How to Create a Nursing Resume That Stands Out

Introduction

In the dynamic healthcare sector, opportunities abound for skilled and trained nurses; securing your dream nursing job is challenging. Nursing domain is highly competitive, with numerous candidates applying for the most esteemed and highest-paying jobs. And, with hundreds of nursing applicants is often seen competing for a single position and having a well-crafted resume provides an edge in getting interview calls for the best nursing positions.

Whether you are a recent nursing graduate or a registered nurse, your resume often serves as a first impression on your nursing skills and expertise. Nevertheless, a stand-out nursing resume goes beyond listing your credentials. And, it highlights your skills and also demonstrates that you are a perfect fit for the role.

In this blog, we shall go through a step-by-step guide to craft a stand-out nursing resume that highlights your skills and strengths and increases your chances of receiving interview calls.

Step-by-Step Guide to Write an Outstanding Resume

Contact Information

This section is the first thing that employers/hiring managers will notice on your resume. So it is important to make it clear and professional at the top of the resume.

Here is what to include:

• Full name
• Contact number
• Email Address
• LinkedIn Profile (Optional)
  
• Nursing license number

Tips to consider

• Keep the format clean for quick visibility.
• Double-check all your details; one wrong detail can lead to a missed opportunity.

Start with a Brief Professional Summary

Start your resume with a concise professional summary. This is the first thing that a hiring manager notices when they go through your resume.  This section should summarize about yourself, your experience, and what you can offer to employers.

Tips to consider:

• Tailor “professional summary” for every role you apply and make sure to include keywords from the job posting.

Showcase your Nursing Experience

This is the core section of the resume. Craft a compelling professional experience section by focusing on your best achievements in your nursing career. Clinical experience section should include:

• Job title
• Hospital name and location
• Employment duration
• Key job responsibilities

Tips to consider

• Use bullet points for better clarity.
• Begin each point with action verbs, such as implemented, diagnosed, coordinated, collaborated, and more.
• Assess your achievements and how it made a difference to your career.

Emphasize on Nursing Skills

An Application Tracking System (ATS) helps to identify the best match for each role by sorting resumes based on suitable nursing keywords, showcasing nursing capabilities. And identifies the best match for each role. The more relevant keywords you include in the resume, the more likely chances of getting noticed and landing at an interview at the earliest.

Here are a few nursing skills phrases, you might consider as a nursing applicant:

Tips to consider

Align your nursing skills to those mentioned in the job posting. This will enhance your resume’s relevance when scanned through ATS and human review.

• Highlight your Nursing Licensure and Certifications

Along with your nursing license, mention additional certifications (if any) or training courses completed throughout your nursing career. However, highlighting specialized certifications is essential, if you are planning to pursue a role in a specialized unit. And, it showcases your vast knowledge in the nursing domain and helps you stand ahead in the competitive world.

So, include the following details in the “Licensure and Certifications” section:

• State of licensure
• Any certifications you hold (Mention expiry date, if you can)
• License number
• Add your Nursing Educational Qualifications

Hiring managers would definitely want to see your educational background. So, please add all your degrees in reverse chronological order.

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing
• PUC in Science
• 10th School name
• Include the year of passing out

Tips to consider

If you are a registered nurse, feel free to add educational qualifications in the end section. On the other hand, if you are fresher, consider placing this section right below your experience or certifications.

Showcase Clinical Rotations (For freshers)

If you are a fresher into nursing, add a clinical rotations section in your resume to showcase your hands-on experience.  Make a list of tasks performed during clinical rotations, and also ensure they align with the jobs you are applying for.

Tailor every Resume According to the Job Description

A generic nursing resume is simple and easy to create, but hiring managers often overlook it. So, tailor your resume to highlight the job requirements you applying for.

Tips to tailor your resume:

• Use key phrases mentioned in the job description, so that it becomes easy to pass through ATS resume tool check.
• Highlight the clinical experiences that relate to the employer’s requirements.

While choosing a design pattern for your resume, make sure it doesn’t affect the readability.

Formatting Guidelines:

• Choose a clean and readable font (Example: Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri)
• Keep margins
• Use font 12 for content
• Avoid graphics and decorative fonts
• Use bullet points
• Avoid lengthy paragraphs

Carefully proofread your CV for any kind of errors in spelling, grammatical, and formatting. And, you can consider taking help from your professional friend or colleague to review your resume.

Conclusion

An exceptional resume doesn’t need any fancy designs; it just requires relevance, clarity, and confidence in your words. So, consider creating your resume from an employer perspective, assess your strengths and experience, and ensure that employers meet their needs. With impactful terminologies and thoughtful customization of your resume, stand out amongst your peers and increase your chances of landing an interview for rewarding nursing job roles.

Creating an outstanding nursing resume is just a part of the equation; but getting your resume presented in front of the right employers is the major step.  And that’s where TopNurse can help you. We focus on connecting nurses directly with top hospitals. Additionally, we understand what nurses need, whether it’s career growth opportunities, flexible schedule, or location. And, we provide opportunities that align with your skills, experience, and preferences.