Try to keep your resume to one page, no more than two, and save it as a PDF.
The most important information goes on top. Include name, relevant professional titles (RN, BSN, MSN, NNP, FNP-C, etc.) phone number, email, and LinkedIn URL at the top.
Make sure you’re using a professional sounding email address (i.e. not “barbienurse89@gmail.com”).
Be concise: Use brief statements in bullets or sentences.
Use font size 10 - 12 points and set margins to no less than 0.5 inches. Use a standard font like Arial, Times or Helvetica. Don’t get fancy with colors or images.
Use consistency in the usage of punctuation throughout the document. For instance, either use periods at the end of all your bullets or not.
Use bold, italics, and underlining formatting to break up the text and make the document easy to read.
Content:
Use the top of your resume as ‘prime real estate’ to write a professional summary - think of this as what you can offer your future employer. This should include relevant specialties, years of clinical experience in your field and pertinent skills for the position you’re seeking.
Prominently your education (naming the highest degree first).
Include all valid nursing licenses and certifications
Customize your experience and technical skills to the position you’re seeking. Be sure to include the unit’s specialty, number of beds and nurse/patient ratio for each position you’ve held.
Avoid using jargon and acronyms without first spelling them out (e.g., NHS, LNP, NP, LVN).
Include three professional references from individuals with whom you’ve recently worked.
