Introducing

How to Write a CV as a Nurse: A Guide for the Incoming or Experienced

Nurse CV blueprint: Skills, summary, quals, experience, education.

Young nurse
Young nurse

Step 1: Create a Table of Contents and List Relevant Skills

Begin by creating a table of contents that outlines the different sections of your CV. Next, list all relevant skills, including communication skills, leadership experience, knowledge of medical software programs, or fluency in another language. Make sure your resume is clear about what you are qualified for but also specific enough to differentiate between the various roles available within nursing.

Step 2: Write a Professional Summary

Your professional summary is a brief paragraph at the beginning of your CV that introduces you to the hiring team. In this section, highlight your skill set, education, and experience. Your summary should be attention-grabbing so that hiring managers read the rest of your resume.

Step 3: List Your Qualifications

Creating a list of qualifications is another important section to include on any nurse's CV. Describe abilities such as assessing patient needs or performing resuscitation procedures. This will allow employers to see how skilled nurses are at their job and what they bring to an organization in terms of added value.

Step 4: Organize Your Skills and Work History

Nurse resumes typically have two sections: skills & competencies and work history/experience. These parts may vary slightly depending upon where you want to apply for a position, but most likely there will be some overlap between these categories.

Step 5: Highlight Your Education and Training

Employers typically require nurses to have a specific academic background, so it's helpful to include this in your nurse resume. For example, if you have a nursing degree or diploma, it is important to highlight this on your CV so that employers can see how qualified you are right away. If you don't want to include all of the details about these qualifications, just list them at the very beginning under education and training.

Step 6: Make Connections Between Previous Positions and Skills

If possible, try making connections between previous positions and what skills they provided for future employment opportunities. This will give potential employers an idea as to where their organization could benefit from hiring a new employee with relevant experience.

Step 7: Review Your CV

Before completing your CV, review your document to ensure it's ready to submit to an employer. Consider checking the following elements of your CV to increase your chances of getting hired:

  • Grammar and spelling errors
  • Formatting and font consistency
  • Clarity and readability

Final Thoughts

If you are interested in getting a job as a nurse, it's important to create an effective CV that illustrates your relevant skills. Learning what to include in your nurse CV can help your target employer learn about your credentials, educational background, and work experience. An effective CV can also influence hiring managers to contact you for an interview. Use this guide to create a standout nurse CV that will help you land the job you want.