You were accepted into a competitive nursing program, worked hard to master the skills and knowledge of an extraordinary healthcare provider and passed all the necessary testing. Now it’s time to get that first nursing job.
So how do you separate yourself from other nurses vying for the same position? To start, prioritize your skills and experience on paper, which will eventually turn into your nursing resume.
When working with nursing students, my motto has been to do what it takes to “make your RN resume SCREAM healthcare.” Showcase all healthcare strengths to keep the reader enticed and eager to read more of your resume. Your intention with a new nurse resume should be to leave the reader impressed enough to want to meet with you to learn more.
Here are my five tips for writing a strong nursing resume that will make you stand out from the crowd:
The structure and formatting of your RN resume must be consistent and easy on the eyes. This means appropriate spacing, font, font size, margins and bullet points.
On a new nurse resume, it’s important to catch the attention of the reader as soon as you can by telling them who you are and what you want. Avoid abbreviations unless you list the full acronym out next to it.
The “who you are” should consist of your background experience and education. An example would be: “Experienced Certified Nursing Assistant with over 800+ hours of clinical/lab experience and a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing in Addison, IL."
The “what you want” should explain what you are interested in and how you can be a benefit to the team. An example would be: “I am seeking the open registered nurse position posted for the emergency room. I am confident I can use my healthcare knowledge, experience, passion and skills to provide quality care and make an immediate impact on your team at Methodist Hospital.”
If you’ve done it, feature it! On a registered nurse resume, this could be anything from CPR/BLS training, CNA certifications and any healthcare-related licensures (don’t forget to include your RN license). List any awards or accomplishments including high honors or dean’s list, a national recognition such as Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society or being a scholarship recipient.
Other relevant nursing skills for a resume might include if you’re bilingual, skilled in American Sign Language or have other experience/certifications. These can sometimes make you stand out a bit more than other applicants.
Many larger companies use applicant tracking systems to look for particular keywords in your registered nurse resume. Consider looking into online tools that analyze keywords to see how your resume compares to nursing job postings. One great example would be Jobscan – try it here.
Always take the time to exhaustively review your resume and have a second pair of eyes double-check it as well. Consider running a spell-check first and foremost. The one thing you want to avoid on a RN resume are misspelled words when trying to make a strong first impression.
When reading through your nursing resume, ask yourself if it would keep the reader engaged enough to keep reading through. Is every section healthcare-relevant, and does it showcase how your nursing skills would help you make an immediate impact on their team?
You put your heart and passion into your nursing program, so do the same for your RN resume. Taking the time to follow each of these steps is crucial in making a great first impression with a potential employer.
Want even more assistance with your nursing resume? We’re happy to help provide one-on-one support to make your nursing job application sparkle. Contact the Career Services team on your campus or through CareerLink online for more!
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† Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Chamberlain University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, ccneaccreditation.org. The Chamberlain University Doctor of Nursing Practice (delivered via distance education) is accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037 (202-909-2526). Chamberlain University’s Master of Public Health Program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, www.ceph.org. For the most updated accreditation information, visit chamberlain.edu/accreditation. Chamberlain University’s Master of Social Work degree program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation, www.cswe.org. The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Chamberlain University Physician Assistant Program.
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Chamberlain University confers online degrees from its Main Campus in Addison, IL.
