Nurse CV example
This example shows how a registered nurse can present clinical competencies, registration and certification details, and patient-focused achievements in a clear, professional format.
Grace Achebe Dublin, Ireland | grace.achebe.rn@example.com | +353 87 000 1122 Professional Summary Registered General Nurse with 5 years of experience in acute medical and surgical wards. Skilled in patient assessment, medication administration and coordinating care with multidisciplinary teams. Committed to patient safety and evidence-based practice. Registration NMBI Registered Nurse, PIN 000000 (active) Work Experience Staff Nurse, Riverside General Hospital -- Dublin, Ireland June 2021 -- Present - Manage a caseload of up to 8 patients per shift on a 30-bed acute medical ward - Reduced medication administration errors on the ward by supporting a new double-check protocol - Trained 4 newly qualified nurses during hospital induction - Coordinated discharge planning with physiotherapy and social work teams, helping reduce average length of stay by 1.2 days Staff Nurse, Oakfield Community Hospital -- Cork, Ireland August 2019 -- May 2021 - Delivered post-operative care on a 20-bed surgical ward - Maintained a 100% compliance record in infection control audits over 18 months - Supported patient and family education on discharge medication and wound care Education BSc Honours in General Nursing, University College Cork -- 2019 Skills Patient assessment, medication management, wound care, electronic health records, CPR/BLS certified, multidisciplinary teamwork Certifications Basic Life Support (BLS), renewed 2024 Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), 2023
Registration and certifications come first
For nursing roles, your professional registration number and status should be immediately visible near the top of your CV, since it is often a mandatory eligibility check before an employer even considers your experience. Keep certifications like BLS or ACLS current and clearly dated.
Quantifying patient care achievements
Even in clinical roles, numbers strengthen a CV: caseload size, audit compliance rates, reductions in length of stay, or the number of colleagues you trained all demonstrate impact beyond simply listing duties like 'provided patient care'.
Tailoring for different care settings
A CV for an acute hospital ward should emphasise fast-paced multidisciplinary coordination and clinical breadth, while a CV for community or primary care should emphasise patient education, chronic disease management and continuity of care. Adjust your summary and top bullet points depending on the setting you are applying to.
Frequently asked questions
Should I include my registration number on my CV?
Yes, include your registration body and number (redacting the final digits if applying publicly) so employers can quickly verify your eligibility to practise.
How do I handle a CV if I am newly qualified?
Lead with your clinical placements, key competencies achieved during training, and any relevant coursework or research, since these substitute for paid experience.
Should I list every ward I have worked on?
List the most relevant and recent placements or roles in detail, and you can summarise older or shorter placements more briefly.