The Best Resume Format for Registered Nurses (And Why Most Get It Wrong)

Meta Title: Best Resume Format for Registered Nurses (2025 Update)

Meta Description: Struggling to find the best resume format for registered nurses? Discover expert tips, real-life examples, and avoid the mistakes most RNs make.

I’ve worked with hundreds of nurses—new grads, career switchers, even folks who’ve spent 20+ years in the same hospital. And one thing I’ve noticed? Almost everyone worries about formatting their resume “the right way.”

I remember Jenna—a newly certified RN who had a heart of gold but no idea where to begin with her resume. “Is there even a best resume format for registered nurses? Or should I just Google a template and pray?” she asked, completely overwhelmed.

Sound familiar? Don’t worry. Whether you’re fresh out of nursing school, shifting into healthcare from another field, or re-entering the job market after years away, this guide will walk you through it step by step.

What Is the Best Resume Format for Registered Nurses?

Let me be super clear: The best resume format for registered nurses is the combination format.

It blends your most relevant nursing skills (functional) with your work history (chronological), which is exactly what nurse recruiters and hiring managers are scanning for.

Here’s why it works:

• Skills go at the top — to grab attention fast
• Experience backs it up — to build credibility
• ATS loves it — Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) can easily read it

According to Indeed, resumes that balance keywords with real experience perform better in hiring pipelines. You want that combo.

Quick Breakdown of Resume Formats (And Why Most Get It Wrong)

Here’s where many nurses go wrong: they pick a format based on what looks pretty rather than what works.

1. Chronological Resume for Nurses

• Lists your job experience in order.
• Works great if you have consistent RN history.
• But…
• ❌ Not ideal for new grads or career changers.

2. Functional Resume for Nurses

• Focuses on skills, ignores job timeline.
• Sounds good in theory.
• But…
• ❌ Recruiters hate it. It’s seen as hiding gaps.

3. Combination Resume Format (Best Option)

• Highlights skills and job history.
• Flexible, ATS-friendly, and recruiter-approved.
• ✅ Best resume format for registered nurses (especially in 2025).

Real-Life Example: New Grad RN Resume (Combination Format)

Emily Cruz, RN, BSN
Phoenix, AZ | emilycruz@email.com | (555) 555-0123

Professional Summary Compassionate new graduate RN with clinical experience in med-surg and ICU units. Adept at delivering patient-centered care and supporting interdisciplinary teams. Eager to bring empathy and clinical knowledge to a fast-paced hospital setting.

Key Skills

• Patient education and discharge planning
• Vital sign monitoring and documentation
• IV insertion and wound care
• EMR systems (EPIC, Cerner)

Clinical Experience Student Nurse — Banner University Medical Center (Jan 2025 – May 2025)

• Completed 160+ hours in med-surg and ICU
• Developed care plans and assisted in patient assessments
• Received high praise for patient bedside manner

Education Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) — University of Arizona, 2025

Certifications

• RN License (AZ)
• BLS & ACLS Certified

Common Questions About Formatting Your Nursing Resume

What sections should I include?

• Contact Info
• Summary or Objective
• Skills (top nursing skills for resume)
• Clinical Experience (or Work History)
• Education
• Certifications (BLS, ACLS, etc.)
• Optional: Awards, Volunteer Work

How do I write a nursing resume with no experience?

Use a skills-based or combination format. Focus on:

• Clinical rotations
• Academic projects
• Transferable skills (communication, time management, etc.)

“I helped Katie, a nursing student with zero job history, turn her volunteer work at a senior center into powerful resume bullets. Within 3 weeks, she landed interviews at two major hospitals.”

Should I include soft skills?

Absolutely. Compassion, communication, adaptability—these aren’t fluff. They’re often what make you stand out. Just pair them with real examples whenever possible.

Formatting Tips That Make a Big Difference

• Font: Use Calibri, Arial, or Helvetica (10.5 to 12 pt)
• Margins: 1″ on all sides or 0.75″ if you need space
• Length: 1 page (new grads), up to 2 pages for experienced RNs
• File type: PDF unless otherwise requested

Is It Okay to Use Resume Templates?

Yep. Especially if you’re short on time or design skills. Just make sure it’s ATS-friendly (avoid text boxes, graphics, and columns that might confuse software).

Check out BestResumeCreator.com for clean, nurse-specific resume templates built to get through ATS and still look great.

How to Make Your RN Resume ATS-Friendly

Here are some keywords and formatting tips to help your resume pass automated screenings:

Keywords to Include:

• “patient care”
• “clinical documentation”
• “electronic health records (EHR)”
• “care plan development”
• “infection control”
• “vital signs monitoring”

Avoid:

• Fancy fonts
• Tables and columns
• Headers/footers with contact info

Real Talk: Mistakes I See Nurses Make All the Time

• ❌ Writing in paragraphs (use bullet points!)
• ❌ Forgetting to include certifications
• ❌ Using outdated templates
• ❌ Not tailoring resume to job description
• ❌ Not including a summary (it matters!)

FAQs

Q: What is the best resume format for registered nurses?
A: The combination format. It highlights both skills and experience.

Q: Can new grad nurses use a combination resume format?
A: Absolutely. It lets you lead with your clinical experience and soft skills.

Q: How long should my nursing resume be?
A: 1 page for new grads; 2 pages max for experienced nurses.

Q: Should I include clinical experience?
A: Yes! Clinical rotations count, especially if you’re a new grad.

Q: What keywords should I add to pass ATS?
A: Include terms like “patient care,” “clinical documentation,” “infection control,” and the job title you’re applying for.

Q: Are templates okay?
A: Definitely. Just make sure they’re ATS-friendly and not over-designed.

✅ Registered Nurse Resume Checklist (2025 Edition)

✔️ Before You Start:

• Know the job you’re applying for
• Gather your clinical experience and certifications
• Choose a clean, ATS-friendly template

✔️ Header & Contact Info:

• Full name
• Phone number
• Professional email address
• City, State (no full address needed)
• Optional: LinkedIn or portfolio link

✔️ Resume Summary or Objective:

• Includes 2–3 lines of who you are
• Mentions your RN status and specialty (if any)
• Shows passion, personality, or goal

✔️ Key Skills Section:

• Includes at least 5 relevant skills
• Mix of hard skills (e.g., EMR systems) and soft skills (e.g., empathy)
• Tailored to the job post

✔️ Clinical Experience / Work History:

• Reverse chronological order
• Each role lists 3–5 bullet points
• Starts with action verbs
• Includes measurable impact (e.g., “Reduced wait time by 20%”)

✔️ Education:

• Degree(s) clearly listed
• School + Graduation date
• Honors or GPA (if recent grad, optional)

✔️ Certifications:

• RN license
• BLS, ACLS, PALS, etc.
• State clearly + active status

✔️ ATS Optimization:

• Uses keywords from job description
• Avoids tables, columns, and graphics
• Saved as a PDF (unless asked otherwise)

✔️ Final Review:

• Proofread for typos
• Consistent formatting and fonts
• One page for new grads, two max for experienced RNs

Keep this checklist handy while you build your resume. You’re one strong page away from your next opportunity!

Final Thoughts

I get it. You’re tired. Maybe even a little discouraged. Writing your RN resume feels like one more overwhelming task on an already stressful to-do list.

But you don’t have to do it perfectly. You just have to do it honestly.

Speak to who you are. Let your experience, your empathy, your resilience show. Because those things? They matter way more than whether your bullet points are perfectly aligned.

Want a head start?

Very easy and simple free registered nurse resume builder—it’s clean, simple, and built to help you feel confident applying. You’ve got this.