Write a Nursing Resume
If you are a nurse and are looking for a new job, the first thing you need is a well written resume. A good resume will get the employer's attention and highlight your marketable skills to get you a great nursing job. Here are the steps on how to write a resume.
Contents
Steps
- Type your contact information at the top of the page.
- List your name, address and phone number. You can choose to include an email address as well. This personal information can be typed to be centered or aligned to the left hand side of the paper.
- List your employment history.
- Start with the most recent position and list the rest in reverse chronological order. There is no set resume format for what contact information you need to list. You can choose to include the dates you were employed at each position, the location of the business, and your supervisor's name.
- Describe your responsibilities and duties at each position, highlighting those that are pertinent to the new position that you are applying for. It is good to include descriptions of the units you work at and what types of patients you have cared for. It is important to showcase your good attributes, without too many words in each description.
- List your education history.
- Name your degrees and other licenses. Be sure to include any honors, extracurricular activities and scholarships you may have had, especially if they pertain to nursing. Since this is a nursing resume, you should list your nursing training and internships as well. Include the names of the schools you attended, and the dates you obtained the certifications.
- Add additional information.
- You can choose to include references at the end of your resume. You can list a personal reference if you would like, but be sure to have at least one professional reference. You can also list desired position information for your prospective employers such as shifts you are available to work and minimum salary requirement.
- Write a cover letter for your nursing resume.
- Adding a cover letter can make your resume more professional and more noticeable. Start by dating the cover letter and type out the addressee's name and position, and the company name and address.
- Next, start the body of the letter with "Dear (name)." Use the addressee's name if you know it, or you can use the general title of the person doing the hiring.
- State why you are writing, and what position you are applying for. Briefly state your qualifications but do not go into too much detail as your resume should showcase them for you. Close by mentioning how to contact you and by asking for an interview.
Tips
- Use spell check; spelling mistakes will not win any favours with prospective employers.
- New nursing graduates without any nursing experience should put the education section before their experience section to highlight their degree.
