Healthcare & Nursing Resume Examples

Registered Nurse Resume Example & Writing Guide

Build a professional registered nurse resume with our expert guide. Includes real RN resume examples, key nursing skills, and ATS-optimized templates. Free download.

ATS-Optimized Expert-Written Updated 2026

Registered Nurse Resume Example

Here's a professional registered nurse resume example that you can use as a reference. This example highlights the key sections and content that hiring managers look for.

Alex Johnson

Registered Nurse

New York, NY | alex.johnson@email.com | (555) 123-4567 | linkedin.com/in/alexjohnson

Professional Summary

Compassionate and detail-oriented Registered Nurse with 5+ years of experience in acute care and emergency medicine. Proven track record of improving patient outcomes through evidence-based practice and interdisciplinary collaboration. ACLS and BLS certified with expertise in critical care assessment and electronic health records.

Work Experience

Senior Registered Nurse

2022 – Present

ABC Corporation, New York, NY

  • Managed care for 8-12 patients per shift in a 45-bed medical-surgical unit, maintaining 98% patient satisfaction scores
  • Reduced medication errors by 35% through implementation of barcode scanning verification protocol
  • Trained and mentored 12 new graduate nurses during their clinical orientation program

Registered Nurse

2019 – 2022

XYZ Company, Chicago, IL

  • Coordinated with physicians, pharmacists, and therapists to develop individualized treatment plans for 200+ patients
  • Achieved unit-best readmission rate of 4.2% through comprehensive discharge planning and patient education

Skills

Patient Assessment • Medication Administration • IV Therapy • Wound Care • Electronic Health Records (EHR) • Epic Systems • ACLS Certified • BLS Certified • Patient Education • Care Plan Development • Vital Signs Monitoring • Infection Control • Emergency Response • Team Collaboration • HIPAA Compliance

Education

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Registered Nurse Resume Summary Examples

Your resume summary is the first thing hiring managers read. Here's a strong example for aregistered nurse with 5+ years of experience:

Good Example

Compassionate and detail-oriented Registered Nurse with 5+ years of experience in acute care and emergency medicine. Proven track record of improving patient outcomes through evidence-based practice and interdisciplinary collaboration. ACLS and BLS certified with expertise in critical care assessment and electronic health records.

Avoid This

“Hardworking registered nurse looking for a challenging position where I can utilize my skills and experience. I am a team player with excellent communication skills.”

Why the first example works: It includes specific years of experience, quantified achievements, technical skills, and certifications — all things ATS systems and hiring managers look for.

Work Experience Bullet Points

Here are powerful, metrics-driven bullet points for a registered nurse resume. Notice how each one starts with an action verb and includes specific numbers:

  • Managed care for 8-12 patients per shift in a 45-bed medical-surgical unit, maintaining 98% patient satisfaction scores
  • Reduced medication errors by 35% through implementation of barcode scanning verification protocol
  • Trained and mentored 12 new graduate nurses during their clinical orientation program
  • Coordinated with physicians, pharmacists, and therapists to develop individualized treatment plans for 200+ patients
  • Achieved unit-best readmission rate of 4.2% through comprehensive discharge planning and patient education

Pro Tip: Use the formula: Action Verb + Task + Quantified Result. For example: “Managed” + “team of 12 engineers” + “delivering project 20% under budget.”

Key Skills for a Registered Nurse Resume

Include these skills on your registered nurse resume to pass ATS screening and impress hiring managers:

Patient Assessment
Medication Administration
IV Therapy
Wound Care
Electronic Health Records (EHR)
Epic Systems
ACLS Certified
BLS Certified
Patient Education
Care Plan Development
Vital Signs Monitoring
Infection Control
Emergency Response
Team Collaboration
HIPAA Compliance

ATS Keywords for Registered Nurse Resume

These are the most important keywords that Applicant Tracking Systems scan for in registered nurse resumes. Include them naturally throughout your resume:

patient careclinical assessmentmedication administrationnursing processcare coordinationvital signswound careIV therapydischarge planningpatient educationEpicCernerchartinginterdisciplinaryevidence-based practice

Important: Don't stuff keywords. Use them naturally in your summary, experience, and skills sections. ATS systems can detect keyword stuffing and may flag your resume.

Education & Certifications

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
  • Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Certifications

  • Registered Nurse (RN) License
  • ACLS Certification
  • BLS Certification
  • PALS Certification
  • Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)

Expert Tips for Your Registered Nurse Resume

1

Include your nursing license number and state of licensure in your header

2

Quantify patient loads, satisfaction scores, and outcome improvements

3

List all current certifications with expiration dates

4

Highlight EHR/EMR systems you're proficient with (Epic, Cerner, Meditech)

5

Use clinical terminology that ATS systems scan for in nursing roles

Registered Nurse Salary & Job Outlook

Entry Level

$62K

Median Salary

$78K

Experienced

$98K

Job Outlook

6% growth (2022-2032), about 177,400 openings per year

Source: BLS 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I include in a nursing resume?

Include your nursing license, certifications (ACLS, BLS), clinical skills, patient care experience with metrics, EHR proficiency, and education. Quantify achievements like patient satisfaction scores and error reduction rates.

How long should a nurse resume be?

For most nurses, a one-page resume works best if you have under 10 years of experience. Senior nurses or those in leadership roles may use two pages.

What are the best keywords for a nursing resume?

Top keywords include: patient assessment, medication administration, care coordination, EHR/EMR (Epic, Cerner), vital signs, wound care, IV therapy, discharge planning, and evidence-based practice.

Do I need a BSN for my nursing resume?

While an ADN is sufficient for many RN positions, many hospitals now prefer or require a BSN. List your highest nursing degree prominently.

How do I make my nursing resume ATS-friendly?

Use standard section headers, include keywords from the job description, avoid graphics/tables, use a clean font, and save as PDF or .docx format.

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Quick Stats

Median Salary$78K
Experience Shown5+ years
Key Skills15
ATS Keywords15

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