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Registered Nurse Resume Example

Nursing resumes are screened for licenses, certifications, and clinical skills before a recruiter reads them. This registered nurse resume example shows how to surface credentials, specialties, and patient-care outcomes in an ATS-friendly format.

Registered Nurse Resume Sample

A clean, single-column layout that parses correctly in applicant tracking systems.

Grace Sullivan
Columbus, OH· [email protected]· (555) 098-3367· linkedin.com/in/gracesullivan-rn

Professional Summary

Registered nurse with 5 years of med-surg and emergency experience. Calm under pressure, strong in patient education and EHR documentation, with a record of improving patient-safety metrics.

Professional Experience

Registered Nurse, Emergency DepartmentColumbus, OH, 2021 – Present
Riverside Medical Center
  • Triaged and managed care for up to 8 patients per shift in a high-volume ED.
  • Contributed to a 15% reduction in unit fall rates by championing a new rounding protocol.
  • Precepted 4 new graduate nurses through orientation and competency sign-off.
Registered Nurse, Med-SurgColumbus, OH, 2019 – 2021
Mercy General Hospital
  • Managed care for 6 patients per shift in a 32-bed med-surg unit.
  • Improved discharge-education scores by standardizing teach-back materials.

Education

Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OH, 2015 – 2019
BSN, Nursing
  • Sigma Theta Tau honor society

Skills

Core: Patient Care, Triage, Medication Administration, Care Planning, Patient Education

Tools: Epic EHR, Cerner

Languages: English

Certifications: RN License (OH), BLS, ACLS, TNCC

ATS Keywords for Registered Nurse Resumes

Applicant tracking systems scan for role-specific terms before a recruiter reads your resume. Include the ones that are genuinely true for you — and mirror the exact wording from the job posting.

Hard skills & tools
  • Patient Care
  • BLS
  • ACLS
  • EHR
  • Medication Administration
  • Care Planning
  • Triage
  • Wound Care
  • IV Therapy
  • Patient Education
Soft skills
  • Compassion
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Teamwork

How to Write a Registered Nurse Resume

Three things that move the needle past the ATS and onto a recruiter's screen.

01

Put licenses and certifications up top

RN license (and state), BLS, ACLS, and specialty certs are hard ATS filters. List them prominently so they’re caught immediately — don’t bury them at the bottom.

02

Quantify patient load and outcomes

Show scope and quality: "Managed care for 6 patients per shift in a 32-bed med-surg unit" or "Contributed to a 15% drop in unit fall rates." Numbers add credibility.

03

Name your specialty and setting

ICU, ER, med-surg, pediatrics — be specific. Match the unit and patient population in the job posting so both the ATS and the nurse manager see the fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I list my nursing license and certifications?

Near the top of the resume, in a clearly labeled "Licenses & Certifications" section (or beside your name). Include license type, state, and expiration if relevant — these are primary ATS and recruiter filters.

How do I write a new-grad nurse resume with little experience?

Lead with your license/certs and clinical rotations. Quantify rotation hours and patient populations, highlight BLS/ACLS, and include relevant skills (EHR, medication administration) from clinicals.

Build your own Registered Nurse resume

Upload your CV and a job posting — CVTailor rewrites it to match the role and shows your ATS score in seconds.