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 surgical nurse sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to write a surgical nurse resume experience section
Surgical nurse resume experience: checklist
- Use either chronological or reverse-chronological format when listing your previous jobs;
- Mention only relevant positions that add value to your resume;
- Briefly state the challenges you’ve faced and how you’ve overcome them;
- Highlight the results from your efforts (for bonus points, add numbers, percentage rates, etc.);
- Forget about buzzwords! Use power verbs instead.
Use the examples below to build your own experience section!
- 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
Show off real numbers that display your accomplishments in past roles. Instead of listing out your responsibilities as Surgical Nurse, talk about the measurable impact you made to their business. Did you boost their revenue? Increase customer retention? Mention your proudest points on your resume.
Action verbs for your surgical nurse resume
Recommended reads.":
surgical nurse resume: the skills section!
How to write a strong surgical nurse resume skills section?
- Make sure to include all types of skills - soft, hard, technical;
- Focus on skills that show your expertise in the field;
- Check the job description for keywords and make sure to add them to your resume – this will help you pass ATS;
- Leave room for discussion – elaborate on some of your strongest skills in other sections of your resume
Top skills for your surgical 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.
Recommended reads.":
Surgical nurse resume header: Tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your surgical 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 policies about identifying information like photos on your Surgical Nurse resume. Be sure to check all the relevant rules before submitting yours. If you’re in doubt, you can always try contacting the company’s HR department to ask for their policy.
A career summary for your surgical nurse resume
Things to include in your surgical nurse resume summary:
- Your total years of experience in the industry;
- 2-3 of your most remarkable achievements so far;
- How your experience relates to the position you’re applying for;
- A very brief description of your strengths.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Your summary should act as an elevator speech, briefly promoting how you will benefit the employer if hired. Pitch your strengths in the summary and expand on them in your Surgical Nurse experience section. Give examples like how your work benefited each employer.
Recommended reads.
Surgical Nurse Resume: The Education Section
Things to include in your resume's education section:
- Your highest education degree – including course, year of graduation, institution;
- Awards received as part of your education;
- Extracurricular activities that have helped you gain relevant skills;
- Certifications that have helped you master new skills and increase your expertise;
- Entry-level applicants only: relevant courses and projects.
Top certifications for your surgical nurse resume
Maths For Nurses
Pass your drug calculations test with ease
Nursing Professionals Get Motivated! Motivation For Nurses
A Month Of Encouragement For Nurses and Those In Nursing School Taking Nursing Courses
National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses SET 2
Pass the NCLEX-PN certification on the first attempt. 395 questions
Family Nurse Practitioner Exam Preparation and Study Guide
Prepare for the AANP or ANCC exam and learn how to transition into a Practicing Nurse Practitioner
UK Dr/Nurse skill Diploma-ABG,ACLS,BLS,X ray, ECG
ABG, ACLS, BLS, X ray, ECG for UK - PLAB/MRCP
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PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
Choosing the right format for your surgical nurse resume
In general, there are three basic formats for your resume:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Some things to consider when choosing the right format for your Surgical Nurse resume include the stage of your career, whether you have all the right skills required for the job or are looking for an industry change, and what field you’re looking to grow in.
The reverse-chronological resume format is the most common one. It lets you describe your most recent job and then move backward. This makes it great for people who have around or less than 10 years of experience and are looking to highlight only their work-related skills and qualities.
If you’re just starting your career journey and reverse-chronological resumes sound too demanding, go for the functional resume format. It’s ideal for showcasing your strengths, personal qualities, skills, education, and the courses you’ve taken, without putting too much pressure on experience and expertise.
Don’t worry if neither of these sounds suitable for you – the hybrid or combination resume format will surely match your needs. It’s similar to the reverse-chronological, but with a catchy twist. Combination or hybrid resumes are great for showcasing both your experience and work-related skills and your personal qualities. Add a “What my day looks like” section for enhancing the jaw-dropping experience!
Here are some more things worth remembering when it comes to formatting your Surgical Nurse resume:
- Choose standard 1-inch resume margins;
- Go for traditional resume fonts sized 10-12p;
- Match the length of your Surgical Nurse resume with your experience – choose a one-page template if you have less than 10 years of experience, and be careful with two-page templates – use them only when applying for executive positions;
- Save your resume in PDF to avoid formatting issues and potential unauthorized editing.
Tired of getting rejected? Check out this article on how to craft a resume that stands out!
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you feel that you don’t have high chances in a particular company, due to lack of relevant experience, then you can still consider using a creative layout. That might help you get noticed and invited for an interview, as most of the other applicants will have boring resume designs.
Other sections suitable for your surgical nurse resume
Depending on the position and the industry, you can spice your resume up by adding some more sections. They will help the recruiter get a glimpse of who you are as a person, besides all your job-related skills and qualities.
Here are some examples:
How to add creativity to your surgical nurse resume
Gone are the days when creative resumes were frowned upon by recruiters!
What’s more, the right amount of creativity will make recruiters remember you and want to learn more about who you are – both as an individual and as a professional.
There are two ways to build a creative resume - add creative sections or go for a more creative design approach in general. Go for whatever suits you, the position, and the industry most!
What makes a great surgical 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.
