Nursing is perhaps the oldest and most honorable profession in the world, doing which you can gain so much more than just a fat paycheck. Simply passing an examination or having the technical knowledge doesn’t make you a nurse. An ideal registered nurse or RN must possess qualities like empathy, adaptability, perseverance, patience, and honesty. Whether you are a fresher or a professional wanting to expand your career prospects, you’ll definitely need a solid RN resume backing you up in the interview. A resume highlights your achievements and skills in a concise and organized manner, thereby enhancing your overall image in front of the interviewer. Discussed below are some simple tips on how to write a good resume along with some samples of the best professional resumes that you can check out:
Include an Introductory Letter
Simply having a resume doesn’t work in most organizations. Oftentimes, it is recommended that the candidate also includes a cover letter that informs the interview panel of the achievements and academic qualifications of the person. In this short introductory letter, an entry-level RN gets the opportunity to explain his nursing skills and qualities relevant to the position. It would be even better if the letter is attested by a professional or the head of your institution. The credibility and authenticity of your application are increased tenfold when it bears the signature or stamp of an established organization.
Keep it to the point
“Brevity is the soul of the wit”- Shakespeare might not be talking about writing resumes, but his advice pretty much fit perfectly here. Your resume is not the place where you would want to include lengthy, complicated paragraphs citing your merits and achievements.
Remember, the interviewer doesn’t have all day to sit down and analyze every detail of your CV. State the details as concisely and correctly as possible. Also, it is important that you are completely honest in your resume. Don’t lie about your qualifications, it would send a very negative message when the truth finally comes to the fore.
State all your nursing skills, technicalities and other details in a sequential order (better if you put it in bullet points). In short, make it as readable and easy to understand as possible.
The Different Elements of a Good Resume
An ideal resume is not limited to stating the academic and professional qualifications in a systematic order. It is more about marketing your skills and convincing the interviewer to hire you for the job. There are several elements to a newly registered nurse resume that we’ve discussed below:
Caption of an RN resume
The caption is basically the header of your resume. It includes all your personal generic details that would give the interviewer a basic introduction to your background. In the topmost caption section, you’ll have to write in your full name, valid residential location, nationality, email id, phone number, and post office address. Here, you can also mention your schooling information, job profile and a little bit about your family. Keep the caption short and to the point. No need to add any unnecessary details, the caption is just used for identifying the candidate.
The RN Resume Objective Statement
Now, the objectives section is the place where you can be a bit more creative. Unlike the caption part where you simply had to state in generic info, here you get the freedom to express yourself. The purpose of keeping an objective section in the resume is to give the candidate an opportunity to state his interests and drive towards his field of work. You can talk about everything you want to do and can do for the betterment of the institution. However, refrain from being very idealistic and rambling on and on about your plans. State the objectives as practically and clearly as possible.
RN Resume Skills and Qualifications
The first two sections were all about creating a powerful first impression. Now comes the good part. In the qualifications section, you can finally talk about all your skills, academic qualifications, projects, internships and professional experience you might have gained over the years. Here, you can finally talk about your potential and future prospects in detail. The qualifications are the most important section of a resume that the recruiter would thoroughly want to go through. It gives you a chance to talk about your capabilities and how well you can contribute to the company. Try including the popular keywords and frequently searched terms more in this part of the CV for better reach and readability.
RN Resume Professional Experience
In the personal experience section, you can talk about your employment history right from the very beginning of the last job you had. Include everything from part-time jobs to summer internships and college projects to full-fledged jobs you might have had in the past. The more job experience you show here the better are your chances of bagging a position of an RN in the institution. Be as honest as possible for you might be asked to produce a certificate or any other documentation any time to validate your presence in the workplaces you’ve mentioned. Enlist all the achievements and honors bestowed upon you during the tenure of your work as well. Also, it would be best if you state all the information in bullet points instead of writing lengthy and tedious paragraphs.
Find here – Sample Registered Nurse Interview Questions and Answers
How to Write a Registered Nurse Resume?
The resume is just another cherry on top, boosting your overall impression in the interview. We have listed a comprehensive guide of sorts that would help you in writing your own RN resume
- Limit your CV to a maximum of two pages. Your resume is your calling card, keep it compact and interesting
- Don’t simply write or print everything haphazardly on the page. Use bullet points and short paragraphs, also align the text on the left side of the page for better readability
- Refrain from being too generic. Don’t use the overused terms such as hardworking, team player on your resume. Be creative, use proper grammar and add a dash of your individuality to the CV
- Include a ‘Summary of Skills’ in your ‘Work History’ section, this gives the reader a more comprehensive idea about your professional qualifications
- Follow the proper order when mentioning the previous employment- position, employer, city of employment and the joining/termination dates.
Some Additional Tips
Here are some tips that would increase your hiring chances even if you have no experience in your resume.
Be Positive: don’t lose hope; you might not immediately get employed anywhere but a good resume and merit don’t go unnoticed for long. Do some soul searching to figure out your strengths and present the same on your CV.
Have a plan: now, this is kind of obvious. Determining a goal helps you chalk out a systematic plan for your future course of action. Set small goals and focus on completing them meticulously, it increases your productivity.
Expand your Network: having a wide social circle works wonders when you’re searching for a job. Don’t hesitate to ask a friend or colleague for help. You never know when and how the next opportunity might come to you. Also, don’t just restrict to one institution, apply anywhere and everywhere you find a vacancy.
Get noticed: Facebook is not just as a platform for posting memes and rants. Here, you can also expand your contacts and reach out to more people easily. Create a profile on LinkedIn and other job portals as well where employers can find you.
Registered Nurse Resume Example
Mentioned below is a sample format and template of the perfect resume you can take inspiration from.
Name
Locality
Contact info
Objective/Summary:
I am a compassionate RN with over 10 years of professional experience in healthcare. I’m qualified for taking care of a diverse range of patients and am especially passionate about promoting and raising awareness about women health issues.
Certifications:
- Registered Nurse in (name the hospital or previous workplace)
- Mention Projects you’ve been part of
- Mention your academic credentials
- Internships, programs, and certification you hold to date
Highlights:
- Patient care
- Obstetric care
- Administers medications
- IV Management
- Compliant with HIPPA
- Expertise in Phlebotomy
Employment History and Experience
RN in (mention institution and the doctor you’ve assisted), date of employment and termination of the contract then state your duties and responsibilities:
- Monitored patients, take their vitals and assessing it
- Helping women of all ages deal with their diet and lifestyle
- Assisting pregnant and post-natal women in physiotherapy
- Assisting surgeries and in-house operations
- Train new staff about the policies and quality control
The Bottom Line
A face-to-face interview can be a pretty stressful scenario that aspiring nursing candidates have to face when applying for the new graduate RN. Having a good CV is a huge confidence booster that can enhance your success chances tenfold. Be very specific in highlighting the special details about your career and academic education. A resume is not just about writing big flowery words. It should be a practical yet creative presentation of your skills, an advertisement of sorts where you market your achievements and procure a job.
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