ER Nurse Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this ER Nurse resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Nurses are the backbone of healthcare. They’re the first point of contact for patients and their families, as well as the medical professionals who treat them. And they play a crucial role in ensuring that patients get the best care possible.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a nurse but aren’t sure where to start your job search, here are some tips and an example resume to help you write a nurse resume that hiring managers will love.
How to Write an ER Nurse Resume
Here’s how to write an ER nurse resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most important part of your resume because they’re the first thing recruiters will read. And they’re the best way to showcase your experience and qualifications.
But many candidates make the mistake of using generic bullet points that don’t really tell a story or provide any context. For example, rather than saying you “provided patient care,” you could say you “provided care for 15 patients during morning shift, ensuring all patients received proper care and attention.”
The second bullet point is much more specific and provides more detail about what exactly you did and the results of your work.
Related: What Is an ER Nurse? How to Become One
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a nurse role, your resume is likely to go through an applicant tracking system (ATS). This program will scan your resume for certain keywords related to the position. If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right terms, the ATS might automatically reject your application.
The best way to make sure your resume makes it past the ATS is to include keywords that are commonly found in nurse job postings. Here are a few examples:
- Emergency Nursing
- Nursing
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Emergency Medicine
- Healthcare
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Patient Safety
- Hospitals
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- Inpatient Care
- Emergency Management
- Acute Care
- Patient Education
- Healthcare Management
- Clinical Research
- Patient Advocacy
- Trauma Nursing
- Medical-Surgical
- Advanced Life Support (ALS)
- Interventional Radiology
- Critical Care Nursing
- IV Therapy
- Medicine
- Nursing Education
- Operating Rooms
- Respiratory Therapy
- Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
- Healthcare Information Technology (HIT)
- Clinical Skills
- Nursing Management
Showcase Your Technical Skills
Nurses are increasingly using technology in their work, and many hospitals and clinics now require nurses to be proficient in electronic health records (EHR) systems. So if you have experience with any specific EHR systems, be sure to list them on your resume. You should also list any other technical skills that are relevant to your field, such as experience with patient monitoring systems or medical devices.
Hiring managers are also looking for nurses who are comfortable with technology and are willing to embrace new ways of working. For example, many hospitals are now using telehealth systems to provide care to patients in remote locations, so nurses who are familiar with telehealth technologies will have an advantage in the job market.
Related: How Much Does an ER Nurse Make?
Remember The Basics
As you write your resume, it’s important to keep a few basic rules in mind.
Create Scannable Sections
There are a few things you can do to make your resume easier to read and understand quickly. Aligning everything to the left, using a standard font type and size, and keeping bullets under 2 lines will help make your resume more skimmable. You should also try to leave some white space on the page to help the recruiter easily scan through your information.
Be Concise
A resume should typically be one page long, unless you have a vast amount of experience to include. If you do need to go over one page, make sure to focus on the most relevant and recent experience. In general, you want to be succinct and get your point across quickly, so brevity is key.
Proofread
Proofreading your resume is important for ensuring that it looks its best. Spellchecking is a good starting point, but it is not enough. You should also have a friend proofread your resume for you. Be on the lookout for common mistakes, such as incorrect punctuation, incorrect verb tense, and common misspellings.
Consider Including a Summary
When writing a resume, a summary statement can be a powerful way to highlight your relevant skills and experiences. This statement is a brief overview of who you are and what you bring to the table, and it can be a great way to introduce yourself to potential employers. The summary statement should be around 3-4 sentences long, and it should give a clear picture of your skills and experience. It’s also a good opportunity to explain your career goals and how you see your experience translating into the role you’re hoping to land. If you’re having trouble writing a summary statement, start by describing your skills, experience, and goals, and then find a way to tie them all together.
Related Resume Examples
