Nursing Resume – Overview
A resume is a critical tool for making a good impression on potential employers and, in some contexts, university admission committees, though not typically the sole factor in their evaluation. A solid resume effectively showcases your skills and abilities in a professional and engaging manner.
Every registered nurse (RN) should maintain an updated resume at all times. Even if you are an RN and not looking for new employment, it is easier to catch an opportunity when it arises.
10 Best Tips for Creating a Great Nursing Resume
Best Tips for Creating a Nursing Resume
Keeping this in mind, let’s take a quick look at the top tips for creating an excellent nursing resume:
1 – Be Specific and Accurate
As a nurse, you should create your resume for the educational program or job posting that you are applying for. If the program or job requires certain specific skills certification, then make sure to highlight those in the resume.
Your resume should clarify to the admissions committee or recruiter that the skills listed apply directly to the position or the eligibility criteria or requirements of the educational program.
2 – Keep it Succinct
The length of your resume will depend on the type of person or audience to whom you submit it. The average job recruiter spends about 6 to 7 seconds on an initial resume review, according to various industry studies. In such situations, you must put the required information in a compact but straightforward manner.
If your resume is several pages long, the recruiter or admissions committee will likely move on to the next one. However, when applying to an educational program, the reviewer will spend more time reading through your resume and considering your admission application. In such situations, the length does not matter as long as the relevant qualifications are listed clearly.
3 – Proofread Multiple Times
It is essential to focus on when creating a great nursing resume. Make sure there are no spelling or simple grammatical errors and that the formatting is uniform throughout the resume. If possible, have someone read through your resume, such as a peer or mentor, to check for any mistakes that may have gone unnoticed.
4 – List Your Computer Skills
Healthcare everywhere is going digital. With this in mind, showcasing your experience and usefulness with technology is important—Highlight proficiency with Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems; EMR (Electronic Medical Records) and EHR (Electronic Health Records) are both commonly used terms in contemporary healthcare settings, with EHR being the more comprehensive system that includes EMR functionality. Emphasize familiarity with the current ICD-10 coding system, as ICD-9 has been superseded by ICD-10 in healthcare settings.
5 – Highlight Unit Type and Facility
Facility type and unit information are distinct signs to potential employers and academic institutions that you have extensive experience. It is especially helpful when applying for a position in a program or facility where you already have experience working.
6 – Necessary Keywords
When creating a resume for a specific type of nursing job, remember that large hospitals and healthcare service providers use software to sort through the numerous applications they get from candidates like you. The software looks for specific keywords that are relevant to the job position.
To identify relevant keywords for your resume, analyze the job posting for specific skills, qualifications, and responsibilities mentioned, and ensure that you include these terms where applicable. Make sure to include these terms in your nursing resume.
7 – Include Education Details
Create a precise list of schools and colleges you have attended and details of years of attendance and graduation dates. If you are a recently certified nurse who has just completed your education but has no professional experience, you can include details of your clinical rotation instead.
8 – Add Volunteer Experience
Some registered nurses volunteer their time with social or healthcare organizations. This is intended to demonstrate to potential employers or academic institutions that they prioritize improving their communities. This is one of the most important features for anyone working in the healthcare industry, especially those at the front line of healthcare and looking to continue their education.
9 – Be Accurate With Details
There are several different ways to format a nursing resume correctly. However, the main thing is being consistent with it. Make sure to put your name in a prominent font at the top of the resume. You can use bold fonts and other typography features to highlight the points most relevant to your potential employer or academic institution.
10 – Show you are a top performer
When creating a great nursing resume, you must highlight your accomplishments at previous work or academic institutions. Accomplishments can include experience handling patients with challenging, life-threatening injuries or illnesses and treatment-based chronic conditions. If you have received an award while working as a nurse, add this detail to your resume.
Conclusion
The best tips for creating an excellent nursing resume include accuracy, highlighting accomplishments, and focusing on consistency when describing details. While brevity is important, nursing resumes should ideally be one to two pages long, with experienced nurses able to use two pages if the content is highly relevant. Add keywords most relevant to the job position or admission process to enhance your selection chances.
See Also
How to Get Into Nursing School
Nursing School Interview Questions
Legal Nurse Consultant Certification
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