INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nursing positions are at a 9% growth rate, which is as fast as average. With that said, there are currently 3,080,100 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 276,800 to 3,356,900 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Nursing jobs was $75,330 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $53,410, and the highest 10% more than $116,230.
Our conclusion? The Nursing job market is wide open for candidates.
Top clinical nurse sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to write a clinical nurse resume experience section
Clinical nurse resume's job experience checklist:
- Use 4-6 bullet points per job title;
- Don’t go further than a decade behind when describing your job history, unless you’re applying for an executive position;
- Combine job responsibilities as well as achievements with numbers in results when you describe your past work;
- Start each sentence with a power verb and avoid overused buzzwords;
- Use either C-A-R or S-T-A-R methodology, when describing your experience.
The work experience samples below come from real Clinical Nurse resumes that got people hired at top companies. You can use them as an inspiration to build your own resume:
- Manage critical care devices such as CRRT, intra-aortic balloon pumps, Impella devices, LVADs, EKOs, and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) devices
- Ventilator management as well as evaluating spontaneous breathing trials and extubation readiness criteria
- Primary RN in the post anesthesia recovery and management of all cardiac, thoracic and heart/lung transplant surgeries
- Manage patients on vasoactive, inotropic, paralytic and sedation drips, as well as administering post-operative drug reversals
- Assist with insertion, set up, and management of hemodynamic monitoring systems including Swan-Gantz catheters, arterial lines, central lines, chest tubes, tracheotomy insertions, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy insertion, scopes, and emergent ECMO cannulation
- Monitor noninvasive and invasive hemodynamics, interpret and communicate data with providing team to enhance patient outcome and goals
- Leadership
- Currently orienting into role of Critical Care Lead Nurse, a role designed on our unit for experienced, CCRN trained nurses to assist new nurses with critically ill patients, as well as orienting as Charge RN
- Manage critically ill patients often involving Level 1 Traumas, intubation, conscious sedation, mass blood transfusion, arterial lines insertion and central line insertion
- Initiate and manage vasoactive, sedation and paralytic drips as well as assisting with chest tubes, needle decompression, paracentesis, peritoneal dialysis, and overdose reversal
- Primary nurse and first assist for acute emergencies such as malignant hyperthermia, pnemothoracies, cardiac tamponade, emergency thoracotomies, acute strokes, aortic dissections, severe burns, myocardial infarctions and CPR/ACLS
- 1 of 5 hired through the competitive New Graduate Nurse Residency Program
- Triage trained to rapidly identify and assess patients allowing the autonomy of ordering EKGs, labs and emergent CT based on patient presentation. Additionally trained in triage for mass casualties and chemical hazards
- LEADERSHIP
- Served on the New Graduate Nurse Residency Education Committee as Unit Sepsis Specialist
- Executed daily goals and care plans for up to 5 surgical patients during the day and up to 8 patients at night.
- Reviewed physician orders and monitored patients pre-operativevly as well as postoperatively, set up PCA, if required for pain management, initiate IV fluids and oriented patients to unit
- Managed care from admission to discharge including but not limited to wound care, ostomy care, drain care, PICC lines and parental nutrition.
- Administered oral medications, Intravenous, subcutaneous and intramuscular medications and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
- Provided care to post-op patients, ensuring to encourage nutrition and ambulation, assessing for bladder retention and communicating to the surgeons any concerning assessment that would require necessary intervention and obtain orders for the same.
- Efficient in providing care after bowel surgeries, jaw surgeries, general surgeries, as well as patients under physician service of urology, gynecology and orthopedics.
- Performed Foley catheterization in both male and female patients with success, maintaining sterilized technique
- Nasogastric tube insertions and removed JP drain/sutures/staples.
- Conferred with physicians to discuss diagnoses and devise well-coordinated treatment approaches.
- Communicated medical information and discharge instructions to patients and families to reduce return visits.
- Performed direct patient care on the Dementia/Alzheimer's unit in a Long Term Care facility, assisting residents with medications, behavioural assessment, as well as head-to toe nursing assessment.
- Diligently practiced good sanitation and sterile techniques to avoid infection and the spread of contagious illnesses.
- Advocated and participated in maintaining patients' skin integrity
- Supervised and assigned work to Personal Support Workers on the floor.
- Efficient at documentation using Electronic medical record system (Point Click Care).
- Demonstrated strong assessment skills on assigned patients and reported any abnormal findings immediately
- Collaborated with respiratory therapist, physiotherapists, pharmacists and other members of the health care team to provide patient-centered care in an interdisciplinary team
- Efficiently practiced nursing skills under supervision like medication administration, wound care including VAC dressings, removal of sutures/staples, tracheostomy care, management of drains and insertion sites
- NG tube insertion, and Foley catheter insertion in both male and female patients with success
- Efficiently documented admission, transfer and discharge notes on assigned patients
- Proficiently managed chest tubes and witnessed a bed-side chest tube insertion as well as its removal
- Became familiar with the use and maintenance of a PICC line and its dressing change, and administered TPN feeds under supervision.
- Assisted in receiving patients from PACU and OR and monitored condition postoperatively. Focused on pain management and became familiar with PCA for post-op patients. Assisted and monitored patients receiving blood transfusions
- Assisted patients in activities of daily living such as incontinence care, mobility and bathing
- Ddemonstrated proper donning and doffing of Personal Protective Equipment and maintained isolation precautions
- Practiced interpersonal skills of empathy and compassion with patients and their families.
- Experience with Pyxis medication distribution machine and computer charting - EChart and PCIS.
- Provided pre-operative and post-operative care to patients.
- Controlling critical and stressful situation.
- Ensuring and maintaining a clean environment in the post-operative ward.
- Monitor and maintain inventory and supply levels; prepare and submit supply replenishment orders to maintain par levels.
- Changing dressings, inserting catheters, and starting IVs.
- Answering questions and educating patients and their families on surgical procedures and post-surgery care.
- Adhere to proper safety and sterilization protocols and techniques to ensure infection control.
- Assessed signs and symptoms indicating physiologic and psychosocial changes in the patient’s condition.
- Maintaining effective interdisciplinary communication processes.
- Collected, analyzed, and interpreted data and information from health care members and documents actual and potential nursing diagnoses.
- Prepares and administers (orally, subcutaneously, through an IV) and records prescribed medications.
- Collaborate with laboratory personnel and report lab findings to doctors.
- Management of care under contact, droplet, and airborne isolation precautions.
- Responds to life-saving situations based upon nursing standards and protocol.
- Consults and coordinates with health care team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care plans.
- Highly proficient clinical skills: IV Starts, pushes, drips, 12-lead EKG, cardiac monitors, blood monitoring, transfusions, central line care, drawing blood gasses (arterial and venous).
- Records patients’ medical information and vital signs .
- Monitors and adjusts specialized equipment used on patients, and interprets and records electronic displays.
- Assisted patients with bathing, maintaining personal hygiene, moving in bed, standing and walking.
- Teaches patients and significant others how to manage their illness/injury, by explaining: post-treatment home care needs.
- Valuable experience in critical thinking, analyzing, and planning.
- Assessment skills with teamwork and collaboration.
- ~ 288 hours of Theory in relationship to nursing.
- `800 Clinical experience hours on the floor with patient care.
- Provide the basic activities of daily living to residents, and create an environment that is caring, provides privacy, and dignity.
- Complete and record vital signs including activities of daily living.
- Nutrition, elimination monitor, and monitoring intake and output.
- Provide personal hygiene and grooming.
- comfort and privacy; Protect patient privacy and maintain confidentiality, keep call signals within patient's reach, answer call signal promptly.
- Safety and precautions by carry out isolation precautions, practice medical asepsis and infection control, practice standard precautions, and observe oxygen precautions.
- Dedicated NCM for The Home Depot
- Medical and disability case manager, applying medical treatment guidelines, reviewing medical treatment requests, providing teaching to associates, providing medical opinions and collaborating with claims adjusters on claim direction. Ensuring quality care and return to work plans,
- Easily Adapted to new THD role, flexible, quick-learner, team player
- Manager: Amanda Razzouk
- Operating Room Nurse, Medical/Surgical Floor Nurse, Intensive Care Nurse
- Full time nurse in 2011, currently per-diem ICU nurse 1 shift per month
- Committees: Nurse Peer Review, Women's Health Committee
- Heart foundation Ambassador 2017
- Promoting and performing healthy heart checks
- Responsible for maintenance of medical supplies, medications, cold chain management and triaging.
- Providing education and advocating for patients .
- Performing observations, ECG's, spirometry and venepuncture our patients.
- Working overnight in a 24 emergency clinic, quick thinking, problem solving, team work and stamina are essential skills.
- Helped over 40 mothers with malnourished children by giving health education
- Obtain health history and current concerns, record patient vitals, and perform a brief assessment on up to 30 patients per day
- Performed physical assessment and routinely monitored vital signs of patients enrolled in the radiation treatment plan.
- Assisted the radiologist/oncologist of the precise radiation treatment plan.
- Worked with radiology therapist/oncologist to deliver radiation therapy through External Beam Radiation Therapy and Internal Radiation Therapy.
- Fostered care and support for the patients regarding both the physical and emotional difficulties brought on by cancer and radiation therapy.
- Monthly report and evaluation of ICU patients status to Nursing Service Department.
- Allocating budget and resources to provide quality care for patients while maximizing unit income and minimizing capital expenses of the area efficiently.
- Evaluate work performances, organizing monthly staff meeting, establishing work schedule and recommendation for ICU staff.
- Providing support to patients’ family and extended care circle as part of holistic care approach, including cases of terminal prognosis
- Recognising and early response to signs of patient clinical deterioration
- Functioned as a Team Leader responsible for: - Shift coordination - Coordinating complex patient care - Directing and maintaining staff roles (including skill mix delegation) - Understanding and maintaining the eight national standards within nursing practice
- Provide acute care management, ongoing research & education, and systematic care & plans to inpatient/outpatient cardiac patients.
- Provide and coordinate care for pre-heart transplant or mechanical circulatory support screening and evaluation.
- Support NP team program growth endeavors by increasing numbers of NP patient clinics as well as collaborating with residents/fellows.
- Management of patients with CardioMems PA sensor implant, anticoagulation, and chronic care management.
- Provide intensive care services including diagnosing, treating, and managing acute conditions in the Intensive Care Unit in collaboration with physicians.
- Provide procedural services including Accu-cath and PICC line insertions.
- Management of patients in the ICU including ordering lab work, diagnostics studies, treatment therapies, and medication management.
- Provided high-quality care to a variety of intensive care patients including post-stroke, TIA, aneurysm repairs, pneumonia, sepsis, ARDS, and vascular surgeries.
- Assisted the physicians with bedside procedures including ventriculostomy/ EVD placements, EGD, colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, and cardioversion.
- Collaborated with members of the interdisciplinary team to ensure quality patient care.
- Advocated for patient safety in compliance with national patient safety goals.
- Management of patients with vasoactive drips and life sustaining devices.
PRO TIP
Include quantitative data throughout your Clinical Nurse resume to impress the hiring manager. Real facts and figures that show off your competency as an audit manager go a long way. Did you reduce the costs of audits? Manage a large team? Boosted efficiency? Show off the real numbers!
Action verbs for your clinical nurse resume
Recommended reads:
Clinical Nurse Resume Skills’ Tips & Tricks to Impress Recruiters
Resume skills section checklist:
- Ensure your hard skills section (including technologies) are exactly matching the job description.
- Don’t simply list your soft skills. Apply the “show, don’t tell” principle - let your job achievements speak for themselves.
- Find a way to showcase your skills beyond the skills section.
- Your resume’s skill section is important to ATS systems - so don’t skip it.
Top skills for your clinical nurse resume
Excel
CPR
Bilingual
Cannulation
BSL
Scout/Scrub
Patient care
ACLS
Customer service
Communication
Compassion
Patience
Flexibility, adaptability, and emotional stability
Proactive, ethical, and responsible nature
Honesty
Team-player
Strong work ethic
Time management
PRO TIP
When describing your experience, don’t go too far from its terminology. Recruiters use ATS systems to filter resumes based on them having certain keywords, so make sure you use at least a few keywords mentioned in the job description.
Clinical nurse resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your clinical nurse resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads.":
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your Clinical Nurse resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.
Clinical nurse resume summary best practices
Checklist: What to include in your Clinical Nurse resume summary:
- Years of experience;
- Highlight top 3 skills and proficiencies;
- One big professional accomplishment you’re most proud of, that you can tie with the aforementioned skills;
- Use short, direct sentences - but no more than three - to keep the HRs interested.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Your summary section should act as a brief but informative introduction to your experience section. In this section you should go into more depth about what you have done, and how you did it.
Recommended reads:
Listing your education, certifications and courses
resume education section checklist:
- Ensure your hard skills section (including technologies) are exactly matching the job description.
- Don’t simply list your soft skills. Apply the “show, don’t tell” principle - let your job achievements speak for themselves.
- Find a way to showcase your skills beyond the skills section.
- Your resume’s skill section is important to ATS systems - so don’t skip it.
Top Certifications for your Clinical Nurse Resume
[2022] Good Clinical Practice ICH GCP for Clinical Research
Certification on ICH GCP E6 R2 Good Clinical Practice for Clinical Research The Only Complete Course You Can Find Online
Good Clinical Practice (ICH GCP) for Clinical Research
An Introduction to Good Clinical Practice ICH GCP E6 (R2) for Investigators & Clinical Research Staff
The Simplest Guide to Clinical Trials Data Analysis with SAS
Step into the world of Pharmaceutical industry |Clinical Trials |Clinical Research |Biostatistics |Data Management| SAS
Clinical Research for beginners
The Art of Publishing - Master PubMed, Study design, Biostatistics, Journal choice, Manuscript writing & Referencing
Basic of Clinical Data Management
Clinical Data Management
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
How to write a clinical nurse resume
There are three basic resume formats you can choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional resume format;
- Hybrid (or Combination) resume format;
The most optimal format for your particular case will depend on your years of experience, as well as whether you’re switching industries or not.
Reverse chronological resumes are best suited for experienced individuals who are sticking to their industry. The experience section takes a central place, and its bullets contain your responsibilities and achievements, coupled with numbers and results.
Functional resumes are used by less experienced jobseekers or career changers. Note that it’s not a format that recruiters prefer, as most are used to the classic chronological alignment. Instead of a list of job titles, functional resumes focus on your skills, and through what experiences you gained them.
Hybrid resumes are great for both experienced and entry-level candidates, as well as career changers. They combine the best of both worlds - most often in a double column format, where one side of the content is focused on your experience, whereas the other - on your skills, strengths, and proudest moments.
Here are more resume tips regarding your layout and style:
- Clear and legible 12p resume font size;
- Use 10’’ resume margins - that’s default for a great resume design;
- Use a one-page template resume length if you’ve got less than 10 years of experience; otherwise, opt for a two-page resume;
- Save your resume as PDF before sending it to the recruiter.
To take it a step further, check out how your resume can stand out without leaning too much on the creative side.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Test your draft Clinical Nurse resume by sending it out to peers and mentors in your circles. Ask them to review it as if they are hiring you for a project and implement the feedback afterwards.
Other sections to include in your resume
Depending on the type of company (corporation or start-up; innovative or traditional), job seniority level and your location, you may want to include more sections to your Clinical Nurse resume:
Clinical nurse resume: how to make yours more creative & stand out
When you send your resume to a potential employer, chances are it's the fiftieth one they've seen that day. That's why you need to make your Clinical Nurse resume stand out for the right reasons. That means showing your personality, not just your professional experience. Employers are far more likely to remember a candidate who seems like a genuine person and not a robot. Do this by including your passions (which is also a great place to demonstrate skills on a resume), share your favorite books, or even what your usual day looks like.
What makes a great clinical nurse resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
