Charge Nurse Resume Examples & Writing Guide [20+ Tips]

Charge Nurse Resume Sample

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Targeting other medicine, or healthcare jobs? See one of our dedicated guides:

• Nursing Resume
• Caregiver Resume
• CNA Resume
• Medical Assistant Resume
• Nursing Student Resume
• Phlebotomy Resume
• Med-Surg Nurse Resume
• ICU Nurse Resume
• Pediatric Nurse Resume
• OR Nurse Resume
• Labor and Delivery Nurse Resume
• Nurse Practitioner Resume
• LPN Resume
• ER Nurse Resume

Here’s how to write your charge nurse resume that demonstrates you’re a natural-born leader:

1. Choose the Best Format for Your Charge Nurse Resume

As a charge nurse, you know exactly how important it is to keep things in order.

Show the recruiter how organized you are by following these simple formatting rules:

• Make sure your resume header has all the necessary contact information.
• Label your resume sections with large, reader-friendly headings.
• Use the best resume format. In the vast majority of cases, the chronological resume format should be your first choice.
• Select a professional looking, legible resume font.
• Treat white space as a friend, not a foe. Focus on the relevant things, leave out the rest.
• If you’re in two minds whether a PDF of Word resume is better, go for the PDF version. Unless you’ve been clearly asked to submit an MS Word version.

2. Write a Charge Nurse Resume Objective or Summary

The opening paragraph of a resume is also called a resume profile.

It’s a quick rundown of the main points on your charge nurse resume, and one of the first things the recruiter will look at.

Make good use of it and show you’re in charge of your career.

Go for a resume summary if you have 2+ years of experience under your belt. A resume summary consists of 2–3 sentences presenting your experience and key achievements.

Write a resume objective if you’re an entry-level candidate. A resume objective is focused on your skills, and aims to show your potential employer you’re the best fit for the role.

Pro Tip: Write your resume profile once your entire charge nurse resume is complete. This section is a summary. As such, it needs to be based upon a full-length version.

3. Create the Perfect Charge Nurse Job Description for a Resume

The work experience section is the brain stem of your charge nurse resume.

Everything depends on it.

So—

Go beyond that worn-out responsible for formula!

Here’s how to make your charge nurse job description stand out:

• Start with your latest position and let the previous ones follow.
• Make sure you put a job title, company name, location, and dates worked in each entry.
• List your responsibilities and achievements as bullet points. 6-7 bullets for each position is enough.
• Always tailor your resume to the job offer, and focus on the relevant stuff.
• Describe your charge nurse responsibilities and duties using action verbs: planned, coordinated, scheduled, redesigned, etc.
• Wherever you can—put numbers.

Pro Tip: Your experience bullets should communicate your technical competence and soft skills. It is especially important in the context of a large skills gap in the healthcare sector. 

4. Make Your Charge Nurse Resume Education Section Deliver

You wouldn’t be a charge nurse without proper education.

So don’t neglect the education section on your charge nurse resume.

Here’s how to show your educational background:

• If you have more than 5 years of experience, just list your degree, major, minors (if applicable), school name, and graduation year. That’s it.
• Under 5 years of experience? Consider adding information on your GPA (if above 3.5), relevant coursework, academic achievements, or extracurricular activities,
• Always add a separate section or subsection for your professional certifications and licenses.

5. Highlight Your Charge Nurse Skills

Use the list of skills below to come up with the best skill set for your charge nurse resume:

Charge Nurse Resume—Skills

Technical Skills:

• Pain assessment using pain scales
• Epidural analgesia
• IV Conscious Sedation
• Automatic Internal Cardioverter Defib (AICD)
• Cardiogenic/Hypovolemic shock patient care
• Nebulizer treatments
• Hickman/Broviac/Groshong catheter
• Patient rights
• Seizure precautions
• Pain management
• Specimen collection
• Care of drains/tubes
• Use of hypothermia blanket
• IV Therapy

Transferable and Soft Skills:

• Leadership
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Time management
• Problem solving
• Decision making
• Critical thinking

It’s vital you focus on relevant skills. Don’t just plonk any skill you feel like including.

Here’s what you can do:

• Make a master list of all your job skills, include your soft skills, hard skills, and technical skills.
• Look back at the job ad to see what skills the employer requires of you. Note them down.
• Go back to your list. Pick out the skills that overlap with those from the job ad.
• Put up to 10 of these skills in a key skills resume section.
• Focus on your strongest skills. Leave out the ones you only have a basic grasp of. This way you’ll avoid the so-called presenter’s paradox.
• Pick and choose from our extensive list of nursing skills to put on your resume.

Pro Tip: The exact skills you put on a resume depend on the position you’re applying for. An ER charge nurse resume will have a different skill set than a dialysis charge nurse resume.

Our resume builder (you can create your resume here) will give you tips and examples on how to write your resume summary or any other section. You can easily copy them straight into your resume - it will save you a ton of time.

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6. Add Other Sections to Your Charge Nurse Resume

Make your charge nurse exceptional and consider including sections on:

• Language skills
• Achievements and awards
• Volunteering
• Hobbies and Interests.

7. Attach Cover Letter to Your Charge Nurse Resume

Even though some claim otherwise—

Cover letters aren’t dead.

Half of the recruiters would happily read your cover letter. Follow our quick and dirty tips to write a cover letter in a flash:

• First off, find the best cover letter format for your needs.
• Make sure you start your cover letter in a catchy way.
• Structure your entire cover letter around what you have to offer.
• Wrap up your cover letter with a call to action.

Pro Tip: You can boost your chances of getting a job by following up on your job application. A short email or quick phone call shows you care.

That’s all!

That’s how you make a job-winning charge nurse resume.

Are you writing a charge nurse resume for the first time? Or perhaps you’re a seasoned pro eager to help the rookies out? We’d love to hear from you, leave your comment below!