective

Every resume should kick off with a professional summary or resume objective. But which one should you choose?

Relatively inexperienced candidates might be better-suited for a resume objective, which focuses more on career goals and transferable skills. Applicants who already have a good amount of nursing experience should use a professional summary, which hones in on skills and experience and showcases your most impressive accomplishments.

Here are some strong examples for your registered nurse resume:

Registered nurse professional summary example:

Dedicated and compassionate Registered Nurse with extensive experience in geriatric nursing, committed to providing exceptional care to residents requiring long-term or rehabilitative attention. Proficient in assessing residents’ physical, psychosocial and rehabilitative conditions, while collaborating with the resident care team to plan and coordinate individualized care plans. Skilled in Electronic Health Records (EHR) and personal digital assistants.

Registered nurse resume objective example:

As a recent graduate from an accredited School of Nursing with strong critical thinking and communication skills, I am eager to bring my passion for patient care to a Registered Nurse role. Holding a state licensure (RN), my focus is in serving as a patient advocate who can effectively coordinate care while promoting safety and quality in daily practice.

Step 3

Highlight your most relevant registered nurse skills

No matter how advanced you are in your career, skills are important. Skills for a registered nurse resume can be added in every part of your document, from the skills section to your professional summary (or resume objective) and, of course, your work experience.

When choosing skills, it’s crucial to always give employers a range of hard and soft skills. Hard skills are the technical, measurable skills that are regularly used in a job. These skills can be taught in the classroom — or on the job.

Soft skills, however, are not technical, which makes them harder to measure. They are personality traits that make you a pleasure to work with. Check out this side-by-side comparison of common hard and soft skills for registered nurses.

Hard and soft skills for a registered nurse resume

Hard Skills

Patient assessment
Basic life support (BLS)
Infection control
Electronic Health Records (EHR)
Medication administration
Medical equipment

Soft Skills

Communication
Collaboration
Empathy
Active listening
Time management
Adaptability

Pro tip

Soft skills are just as important as hard skills. Employers prize finding candidates who already have skills like communication and collaboration because they’re difficult to teach but absolutely essential to a well-functioning organization.

Step 4

Write a strong registered nurse work experience section

While every candidate brings different levels and types of experience with them, every great resume has one thing in common: the work experience section shows how you’d bring value to an organization.

Here is an example of a great registered nurse work experience entry:

Registered Nurse, Pediatric Clinic – San Francisco, CA
September 2019 – Present

Administered thousands of phlebotomy, IV infusions and subcutaneous injections, while collecting vital signs and urine analyses.
Conducted in-home clinical trial visits for 20+ pediatric patients, ensuring compliance with best practices.
Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to provide end-to-end patient care, meeting deadlines and supporting research initiatives.
Communicated effectively with patients, their families and team members to ensure accurate documentation of medical history.
Maintained a commitment to professional development by staying current with CPR, BLS and ACLS certifications, as well as state nursing licensure requirements.

Pro tip

Make your registered nurse accomplishments even stronger by using action words to grab the hiring manager’s attention.

Step 5

Showcase your education and training on your registered nurse resume

The proper education and training are required for a career in nursing. Leading candidates for these positions must get a nursing degree before taking the NCLEX-RN to obtain a license to practice in a given state. When you’re writing your education section, there’s no need to include a high school education if you’ve completed a more advanced degree.

How to list your registered nurse education:

Education
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Sacramento State University, Sacramento, CA

Certifications

Registered Nurse (RN) License – CA
Basic Life Support (BLS)
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)

Pro tip

Professional certifications or training make for great additions to your resume. They can be added to your education section or a separate standalone section dedicated to certificates.

Optional sections for your registered nurse resume

Awards and Certifications

Including an awards section on your resume is an excellent strategy for championing your abilities, accomplishments and qualifications. Awards showcase outstanding performance, while certifications offer tangible proof of your competence in a particular area.

Awards and certificates not only distinguish you from the competition — they demonstrate a genuine commitment to your career. By showing how your earlier contributions were recognized by an organization, you boost your chances of securing a job.

How to list awards on your registered nurse resume:

2019 Kaiser Permanente’s Nursing Excellence Award – Outstanding Patient Care and Dedication

2017 CA Nurses Association – Rising Star Leadership in Nursing Profession

Projects

Special projects show that you have real-world experience employers might be interested in beyond the day-to-day tasks in your workplace. Adding projects to your resume can be especially important if you’re just starting out and need experience to point to instead of typical work history.

Projects are a demonstration of your skill set — from problem-solving to communication and time management — as well as your ability to set and reach a goal. Employers love to see how you’ve accomplished something through initiative and hard work. Bonus points if the project is directly relevant to the job you’re targeting.

How to list projects on your registered nurse resume:

Patient care
Contributed to the creation of best practices for treating patients with chronic pain, leading to the development of a new treatment protocol and a 20% increase in patient satisfaction.
Safety
Oversaw the implementation of a fall prevention program that led to a 30% decline in fall-related injuries.
Collaboration
Worked with an interdisciplinary team to craft policies and procedures to improve the communication between staff and patients’ families.

Languages

In today’s global job market, speaking multiple languages is a huge selling point. Not only does it expand your ability to communicate with customers and clients, being multilingual could introduce you to a range of international opportunities you didn’t know were possible.

Your ability to speak multiple languages also suggests to employers you’re mentally sharp, determined and worldly. When it comes down to two candidates who have similar qualifications, the one who adds a second or third language to their resume will have the upper hand.

How to list languages on your registered nurse resume:

English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Spanish: Proficient

Interests and Hobbies

Hobbies are a great way to add color to your resume — just make sure they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for. Listing your interests helps employers see you as a well-rounded individual and gives you another opportunity to highlight transferable skills.

Ultimately, hobbies and interests show whether you’d be a good match for a company and showcase that you’re a fully-formed person (more than just a job applicant).

How to list interests and hobbies on your registered nurse resume:

Member of a book club that focuses on health and wellness
Passion for running in local marathons
Enjoys volunteering at the local animal shelter on weekends

Add a cover letter

Create your cover letter

Don’t miss your chance to differentiate yourself from the competition by adding a personalized cover letter. When you write a cover letter, you get to show off your personality and further convince the employer that you are who they’re looking for. To learn how to craft a cover letter that gets you the interview, check out our HR-approved cover letter examples and how to nail your cover letter formatting.

Short on time? Head directly to our Cover Letter Builder to get auto-generated text suggestions for a nursing job. Then, tailor your letter to reflect your style. You’ll improve your chances of landing an interview in no time.

Key takeaways for your registered nurse resume

Customize your resume for every job

Tailor all five sections of your resume for every job, including professional summary, skills, work history and education. Make sure to hammer home your most relevant qualifications.
Choose the right format for your career

Consider what you want to emphasize most in your registered nurse resume — your skills, experience or a combination of both — and choose a template that showcases your strengths.
Cite specifics as much as possible

Pull details from the job posting instead of using generic language when making your resume. This ensures you highlight the credentials and qualifications that are most important to the employer.
Highlight both hard and soft skills

Being a registered nurse requires a healthy mix of technical and interpersonal skills. Your resume should reflect the full range of hard and soft skills you use on a daily basis.
Show the impact of your work

Employers want to see the impact of your work. In the work experience section, use action verbs, data and metrics to emphasize how you made a difference.
Select an appropriate resume design

While the nursing field is often seen as more traditional, it’s still important to choose a resume template that reflects your personal style. Consider using a professional template to showcase your experience and qualifications.
Don’t forget a cover letter

Adding a cover letter to your application will help you stand out. Set aside time to produce a personalized letter that shows your passion for nursing and how you can contribute to the health care team.

FAQs from job seekers

Last Updated: January 18, 2024

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Don is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than 10 years’ experience creating digital content, including four years helping job seekers develop their careers. He holds an M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University.