RN Resume Examples

Need assistance writing your resume? Our RN resume examples are equipped with professionally written content to help you land your ideal job!

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LiveCareer Staff Writer
by LiveCareer Staff Writer
Last Updated: November 02, 2023 

RN resume
summary examples

To make your resume pass the seven seconds recruiters spend eyeing a resume, write an impactful resume opener.

The resume summary consists of a two to three-sentence paragraph introducing yourself to potential employers by featuring your top skills and professional abilities.

Think of it like a business pitch. Your knowledge and experiences are the product you have to sell to the investor, in this case, the employer.

If you have plenty of work experience in your desired field, choose the professional summary approach.

If this is your first time applying for a RN position, use the objective statement, which allows you to share your skills as they relate to your career goals.

You can compare these two approaches in the examples below to determine which is better for your situation.

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Good example:

“ Experienced Registered Nurse with 10+ years of experience in providing high-quality patient care. Skilled in managing a wide range of medical conditions and delivering evidence-based care. Proven ability to utilize strong problem-solving and communication skills to ensure patient safety and satisfaction.”

Why this example passes:

  • Feature candidate’s success statistic to grab attention. Numbers add detail about how big the results you deliver are, e.g., test scores, passing rate and more.
  • Shows career length, 11 years.
  • Mentions employer-desired skills: student motivation and interactive lessons.
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Bad example:

“ Recent nursing graduate with strong communication and organizational skills. Experienced in providing patient care and assisting with medical procedures. Passionate about providing quality care and helping others.”

Why this example fails:

  • Doesn’t include any numbers that quantify rn’s performance
  • Uses vague descriptions and skills.
  • Doesn’t include years of teaching experience.

The fastest way to write your
professional summary

Impress employers by featuring must-have skills for a RN and achievements that make you an irresistible employee. Find the best content suggestions for your professional summary in our Resume Builder that will wow recruiters.

  • 1

    Enter the details about the job title you held. The builder comes preloaded with auto-suggested phrasing written by resume experts.

  • 2

    Then, just pick from these suggested phrases that best frame your experience and customize them to your liking!

  • 3

    All you have to do is choose the summary phrases that best frame your experience. It’s like having a professional do it for you!

You’ll find content written by resume experts in our Resume Builder, but you can also take it above and beyond and employ our professional resume-writing services! Get ready for the job search by taking advantage of the resume-writing tools that are best for you.

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RN resume work
experience examples

One of the most important sections in any resume is the work experience. Writing a work experience section that demonstrates you have what it takes to thrive in the job is crucial to writing a good resume. Recruiters want to see your unique achievements, so leave the generic job duties out. Use the following examples to understand better how to write this section.

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Good example:

Rolling Meadows Middle School I Rolling Meadows, IL I 8/2018-current

  • Delivered compassionate care to patients in a busy medical center, ensuring safety and comfort
  • Spearheaded the implementation of a new electronic medical records system, streamlining patient data collection and storage
  • Collaborated with physicians and other healthcare professionals to develop and implement individualized patient care plans
  • Provided education and support to patients and families, helping them understand treatment plans and medications

Why this example passes:

  • Numbers and statistics add detail and quantify the results this rn delivers: 4% improvement and a class size of 20-25.
  • Good use of strong words and active language.
  • References specialized value cahier provides with “individualized lesson plans.”
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Bad example:

Emily Dickinson Elementary I Redmond, WA I 4/2022-present

  • Assisted patients with daily activities
  • Performed medical charting
  • Monitored vital signs
  • Answered patient questions and provided support

Why this example fails:

  • Lacks numbers or statistics.
  • Describes general tasks, not teaching achievements or career highlights.
  • Uses active verbs, but doesn’t focus on results.

RN resume skills examples

Here are 18 sample skills for rn:

  • Disease specialization
  • Supply Restocking
  • Patient Relations
  • Emergency Response
  • Family Education
  • Medication Administration
  • Care Planning
  • Wound Care
  • Appointment Scheduling
  • Medical Recordkeeping
  • Data Collection
  • ADL Assistance
  • Patient Monitoring
  • Treatment Planning
  • Resource Allocation
  • Staff Supervision
  • Case Management
  • Complex Problem-Solving

You should sprinkle skills and abilities throughout your resume. Include them in your professional summary, work experience blurbs and a dedicated skills section.

Examples of additional resume sections

Your RN resume must include five main sections: contact information, professional summary, work experience, skills and education. However, you can continue customizing your resume with additional sections for any other qualifications you possess.

Here are some examples of optional rn resume sections that you could add to provide greater detail:

  • Certifications
  • References
  • Additional skills
  • Photo
  • Overview
  • Professional skills
  • Soft skills
  • Accomplishments

Ensure you only share relevant qualifications in your resume’s additional sections. Better to have a concise resume that’s quick to read!

Examples of resume formats

A resume format refers to how a resume’s parts are organized. There are three resume formats: chronological, functional or combination.

The main difference among them is whether or not they give more visual weight to your work history or to your skills section. The format you should select for your resume is based on your years of work experience as a rn.

How to choose a resume format

0-3
Years of experience

Functional formats

  • Focus on skills.
  • Best for first-time rn who lack work experience.
  • Good for people re-entering workforce.
  • May omit dates in the work history section.
Organization:
  • Skills listed above work experience.

3-10
Years of experience

Combination formats

  • Balance skills and work history.
  • Ideal for mid-career rn.
  • Suitable for career changers and people seeking promotion.
Organization:
  • Skills next to or above work experience.

10+
Years of experience

Chronological formats

  • Put the most focus on work history.
  • Best for rn with a long, steady career.
  • Most popular format.
  • Preferred by recruiters.
Organization:
  • Work experience listed above skills.
Once you know the best format for you, it’s easy to pick a rn resume template. Templates are preformatted layouts created by design professionals to ensure your resume looks amazing!

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