Registered Nurse (RN) Resume Example

Nursing resumes must be scannable and credential-forward. Make your license, specialties, and certifications impossible to miss.

Use clean formatting and concrete patient-care outcomes to stand out in a competitive field.

Surface license and certifications early
List clinical specialties clearly
Quantify patient load and outcomes

What to include

Your RN license, state, and any specialty certifications (BLS, ACLS, PALS).

Clinical settings you've worked in and the patient populations you served.

Measurable contributions to patient outcomes and unit efficiency.

Bullet points that work

Managed care for up to 6 acute patients per shift in a 32-bed med-surg unit.

Reduced medication errors 18% by championing a double-check protocol.

Common mistakes to avoid

Hiding certifications at the bottom of the page.

Generic duties instead of measurable patient outcomes.

Recommended templates for registered nurses

Willow resume template

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Harbor resume template

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Registered Nurse resume FAQs

Where do I put my nursing license?+

Near the top, ideally in a dedicated licenses & certifications section or the header.

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