This is a complete guide covering all nursing specialties of all levels. Enjoy!

We believe this content is perfect for anyone who has just completed nursing school and is looking for a job or someone who has previous work experience. I also believe those nurses looking to switch careers will find this content very useful too.

It’s tough landing a gratifying job that allows you to make use of all your skills and pays well at the same time. There are several reasons why this can happen, and I believe the MOST important being the quality of your resume. We’ve found 50 percent has to do with your skills and experience level. The other 50 percent with how well your nursing resume resonates with the recruiting department.



Did you know most employers don’t spend more than 10 seconds glancing over your resume? The reason is they are looking for specific keywords that fit their job description and expectations perfectly. That’s why you need to make sure you are using the right words in the right places throughout your resume. In short, a top-quality resume will get noticed and can boost your chances of landing a face-to-face interview.

Here’s why you should continue reading –

This is a complete nursing resume guide that will cover everything you need to craft the perfect resume before applying to your next job. To help you out, we’ll provide examples whenever we can so it’s easy to follow and implement. What do we ask in return? Please share our content and leave a comment to keep the engagement going.

Section 1 – Choose Your Template

To be honest I don’t know why nurses are choosing all these colorful resume templates. Nursing is a serious business and you’re selling yourself to the employer. You must show you’re serious and are exactly what the employers are looking for. Your resume template is a platform where you showcase your skills, accomplishments, education, and other important details.

I personally love to use a professional format with each heading following a specific order. Let me show you what I mean. Here is a template I have used over again for myself and my clients.

This template looks professional showcasing the most important elements in order.

Objective and summary statement (no more than 100 words)

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This will be written in point form using bullets.

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For 4-5 work experience related to nursing position.

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Chronological EDUCATION section

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Chronological CERTIFICATIONS section

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“INTERESTS” optional section

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“REFERENCES” (during final stage)

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Section 2 – Research Employers

It’s important to research your employers and your resume should be crafted to meet the job requirements. For example, whenever I am applying for a nursing position, I will create my resume to be specific to the nursing position I am applying for. The good news is if you’re applying for a nursing position then the requirements will often be the same throughout every nursing job you apply for. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t add a few specific “keywords” as indicated within the job listing. This will allow you to stand out compared to the other applicants applying for the same position…and trust me there will be hundreds of applicants.

Researching your employers will help you during your interview process (when you make it to the next round). Reading through their job descriptions can better equip you for specific questions being asked during the interview process. We’ll be discussing all of this later on.

So, here are a few things I do when researching employers and what you should be looking for too.

a) Find a job (position) which is specific to your qualifications. As a registered nurse, it’s important to find a job that compliments your qualifications. For example, when searching online using recruitment websites, type in things like “registered nurse” and be sure to include where you live. Here’s an example of a search I did below –

 

 

The search done above will allow me to find registered nursing jobs specific to my qualifications. If I want to be even more specific, I can narrow down my search by typing in “registered nurse dialysis” if I have specific experience as a dialysis nurse. This would be an asset when applying for jobs.

 

b) Your qualifications should match your salary expectations so apply for nursing jobs that represent your qualifications.

It’s important to read through the nursing job description to ensure you meet all the requirements and always make notes as you read through. You will have a lesser chance landing a job if you don’t meet the basic requirements. Next make notes so you can add them to your RN nurse resume. I mentioned designing a resume that meets the specific job requirements will increase your chances of getting a face-to-face interview.

For example, check out these job requirements for a RN Care Manager – Orlando

Jot these down into a Google Doc or Word Doc because you can add them into your resume afterwards to make it more specific. For example, the first one on the list can be rephrased into the following. You can add these to your resume under your Professional Experience.

first one rephrased –

“extensive experience working with other nurses implementing a plan for patients that reduces overall barriers to health care.”

Or

“Developed a critical care plan which increased efficiency in helping patients and eliminated barriers, contributing to a more positive team-work environment for nurses.”

It’s a good idea to write down requirements for each job you’re thinking about applying to because this will help you craft a better Professional Work Summary for your resume.

c) Some jobs will list certifications required when applying for a position. Paying close attention to these specific requirements will let you tweak your resume to stand out compared to other applicants. I like to use this information for two very important reasons –

  • If I don’t have the requirement or certification, I can study and write the required examination to get it. This will give me a better chance of successfully landing these nursing jobs in the future.
  • If I have the specific certification, I can add it to my resume before applying so I stand out compared to other applicants.

If I continue to see this certification requirement within several job descriptions than I know it will be an asset to have as a nurse. This will provide me with more opportunities in the future.

Here’s a great example if you have a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) certification. Check out these specific nursing career options available to you if you have a CRNA Certification.

First, look at how many jobs are available for a RN with a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

 

 

Secondly, if you are certified with a CRNA, it’s important to highlight this in your skills section because this will be a specific requirement many employers are looking for.

Here’s an example of a recent listing in Fresno, California.

 

Section Summary

It is important to research relevant employers, so you have a better understanding of what they are looking for in an applicant. You can then make your nursing resume skills section more relevant to what the employers are looking for within a nurse applicant. These small adjustments in my experience will allow you to stand out compared to other nurses applying for the same position.

Research your employers and craft a resume for these specific jobs by highlighting the EXACT skills and experience they are looking for within their job listing.

Section 3 – The Header

The top, or header, of your nursing resume should be simple with nothing more than your name, address, and contact details. Make sure you have the correct information because MOST likely a recruiter will call or email you.

For example, when creating your header section, AVOID doing this –

First, by creating a cluttered header (above), you are taking away from the “professional summary” section which will go below the name and address. By making the text – “Registered Nurse (RN) Resume” so big, you are distracting the employer from focusing on your professional summary. I’ve always said each section should have their own subheading with a purpose because then employers can skim through in a systematic way.

With a such a BIG BOLD text (as above), the employer will most likely read the heading and begin to skim through without paying close attention to anything underneath.

However, let’s look at the following clean formatting headers below –

Example 1 –

I like this header because it is simple and has what’s important i.e. name, address, and contact information. There is a line separating the contact information and the profile summary. I want you to skim through from the top and pay attention to how your eyes move. The two lines (red arrows) where the “PROFILE” section is forces you to freeze and read it…right? The two separate sections force us to stay within the lines because it’s natural for us to follow visual cues. This is why many marketers use arrows, buttons, and flashing text when telling you where to click.

Example 2 –

It’s a good idea to mix it up so I would recommend the following header on your resume too. I would probably change the font to something like Questrial, Poppins, etc. However, in terms of simplicity this is a great example. Lines separate the name and address with the profile section. It’s a clean look and easy to skim through which is what MOST employers will do when initially screening resumes. I know this is not a nurse resume however just pay attention to the header and nothing else in terms of formatting.

Example 3 –

I would probably move the phone number below the street address, so it looks a bit cleaner. But this header example is very clean and easy to navigate through. Lines separate the important sections making it easier for employers to catch what’s important with a simple skim through.

Section Summary

Keep the header simple and clean with only your name, address, and contact information listed. Employers will initially skim through looking for keywords that fit their job description. A simple header with lines separating each section allow for employers to navigate through easily finding the information they need, and the information you want to present to them.

Section 4 – Nursing Resume Objective

Label this section on your resume as the following – PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY or PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVE OR PROFILE SUMMARY

This is a very important section and I can’t emphasis how important it is to write a concise objective. It must be short and right to the point since you’re trying to sell your skillset within a few words (no more than 100 words). It’s important to keep it short and ALWAYS include strong action keywords. I suggest before you start, you create a list using Google Doc or Word Doc of your key skills and greatest achievements (if applicable). Trust me when I say this will help as you start to draft your resume objective and/or summary. Also, here’s something I found on indeed.com about the importance of objective/summary statements –

“A resume objective is your opportunity to let employers know that your skills and talents align with the requirements of their open position. A well-written resume objective statement can be customized for the job you’re applying for and add value to your resume that sets it apart from other applicants.” – indeed

When writing your nursing resume objective statement, you want to keep the following 3 things in mind –

a) Change it around when necessary to fit the job you’re applying for. For example, above we went through employer research strategies so use the keywords words and skillset they require in your objective

b) Focus on showing your biggest achievements because employers like to see results. For example, if the nursing position your applying for requires someone with experience administering medications to patients, you can use the following in your resume objective –

“Someone who possess a Bachelors Degree in Nursing and that works well in both a leadership and team environment. 5 Years experience administering medications to successfully prevent infections while reducing overall patient recovery time”

This is a great objective statement because it shows strong experience and outcomes. The statement shows years of experience and how your experience helps prevent infections to reduce recovery which is very important to all hospitals.

c) If you don’t have enough work experience, then just add a nurse resume summary instead. Since resume objectives are used to connect your experience with the job your applying for, you may be better with a summary if you don’t have the experience. A resume summary can be just as effective because it gives you a chance quickly mention your skills and everything on your resume in short form. This will set the tone giving the employer a chance to see what’s ahead in your resume.

If your having a hard time putting together a nursing resume summary, then just read through your resume making notes in an open Microsoft Word document. After, you can start to create a summary from your notes. Remember, a summary statement will take all your important skills, experience, and certifications then create an eye-catching statement for employers as they skim through.

Here are some sample “nursing objectives” and “summary” statements.

I have provided tips on how you can edit them to make them more relevant to your experience.

Feel free to use them and adjust them as required.

Number 1 – General with Experience

“Patient-focused, hardworking professional seeking a position to develop my skills while working at ABC Company. With over 5 years experience as a registered nurse, I believe I would be an asset to your company bringing experience, care, and extensive knowledge to help improve the lives of patients.”

Tips –

  • Replace “ABC Company” with name of job seeking company
  • If you are NOT a registered nurse, you can add “certified nursing assistant” or “Licensed Practical Nurse”

Number 2 – More Focused Specific Specialty

“Compassionate and accomplished Cardiac Care Nurse with 16 years of professional experience. Developed nursing care plans to better assess patient needs while maintaining medical records for other team members. I believe in advocating for patient needs and creating an environment that can help facilitate faster recovery times. BLS, RN-BC certifications. 3 years in an active role advising patients on disease prevention”

Tips –

  • Add your own specialty if required
  • This statement is more for someone who has been working in the medical profession for several years.
  • Add your own certifications if applicable.

 Number 3 – Objective for LPN Nurse Beginner

“Ambitious LPN Nursing graduate seeking to use earned skills and knowledge to assist your hospital in a nursing role. Proven to ably handle any medical emergency or situation, with the requisite skillset to perform under pressure. Excellent interpersonal skills, and a dedicated worker with a sense of purpose. Possess a BS in Nursing. BLS certification completed”

Tips –

  • Replace LPN with other nursing qualification
  • Add your own certifications if applicable.

Number 4 – General

“Emphatic Pediatric Registered nurse with an excellent eye for details and constantly growing as a medical professional. Over 10 years experience specializing in maternal health working in a hospital environment. Completed a BSN in nursing and RNC-MNN certified. Excellent communication skills and always striving to provide the highest standard of care to patients with diverse needs”

Tips –

  • Replace with your own certification
  • Replace number of years experience if required
  • Replace the skills with your own. For example, “excellent communication skills” can be “excellent team player

Number 5 – General

“Skilled, adaptable registered nurse (CNA or LPN) looking to continue my career development in relevant rewarding roles. I strive on unique opportunities that allow for a continuing life of serving and helping others. My previous experience has provided me with the skills I need to be able to work on my own initiative or support other healthcare professionals, whilst ensuring that at all times patient care procedures and evidenced based practices are adhered to.”

Tips –

  • “Skilled, adaptable registered nurse” can be replaced with “skilled nurse with 3 years experience working in a team environment”
  • “whilst ensuring that at all times patient care procedures and evidenced based practices are adhered to” can be replaced with “great at following hospital protocol and making sure team follows hospital best practices”
  • Add some certifications after final sentence

Section Summary

The nursing PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY or PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVE will be the next section on your resume right after your header (name, address, etc). Keep this section around 90-100 words detailing your core skills and achievements. It’s important to keep it right to the point because employers will not spend too much time reading over this section but rather will skim through looking for relevance as per requirements for the job. I like to create different variations before finalizing which one to include on my resume. I’ll ask friends and family which variation they prefer. Sometimes I’ll send out my resume with different professional summaries testing all of them to see which variation brings the highest results. So,

  • This section should be short and concise
  • Pick 2-3 main skills to add into your Professional Summary or Professional Objective
  • Choose 1-2 accomplishments that your proud of and believe will stand out compared to other applicants
  • Keep an eye on the word count (90-100 words)
  • List the name of the degree(s) and certifications achieved. (Don’t go into too much detail on them but just list the names of each)

Section 5 – Skills and/or Specialties

Label this section on your resume as the following – SKILLS OR SPECIALTIES

This will be written in point form using bullets.

Here’s how this section should be formatted and can be 1 or 2 columns depending on preference. I’m providing my two favorite designs –

DESIGN 1

1 Column Example:

2 Column Example

DESIGN 2

1 Column Example:

SKILLS OR SPECIALTIES

2 Column Example

SKILLS OR SPECIALTIES

Now I understand some prefer to put this section below the work experience however I’ve found adding it above the work experience gives me more advantage. For example, while drafting this section, I’ll pull the skills and specialties directly out of the job listing description. Most employers will list the skills they prefer the applicants have before applying and by listing some of these specific skills on my resume will give me edge over my competition. Now I know some of you may not have the skills most employers are looking for, but I believe skills are built and perfected on the job. The more you perform a certain skill, the better it gets…right!

Before starting to create this section on your resume, create a list of the jobs you’ll be applying for and then skim through creating a list of skills each of them requires. Here’s an example, I searched and found this job listing for a “registered nurse” and scrolled down to the responsibilities section. This will provide me with an overview of what duties the employer expects the nurse to perform on the job. I will now align my skills to better perform these responsibilities.

a) Looking at the first one on the list – “educates customers on how to manage illness”.

Let’s align our skills by adding the following under SKILLS OR SPECIALTIES

  • Medication administration
  • Strong communicator
  • Strong knowledge of prevention strategies

The above skills align well with “educates customers on how to manage illness”.

b) Let’s move onto the next one – “critical thinking skills to assess and …emotional needs”.

Let’s align our skills by adding the following under SKILLS OR SPECIALTIES

  • Ability to solve complex problems
  • Emphatic
  • Unique ability evaluating patient emotional and physical needs
  • Experience developing patient care plans helping in disease prevention

Let’s look at another example –

Here’s another job listing I found for a “Charge Nurse (RN) Medical Surgical”. I scrolled down to the “Key Responsibilities” and found this breakdown.

a) Looking at the first one under “People Heading” – “fosters staff engagement by active listening”.

Let’s align our skills by adding the following under SKILLS OR SPECIALTIES

  • Strong communicator
  • Experience working in a team environment
  • Ability to make shifts as per job requirement
  • Strong medical ethic
  • Ability to make decisions quickly based on organizational goals

b) Looking at the first one under “Service Heading” – “leads patient and family-centered care standards as outlined…

Let’s align our skills by adding the following under SKILLS OR SPECIALTIES

  • Knowledge with universal care standards in the medical profession
  • Experience with managing care plan audits
  • Ability to maintain a strong relationship with patient’s family educating them on disease prevention

Section Summary

When writing your SKILLS OR SPECIALTIES section, you also want to keep the following in mind –

Stay relevant – this section should be tailored to fit the specific needs of where your applying. Read over the job description focusing on the MOST important requirements then decide what skills or specialties you should add to your resume.

Provide Specific examples – if you are adding a skill or specialty to this section then show proof during the “WORK EXPERIENCE” section. For example, if you claim you’re efficient working in a team then prove it. You can write something like:

ABC Company (01-01-2018 – 01-01-2019)

“Worked in a team that was responsible for creating patient care plan leading to a 10% decrease in hospital return visits.”

This is not the best example however I’m just trying to show how you can prove a SKILL or SPECIALTY you have mentioned in your resume.

Don’t overdo it – Your highlighting the MOST important skills for the position you’re applying to. Limit the amount of skills your adding by making sure they are as relevant as possible. If the skill or specialty is NOT relevant than don’t add it. This will keep the section short, neat and organized. Employers will skim through your resume during the initial stage so show them the skills they want and that will make them take notice.

Section 6 – Work Experience

You will label this subheading (section) on your resume as – WORK EXPERIENCE

This section is going to be your bread and butter. Here you’ll be listing your relevant work experience as it applies to the current job posting. The key thing to keep in mind is you’ll want to only list your relevant work experience. “Relevancy” is key because NOT listing relevant work experience will raise a lot of questions as to why you have not been able to work in relevant job roles. Employers can start to wonder if you’ve had problems finding work because of your lack of experience, problems with your employers or inability to follow instructions. Only list WORK EXPERIENCE in this section that relates to the job position.

With that said, here are a few more things to keep in mind when filling out this section.

Recent to Oldest – List all of your work experience from MOST recent to oldest so employers can get a better understanding of your up-to-date responsibilities. Think about it this way, employers are interested to see what you’ve done within the last 6-months rather than what you did 10 years ago…right?

Avoid Descriptions – When writing WORK EXPERIENCE, you should avoid lengthy paragraphs and descriptions. The point is to quickly show the recruiter what you did and accomplished at your most recent job. Writing lengthy paragraphs will force the recruiter to have to find important information which will work against you. You rather provide all the important information you want the recruiter to see right away. This can be done by writing short two liners that are descriptive, packed with results, and concise.

Here are some effective ways to get this done –

Use Bullets – I mentioned above to avoid lengthy descriptions when drafting your nursing resume work experience section. By using bullets, you’ll be able to get into the mindset of creating short juicy sentences that are packed with value. You will be using bullets structured with short paragraphs and you want to focus on the following:

  • First, job description as short as possible.
  • Secondly, your main responsibilities
  • Third, results achieved and how that had a positive impact in the organization.

Action Words – These are words used at the beginning of every bullet sentence. These are words like “achieved” “advised” “negotiated” “conducted” “developed” ”managing”,  etc. Every time you use one of these action words you automatically change the sentence into something that’s results based. For example, by using the action word “managing” I can write something like managed a team of nurses that were responsible for patient care and prevention.” 

Keywords – always use keywords that are pulled out of the job or jobs description. I recommend skimming through the job description a few times and carefully choosing the most important keywords that help align your resume with the job you’re applying for. These will be keywords recruiters are looking for because they are in the job description that they themselves posted.

WORK EXPERIENCE Example 1

Example Job Overview (what the position is looking for in an ideal candidate) –

You will report directly to the Director of Operations and will maintain primary control and professional management of each patient. You will act as primary liaison between physician, patient/family and hospice team.

You’ll provide direct patient care services to hospice patients and supportive care to the patient’s family with a reasonable case load

You’ll manage an interdisciplinary group consisting of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants and support staff to enhance the quality of hospice care

You’ll evaluate patient/family needs and assist in the preparation and execution of the plan of care for each patient

You’ll maintain all assigned patient clinical records

You’ll participate in company quality assessment and performance improvement programs

When creating my resume, I can tweak my WORK EXPERIENCE at my previous jobs to align with the job overview above. Using action words and keywords from the description above, here’s what I came up with.

This is just an example showing the use of keywords and how to use them when creating your nursing resume.

We strongly recommend adding 4-5 relevant work experiences on your resume. This will give you a bigger platform to showcase all your responsibilities and skills.

WORK EXPERIENCE Example 2

Example Job Overview (what the position is looking for in an ideal candidate)

Delivering the highest quality patient care according to the specific orders of each patient’s physician

Educating patients and their families on prevention and healthy habits

Monitoring patients’ conditions and assessing their needs

Collaborating with physicians and nurses to devise individualized care plans for patients

Administering patients’ medications and providing treatments according to physicians’ orders

Fostering a supportive and compassionate environment to care for patients and their families

WORK EXPERIENCE

We strongly recommend adding 4-5 relevant work experiences on your resume. This will give you a bigger platform to showcase all your responsibilities and skills.

Section Summary

The WORK EXPERIENCE section is one of the most important sections on your resume. When applying to nursing jobs your experience is what will distinguish you from other applicants. There will be other more qualified candidates however your resume is a marketing tool for you to showcase your skills and experience. This means no matter how qualified other applicants are you still have a very good chance of getting a face to face interview because of the way you have drafted your WORK EXPERIENCE section. So,

  • Focus on the MOST relevant job experience so it aligns with the job posting.
  • Keep this section short, concise and use two-line sentences.
  • Use keywords from within the job description to standout because you know recruiters are looking for specific skills and experience
  • Don’t forget to use action words like managing, in charge, negotiated, assessed

Section 7 – Education

Eye catching resumes will have a chronological EDUCATION section. Here you will be listing your education achievements from MOST recent to oldest. You will follow the same order just like you did in the WORK EXPERIENCE section of your nursing resume. You also want to ensure your education section is relevant to the jobs you’re applying for. For example, you should list your nursing education BSN, LPN, RN, etc because these are related to the jobs your applying for and will help you secure the right positions Don’t list a “Computer Engineering” degree because this has no relevance what’s so ever to nursing.

Employers are looking through your resume making sure you have what it takes to perform the job they need filled. They are looking for a candidate that can solve the problems they have, and your EDUCATION section should highlight this by showing what you’ve studied for throughout the years. Keep in mind the following –

A nurse or nursing student who graduated years ago with previous work experience MAY NOT have to focus on the EDUCATION section on their resume as much as a recent graduate with very little work experience.

Keep this section short and right to the point listing your relevant credentials. Don’t lie about your credentials because you may have to provide proof that you have achieved the credentials you mentioned.

Here are some great examples and formats to use when drafting this section on your resume.

Section Summary

Never underestimate the power of the EDUCATION section when writing your nursing resume. Many consider this is a section outlining your credentials, but it provides even more value than that. For employers, this section has a lot more significance often showing how aligned the candidate is with what’s required for the job. It’s a great way for recruiters to see how well you have prepared for the profession and what skills you may be able to bring to the unique problem- solving environment of the job. Throughout the years, nurses will attend several schooling programs and graduate from different programs. Before starting to list your educational accomplishments, it’s important to create a list of relevant programs you have completed that will compliment the job you’re applying for. Only post those credentials that you know will add substance to your resume.

Section 8 – Certifications

This is an extra section I like to add to my nursing resume because it shows passion for the industry. No matter how relevant and qualified my EDUCATION section on my resume, I think the CERTIFICATION section should have its own.

Having certifications listed on your resume provide more evidence that you have the skills and expertise the employer is looking for to solve job related problems. However, you may have completed a lot of certifications throughout the years so it’s important to assess which ones belong on your resume. Here are some of my best tips on choosing which ones to include –

First, only include the MOST relevant certifications on your resume. Remember, recruiters (employers) will skim through your resume in the beginning during the initial screening process so don’t distract them with irrelevant stuff. Keep your certifications relevant by going through the job description again thinking about how they will help align you with the job posting.

Secondly, these should be written in chronological order from MOST recent to oldest. Employers are interested to see what you have done and completed recently not several years ago.

Third, make sure you write out acronyms once, so they are understood by hiring managers. For example, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Bachelor of Science In Nursing (BSN).

Examples –

Source

Source

Section Summary

Completing certifications related to your career choice will add value to your resume because it shows passion for the profession. As with the nursing EDUCATION section, it’s important to only list those certifications that are related to what the recruiter or job posting is looking for at the time.  Don’t list irrelevant certifications because this will crowd the section on your resume and may force the recruiter to miss what’s important. In terms of formatting the section, use the examples above as a starting point

Section 9 – Interests (Optional)

Many nurses recommend this section, and some have stated it is NOT necessary. However, I think this is something new graduates should fill out because they don’t have too much work experience. In this section, you want to list the things that interest you like hobbies, reading, exercise, etc. I recommend listing interests that relate to the job your applying for in someway. For example, if you are applying for a job as a Critical Care Nurse or Registered Nurse, you can add “Reading” or “Exercise” in this section. As a nurse “reading” is important because this shows your interest in learning new things which is crucial when on the job. Working as a nurse requires energy so “exercising” as an interest can only add juice to your resume. Again, this area is optional.

Over the last few years I have seen this section dropped from resumes. However, a nurse friend of mine mentioned in certain countries like the United Kingdom and Australia, this section is a MUST. Hopefully one of you can shed light on this by posting a comment below clarifying the importance of this section in your country.

Section 10 – References

Companies will normally ask for references if they have made their final decision to hire you. At this point they may ask for a background check and references. You want to make sure the references you provide will provide nothing but positive feedback about the work you have performed and your attitude in the workplace. These references don’t have to be provided on your resume and are only provided when asked for during the final stage of the hiring process.

Just put the following in this section –

Available upon request

My Final Thoughts

Putting together a nursing resume requires research and effort!

Your resume is a marketing tool that will be used throughout your life when applying to jobs in the medical profession. Your resume will also be tweaked and updated several times throughout your life as you begin to work in different jobs and acquire more skills along the way. However, you need to make sure you have relevant information on your resume and avoid adding anything that may distract the person reading it. Remember, the purpose of your resume is to get noticed quickly so you can land that face to face interview. This process starts as soon as you start to write your nursing resume objective.

I recommend reading through this guide once more before starting to put your resume together. Once you have written your resume, you want to go over these common resume mistakes below and make sure you have avoided them –

Typos – Browse through and make sure you have no TYPOS in your resume. For employers, it’s crucial to have an employee who can read and write without errors. Having errors on your resume is a big RED FLAG right from the start.

Outdated Resume – This is not going to be a problem for a nurse entering into the job market but can be for someone with experience. Before you start to apply for other positions it’s important to update your resume with the MOST recent and relevant positions.

No Nicknames – Many of you go by a nickname which is fine but include it with your actual legal full name.  For example, Nicole “Becky” Livingston

No Relevant Keywords – I believe every resume should be slightly tweaked to align with the current position you’re applying to. This means adding “keywords” from the job description into your resume. For example, if the nursing position requires someone who designs “preventive patient care guides” or “monitors patients to assess needs”, then add these keywords. Select 4-5 keywords and start to add them into the objective and work experience.

Not Researching Enough – It’s one thing to research the employer but I recommend researching other nursing resumes to see how well you compare. For example, type the following into Google Search “professional summary for nursing resume” and skim through the results to get a better idea of what the best resumes add into their objective and summary. Do this for other sections too so you can learn what’s missing in your resume and how you can make it better.

Unprofessional Email Address – Don’t use an unprofessional email address on your resume. I’ve seen email addresses like the following – abc1lll78@gmail.com on resumes and this shows unprofessionalism. Keep the email address clean by using (if possible) – first.lastname@gmail.com.

Don’t Include Birthday – This information should never be included on your resume and no employer should ask you for it. Major RED FLAG for age discrimination.

No Personal Information – Avoid adding any of the following on your resume: photos, religious affiliations, SSN, marital status, kids.

Chronological Error – You should always list your WORK EXPERIENCE and EDUCATION from MOST recent to oldest. I’ve seen many people mix this up and it doesn’t give employers a true sense of your recent experience and skills.

Using the Wrong Font – Use a font on your resume that’s easier to read and scan by the employer. You are selling yourself to the company hiring and using a font that’s hard to read can have a negative effect on this. I’ve found the following fonts work well on any resume – Arial, Tahoma, Verdana, Questrial.

If you have any other common resume mistakes you think belong on this list, please feel free to leave a comment and I’ll add them.

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