You can use the examples and templates we provide as a starting point for writing your own resume, adapting the content to reflect your own experience, strengths and goals.
Our example of a registered nurse resume contains everything you need to include to highlight your strengths, skills and capabilities.
Jane Doe
Sydney, NSW, 2000
janedoe@pulsestaffing.com.au
0400 000 000
A dedicated and passionate registered nurse experienced in providing patient-centred care using a holistic approach.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Nursing in 2010, I have worked across several acute settings caring for patients of various backgrounds in hospitals across Sydney. In my 15 years of experience as a registered nurse, I have built on and developed my skills and knowledge in the healthcare industry, and I am always keen to further this through upskilling and career progression. I pride myself on my approach to nursing, as I remain empathetic, free of judgement and culturally inclusive whilst advocating for my patients. I am seeking a secondary registered nurse role alongside my casual position that will allow me to develop my career.
Education
Bachelor of Nursing
University of Sydney 2007 – 2010
Work experience
Senior Registered Nurse
Pulse Staffing Agency 2020 – Present
I joined Pulse Staffing Agency shortly after moving on from my permanent role to work as a casual employee. I cover last-minute shifts in hospitals in and around the Sydney area, working on a rotating roster. I have also completed travel nursing placements across the country in regional, rural and remote locations, delivering healthcare services in a variety of communities.
Registered Nurse
Pulse Staffing Hospitals 2012 – 2020
Once my graduate registered nurse program was complete, I worked for the next eight years on general medical and surgical wards. My job duties consisted of:
- Administering medications to patients
- Assisting with patient assessments
- Providing emotional support to patients during their illness or recovery
- Managing patient care by coordinating with the other healthcare team members
- Documenting patient conditions and adhering to compliance regulations
- Educating patients on their conditions and treatment plans
During this time, I advanced to a senior position and oversaw a team of junior nurses on the ward.
Graduate Registered Nurse
Pulse Hospital 2010 – 2012
In my first two years as a registered nurse, I took a graduate registered nurse program at Pulse Hospital. I worked across multiple wards including general medical, surgical, critical care and emergency amongst others. Learning from my peers and superiors, I rotated across different specialties whilst becoming proficient in:
- Infusions
- Wound care
- Accurately monitoring patient conditions and progress
- Conducting patient assessments and documenting findings accurately
- Triaging and making decisions on treatment and the severity of conditions
- Administering medications
- Patient and family communication
Skills
- Excellent communication skills and able to converse confidently with those from a variety of backgrounds
- Empathetic and compassionate
- An advocate for patients
- Strategic thinker and able to assess critical situations well
- Team player
- Strong time management and prioritisation skills
- Flexible and adaptable
References available upon request.
Registered nurse resume examples
[Full name]
[Physical address OR your suburb, postcode and state]
[Email address]
[Phone number]
Professional summary
[This section is an opportunity for you to detail your experience and state what type of role you are looking for. Highlight professional experience and skills here, but keep it brief.]
Education
[Institution]
[Dates of study]
Repeat if needed
Work experience
[Job title]
[Organisation]
[Dates of employment]
[State your duties and responsibilities. You can choose to write this as a paragraph or bullet points.]
Repeat as many times as necessary
Skills
[Bullet point lists of relevant skills]
References
[You can state who your references are here or you can insert ‘references available upon request’. In most cases, you will need at least two references and these must be both a) clinical and b) people you have previously reported to.]
The layout of your registered nurse resume is as important as the content. Key elements of your resume include:
Your contact details
You don’t need to include all your details, but mandatory aspects that your potential employer will need to know are:
- Your full name
- Phone number
- Email address
- General location (at least your suburb, postcode and state)
Professional summary
This is a short but important section on your resume. Use it to outline your experience, qualifications, skills and what you are looking for in your next role.
Qualifications
In this section, you will list your qualifications, including the name of the qualification, the educational institution you attended and the years you studied. You don’t need to give any further information on what the course entailed.
Experience
For your work experience, make sure to set these out with the most recent first. Detail your position, years worked, employer and a brief description of your job duties and responsibilities. A great way to ensure that you’ll land an interview is to tailor your resume to what the job ad is asking for. If you have experience and skills that directly relate to the job description, be sure to highlight them.
Skills
Adding your key skills to your resume increases your chances of landing an interview as you clearly show how your expertise matches the role you’re applying for. A bullet point list is usually all you need for this section.
References
References are an important part of your resume. They give credibility to your claims and are often required by employers. Make sure you have permission from at least two people who work in clinical roles and who you reported to.
A cover letter
An optional part of your application is a cover letter. This section is an opportunity to outline your experience and explain why you’re a strong fit for the role. It can expand on key points from your resume, provide context and highlight what you’re looking for in your next position. If you choose to include a cover letter, it should include:
- Your reasons for applying for the role
- A summary of your qualifications and experience (but not too detailed – this will be in your resume)
- Your skills and strengths
- Reasons as to why you are an ideal applicant and how your experience, qualification and values align with the role
- A closing paragraph that sums up your points
Use our simple, effective tips to help your resume rise above the rest:
- A clean format – ensure your resume is clear and easy to read. Poor grammar and spelling with a messy layout mean your future employer will be less likely to read it.
- Keep it simple and concise – ideally one page, or two maximum is all that is needed. Make sure your resume fills the page. If you have content that won’t fit on one page but won’t fill two, either cut it down or bulk it out.
- A strong summary – a memorable introduction will make it more likely your resume is read in full.
- Professionalism – your email address should be appropriate for job applications.
- Address gaps in employment – make sure all years are accounted for, even if you were unemployed. If this is the case, then explain why.
- Answer the brief – tailor your resume to the job application and make sure you highlight the experience and skills that would be beneficial to the employer and in the role.
Got your resume ready to go? Find out more about registered nurse salaries in Australia to see your earning potential.
Registered nurse roles with Pulse
At Pulse, we are here to help you along your nursing journey. If you’re looking for a new role or would like a confidential discussion about your career, head to our jobs board today or contact our team for more information.