6 Easy Steps: Building the Perfect Nursing Resume
As a Registered Nurse applying for a nursing position with an international nursing agency it is important to have a resume that will have you standing out for all of the right reasons.
You may be asking What do I put in my resume? or What do I leave out? Don't worry, I have you covered! Follow my easy 6-step framework below along with some important tips to make sure you resume lands you the nursing position that you are looking for!
6 Step Framework for Nursing Resumes (From Top to Bottom of your Resume):
1) Introduction
⁃ First and Last Name
⁃ Date of Birth
⁃ Birth Country
⁃ Photo ( Professional Headshot)
⁃ Job Title
Tip: Include a small photo in the top left corner on your resume of a professional head shot. This allows your potential employer to put a face to your name and helps you stand out.
2) Contact Information
⁃ Email Address
⁃ WhatsApp Number
⁃ Skype Address
⁃ Current Address
⁃ Permanent Address
Tip: Managers will often do a quick search of your social media accounts by typing your name into google, so be sure to have filtered through them yourself first to ensure that there are no posts or comments that you wouldn't want anyone to see to make a first (and lasting) impression on.
3) Professional Resume Summary / Objectives
• This is a 2-4 sentence summary of your professional experiences and achievements
EXAMPLE #1:
ICU Certified Registered Nurse with more than FOUR years of experience working in adult intensive care. Knowledgeable, ambitious, and ethical Registered Nurse with a proven ability to lead and work as a team during critical situations such as rapid response calls and code blues. I hold a Master of Science in Surgical Nursing with a Leadership focus.
EXAMPLE #2:
Family-centred care focused Bachelor of Science in Nursing student with 3 years of acute care health care experience. I am seeking an opportunity as a Nursing Attendant to work collaboratively within a team setting to build my knowledge and expertise as part of career goal to become a pediatric Registered Nurse.
4) Professional Work Experience
Begin with the most recent job experience and have your first job at the very bottom of this section:
• Position Name (e.g. Registered Nurse)
• Company Name (e.g. Hospital/Organization Name)
• Specialty (E.g. Med-Sug, ICU, ER, etc.)
• Employment Dates (Start - End)
• Location (City, State/Province, Country)
• Unit Assigned
• Number of Hospital Beds
• Skills Performed
• Machines or Equipment Used
5) Education
· Include your education in reverse chronological order with your most recent education at the top.
· University/College Name
· Degree/Diploma/Certificate Attained
· Start date and graduation date
· Academic Achievements (e.g. 2017 Deans List for a GPA > 3.7 on a 4.0 scale)
6) Certifications, Licenses
· Begin with your licenses (include your issuing state/province, license #, and expiry date)
· Next include the required certifications for your position with the issuing organization and expiry date (e.g. NCLEX-RN Exam [State and Year], Academic IELTS [Bands and Year], CGFNS Visa Screen Certificate)
· Include all other certifications you hold
Tip: Every nurse will have have a Bachelor of Nursing Degree applying for an RN position and either PALS for pediatrics or ACLS for adults, so if you have any additional certificates or courses, this is a unique opportunity to help separate yourself from your peers.
Other Tips:
1. Avoid any abbreviations if at all possible.
Abbreviations can be misunderstood or used differently in various countries. It is always best to avoid abbreviations/
2. Tip: Layout do’s and don’ts
• Margins – You should have one-inch margins on all sides
• Font Style - Pick a font that stands out, but not too much. Do: Ubuntu, Roboto, etc. Don’t: Comic Sans
• Font Size - Use a font size of 11-12pt for normal text and 14-16pt for headers
• Line Spacing - Use 1.0 or 1.15 line spacing
• Picture - Include a professional head shot. A photo helps you stand out among other candidates
3. For pre-made resume builders, I recommend using:
-Novo
Nurse Brennan Belliveau
Email: nursebrennan@medliant.com
Medliant International Healthcare Solutions
