Nursing Resumes That Get Hired: 5 Must-Have Elements for Success

Travis Bullock
Mar 9
4 min read

So, you’re ready to land that dream nursing job, huh? You’ve survived nursing school, conquered clinical rotations, and now it’s time to take on the real world. There’s just one tiny problem:

Your resume looks like it was written at 3 AM, fueled by caffeine and existential dread.

Don’t worry—we’ve all been there. The good news? You’re in the right place. Crafting a killer nursing resume isn’t about throwing every vital sign you’ve ever charted onto a page and hoping for the best. There’s a strategy to this, and we’re about to break it down into five must-have elements that will get your resume noticed, shortlisted, and hired.

1. A Clear and Professional Layout (Because Recruiters Have No Time for Chaos)

Let’s be honest—hiring managers spend about 6 seconds looking at your resume before deciding whether to keep reading or toss it into the digital abyss. That means your layout needs to be clean, professional, and easy to skim.

What NOT to do:

A font that requires a microscope to read

A layout that looks like it was designed by a toddler with a crayon

A 6-page life story that details every single IV line you’ve ever started

What TO do:

Stick to one page (unless you have years of experience)

Use a professional font (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman—basically nothing that screams “Comic Sans”)

Make key sections stand out with clear headings and bullet points

Why it works:A clean resume layout makes it easier for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and recruiters to scan for important details quickly. If they can’t find the information they need within seconds, they’re moving on.

2. A Killer Summary That Grabs Attention (Like a Code Blue, But Less Stressful)

Your resume summary is prime real estate. It’s the first thing recruiters read, and it sets the tone for everything else.

This is NOT the place to say:"I am a highly motivated individual looking for a job where I can utilize my skills." - BORING.

Instead, make it specific, powerful, and tailored to the job you want.

Example:

“Dedicated Registered Nurse with experience in high-acuity settings, passionate about patient advocacy and delivering exceptional care. Skilled in rapid assessment, medication administration, and team collaboration. Seeking to bring my expertise to a dynamic emergency department team.”

Why it works:It highlights your strengths, shows personality, and tells employers what you bring to the table—all in two or three powerful sentences.

3. Clinical Experience That Speaks to the Job (No Need to List Every Bed Bath You’ve Given)

Here’s where new grad nurses get stuck. If you’re fresh out of school, you might think, “But I don’t have experience!”

Wrong. Clinical rotations count.

Instead of listing every hospital you rotated through, focus on the most relevant experience to the job you’re applying for.

Example:

Clinical Rotations – ICU & Med-Surg

XYZ Medical Center | Spring 2024

Provided direct patient care, including medication administration and wound care, under RN supervision
Assisted in rapid assessments and developed strong clinical judgment in high-acuity settings
Communicated with interdisciplinary teams to enhance patient outcomes

Why it works:It proves you have hands-on experience and shows you understand the job. Plus, it’s tailored to the role, which is exactly what employers want.

4. Skills That Matter (Because “Loves Coffee” Isn’t Resume-Worthy)

Hiring managers scan for key nursing skills—but they don’t want a random laundry list of every skill you might have.

Tailor your skills to the job you want.

Pro tip: Look at the job description and mirror the skills they mention (as long as you actually have them).

Example:

Critical Thinking & Rapid Assessment

IV Insertion & Medication Administration

Electronic Health Records (Epic, Cerner, Meditech)

Patient & Family Education

BLS & ACLS Certified

Why it works:Instead of fluff, this section directly aligns with what employers are looking for. More matches = a higher chance of getting an interview.

5. The Secret Sauce: Keywords for ATS (Because Robots Are Part of Hiring Now)

Most hospitals use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes before a human even looks at them. If your resume doesn’t have the right keywords, it could get rejected before it reaches an actual recruiter.

How to beat the ATS:

Look at the job posting
Identify important keywords (like "patient care," "IV therapy," "medication administration")
Naturally incorporate those words into your resume

Example:

Instead of: "Took care of patients and helped with meds"

Use: "Provided patient-centered care, including medication administration, IV therapy, and wound care in an acute care setting."

Why it works:It matches ATS filters while keeping your resume natural and professional.

Final Thoughts: Ready to Stand Out?

Your nursing resume should tell a clear, compelling story of who you are, what you bring to the table, and why you’re the best candidate for the job.

But if writing your resume feels like trying to insert an IV in a shaking patient during a code, Scrub to Success has your back.

Let us craft a resume that gets you noticed! Check out our resume packages and mock interview coaching to take the stress out of your job search. Because your career deserves more than a last-minute Word doc.