Nursing jobs demand a diverse range of skills to ensure quality patient care. Therefore, when listing your nursing skills for resume, you must highlight both your hard and soft skills. You should mention them in a way that will convince the recruiters that you are the perfect fit for the job.
In this article, we will highlight the necessary skills for nursing resume, along with how to make it impressive. We have also compiled some examples of nursing skills for resume writing to give you a clear idea of how to show your competencies clearly.
Why Should You Highlight Your Nursing Skills on Your Resume?
Nursing positions require skills based on an individual’s area of specialization. From clinical abilities and technical knowledge to soft skills, nurses are expected to possess a diverse skill set essential for delivering effective patient care.
Recruiters often sift through hundreds of resumes, so you only have a few seconds to make an impression. That is why it is crucial to ensure your skills section catches their attention. You must tailor your nursing skills for resume to match the job you are applying for, clearly and effectively demonstrating your qualifications and value as a healthcare professional.
Hard Nursing Skills for Resume
Including hard nursing skills on your resume shows you have mastered essential patient care abilities through education, clinical practice, and hands-on experience. These skills reassure recruiters that you can be trusted with patient well-being.
Here are the top hard nursing skills for resume you should not miss:
Medical Evaluation:
Evaluation and assessment are the primary tasks of a nurse, and a recruiter would want to know whether you can handle the initial assessments successfully or not. Taking a patient’s history accurately, checking their vitals, and assessing their condition and its severity are all skills that a recruiter demands.
Emergency Care
As a nurse, you will come across various life-and-death situations daily. Having the heart and appropriate knowledge to handle an emergency makes you an ideal candidate for a nursing job. Showing your skills to handle complex situations until the doctors arrive earns you a plus point.
Life-Saving CPR and BLS Skills
When a patient has an abnormal heart rhythm or experiences a code, it is the nurse who is the first person to handle the situation. Your hiring manager would want to ensure that you can handle such situations calmly, notify the medical staff, take pulse and breathing rates, and give CPR appropriately when needed.
IV Placement and Infusion Care
Proficiency in managing IV catheters and providing infusion care is a fundamental skill for a nurse. Highlighting your ability to insert IV lines and oversee infusions assures employers that you can confidently provide essential medical care to their patients.
Patient Safety Measures
Patient safety is a vital hard skill for nurses, as patients are given in the care of nurses. Patient safety involves adherence to infection control protocols, timely medication administration, and proper patient handling. Highlighting your expertise in these areas on your resume shows your ability to maintain a safe environment and deliver quality care.
How to List These Hard Skills On Your Resume?
Nursing Student – University Clinical Rotation (2023)
- Assisted in patient care, including monitoring vital signs, administering medications, and updating patient charts under supervision.
- Participated in diagnostic procedures, including collecting samples and performing basic lab work.
Registered Nurse – Clinical Experience (2023)
- Conducted patient assessments, monitored vital signs, and evaluated conditions.
- Provided emergency care and stabilized patients during critical situations.
- Administered CPR and managed code situations effectively.
- Inserted IV catheters and managed infusion therapies.
- Ensured patient safety through infection control protocols.
Technical Skills for Nursing Resume:
Technical skills involve the person’s ability to use specific technologies, tools, or systems essential in healthcare settings. They are often related to software or specialized medical devices that assist in managing patient care and medical records.
Here are some of the technical nursing skills for resume that make you a strong candidate:
Also Read : – Hard Skills for resume
EMR Charting Abilities
All medical care given to patients has to be accurately documented. Your ability to utilize Electronic Medical Records (EMR) to provide patient care plans and information makes you a valuable asset to a hospital. So, mention your ability to read EMR data and handle technological healthcare equipment to provide quality care to patients.
Telemetry Monitoring:
The ability to use telemetry equipment to monitor patients’ heart activity and blood pressure is an essential skill in critical care or cardiac units.
EKG Interpretation:
Nurses, particularly in critical care or emergency departments, need to interpret EKG (electrocardiogram) results to monitor heart activity and identify abnormal rhythms that require immediate intervention.
Ventilator Management
Nurses working in intensive care or respiratory care units must be skilled in operating and managing ventilators, ensuring that settings are appropriate, and monitoring patient responses.
Diagnostic Imaging Equipment:
In healthcare settings, nurses have to assist with or interpret diagnostic results from devices like ultrasounds, ECGs, or blood pressure monitors. Proficiency in using these technologies demonstrates their capability to handle advanced medical equipment, which is a critical skill in today’s evolving healthcare landscape.
How to List These Technical Skills On Your Resume?
Registered Nurse – Mercy Health Center (2021 – Present)
- Utilized EHR systems (Epic and Cerner) to document patient histories, update care plans, and track medication schedules.
- Managed IV therapy for chronic care patients and adjusted fluid rates based on responses.
- Operated diagnostic tools like EKG machines, pulse oximeters, and glucose monitors to assess patient health.
Soft Skills for Nursing Resume
Soft skills are equally critical to success in nursing. These are personal qualities that help nurses interact effectively with others, including patients, their families, and coworkers. Employers often prefer candidates with strong soft skills, as hard skills can be taught in on-the-job training.
Here are some of the important soft skills that you should add to your nursing resume:
Communication Skills
Effective communication is one of the most essential skills in nursing, as it directly impacts patient care and collaboration with healthcare teams. Strong verbal, nonverbal, and written communication skills are needed to interact with patients, families, and the medical team, especially during emergencies or difficult situations.
Strong communication also helps in managing patient expectations, easing anxieties, and providing emotional support. Highlighting this skill on your resume demonstrates your ability to foster teamwork, ensure patient safety, and improve overall healthcare outcomes, making you a valuable asset in any medical setting.
Problem Solving Mindset:
Nurses must think critically and quickly, analyzing patient conditions and deciding on the appropriate course of action. Highlight your ability to stay calm and make informed decisions under pressure. During your clinical days, you must have practiced problem-solving, so mention your ability to handle challenging situations thoughtfully in your resume.
Teamwork
A nursing job demands team collaboration. Teamwork is an interpersonal skill that allows nurses to successfully work with a range of medical teams and contribute to a positive work environment. It ensures that all medical staff can coordinate and work together to provide the best possible care to patients.
Compassion
Compassion and empathy are at the heart of nursing. Nurses do not just have to physically care for the patients but also provide emotional support when needed. Highlight your ability to connect with patients on a personal level, making them feel heard and cared for.
Time Management
Time management is everything in a nursing job. The ability to plan tasks and deliver your duties on time can make a huge difference in your nursing career. Employers appreciate individuals with good time management skills as it allows them to complete their tasks without delay because, in this profession, a single mismanagement can cause a person’s life.
How to List These Technical Skills On Your Resume?
Nursing Assistant – ABC Healthcare Center (2017 – 2019)
- Communicated effectively with patients, families, and the healthcare team to ensure a clear understanding of patient care plans.
- Educated patients on post-discharge care, medication management, and follow-up procedures.
- Collaborated with doctors and nurses to develop and implement patient care plans.
Nursing Student – ABC Hospital Clinical Rotation (2022 – 2023)
- Collaborated with nurses, doctors, and other healthcare providers to deliver patient care during clinical rotations.
- Contributed to team meetings and participated in discussions on patient care plans.
Tips on Listing Nursing Skills on Your Resume
Now that you know what skills are important to add to a resume, it is time to see how you can organize these nursing skills for resume to make the hiring manager check your resume. Follow these tips to ensure your skills are mentioned on the resume properly:
Tailor to the Job Description:
Review the job posting carefully and make sure to include the skills that are most relevant to the role you are applying for. For instance, if a job listing emphasizes emergency care, highlight your skills in acute care or triage. Or, if a job is for fresh nursing graduates, highlight your nursing student skills for resume, like time management, life-saving CPR, etc.
Create a Separate Skills Section:
It is best to list your nursing skills under a specific heading, such as “Skills” or “Core Competencies” on your resume. This makes it easy for hiring managers to quickly assess whether you meet their requirements. For example:
Skills
- EMR Charting (Epic, Cerner)
- IV Line Placement and Infusion Management
- CPR & BLS Certified
- Patient Assessment and Monitoring
- Wound Care and Dressing Changes
- Medication Administration
- Patient Education and Communication
- Vital Signs Monitoring
Incorporate Keywords:
Many healthcare organizations use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes. To improve your chances of passing the initial screening, be sure to use keywords like “patient care,” “clinical expertise,” “nursing competencies,” “critical care skills,” and “medication management.”
Use Action Verbs:
When describing your skills and experiences, start each bullet point with a strong action verb. Examples include “administered,” “collaborated,” “monitored,” and “assessed.”
Examples for Showcasing Your Skills On Resume
Listing your nursing skills on your resume doesn’t always have to be in a separate section; you can mention your skills strategically throughout the resume. Here are some tips on how to effectively list your nursing skills.
Highlight Your Nursing Skills In The Skills Section
The skills section of your nursing resume is crucial as it showcases your core competencies and strengths. It provides a quick snapshot for recruiters, enabling them to see at a glance if you possess the necessary qualifications for the role. Since nursing skills include both hard and soft skills, it is essential to prioritize those that align most closely with the job description. Highlighting both technical and soft skills, such as patient care, medication administration, critical thinking, and communication, demonstrates your well-rounded abilities.
For Example:
- Carefully review the job description to identify specific nursing skills required for the position, such as IV management, patient assessment, or wound care.
- Include a mix of technical skills (like EMR proficiency or IV line placement) and clinical care abilities (like patient monitoring or vital sign assessment).
- Organize your skills into categories such as Clinical Skills, Technical Skills, or Patient Care to make it easy for hiring managers to identify key qualifications.
- Be specific rather than general. For instance, instead of just listing “Clinical Documentation,” mention “Proficient in Epic and Cerner EMR Systems.”
This approach will help you list your skills for nursing resume in a way that resonates with recruiters and reflects your real-world expertise in the field.