Skills employers ask for most
The most-requested skills in registered nurse job postings, per published hiring research. Put the ones you have in a dedicated Skills section and prove the top few in your bullets.
- RN license99%
- BLS certification53%
- CPR certification17%
- Medication administration9%
- PALS certification8%
- Critical care experience5%
Source: Indeed employer duties & skills data — share of US registered-nurse job postings on Indeed requesting each skill (2026).
Example registered nurse résumé
Resunova score 92/100Compassionate Registered Nurse with two years of medical-surgical bedside experience caring for up to six acute-care patients per shift. Strongest in head-to-toe assessment, safe medication administration, and thorough EHR documentation, backed by 510 hours of supervised clinical practice completed during a BSN program. Piloted a revised charting workflow that cut documentation time per patient by 15% and returned roughly 45 minutes per shift to direct bedside care. Focused now on discharge education, early recognition of patient deterioration, and coaching nursing students on the unit.
A complete, scored entry-level registered nurse résumé (fictional candidate) built with Resunova. Notice every bullet leads with a strong verb and ends in a measurable outcome — that pattern is what earns the score above. Score your own résumé free →
Salary & where these roles work
From 3,392 analyzed registered nurse postings. Figures vary by location and seniority.
Registered Nurse resume FAQ
What should a registered nurse resume include?
Lead with your license and certifications — an active RN license is named in 99% of postings and BLS certification in 53% (Indeed employer data, 2026) — then unit type, patient load, and outcomes such as satisfaction scores or error rates.
Do nursing resumes need a summary?
Yes. A two-to-three line summary naming your specialty, years, setting (e.g. acute med-surg), and one standout metric helps recruiters and ATS match you quickly.
How do I make a nursing resume ATS-friendly?
Spell out certifications both ways (e.g. 'Basic Life Support (BLS)'), use standard section headings, and mirror the EHR system named in the posting.
Build your registered nurse résumé
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