Put your licence first
Under your name, list your licence and registration exactly as issued, for example Registered Nurse, College of Nurses of Ontario, RN, NCLEX-RN, State of Texas or NMC registered adult nurse. Then list current certifications such as BLS, ACLS, PALS or a specialty credential, with expiry dates if the posting asks.
Summary example
Five to six sentences, no "I". Mirror the unit and title in the posting.
Registered nurse skilled in acute medical-surgical care, patient assessment and medication administration across busy hospital units. Background includes post-operative care, wound management and discharge teaching for adult patients. Communicates clearly with patients, families and interdisciplinary teams to keep care safe and coordinated. Documents accurately in electronic health records and follows infection prevention protocols. Known for calm judgment during rapid changes in patient condition. Ready to deliver safe, compassionate care on a high-acuity unit.
Bullet points that prove results
- Care for 5 to 6 patients per shift on a 32-bed medical-surgical unit, completing assessments, medications and documentation on time.
- Recognised early signs of sepsis and escalated through the rapid response process, supporting timely treatment.
- Educated patients and families on discharge plans and medications, contributing to fewer readmission calls on the unit.
- Precepted 4 new graduate nurses through orientation on unit procedures and EHR charting.
- Joined the falls prevention committee and helped roll out hourly rounding on the unit.
No exact figure? Use honest ranges or check old reviews and reports. ProofFit leaves a placeholder such as [result %] where a real figure belongs, instead of inventing one.
Key skills and keywords
Up to 15, matched to the posting and backed by your experience:
Patient assessment · Medication administration · Care planning · IV therapy · Wound care · Infection prevention and control · Electronic health records (Epic, Cerner, Meditech) · Patient and family education · Telemetry monitoring · Triage · Discharge planning · Interdisciplinary collaboration · Rapid response · Critical thinking
Mistakes that cost interviews
- Hiding your licence or registration at the bottom of the page.
- Leaving out unit type, bed count or patient ratio: they show the scale of your work.
- Listing every rotation from school once you have paid nursing experience.
- Including patient names or identifying details, even in examples.
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How long should a nursing resume be?
One page for new graduates, two pages for experienced nurses. Lead with licence, clinical area and recent roles.
Should new graduate nurses list clinical placements?
Yes. List placements with unit type and the skills you practised until you have paid nursing experience to replace them.
Do I need a cover letter for nursing jobs?
Often, yes. Name the unit, explain why you fit it, and give one short patient-care example.