Registered Nurse CV Example, Writing Tips & Questions

The contemporary job market can be quite competitive and difficult to navigate if you don’t know what you’re doing. One way to put yourself into a better position when you apply for your next great opportunity is to spruce up your CV. 

Employers use the CV to determine if they want to interview you, so it’s important to get it right. Look at our registered nurse CV example to get started on the right path for your document, or explore the rest of our examples on our CV examples page.

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Registered Nurse CV Template

Use this CV template for a registered nurse as a base, or check out or library of designs on our CV templates page.

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Registered nurse CV example (text version)

Miriam Stratford

Miami, FL 33101
555 555 555
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com

Summary Statement

Registered nurse with strong experience in delivering quality care to patients. Professional with more than eight years of practice in emergency room care, triage and post-surgical recovery. Strong knowledge of medicine, pharmacology and standards of care in the hospital or private practice setting. Caring and reliable person with a reputation for building a great rapport between medical providers and patients. Committed to making patients more informed and comfortable during their care.

Core Qualifications

  • Blood draw and sample collection
  • Patient condition monitoring
  • HIPAA compliance
  • PEPID software proficiency
  • Equipment and instrument sterilization
  • Intravenous therapy
  • Charting and documentation
  • Teamwork and conflict resolution

Education

June 2019
Florida International University Miami, FL
Master of Science Nursing

Concentration in Nursing Administration

June 2014
Florida International University Miami, FL
Bachelor of Science Nursing

Work Experience

November 2020 – Current
HCA Florida Mercy Hpspital – Miami, FL
Lead Registered Nurse

  • Treat and care for patients after major surgical procedures by monitoring vital signs, administering medication and cleaning surgical areas.
  • Collaborate with 10 physicians, case managers, families and other staff members when developing a plan for care and treatment during the hospital stay.
  • Work as a supervisor for the unit and floor and help train 12 new nursing students who are completing their internship duties.

September 2017 – October 2020
HCA Florida Kendal Hospital – Miami, FL
Registered Nurse

  • Noted 150 patient’s physical condition, vital signs, daily routine and medication schedule in the urgent care department during serious illnesses or injuries.
  • Responded to emergency situations where patients are in life-threatening conditions by following the correct procedure and maintaining a calm and effective demeanor.
  • Recognized by fellow staff as the employee of the month for several months due to strong commitment to service and quality care.

June 2014 – August 2017
Elevance Health – Miami, FL
Nurse

  • Recorded information about an average of 100 patients as they recovered from illness in the hospital, such as diet, physical activity, milestones and more.
  • Followed a treatment plan and medication schedule ordered by the doctor and assessed patient pain levels during the hospital stay.
  • Led an initiative with the hospital to improve patient, family and medical staff communication by conducting community workshops to facilitate suggestions.

Relevant Skills

  • Dedicated patient advocate, which has me putting the needs and care of the patient above everything else.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills since much of this job requires speaking to patients kindly and discussing care with other medical staff.
  • Expert multitasker and highly organized, making it easier for me to manage several patients on my caseload.
  • Respected team player throughout my career, equipping me with the right mindset to want to offer anything I can to help improve patient outcomes.
  • Excellent integrity and honesty when dealing with sensitive subjects and situations related to patients.

Certifications

Registered Nurse (RN) – (Updated 2022)

Languages

  • English
    Native or Bilingual
  • Spanish
    Full Professional
  • French
    Limited Working

Hobbies and Interests

During my days off, I enjoy cooking and baking. I have entered several amateur baking contests focusing on making exotic cakes or cupcakes. I was a contestant on a top baking competition show on the Food Network channel called Cupcake Wars. Most of the time, I bake cakes and treats for my friends or family or special occasions.

Top 4 characteristics of a best-in-class registered nurse CV

  1. Professional summary

    Start your registered nurse CV with a professional summary that perfectly matches the job description. Read what the employer listed as key requirements and highlight your top skills and experience in the professional summary. It’s the best way to catch their attention and motivate them to continue reading immediately.

  2. Skills

    The best CVs have a mixture of hard and soft skills listed in the skills section. You should include between six and eight skills relevant to the job.. For a comprehensive list of skills to include, read our Top Skills article.

  3. Work history

    Your work history section should be filled with major responsibilities and accomplishments instead of daily tasks. Mention the average number of patients you helped during the week, how many nurses you managed and the different departments you collaborated with, like our registered nurse CV example. Check out our How to Write a Perfect Work Experience article for more on this topic.

  4. Education

    As you see on the registered nurse CV sample, the mandatory information includes the name of your school, the date of graduation, and the type of degree you earned. You do not need anything besides this information, although some opt for more. Do not mention your GPA unless the employer requests it.

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Action verbs for your registered nurse CV

Every CV for a registered nurse should include action verbs that elevate each statement. Consider some of the action verbs below:

  • Prepared
  • Educated
  • Rehabilitated
  • Supported
  • Coordinated
  • Organized
  • Evaluated
  • Inspected
  • Monitored
  • Instructed
  • Informed
  • Optimized

Use our CV maker to write action verbs in your registered nurse CV.

Skills for your registered nurse CV

As a registered nurse, you might be great at many things, but you should only list the skills most relevant to the job. Here are some skills you can include in your registered nurse CV:

  • Preventative health
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Intravenous therapy
  • Time management
  • Chronic disease management
  • Staff supervision
  • Great organization
  • Precepting
  • Feeding assistance
  • Empathy
  • Infection control and aseptic procedures
  • Kantime software
  • Triaging
  • Shared governance

Certifications to include in your registered nurse CV

All registered nurses must be certified and licensed by their state to work. Besides the required credentials, you can also obtain certifications in other areas of nursing to demonstrate your expertise. There are many certifications available:

  • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (A-GNP)
  • Advanced HIV/AIDS Certified Registered Nurse (AACRN)
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist; Wellness through Acute Care (Adult-Gerontology) (ACCNS-AG)
  • Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP-BC)
  • Advanced Diabetes Management (ADM-BC)
  • Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C)
  • Advanced Forensic Nursing (AFN-BC)
  • Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse (AOCN)
  • Advanced Holistic Nurse, Board Certified (AHN-BC)
  • Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS)
  • Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN)
  • Certified Breastfeeding Counselor (CBC)
  • Certified Breast Care Nurse (CBCN)
  • Certified Childbirth Educator (CCE)

There are two primary ways to include this information on your CV. First, you can simply include your certifications in your skills section. This is the most common method. 

Alternatively, you can create an entirely new section for this information at the end of your CV. Some opt to combine many aspects into a single section, such as “Affiliations and Certifications.” Referring to the registered nurse CV sample can show you some of the best methods for including your certifications and how to format them correctly.

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Registered nurse CV FAQ

  1. 1. What is a CV for a nurse?

    A nursing CV is the equivalent of a nursing resume. It’s an application document that outlines your skills, work experience, and education to allow employers to see that you have the required credentials and licenses to perform the duties of a nurse.

  2. 2. What sections should you include in your registered nurse CV?

    The formatting of your CV is surprisingly important. If you do not include the right sections, many hiring managers may skip your CV entirely. Check out the registered nurse CV sample to be sure you are organizing your information correctly.

    Standard CV format guides hiring managers through your CV effectively. It starts with a summary statement to hook their attention and then leads them quickly through your skills section into your experience information, which describes your previous jobs in great detail. Your CV should then close with a brief education section.

  3. 3. What’s the best way to show you work well in a team on a registered nurse CV?

    Because teamwork is such an important quality for registered nurses, incorporate this aspect into every section of your CV. Mention it in your summary and include it as a dedicated bullet point in your skills section. Most importantly, list a few examples of working within a team in your experience section. 

    It is more difficult to incorporate this aspect in your education section, but it is still possible by describing a group project or other case of cooperative work while you were in school. You can learn more by examining the registered nurse CV sample.

  4. 4. What are some tips for creating a great registered nurse CV?

    A career in nursing can be highly rewarding. Here are some ways to get your registered nurse CV to reflect your passion and talent in this line of work:

    • Give details about some of the specific settings you have worked in as a registered nurse to help the employer see how you could fit into their organization.
    • Highlight other talents with patient interaction, and demonstrate your compassion and patience as a healthcare provider.
    •  List any other accomplishments you have achieved as a registered nurse to show how your work stands alone as exceptional.
    • Position yourself as unique with details about how you have helped your past workplaces.
    • Avoid including any details about your personal life, political leanings, or other unnecessary information to make your CV more professional.

  5. 5. What’s the best length for a registered nurse CV?

    The length of your CV is another surprisingly important aspect that you need to manage carefully. If it is too long, hiring managers may not get all the way through it, but if it is too short it can look like you are not as qualified. Including one full page for every 10 years of working experience is a good rule of thumb. As well as consulting the registered nurse CV sample, using our builder is a quick and effortless way to ensure you meet length expectations.

Do’s and don’ts for your registered nurse CV

  • Use measurable achievements to describe your registered nurse skills and experience.
  • Use action words to make an impact on your registered nurse CV.
  • Tailor your CV to your target registered nurse job.
  • Use keywords from the job description throughout your registered nurse CV.
  • Format your registered nurse CV so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
  • Lie about your nursing experience and skills.
  • Boast about your “incomparable” registered nurse abilities.
  • Include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
  • Add skills and experience that do not pertain to nursing
  • Forget to proofread. A registered nurse CV with errors is unprofessional.

Top 4 tips for interviews for a registered nurse job

  1. Know the healthcare facility.

    Go beyond researching the organization and learning its history. Healthcare facilities are usually big and very confusing, so if you can’t go a few days before to familiarize yourself with the space, we recommend arriving an extra 20 minutes early to the interview so you don’t get lost. The last thing you want is to arrive late because you went down the wrong hallway.

  2. Rehearse your answers.

    As a registered nurse, you might have an idea of the type of job-related questions they’re going to ask. Make a list with these questions, as well as common interview questions, and practice at home. Going in prepared with potential answers will help you not feel as nervous.

    Here are some common questions you can consider:

  3. Ask questions at the end of the interview.

    An interview isn’t just a space for the hiring manager to get to know you, it’s also a chance for you to get to know the organization better. That’s why it’s important to ask them questions at the end of the interview; so that if they do decide to hire you, you’ll be able to make an informed decision. Here are a couple of questions you can ask:

    • Can you tell me about your staffing ratios?
    • What’s your policy on overtime?
    • What’s your requirement for weekend rotation?

  4. Get your references ready.

    It’s very rare for a registered nurse CV to include professional references or the phrase “References available upon request.” Instead, nowadays recruiters or hiring managers will ask you for a separate document with your references, so have it saved and ready to send.

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