Nurse Resume Examples and Templates for 2026

Richard Shelton

Resume writing expert.

Nurse resume is a specialty resume representing the workforce who are not only superheroes in scrubs but backbone of our healthcare system.

That's why generic resume tips are not enough for a nurse resume. In fact, writing a strong nurse resume isn't jusr about fancy formatting, simply writing down your duties or stuffing keywords related to your job description, it's about clearing two checkpoints –

1. Passing ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) and
2. Impressing hiring managers.

Whether you're a Registered Nurse (RN), ICU nurse, ER nurse, CNA, or a new graduate, we will equip you with everything you need to get call from the recruiter for your next dream job.

Most Prefered Nurse Resume Templates

Experienced Nurse Resume

Best for showcasing a multiple years of experience and leadership.

Use this template

Mid-level Nurse Resume

Mid-level nurse resume template best for RNs, CNA, LPN and others.

Use this template

New Graduate Nurse Resume

Minimal template best for new grad nurse resume and nurses with 1-3 years of experience.

Use this template

ER Nurse Resume

Clean professional template for online applications.

Use this template

Registered Nurse Resume

Clean professional template for online applications.

Use this template

Word Document Nurse Resume Template

Word doc with manual formating and keyword placement.

Download and edit manually

How to Write a Nurse Resume Step-by-Step

1. Analyze the job description for keywords and required skills

Read. Analyze. Write.

Carefully read the job description to identify specific clinical terms like "hemodynamic monitoring," "triage," or "patient education” which are required for the position. What you have done in your previous work is important but it is also important to match your resume with your new job as well.
Highlight these keywords and ensure they appear naturally throughout your resume. This alignment helps your application pass ATS and proves to recruiters that you are a precise match for the unit.

2. Choose an ATS-friendly format

Simple and Impactful.

That's the key. Stick to a clean, single-column layout using standard fonts like Arial or Calibri to ensure your information is easily readable. Avoid using complex graphics, sidebars, or text boxes, as these can confuse Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and lead to missing data.
A straightforward structure keeps your clinical history organized and ensures your application reaches human eyes.

3. Write a targeted professional summary

As mentioned above, the summary is the most important part. Draft a simple and high impact, 3-4 sentence paragraph that serves as your clinical "elevator pitch."
Highlight your years of experience, specific unit expertise (like ICU or Med-Surg), and a few key strengths such as "strong patient advocacy" or "rapid response proficiency." Focus more on your values and work ethic than metrics.

4. List experience with action verbs + results

Instead of just listing daily tasks, start each bullet point with strong action verbs like - "coordinated," "administered," or "stabilized."
Whenever possible, quantify your results—for example, mention managing a high-acuity 1:2 patient ratio or reducing medication errors on your unit. This helps recruiter understand your past experience and shifts the focus from what you were supposed to do to what you actually achieved.

5. Add certifications and licenses clearly

Create a dedicated section for your credentials, including your state RN license number and expiration date. Clearly list essential certifications like BLS, ACLS, PALS, or specialty-specific ones like CCRN or CEN.
Since these are often "must-have" requirements for hospital HR, placing them where they are easy to find prevents your resume from being accidentally disqualified.
This process could be time-consuming—especially when applying to multiple roles.

What Makes a Strong Nurse Resume in 2026?

An on-point nurse resume in 2026 must balance matching skills and experience with job description, clinical expertise, measurable outcomes, and ATS compatibility.

Hiring managers typically spend 6–8 seconds scanning a resume, and mind you, only those resumes which passes ATS software's filter. And let's be honest here – ATS is brutal, it will match your resume and job description and if it does not meet it's criteria, ATS will reject you. Even if you are a 10 years experienced nurse with an Olympic Gold Medal, ATS does not care.

For a strong nurse resume, you should:

• Clearly state your role and specialty
• Highlight clinical skills and certifications
• Use quantifiable achievements
• Follow an ATS-friendly structure
• Match keywords from the job description

This is where many nurses struggle—especially when switching specialties or applying after a career gap. Let's go through some examples.

Nurse Resume Examples by Role & Experience

Adding specialised content for your nurse resume is the key. Every nurse's resume requires emphasis on different attributes, whether you are the fast-paced nurse of Emergency Care or the specialized nurse in the world of Pediatrics, there is a specific skills and information you need to add to stand out.

Below are the most in demand nurse resume types in 2026:

1. Registered Nurse (RN) Resume –

RNs is one of the positions where recruiters emphasize a lot on licenses. As in the United States, every state will have its own rules for licensing registered nurses and recruiters need to be careful in terms of checking such details, clearly mentioning about license exam or license number and important dates associated with it is very important.

Other areas which are important to be highlighted in RN resume are: Acute care, med-surg, outpatient settings.

All the regular tasks under the registered nurse's belt are also important to be mentioned in the resume. Clearly mentioning type of facility, specialty you worked in, and types of patients. Some examples of registered nurse duties which recruiters look for are:

• Preparing patients - Getting patients ready for exams or treatments and making assessments based on the results.
• Recording medical histories and symptoms - Entering clear and correct data of every recording. As recovery of a patient depends upon monitoring and updating doctor with correct data for follow ups, bullet points with such details depict credibility.
• Helping to set up plans of care - Understanding the treatment and preparing a plan according to the doctor notes is of utmost importance. This shows the reliability of the nurse and how they can work like a well oiled machine with doctor and staff.
• Administering medicine and treatments - Post preparation of plan of care, taking care of right medication is given at the right time with correct doses is the most crucial part for patient recovery. Adding such details gives the hiring manager confidence of the responsibility you can take.
• Using and monitoring medical equipment - As modern medicine is observing the upgradation of equipments, it is important to mention all the equipment and your proficiency with them.
• Working with doctors and other healthcare professionals - A perfect example for a team player.
• Teaching patients and their families how to manage conditions and give post-treatment care - Showcases empathy, willingness to help and care.

For RN Nurse role-specific resume's examples and guidance, explore: RN Nurse Resume Guide

2. ICU Nurse Resume – Critical care, ventilators, high-acuity patients.

An ICU nurse is a specialized nurse who takes care of the hospital's most critical patients. These are people facing life-threatening situations and are trained to work in a high pressure environment.

Don't get bothered with the low patient count in your resume as compared to other examples online with high patient count, ICU nurses are deployed for a specific, high focus task. The ratio is small because these patients are so sick that they need a nurse's eyes on them every single second.

Some examples of ICU nurse duties which recruiters look for are:

• Monitoring of vital signs.
• Managing life critical equipment like ventilators, dialysis machines, ECMO.
• Ability to administer high-alert medications (e.g., vasopressors, sedatives).
• Agility in quickly interpreting lab results and diagnostic tests.
• Close collaboration with intensivists, surgeons, respiratory therapists.
• Responding to Code Blues, Rapid Response calls, and emergencies.

It always helps you mention further detailed niche of your speciality if you are an ICU nurse. Do add if you are one of these –

• Medical ICU (MICU)
• Surgical ICU (SICU)
• Cardiovascular ICU (CVICU)
• Neuro ICU
• Burn ICU
• Pediatric ICU (PICU)
• Neonatal ICU (NICU)

For ICU Nurse role-specific resume's examples and guidance, explore: ICU Nurse Resume Guide

3. Emergency Nurse Resume –

Emergency room (ER) nurses are often the first medical professionals a person with a health crisis sees at a hospital. ER registered nurse resume should showcase qualities like - speed, quick critical thinking, working in high intensive environment and quick decision taking ability.

Emergency room nurses' resumes should be build on the pillar of team work. As an ER nurse is a part of a team with physicians, medical assistants and technicians, and other healthcare professionals, it is very important to display team player attitude and leadership quality in the ER nurse resume.

Some examples of ER nurse duties which recruiters look for are:

• Equipped in administering medicine
• Ability to monitor vital signs
• Performing minor operations
• Advising patients and their families
• Transfuse blood
• Perform diagnostic tests
• Start IV lines

In addition to your RN license, you should mention certifications in advanced cardiac life support and pediatric advanced life support if you have one. If you are looking for entry-level jobs in an emergency room, do mention your ER clinical rotations or an ER internship which you might have done while you were in school.

4. CNA Resume – Patient care, mobility support, ADLs.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) are the entry level job in Nurse and healthcare field. It starts with assistance under the direct watch of an RN or LPN and your resume should exactly showcase ability to take instructions, follow given notes and perform duty as told. As the work is incredibly hands-on, and taking care of the small but vital "Activities of Daily Living" (ADLs), resume should structurally have bullet points and summary with highlighted sections of such duties.

As CNAs are needed everywhere, from big hospitals to quiet home care settings, your resume should also be flexible and be apt for bigger chains or clinics.

Some examples of CNA nurse duties which recruiters look for are:

• Experience in assisting with dental care
• Experience in changing linens
• Feeding patients
• Helping patients dress and groom
• Notifying nurses of any pertinent information
• Recording information in medical records
• Taking vital signs
• Toileting assistance

A CNA career is an excellent way to get started in healthcare industry, it provides great opportunity for job stability and career advancement. Make sure to make your CNA resume with professional template and high impact keywords.

For CNA role-specific resume's examples and guidance, explore: CNA Nurse Resume Guide

5. New Graduate Nurse Resume –

New graduate nurse are fresh graduates for college looking to get their foot in for their first ever nurse job. Exciting it seems, getting a call from recruiter can be as tough sometimes. As new grads have very little experience, it becomes very difficult to make a resume which actually make high impact in front of the hiring manager with minimal content to put. Showcasing you are best new grad nurse for the role, you need to be very careful with the summary and bullet points.

Some examples of New Graduate nurse duties and skills which recruiters look for are:

• Providing direct patient care, including assessments, medication administration and wound care.
• Always ready to learn attitude.
• Collaborating with the healthcare team to develop and implement patient care plans.
• Monitoring patients' vital signs and responding to any changes or concerns.
• Documenting patient data accurately and maintaining medical records.
• Educating patients and their families on healthcare practices and self-care strategies
• Assisting in the coordination of patient care, including scheduling appointments and arranging consultations.
• Adhering to ethical and legal standards of nursing practice.
• Continuously learning and staying updated on current nursing practices.

For New Grad Nurse role-specific resume's examples and guidance, explore: New Graduate Nurse Resume

(Each guide includes ATS-optimized examples and specialty-specific keywords.)

Best Nurse Resume Format (ATS-Friendly)

Your resume is your first impression. And as they say—the first impression is the last impression. Assume you are sending your resume, and as soon as it lands in the hands of a recruiter, it’s your first professional handshake.

In a highly competitive job market, your past experience, clinical skills, and career wins are what qualify you for the role, but the formatting is often what determines if you actually get the interview. This is largely due to the ATS (Applicant Tracking System), which we will discuss in detail below.

Sometimes, something as small as a messy layout can bury a great candidate's potential. A truly effective resume doesn't just list your history; it presents your story in a way that is clean, professional, and most importantly—easy to scan in seconds.

The most effective nurse resume format is reverse-chronological. A successful nurse resume should have these high-level checkpoints ticked:

• Prioritize Readability: Use plenty of white space so the recruiter doesn't feel overwhelmed.
• Guide the Eye: Place your most impressive achievements where they are impossible to miss.
• Maintain Professionalism: Stick to a structure that looks as organized as your clinical practice.

Recommended structure for a nurse resume:

• Header (Name, credentials, location, contact info)
• Professional summary
• Licensure & certifications
• Clinical experience
• Education
• Skills (hard + soft)

ATS Formatting Rules

ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. It’s a type of software that helps employers manage every step of the hiring process, from posting a job to choosing the right candidate. Here are a few essential tips for passing the ATS:

• Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills).
• Avoid tables, graphics, columns, and text boxes.
• Stick to clean fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman).
• Save as PDF or DOCX (based on employer preference).

Many resumes fail ATS scans simply due to formatting—not a lack of experience.

Nurse Resume Summary Examples

Your summary is one of the most critical ranking and conversion sections. It is not just a short introduction that lists your skills; it should give the recruiter a glimpse of your personality, ambition, and achievements. A concise, well-structured summary ensures the recruiter reads further.

Each nurse type should have subtle differences in their summary. An experienced nurse should display leadership and clinical depth, whereas new grads should focus on their clinical training and enthusiasm to start their career.

Bottom line: your summary should be tailored to the role, showcase your personality, and never be generic.

Essential Nurse Resume Skills Employers Look For

Nursing requires a mix of soft skills and technical expertise. If you are great at reading reports but cannot convey symptoms to a doctor, you are in a difficult spot. Between new medical technologies and shifting patient demands, you must be able to pivot quickly with sharp critical thinking and interdisciplinary teamwork.

Tip: Always mirror skills mentioned in the job description to improve ATS matching.

Common Nurse Resume Mistakes to Avoid

Are you waking up and despite checking your text or Instagram’s notification you are checking your inbox first? And then in your half awake state, your inbox sounds like *crickets*!
It’s a common and incredibly frustrating experience. If this sounds like your current situation, there is a high chance that a hidden error on your resume is acting as a gatekeeper, stopping your application from ever reaching a real person.

• Including Irrelevant Experiences:Mentioning your Starbucks summer job is a distraction from your nursing credentials. Unless these roles highlight specific transferable skills like leadership or crisis management, it is better to prioritize clinical rotations and nursing-related work to keep the recruiter’s attention on your medical expertise.
  If you have included your Starbucks job in the first place and other candidate has not, recruiter instantly will read their resume with more interest.
• Missing Metrics and Data: Avoid making vague claims that lack proof; instead go for numbers/percentage/ratios. Use specific metrics such as managing a 1:2 high-acuity patient ratio or reducing patient fall rates by a certain percentage to provide concrete evidence of your clinical impact and competence.
• Not Using a Professional Nurse Resume Builder:Generic resume templates often lack the specialized sections required for nurses; such as license numbers, clinical rotations or specific nursing certifications. Plus they lack the design which would impress a nurse manager.
  Using a nurse-specific builder ensures your nurse resume follows the structural patterns hospital recruiters expect and prioritize.
• Ignoring ATS Keywords:If your resume misses terms like "SBAR" or "patient advocacy" that appear in the job description, it may be filtered out by software.
• Including irrelevant skillsListing irrelevant skills or outdated technical skills or personal hobbies wastes valuable space on a nurse resume. Focus strictly on clinical competencies, high-acuity technical skills, and EMR proficiencies that are directly relevant to the unit where you are applying.
• Using the same resume for every jobUploading a generic resume for different jobs like, using an ICU-focused resume for a Pediatrics role, this signals a lack of intentionality. Tailoring your professional summary and skills for each specific unit shows that you understand the unique needs of that patient population. You can create separate resume for each type and use them when applying.
• Writing task-based duties instead of achievementsIdentified subtle clinical changes that prevented a rapid response is about achievement which is way better than "checked vital signs". Task based duties make your resume look like a job description rather than a professional profile.
  Shift the focus to achievements and demonstrate your critical thinking and judgment.
• Using a Graphical Resume:Simpler and cleaner resumes are always best. While fancy designs and icons look visually appealing to humans, they often cause errors in hospital databases. Most ATS software cannot read text hidden inside graphics or sidebars, which will throw off ATS and mark your resume as rejected.
• Poor formatting that breaks ATS parsingUsing complex headers, footers, or tables can scramble your data when it is uploaded into a hospital's hiring system. Stick to a simple, single-column structure to ensure your contact information and work history are accurately captured by the software. No complex headers, footers, charts, pictures and other graphics, only simple word or pdf doc with text.
• Spelling and Grammatical Errors:In a profession where a small documentation error can have serious consequences, typos on a resume suggest a lack of attention to detail. A clean, error-free nurse resume is the first way to prove you are a precise and safe practitioner.

FAQ's About Nurse Resumes