[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Whether you are a recent nursing school graduate or an experienced healthcare professional, writing a nursing resume that accurately and persuasively depicts your education, skills, and characteristics is the first step to getting an interview.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Since this important document is the initial impression you will make on a hiring manager, you must craft a resume that creatively addresses the employer’s requirements and highlights your professional achievements, helping you stand out from other qualified applicants.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The nursing field heavily relies on extensive practical training, certification and [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/how-to-become-a-rn//”]registered nurse licensure[/hen-ui-link], and specialization, so it is important that your resume highlights your qualifications. Even personal qualities should emphasize practical applications (e.g., how your compassionate nature enables you to connect with patients or how your bilingualism helps you [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//cultural-competence-in-nursing/”]accommodate diverse populations as a nurse[/hen-ui-link]).[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Being specific can make a resume exceptional. Through this guide, you can learn how to tailor your nursing resume to an employer’s mission and job description.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How to Write a Nursing Resume[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”ordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]Do Your Research[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”xs”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Learning how to write a nursing resume requires dedicated research that allows you to target information to your potential employer. On top of carefully going through the job description, look at the employer’s website and social media platforms to figure out their culture and values.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Some healthcare facilities emphasize education and certification, while others want nurses with more clinical experience. Find out what they want in an ideal employee and tailor your application accordingly. It is equally important to consider your needs and if the job fits your standards for professional advancement and personal happiness.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]Write Down Your Key Points[/hen-ui-heading]Write key responses to an employer’s criteria, noting education, certification, and professional experience requirements. Next, create an outline from these points, elaborating where necessary and making sure your overall tone represents a professional who is both confident in their achievements and approachable. This also means admitting weaknesses. Nurses often work in difficult situations, so employers want professionals who understand their shortcomings and can work toward improvement.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h4″]Format Your Resume[/hen-ui-heading]Expand your outline by turning key points into complete sentences organized by logical headings. Your finished product should be detailed and accessible. Hiring managers take mere seconds to scan a candidate’s resume before deciding whether to move them to the next step of the application process or reject them. Tip the scales by submitting a well-formatted and visually engaging resume, but do not go overboard with font shifts and coloration. Keep it concise and neat.[/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For more details and examples, see our [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//nursing-resume-writing-tips/”]tips for writing a nursing resume[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Addressing Required vs. Preferred Qualifications[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Addressing a potential employer’s specifications is the main objective in writing a nursing resume. But before writing, it’s important to identify required versus preferred job qualifications.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Because this profession necessitates advanced academic and professional training in addition to licensure and [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//clinical-experience-for-online-nursing-students/”]nursing clinical experience[/hen-ui-link], job postings for nurses include extensive requirements that are either required or preferred criteria. Required reflects qualifications a candidate must possess to warrant consideration, while preferred is typically a wishlist of additional skills, experiences, and character traits that benefit the position but are not mandatory.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]An effective resume details how an applicant fulfills required qualifications and as many of the preferred qualifications as possible without crowding the page and rendering the information inaccessible. Nurses can take advantage of a [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//how-to-write-a-nursing-cover-letter/”]cover letter[/hen-ui-link] to elaborate and fill in additional qualifications with anecdotal evidence and data, if possible.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While some healthcare facilities outright reject applicants who do not possess all their required qualifications, most see the job listing as a guideline and not a checklist. Even if a nurse does not meet all the standards, they should still apply if they can impress during the interview.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Types of Nursing Resumes[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Ultimately, a resume represents the individual person, their academic standing, professional achievements, personal qualities, and career potential. How do you write a nursing resume that gets all these points across? Choose the proper formatting.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]There are three main resume formats, each with their unique structure and distinct purpose: the reverse chronological, the functional, and the combination. Nurses need to use the resume style that best suits their particular skill set and the position they are vying for.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-grid columns-md=”3″ gap=”md”] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-secondary” border=”shadow” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Reverse Chronological[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The most commonly used resume type, this form benefits nurses who possess extensive and relevant professional experience. Here, past employment is the most important element, with positions listed in reverse chronological order. However, this reliable resume structure comes with drawbacks, as it can highlight gaps in employment, frequent job changes, and the candidate’s age.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-secondary” border=”shadow” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Functional[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Also referred to as the skill-based resume, this format highlights awards, accomplishments, and training, making it preferable for recent college graduates and other professionals who lack relevant work history. One of the major drawbacks of the functional resume is that it can expose a candidate’s limited experience in the nursing field.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-secondary” border=”shadow” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Combination[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The most complex resume type, the combination format eschews the either-or structure of the previous forms, enabling professionals to showcase relevant professional experience and skills and training. Experienced nurses, especially those with clinical specializations, benefit most from this resume form. However, versatility also renders it more difficult to construct, as the large amount of information can confuse readers if not conveyed clearly.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What Should I Include on a Nursing Resume?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Education and Training[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The American Nurses Credentialing Center provides a standardized way of listing all your credentials. The preferred sectional order is education, licensure, state designations, certification, awards and honors, and additional certification. Start with your highest degree, then work backwards.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You do not need to include high school information or graduation dates. If you are currently working on a degree, state that completion is pending or in progress. Whether you provide GPA information is up to you. Generally, it is only worthwhile if you graduated in the last three years and earned a 3.5 or better.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Experience[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Display professional nursing experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your current or most recent position. If you have gaps in employment, prepare to address them. Consider listing facility- and unit-specific information, including total beds, trauma levels, and patient demographics. Specificity when writing a nursing resume elevates it from good to great.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For example, while both positions require a great deal of stamina, a nursing home nurse does not fulfill the same responsibilities as an urgent care nurse. By framing professional experience through a personal lens, your resume stands out among the rest.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Skills[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Out of all the resume sections, this one benefits from keyword use the most. You can usually find out what skills an employer wants by analyzing the job description. Tailor this section to meet those needs. Work in categories, such as basic care, technical, administrative, and computer skills.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Be strategic and specific. Instead of “defibrillation insertions,” list “automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator insertions.” Finally, do not neglect [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//soft-skills-for-successful-nurses/”]soft skills for nurses[/hen-ui-link], like reliability and adaptability or special skills like a foreign or sign language. These details can set you apart from other applicants.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Licensure and Certifications[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]As a registered nurse, you’ve earned a [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/rn-licensing-requirements-by-state/”] state-specific nursing license[/hen-ui-link]. And because the profession consists of diverse and [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//nursing-specialties-guide/”]advanced nursing specializations[/hen-ui-link], you also may have pursued certification exams and postdegree training in areas like gerontology or cardiac-vascular nursing. List them in their entirety and avoid acronyms.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For licenses, use this order: license type, licensing state/body, license name and number, [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//nursing-compact-states/”]nurse license compact[/hen-ui-link], and expiration date. For certifications, start with the name, followed by conferring organization, expiration, and certification number, if applicable.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Awards, Accomplishments, and Affiliations[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Celebrate all relevant achievements, but do it honestly and in a way that reflects your ongoing commitment to nursing and capacity for high performance in the new position. These achievements may include academic recognition; official awards; and competitive scholarships, fellowships, grants, and internships. Also display membership in professional organizations, such as the American Nurses Association or Sigma Theta Tau, the international honor society of nursing.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]As an experienced professional, you may find that you possess an abundance of awards and accomplishments. In these instances, narrow them to the most prestigious, current, and applicable to the job you are applying for.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Volunteer Work[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Unpaid positions let prospective employers know you understand the importance of community education, outreach, and engagement. Only include volunteer work that relates to nursing or the health services field. As always, when writing a nursing resume, furnish specific details that showcase your skills in action (e.g., you managed a 10-person team to canvas a neighborhood about HIV/AIDS prevention).[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What Should I Put on My Nursing Resume If I Don’t Have Any Experience?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For recent college graduates, professionals switching careers, and those with limited clinical experience, learning how to write a resume for a nursing job may seem overwhelming. You can make up for inexperience by using a functional hybrid resume format that places academic credentials, qualifications, and skills above the employment section. Additionally, you have completed extensive training as a student and perhaps continuing education, so highlight state licensure, optional certification, and organizational membership to further bolster your resume.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Start with a personal introduction that states more than just the obvious (that you want the job), but also speaks to your professional values as a nurse and the training and education you possess. The lack of contextualization can represent a major pitfall of the functional resume. Avoid this by making your skills applicable to actual work scenarios that relate to a nurse’s duties.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Hospital managers seek employees who display skills, such as critical thinking, safe practice, customer service, and interpersonal communication. As a nursing student, you completed hours of clinical training. Use these experiences to show employers your skills in action, framing them in terms of achievements.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Finally, take full advantage of volunteer positions, giving them their own section, to show that you not only display the practical qualifications for the job, but also care passionately about the well-being of patients and healthcare equitability for all communities.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What Is a Resume-Reading Robot/ATS?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]To deal with a flood of candidates, many employers use an applicant tracking system (ATS). Like a hiring manager quickly scanning for standouts among the group, the ATS ranks and categorizes nursing resumes by how many designated keywords they contain. This automated process reduces an employer’s manual workload and theoretically vets resumes with a large amount of filler content, an indication of unqualified applicants.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]However, the ATS may also unnecessarily reject qualified nurses as part of automated software processes. To avoid this unfair outcome, learning how to write a nurse resume requires working within and overcoming the ATS framework.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-card variant=”background-secondary” border=”shadow” rounded=”lg” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”lightbulb” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /] Tips for Outsmarting an ATS[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Simple Headers: To accommodate the ATS, use header terms common enough to show up in keyword searches, such as “skills,” “professional experience,” and “education.” Do not neglect to include city, state, and, if living outside the U.S., country, because employers generally vet candidates by location.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Clean Format: Engaging visuals are useless if they make your resume difficult to read. Use a simple format that contains no graphics or unusual fonts because the standard ATS cannot process such information, resulting in an automatic rejection. In general, Verdana, Tahoma, and Arial fonts at the 10.5 point size or above are acceptable.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Keywords/Phrases: You can usually glean relevant keywords from the job description. If not, conduct some research into phrases commonly found in the nursing field, such as “patient care,” “clinical research,” and “community outreach.” Avoid abbreviations in all cases.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Industry-Specific Jargon: ATS keywords reveal a candidate’s relevant skills and experiences. The more specific a keyword is to the particular position you are applying for, the better. When in doubt, use the hiring employer’s phrases first, industry standards second, and your current or previous employer’s terminology third.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]In Summary[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Choose the nursing resume type that best highlights your experience, personality, and qualifications.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Be specific; specificity helps your resume stand out from the rest.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Format your resume using headers and keywords that make it easy to read — whether by a person or an applicant tracking system.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list]