Registered Nurse resume that gets the interview
Licenses, certifications and clinical hours formatted exactly how hospital ATS systems expect them.
ATS keywords screeners filter for
Applicant tracking systems match literal phrases from the job posting. These are the terms most registered nurse postings expect to see:
How to write it
- Put your RN license, state and license number near the top. Screeners check it first.
- List certifications with issuing body and expiration: BLS, ACLS, PALS. Expired credentials get resumes rejected.
- Quantify your unit: bed count, patient ratio, shift type. '36-bed med-surg unit, 1:5 ratio' tells a real story.
- Name the EHR systems you know (Epic, Cerner, Meditech). Hospitals filter on them directly.
Skills worth listing
Technical
- Epic EHR
- Medication administration
- IV therapy
- Wound care
- Triage
- Care planning
Interpersonal
- Patient advocacy
- Family communication
- Calm under pressure
- Team handoffs
Recommended style: Executive Classic
Serif headers and refined rules. Revenue and leadership first.
Start with Executive Classic, freeCommon questions
Where does my nursing license go on the resume?
In a dedicated Licenses section near the top, with the state, license number and expiration date. Never bury it at the bottom.
Should new grad nurses include clinical rotations?
Yes. List rotations with unit type, hours and key skills. They are your experience until you have a staff role.
How do I show travel nursing?
Group short contracts under one entry per agency or list them with clear dates. Gaps and churn look worse than honest short stints.
Pair it with a cover letter
See our registered nurse cover letter guide for the tone, openers and mistakes that matter in this field.
Registered Nurse cover letter guide