Nursing Resume Examples for Every Specialty
Browse our nurse resume examples to see what a polished nursing resume looks like for your specialty. Each nurse resume example includes expert analysis of what makes it effective and tips you can apply to your own resume.
What Makes a Great Nursing Resume?
Before diving into the examples, here are the key elements that make a nursing resume effective. Every example below demonstrates these principles:
ATS-Optimized Format
Standard section headers, clean layout, no tables or graphics that ATS systems can't read.
Quantified Achievements
Specific numbers: patient count, bed count, hours, and measurable outcomes in every bullet point.
Relevant Certifications
BLS, ACLS, CCRN, and specialty certifications prominently displayed for quick scanning.
Specialty-Specific Skills
Equipment proficiency, EMR systems, and clinical skills tailored to the target unit or role.
New Graduate Nursing Resume Examples
New grad nursing resumes focus on clinical rotations, education, and certifications. The challenge is presenting limited experience in a compelling way. These examples show how to transform clinical hours into professional bullet points.
New Grad Med-Surg Resume
New Grad ICU Transition
Why These New Grad Resumes Work
- Clinical rotations formatted as experience — Each rotation includes hours, hospital type, and specific skills practiced
- Strong professional summaries — Mention BSN/ADN, total clinical hours, target specialty, and key competencies
- Single-page format — Concise and focused, with every line earning its place on the page
For a complete step-by-step guide on writing your new grad resume, see our New Grad Nursing Resume Guide.
Registered Nurse Resume Examples
Looking for registered nurse resume examples? Every nurse resume example on this page is written for RNs at different career stages and specialties. Whether you're a new grad RN or an experienced registered nurse with 10+ years, these nursing resume examples show exactly how to present your clinical experience, certifications, and nursing skills to hiring managers.
Ready to build yours? Pick from our 8 free nursing resume templates and start customizing.
ICU Nurse Resume Examples
ICU nurse resumes require detailed equipment proficiency, advanced certifications, and evidence of managing high-acuity patients. These examples demonstrate how to showcase critical care expertise.
ICU RN - 3 Years Experience
New Grad ICU Transition
Travel Nurse Resume
Why These ICU Resumes Work
- Equipment-specific bullet points — Names specific ventilator models, monitoring systems, and CRRT devices
- Patient acuity details — Includes bed count, nurse-to-patient ratio, and trauma level designation
- Advanced certifications highlighted — CCRN, ACLS, NIHSS prominently displayed
Read our complete ICU Nurse Resume Guide for detailed writing tips.
ER Nurse Resume Examples
Emergency department resumes should showcase your ability to triage, handle high-volume patient loads, and work in fast-paced, high-pressure environments. Emphasize trauma experience and rapid assessment skills.
ER Nurse Resume
Tips for ER Nursing Resumes
- Highlight triage experience and patient volume per shift
- Include trauma level designation (Level I, II, III) of your hospital
- Mention TNCC, CEN, and ACLS certifications prominently
Pediatric Nurse Resume Examples
Pediatric nursing resumes should demonstrate your experience with age-specific patient populations, family-centered care, and pediatric assessment techniques.
Pediatric Nurse Resume
Travel Nurse Resume Examples
Travel nurse resumes need to show adaptability, multi-state licensure via Compact, and experience across diverse hospital systems and EMR platforms.
New Grad Med-Surg Resume
How to Choose the Right Resume Format
The best resume format depends on your experience level and career situation:
| Format | Best For | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Reverse Chronological | Most nurses (new grads & experienced) | Lists experience from most recent first |
| Functional | Career changers, gaps in employment | Groups experience by skill category |
| Combination | Experienced nurses changing specialties | Skills section + chronological experience |
Our recommendation: Use the reverse-chronological format unless you have a specific reason not to. It's the most ATS-friendly and the format hiring managers expect. Once you've chosen a format, pick from our 8 free nursing resume templates.
Common Nursing Resume Mistakes
Listing duties instead of achievements
"Responsible for patient care" tells nothing. Instead: "Managed care for 5-6 Med-Surg patients per shift, reducing fall incidents by 15% through hourly rounding protocol."
Using a generic skills section
Listing "Microsoft Office" or "teamwork" wastes space. Use nursing-specific skills: "Epic Systems, IV Therapy, Ventilator Management, SBAR Communication."
Exceeding one page as a new grad
New graduates should always use a one-page resume. Only nurses with 5+ years of experience should consider two pages.
Forgetting ATS optimization
Using creative layouts, tables, or non-standard section headers can cause ATS systems to reject your resume before a human ever sees it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good example of a nursing resume?
A good nursing resume clearly highlights clinical skills, certifications (BLS, ACLS), quantified patient care experience, and EMR proficiency. It uses a clean format with standard section headers that pass ATS screening systems used by hospitals. Browse our full gallery of nursing resume examples to see what works.
How do I write a nursing resume with no experience?
New grad nurses should format clinical rotations as professional experience, highlighting hours completed, patient populations, and specific skills practiced. Include your nursing degree, certifications, and a professional summary focused on your clinical strengths. Our new grad resume guide walks you through every step.
What should a registered nurse resume look like?
A registered nurse resume should be 1-2 pages with sections for Professional Summary, Nursing Experience (with quantified bullet points), Education, Certifications, and Skills. Use reverse-chronological format and include your RN license information.
How many pages should a nursing resume be?
New grad nurses should keep their resume to one page. Experienced nurses with 5+ years may use two pages. Never exceed two pages — hiring managers spend an average of 7 seconds on an initial resume scan.
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