Operating Room (OR) Nurse Resume Layout

Let’s Be Real—Writing a Resume for the OR Can Feel Overwhelming

Over the years, I’ve sat across from dozens of aspiring OR nurses—some wide-eyed new grads, others switching units or starting fresh. And they all hit the same wall:

“I don’t even know where to begin. What do I include? What matters most?”

Sound familiar?

Maybe you’ve spent hours perfecting your charting skills, or memorized every protocol during your clinicals—but now, faced with a blank resume page, it’s all crickets.

Take a deep breath. You’re not alone.

The truth is, you already have more than enough. What you need is a clean, confident way to tell your story—especially if you’re applying for your first OR job or pivoting within nursing.

And I’m going to walk you through exactly how to do that.

What Is the Best Operating Room (OR) Nurse Resume Layout?

Let’s get one thing straight: a solid resume layout isn’t about making it fancy—it’s about making it easy to read.

Your OR nurse resume layout should follow this order:

1. Contact Information
2. Professional Summary (or Objective for New Grads)
3. Licenses & Certifications (RN, BLS, CNOR, etc.)
4. Clinical Experience (Reverse-Chronological)
5. Skills (OR-specific and soft skills)
6. Education
7. Optional: Volunteer Work, Projects, Awards

Reverse-chronological format is best. It puts your most recent clinical or professional experience up front. That’s what hiring managers look for first.

How to Write Each Section (with Tips & Real Examples)

Let’s walk through each section step-by-step with real formatting advice:

📌 Contact Information

Include your:

• Full name
• City, State (no need for your full address)
• Phone number
• Professional email
• LinkedIn URL (if you have one)

✅ Example: Jenna R. Diaz, RN San Diego, CA | (555) 123-4567 | jenna.diaz@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jennardiaz

Professional Summary (OR Objective for New Grads)

Keep it 2–3 sentences max. Focus on your clinical focus, strengths, and goal.

✅ For experienced nurses: Dedicated OR nurse with 5+ years of perioperative care, including circulating and scrubbing roles across general surgery and ortho. Known for calm communication and teamwork under pressure.

✅ For new grads: Compassionate nursing graduate with clinical rotations in OR and trauma. Strong interest in perioperative care and fast-paced surgical environments. Eager to learn and contribute to a supportive surgical team.

Licenses & Certifications

Create a short bullet list. Include full names, issuing organizations, and expiration dates.

✅ Example:

• Registered Nurse (RN) – CA License #123456, Expires: 06/2026
• Basic Life Support (BLS) – AHA, Expires: 04/2025
• CNOR Certification – Competency & Credentialing Institute, Expires: 09/2026

Clinical Experience

This is your core section. List job titles, facilities, dates, and 3–6 bullet points per role.

Be specific. Use action verbs and quantify where possible.

✅ Example: Circulating Nurse – OR | Mercy General Hospital | Jan 2021–Present

• Assisted in 20+ general and laparoscopic surgeries weekly, ensuring sterile technique.
• Collaborated with surgical team to prep and position patients for optimal safety.
• Monitored documentation and pre-op/post-op patient status in EPIC.
• Trained 2 new hires on surgical protocols and safety checklists.

Skills Section

Highlight both hard skills (like sterile technique, instrument handling) and soft skills (communication, time management).

✅ Sample Skills for OR Nurses:

• Sterile Field Setup
• Surgical Instrumentation
• Circulating & Scrub Roles
• EMR Documentation (EPIC, Cerner)
• Time Management
• OR Protocols & Safety Standards

Education

List your highest degree first:

✅ Example: BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ | Graduated: May 2020

How to Make Your OR Nurse Resume Stand Out

Want the truth? It’s not about fancy words. It’s about clear, specific storytelling.

✅ Use Numbers

“Assisted in 15+ surgeries/week” is better than “Helped in OR.”

✅ Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description

If the posting asks for “laparoscopic surgery experience,” mention it directly.

✅ Mention Both Scrub and Circulating Roles

That shows versatility.

✅ Include Keywords for ATS Systems

Use terms like:

• Perioperative
• Sterile technique
• Elective and emergent surgeries
• OR suite coordination

Can New Grads or Career Changers Apply to OR Nurse Roles?

YES. And I’ll be honest—it’s more common than you think.

When I helped Natalie, a career shifter from telemetry to OR, her resume didn’t have years of surgical experience. But we focused on:

• Her simulation lab in periop nursing
• Her ability to stay calm in fast-paced environments
• A cover letter that showed her why behind the switch

She got hired at a teaching hospital with a great OR nurse residency.

🔁 Key takeaway: If you’re eager to learn, that’s worth more than 5 years of robotic surgery experience you don’t have (yet).

Download a Free Operating Room RN Resume Template

Want a clean layout that’s built to convert?

👉Build your Free OR Nurse Resume Now

You can plug in your info and be ready to apply in under 30 minutes.

🔗 Related Articles You’ll Love:

💡 Surgical Nurse Resume Tips for Beginners

💡 Geriatric Nurse Resume: Must-Have Sections

💡 NICU Nurse Resume Sample with Key Skills

FAQs

Q: What is the best resume format for an OR nurse?

A: Use reverse-chronological format. Highlight recent clinical roles, skills in perioperative care, and any scrub or circulating experience.

Q: Should I include both scrub and circulating experience?

A: Definitely. Employers value a well-rounded OR nurse. If you’ve done both, show it.

Q: Can I apply for OR roles as a new grad?

A: Absolutely. Focus on transferable skills like teamwork, quick decision-making, and any periop training or rotations you’ve completed.

Final Words

Honestly? I get it.

Writing a resume when you feel underqualified is tough. But the right format, phrasing, and heart behind it? That can open doors.

Whether you’re just getting started or trying to break into a specialty like the OR, you can stand out.

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to show up, show your story, and let your passion speak.

💡 Need help getting started? Build Your Free Resume Here

You’ve got this.