How to write a nursing resume. that gets you hired
Your resume is usually the first impression a hiring manager gets of you. In healthcare, where facilities use applicant tracking systems to screen stacks of applications, a well-built resume is the difference between an interview and getting filtered out before a human ever sees you. Here's how to build one that works.
The right resume format for nurses
Use a reverse-chronological format with your most recent experience first. It's the standard in healthcare and the format ATS (Applicant Tracking System) software reads most reliably. Avoid creative or graphic-heavy templates. They look nice to a human, but ATS systems often choke on them.
Keep it to one page if you have less than 10 years of experience, and no more than two pages no matter what. Hiring managers in nursing spend 15 to 30 seconds on a first scan. Every word has to earn its spot.
Essential sections (in order)
1. Contact information
Full name, phone number, professional email, city and state. Full street address isn't needed anymore. Include LinkedIn if you have it. Don't include a photo, date of birth, or marital status.
2. Professional summary (not an objective)
Two or three sentences covering your certification, years of experience, specializations, and what you bring to the role. Tailor it for every application.
"Certified Nursing Assistant with 3 years of experience in skilled nursing facilities specializing in memory care and post-surgical rehabilitation. Known for building strong rapport with residents and families while maintaining thorough documentation. Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) seeking a full-time position at a facility committed to quality long-term care."
"Licensed Practical Nurse with 5 years of experience in long-term care and skilled nursing, including wound care and medication administration for 25+ residents per shift. Wound Care Certified (WCC) with strong documentation skills and a track record of zero medication errors over 18 months. Pursuing RN licensure through an LPN-to-RN bridge program."
3. Licenses and certifications
Put these high up, above your work experience. Include:
- License type (CNA, LPN, RN) with state and license number
- Expiration date
- Specialty certifications (WCC, CDP, BLS, ACLS, IV certification)
- CPR/BLS certification (virtually always required)
4. Work experience
For each position, list the facility name, city and state, your title, and dates of employment. Then 3 to 5 bullet points covering responsibilities and results. Use action verbs and put numbers on things wherever you can.
• Provided daily care for 10–12 residents including ADL assistance, vital signs, and mobility support in a 120-bed skilled nursing facility
• Maintained 100% compliance with infection control protocols during annual state survey
• Trained 4 new CNAs on facility procedures, documentation standards, and memory care techniques
• Reduced resident fall rate on assigned unit by 15% through consistent repositioning schedules and call light response
• Administered medications to 25+ residents per shift with zero errors over an 18-month period
5. Education
List your nursing program, the school, and your completion date. If you're currently in a program (e.g., LPN-to-RN bridge), list it with an expected completion date. Only include your high school diploma if you don't have post-secondary education.
6. Skills
A skills section with a mix of clinical and soft skills. It also helps with ATS keyword matching. Key skills to include:
- Clinical: Vital signs, wound care, medication administration, IV therapy, catheter care, blood glucose monitoring, tracheostomy care, ventilator management (as applicable)
- Technical: Electronic health records (specify systems: PointClickCare, MatrixCare, Epic), medical charting, care plan documentation
- Interpersonal: Patient communication, family education, team collaboration, conflict resolution
- Specialized: Memory care, hospice care, rehabilitation nursing, pediatric care (as applicable)
ATS optimization. Getting past the filter
Most healthcare facilities and staffing agencies run Applicant Tracking Systems to filter resumes before a human sees them. To pass ATS screening:
- Use standard section headers: "Work Experience," "Education," "Certifications." Not creative alternatives like "Where I've Made a Difference"
- Match keywords from the job posting: If the posting says "skilled nursing facility," use that exact phrase, not just "nursing home"
- Skip tables, text boxes, and graphics: ATS can't reliably parse them
- Use a standard font: Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman in 10 to 12pt
- Save as .docx or PDF: Most ATS handle both, but check the application instructions
- Spell out abbreviations once: "Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)" instead of just "CNA"
Common mistakes to avoid
- Generic descriptions: "Responsible for patient care" tells a hiring manager nothing. Be specific. What did you do, how many patients, what was the outcome?
- Gaps without explanation: If you have employment gaps, a brief note ("Family caregiving" or "Pursuing LPN certification") is better than silence.
- Listing every job you've ever had: Focus on relevant healthcare experience. Your summer lifeguard job from college doesn't need to be there.
- Typos and formatting errors: Attention to detail matters in healthcare. A resume with errors hints at careless documentation. Proofread twice, then have someone else proofread.
- Using an unprofessional email: partynurse99@email.com won't help. Use firstname.lastname@email.com or something close to it.
Skip the resume polish
When you submit your profile through CareGigs, a recruiter reads it and checks our partner facilities for a match. No ATS tuning required.
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