Top Nursing Skills to Put on Your Resume in 2026

The skills section of your nursing resume is one of the first things ATS systems and hiring managers scan. Choosing the right skills — and presenting them effectively — can make the difference between getting an interview and getting filtered out.

Here are the most in-demand nursing skills for 2026, organized by category, with tips on how to present each one on your resume.

Clinical Skills

These are the hands-on nursing skills that demonstrate your clinical competence:

Top Clinical Skills for Any Nursing Resume

• Patient Assessment — Head-to-toe assessments, focused assessments, neurological checks
• Medication Administration — Oral, IV, IM, SubQ routes; high-alert medication protocols
• IV Therapy & Venipuncture — IV insertion, blood draws, central line management
• Wound Care — Wound assessment, dressing changes, wound VAC management
• ECG/EKG Interpretation — Rhythm identification, 12-lead interpretation
• Telemetry Monitoring — Continuous cardiac monitoring, alarm management
• Code Blue Response — BLS/ACLS protocols, emergency response
• Pain Assessment & Management — Pain scales, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions

Technical Skills (EMR & Equipment)

Hospitals invest millions in their technology platforms. Showing proficiency in their specific systems gives you an edge.

Electronic Medical Records (EMR)

• Epic Systems — The most widely used EMR in US hospitals. If you know Epic, say so prominently
• Cerner — Second most common EMR system
• MEDITECH — Common in community hospitals
• Allscripts — Used in ambulatory and some acute care settings

Medical Equipment

• Pyxis MedStation — Automated medication dispensing
• Alaris/Baxter Infusion Pumps — IV infusion management
• Telemetry Equipment — Cardiac monitoring systems
• Point-of-Care Testing — Glucose meters, i-STAT analyzers
• Ventilators (for ICU): Dräger, Puritan Bennett, Servo-i, Hamilton

Soft Skills That Actually Matter

Don't fill your resume with generic soft skills. Choose the ones most relevant to nursing and back them up with evidence in your experience bullets.

• Communication — SBAR handoffs, patient education, family conferences
• Critical Thinking — Recognizing deterioration, clinical decision-making
• Time Management — Managing multiple patients, prioritizing care
• Team Collaboration — Multidisciplinary rounds, charge nurse duties
• Adaptability — Float pool experience, handling rapid changes in patient status
• Cultural Sensitivity — Caring for diverse patient populations

How to Present Skills on Your Resume

There are two approaches, and you should use both:

1. Dedicated Skills Section

Group your skills by category (Clinical, Technical, Interpersonal, Languages). Use a clean, scannable format with pipe separators or commas.

Example:

Clinical: Patient Assessment | Medication Administration | IV Therapy | ECG Interpretation | Wound Care | Telemetry Monitoring
Technical: Epic Systems | Pyxis MedStation | Alaris Infusion Pumps | Point-of-Care Testing
Languages: English (Native) | Spanish (Conversational)

2. Skills Woven into Experience Bullets

The skills section tells the ATS you have the skill. Your experience bullets prove it with context and numbers.

Instead of just listing "Patient Assessment," write:

Performed comprehensive head-to-toe assessments on 5-6 patients per shift, identifying changes in condition and escalating concerns using SBAR communication

Skills to Avoid on a Nursing Resume

• "Microsoft Office" — Everyone has it. Only list it if the job posting specifically requires it
• "Basic computer skills" — Vague and adds no value
• "Friendly" or "reliable" — These are expected, not differentiators
• "Vital signs" by itself — Too basic. Instead, incorporate it into more specific skills

Matching Skills to Job Postings

The single most important tip: mirror the language of the job posting. If the posting says "Epic Charting," don't write "Electronic Health Records." If it says "ventilator management," don't write "respiratory equipment."

ATS systems match keywords literally. A nursing resume builder that understands nursing terminology can help ensure your skills section uses the right keywords for your target position.

How Many Skills Should You List?

Aim for 8-12 skills total across all categories. Too few (under 5) makes you look inexperienced. Too many (over 15) dilutes the impact and looks like keyword stuffing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I include BLS and ACLS in my skills section?

List certifications in a dedicated Certifications section, not in Skills. However, you can reference "Code Blue Response / BLS / ACLS" as a clinical skill since it represents a competency, not just a card you carry.

How do I list skills I'm still developing?

Only list skills you can confidently perform. For new grads, clinical rotation experience counts — if you performed IV insertions during rotations, you can list "IV Therapy & Venipuncture" as a skill even if you're still developing proficiency.