The Top Nursing Skills for Your Resume

The nursing profession is essential and, in the face of ongoing nursing shortages, having the right nursing skills for resume remains incredibly important. Nursing is a stable career as the nation's largest healthcare profession with over 200,000 jobs for registered nurses projected each year.

This growth is due to several factors, including an aging population, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and advances in healthcare technology. As a result, the job market for nurses is becoming more competitive, with many qualified applicants competing for the same position.

In this article, we’ll discuss why the right nursing skills are essential for your resume, the importance of your skills in the job market, and how showcasing them can help you stand out from other applicants. We’ll also share with you the top nursing skills to list on a resume and show you how to add skills to your resume summary and work experience.

Nursing Skills for a Resume: What You Need to Know

Employers seek candidates who not only have the necessary education, certifications, and experience but also possess skills that allow them to provide top-notch nursing care and services. Showcasing your nursing skills on your resume is essential to differentiate yourself from other applicants. By requirement, many nursing professionals have similar education and certifications, but your unique combination of technical and soft skills can set you apart.

When listing nurse skills for your resume, highlight your most relevant qualities and strengths that demonstrate your ability to provide high-quality patient care and contribute to a positive work environment. Using action verbs and specific examples, such as advised or treated, can help you make a lasting impression on potential employers so that you move to their list of preferred candidates to interview.

Whether you are a new graduate or an experienced nursing professional, showcasing the right soft and technical nursing resume skills is critical for landing your dream job. In the following sections, we will discuss the specific skills you should include on your resume and how to highlight them effectively.

Nursing Skills for Resumes Read by ATS Software

Choosing the right skills for a nursing resume is also important because of the role of Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software in the job application process. Many companies use ATS software to screen resumes for relevant keywords and phrases, including nursing skills. ATS software is designed to filter out unqualified applicants and help hiring managers identify the most suitable candidates for the position.

To determine the most relevant skills for a nursing resume, review the job description carefully and tailor your resume accordingly. For example, if the job description mentions the need for experience with electronic health records (EHR), be sure to include this information in your resume.

The Top Nursing Skills to Include in Your Resume

Now it’s time to go deeper and learn about the top skills for a nursing resume and how to place them effectively. We’ve prepared a nursing skill list of the best soft skills and technical skills for your resume.

Soft Skills to Put on a Nursing Resume

Keep in mind that soft skills are equally important as technical skills when it comes to a nursing resume. Soft skills show employers that you have that all-important “bedside manner”. They can also make you stand out from other candidates who may have similar technical skills fall short in their care and service provision due to a lack of soft skills.

Here are the best soft skills to put in your nursing resume, what they mean and how to demonstrate them:

Communication: your ability to effectively communicate with patients, their families, and other healthcare professionals.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Demonstrated excellent communication skills by providing clear and concise instructions to patients and their families.”

Empathy: your ability to understand and connect with patients and their families on an emotional level.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Displayed empathy towards patients and their families by providing emotional support during challenging times.”

Compassion: your ability to show kindness and compassion towards patients and their families.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Demonstrated compassion by going above and beyond to ensure patients felt comfortable and cared for.”

Teamwork: your ability to work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Displayed strong teamwork skills by effectively communicating with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.”

Adaptability: your ability to adjust to changing situations in the healthcare environment.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Demonstrated adaptability by remaining calm and collected during high-stress situations.”

Problem-solving and critical thinking: your ability to identify, analyze, and solve problems in a timely and effective manner.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Demonstrated strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills by identifying and resolving issues related to patient care.”

Attention to detail: your ability to pay close attention to detail to ensure accurate patient care.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Displayed excellent attention to detail by carefully monitoring patient vital signs and medication dosages.”

Patience: your ability to remain calm and patient in challenging situations.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Demonstrated patience by providing clear and detailed explanations to patients and their families.”

Time management: your ability to manage time effectively to ensure top quality patient care.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Displayed strong time management skills by prioritizing tasks and managing multiple patients at once.”

Leadership: your ability to take charge and lead a team when necessary.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Demonstrated strong leadership skills by training new nurses and providing guidance to team members.”

Technical Skills to Put on a Nursing Resume

Technical skills are an essential component of a nursing resume as they demonstrate your proficiency in performing the technical aspects of nursing. You developed these critical skills, through education and training, for providing safe and effective patient care. By highlighting them, you show potential employers that you have the ability to work in a variety of healthcare settings and can adapt to new technologies and procedures.

Here are the strongest technical skills to put in your nursing resume:

Medication administration: your ability to administer medications safely and efficiently to patients via tubes, injections, and intravenous infusions.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Administered medications with accurate route and dosage to patients.”

Wound care: your ability to properly care for and manage diverse types of wounds.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Provided wound care to patients to promote healing, and monitoring for signs of infection.”

Patient assessment: your ability to assess patient conditions and develop appropriate care plans.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Conducted comprehensive patient assessments to identify and address patient needs.”

IV therapy: your ability to administer and manage intravenous therapy.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Provided IV therapy to patients, monitoring for signs of complications and adjusting therapy as necessary.”

Catheterization: your ability to insert and manage urinary catheters.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Successfully inserted urinary catheters and monitored patients for signs of complications.”

Diagnostic testing: your ability to interpret and perform diagnostic tests.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Interpreted and performed various diagnostic tests, such as EKGs and blood glucose monitoring.”

Electronic medical record management: the ability to effectively navigate and utilize electronic medical records systems.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Proficient in utilizing electronic medical record systems, ensuring accurate documentation and communication.”

Patient education: your ability to educate patients and families on various aspects of care.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Provided comprehensive patient education, ensuring patients and families had a clear understanding of their care plan.”

Infection control: your ability to maintain a safe and clean healthcare environment.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Adhered to infection control guidelines, ensuring a safe and clean healthcare environment for patients and healthcare professionals.”

Mechanical ventilation operation: your ability to manage patients on mechanical ventilators.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Monitored and managed patients on mechanical ventilators, adjusting settings as necessary to ensure optimal patient outcomes.”

Phlebotomy: your ability to obtain blood samples for testing and analysis.

• Example of this skill on a resume: “Successfully obtained blood samples for testing, ensuring accuracy and minimal discomfort for the patient.”

Examples of Nursing Skills in Your Resume Summary

The summary is one of the most important parts of your resume, as it provides a brief overview of your qualifications and experience. The nursing skills you must include in your resume summary depend on the job description of the specific job you’re applying for. Here are a few examples of resume summaries for different RN jobs.

Example 1

“Dedicated and compassionate RN with 5+ years of experience in pediatrics seeking to bring my expertise and passion for patient care to (hospital name). Proven ability to provide high-quality care to patients of all ages in a fast-paced environment. Skilled in conducting patient assessments, developing care plans, and administering medications. A team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.”

Example 2

“Experienced RN with a strong background in ambulatory nursing care and patient education. Skilled in health teaching to promote health and prevent illness across the lifespan of individuals, families, and caregivers. Highly knowledgeable in biological, physiological, behavioral, and sociological sciences, with exceptional critical thinking skills to make decisions regarding patient care. Collaborative and team-oriented, with a commitment to improving patient outcomes and ensuring quality care.”

Example 3

“Dedicated and compassionate RN with 7+ years of experience in post-surgical care. Skilled in patient assessment, wound care, and pain management, with a proven track record of ensuring optimal patient outcomes. Proficient in utilizing electronic medical records and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive care.”

Make Sure Your Nursing Resume Lands on the Top of the Pile

Take advantage of the free resume assessment services offered by Monster to ensure your nursing resume stands out to potential employers. Sign up now for personalized feedback and expert advice on how to optimize your resume for success.