Show your hands-on experience
Keep in mind, recruiters are likely to favor LPN applicants who can prove real-world experience. Be sure to detail your clinical rotations, duties performed, and the types of healthcare settings you've worked in.
Nurse
Skills
Nurse Resume Keywords and Skills (Hard Skills)
Here are the keywords and skills that appear most frequently on recent Nurse job postings. In other words, these are the most sought after skills by recruiters and hiring managers. So try to include them on your resume where possible.
Remember that every job is different. Instead of including all these keywords on your resume, identify the keywords most relevant to the job you're applying to and include those. Use the free Targeted Resume tool to help with this.
- Nursing
- Healthcare
- Patient Safety
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Hospitals
- Acute Care
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- Patient Education
- Inpatient Care
- Healthcare Management
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Medication Administration
- Medical-Surgical
- Wound Care
Show full list
Where on my resume do I add these buzzwords?
Add keywords directly into your resume's work experiences, education or projects. Alternatively, you can also include a Skills section where you can list your technical skills in order of your proficiency.
Only include these technical skills or keywords into your resume if you actually have experience with them.
Compare Your Resume To These Nurse Skills (ATS Scan)
Paste your resume below and our AI will identify which keywords are missing from your resume from the list above (and what you need to include). Including the right keywords will help you get past Applicant Tracking Systems (i.e. resume screeners) which may scan your resume for keywords to see if you're a match for the job.
How do I add skills to a Nurse resume?
1
Review the job posting closely.
Go through the Nurse posting you're applying to, and identify hard skills the company is looking for. For example, skills like Patient Education, Hospitals and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) are possible skills. These are skills you should try to include on your resume.
Word Cloud for Nurse Skills & Keywords
The following word cloud highlights the most popular keywords that appear on Nurse job descriptions. The bigger the word, the more frequently it shows up on employer's job postings. If you have experience with these keywords, include them on your resume.
Nurse Soft Skills
Here are common soft skills that appear on Nurse job postings. Unlike hard skills, which refer to tools, software or techniques, soft skills focus on character traits and interpersonal skills. Instead of listing these phrases on your resume, try to show them through your bullet points like in the examples below.
- Laboratory Skills
- Teamwork
- Team Leadership
Tip: Do not list these words or phrases on your resume, and instead focus on the hard skills we described above.
Resume Skills and Keywords from Related Jobs
We also found variations and further specializations to your job title. Browse through the related job titles to find additional keywords that you can include into your resume.
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Nurse Resume Templates
Here are examples of proven resumes in related jobs and industries, approved by experienced hiring managers. Use them as inspiration when you're writing your own resume. You can even download and edit the resume template in Google Docs.
Resume Example
LPN Nurse (Licensed Practical Nurse)
Resume Example: LPN Nurse (Licensed Practical Nurse)
Download this resume template
Overview
As you pursue a role in the world of nursing as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), you must be prepared to showcase your unique blend of clinical skills and empathy. In recent times, healthcare settings are increasingly relying on LPNs not just for basic nursing care but for their ability to connect with patients. They appreciate LPNs who can balance human touch with technical proficiency. So, when drafting your resume, remember to present a compelling mix of your technical knowledge, patient care skills, and ability to work under pressure. The industry is moving towards more specialized care, which means your resume needs to emphasize any specific nursing skills or areas of expertise you've developed. Similarly, companies value LPNs who are continuous learners and are adapting to the evolving healthcare landscape. It's critical to demonstrate your commitment to ongoing education and upskilling on your resume.
Tips on why this template works
Emphasize your specialized skills
If you have expertise in a specialized area like geriatrics, palliative care, or rehabilitation, make it prominent on your resume. Don't bury unique skills, these can set you apart from other LPN applicants.
Resume Example
LPN Nurse (Licensed Practical Nurse)
Resume Example: LPN Nurse (Licensed Practical Nurse)
Download this resume template
Overview
Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is all about showing you've got the chops to provide high-level care under the guidance of registered nurses and physicians. When crafting your resume, remember that it's not just about showing your clinical skills, but also demonstrating your ability to support patients emotionally. This field is rapidly changing with technologies like telemedicine and electronic health records becoming more prominent, which means you need to show you can keep up. Given that many LPNs work in elder care, where we're seeing a surge in demand, emphasize any relevant experience or skills in this area.
Tips on why this template works
Include relevant certifications and training
As an LPN, you've likely completed a bunch of certifications, such as IV therapy or gerontology. Make sure these are clearly outlined in your resume, particularly if they're ones that the job description specifically mentions.
Also see: How to List Certifications on a Resume
Detail your patient care experience
Hiring managers want to see that you can handle patient care responsibilities, so include details of the type of care you've provided. For instance, if you worked in a long-term care facility, describe how you managed patient hygiene, medication administration, and vital signs monitoring.
Resume Example
LVN Nurse (Licensed Vocational Nurse)
Resume Example: LVN Nurse (Licensed Vocational Nurse)
Download this resume template
Overview
As a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), you play a vital role in the healthcare industry, often serving as the backbone of patient care. Your resume should reflect your robust skills set — your ability to assist with diagnostic tests, take vital signs, and provide emotional support to patients. Recently, the industry's focus has increasingly shifted to holistic care, and as an LVN, you're more likely to work in interdisciplinary teams. When crafting your resume, it's essential to convey the breadth of your nursing skills and your ability to work well with a diverse set of professionals. In the ever-evolving world of healthcare, trends tend to focus on emerging technologies and automation of administrative duties. This doesn't reduce the value of an LVN, but rather increases the demand for interpersonal and technical skills. Your resume should show your adaptability to new technologies, and your knack for juggling both patient interaction and administrative tasks. Remember, your resume doesn’t just outline your past jobs—it tells your professional story, offering a glimpse into who you are as an LVN.
Tips on why this template works
Highlight your technical and interpersonal skills
Since the LVN role involves working with a variety of tech tools and diverse teams, your resume should reflect your ability to navigate both. Mention any software you're proficient in, and provide examples of your teamwork skills within your past roles.
Resume Example
LVN Nurse (Licensed Vocational Nurse)
Resume Example: LVN Nurse (Licensed Vocational Nurse)
Download this resume template
Overview
As an LVN (Licensed Vocicational Nurse), you have a key role in healthcare that is rewarding and challenging. The demand for LVNs is quite high due to an aging population and an increasing need for healthcare services. However, the competition for positions in prestigious facilities is as fierce as ever. Your resume, therefore, needs to clearly communicate your technical skills, hands-on nursing experience, and compassion for patients. And although patient care is paramount, do not underestimate the importance of displaying soft skills such as communication and teamwork. Keeping up-to-date with current trends, such as the shift towards home health care, can also give your resume an edge.
Tips on why this template works
Include relevant certifications and trainings
As an LVN, you've probably undergone additional training or earned complementary certifications, like IV certification or wound care. Include these to demonstrate your commitment to continuing education and to stand out from the competition.
Also see: How to List Certifications on a Resume
Emphasize your patient care experience
You should explicitly list the types of care you have provided to patients. Whether it's administering medication, assisting with personal hygiene, or working with specific patient populations (like geriatrics or pediatrics), your experiences can make you particularly attractive to certain employers.
Resume Example
Professional
Resume Example: Professional
Download this resume template
Overview
This resume template is suitable for experienced hires or mid-level hires. The education contains two examples of an education experiences, but only include one (your most recent one) if you're a senior level employee.
Tips on why this template works
Makes great use of space
It strikes the right balance between white space and content, and doesn't waste space on unnecessary images and icons. Remember, recruiters aren't looking at how creative you are when it comes to your template. Your content is core and should be the focus.
Strong resume bullet points
This job seeker uses resume bullet points that uses strong action verbs, and most importantly, contain numbers that demonstrate the significance of their accomplishments.
Resume Example
Highlights (Free)
Resume Example: Highlights (Free)
Download this resume template
Overview
This template is clean, readable by resume screeners, and is effective at calling out key accomplishments and projects from specific work experiences. This would be useful if you have been at a company for a while, or been in a consulting-type of role, and want to point hiring managers to your most impressive accomplishments.
Tips on why this template works
Strong action verbs
Action verbs are important on your resume are vital. They evoke strong imagery to your reader, and this resume does an excellent job by using words such as “spearheaded,” “managed,” and “drove.” These words will help you to put your achievements in perspective, in conjunction with measurable results. Use action verbs relating to the skills you want to highlight.
Also see: Effective Action Verbs for your Resume
Specific examples of finished projects
Many of your accomplishments will involve your responsibilities in your employer's high-level projects. Recruiters want to see what you’ve completed in previous roles -- such as the Operations Improvement Project and new iPhone app launch highlighted in this resume. The numbers make your experience real, rather than a vague “oversaw several teams for a project.” What did you do specifically? Be specific.
Also see: How to List Projects on a Resume
Frequently Asked Questions
What hard skills should you include on a Nurse resume?
Some effective Nurse skills you can add to your resume include:
- Nursing
- Healthcare
- Patient Safety
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Hospitals
- Acute Care
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- Patient Education
How do resume skills compare between an Oncology Nurse and an Intensive Care Nurse?
Popular skills we often see on resumes for Oncology Nurse positions include:
- Oncology Nursing
- Chemotherapy
- Nursing
- Oncology
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Patient Safety
- Patient Education
- Inpatient Care
In comparison, skills we see on Intensive Care Nurse resumes include:
- Critical Care Nursing
- Critical Care Medicine
- Nursing Education
- Advanced Life Support (ALS)
- Mechanical Ventilation
- Emergency Nursing
- Nursing Process
- Public Health
What are good resume skills to include for different Nurse roles and job titles?
Depending on the specific role you apply to, you may need to emphasize different skill sets. Here are a few examples:
- Veterinary Nurse: Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Nursing, Client Education, Animal Welfare and Anesthesiology
- Case Management Nurse: Nursing, Case Management, Patient Safety, Basic Life Support (BLS) and Hospitals
- Surgical Nurse: Operating Room, Healthcare, Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery and General Surgery
- Labor and Delivery Nurse: Labor and Delivery Nursing, Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Fetal Monitoring and Inpatient Care
- Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Nurse: Cath Lab, Cardiac Catheterization Nursing, Acute Care, Cardiac Cath and Critical Care Nursing
What soft skills are common in Nurse roles?
Examples of Nurse soft skills include Leadership, Working with Adolescents, Public Speaking, Organization Skills and Laboratory Skills.
Target your Resume to a Job Description
While the keywords above are a good indication of what skills you need on your resume, you should try to find additional keywords that are specific to the job. To do this, use the free Targeted Resume tool. It analyzes the job you are applying to and finds the most important keywords you need on your resume.
It is personalized to your resume, and is the best way to ensure your resume will pass the automated resume filters.
