Nurse Manager Resume Example & Guide [20+ Tips]

As a nurse manager, you might sometimes feel like you're conducting an orchestra: you have to know the strong suits of the people on your team so that they all play in sync. Sometimes you’d take on the role of a peacemaker, a mediator, almost a diplomat…  

… Seems like the Skills section of your nurse manager resume is all done! Want to know how to approach the rest of that resume to get the position you’ve been looking for? 

This guide will show you: 

• A nurse manager resume example better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a nurse manager resume that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on a nurse manager resume.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for a nurse manager to get any job you want.

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.

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Sample Nurse Manager Resume—See more resume samples here.

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

• Nursing Resume
• RN Resume
• Caregiver Resume
• CNA Resume
• Medical Assistant Resume
• Nursing Student Resume
• Phlebotomy Resume
• NICU Nurse Resume
• Med-Surg Nurse Resume
• Charge Nurse Resume
• Pediatric Nurse Resume
• OR Nurse Resume
• Labor and Delivery Nurse Resume
• Nurse Practitioner Resume
• LPN Resume
• LVN Resume
• ICU Nurse Resume
• ER Nurse Resume
• New Grad Nurse Resume
• Travel Nurse Resume
• All Resume Examples

Nurse Manager Resume Example

Here’s how to write a nurse manager resume to prove you’ll not only manage but also deliver:

1. Choose the Best Format for Your Nurse Manager Resume

First things first—

Your nurse manager resume template.

With the tips below, you’ll manage to get it right on your first try.

• Start out with a header on your resume, and make sure it contains your name & contact information.
• See to it that your resume sections have appropriate and visible headings.
• Pick resume fonts that are readable and professional (Comic Sans is never an option.)
• Choose the most effective resume format. Most of the time, the chronological format of a resume is the best as it highligts your expereince and key achievements.
• Look on white space as a friend. It gives your resume some breathing room.
• Save your resume as a PDF—its formatting will stay intact. If you’re hesitating between a PDF or Word resume, it’s best to go with the PDF unless the recruiter asks for MS Word.

2. Write a Nurse Manager Resume Objective or Summary

The opening paragraph at the top of your nurse manager resume is called a professional profile.

Essentially, it’s a short version of your resume. It’s supposed to introduce you to the recruiter and show your best suit right from the word go.

Resume summaries are a great choice for applicants whose experience exceeds 2 years. A resume summary is a brief paragraph focused on your professional experience and achievements.

Resume objectives work best for candidates applying for junior positions. A resume objective focuses on your skills and career objectives to show the recruiter you can get the job done.

You can easily boost your resume profile’s impact by adding numbers or percentages. Say how much experience you have, show off your GPA or mention your biggest professional and academic wins.

Remember: numbers speak louder than words.

Pro Tip: Leave writing this section of your nurse manager resume for the very end. It’s a short version, after all, so make sure you’ve got the long one to prune first.

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

The way you describe your nurse manager experience on a resume is the make-or-break factor.

You must convince the recruiter, you’re the one who’s got all it takes to succeed in the role.

You can do it by tailoring your resume to the position and directing the recruiter’s attention to your relevant experience and key skills.

• Start with listing your latest position, and then move to the previous ones.
• Add your job titles, company names, locations, and dates worked.
• List your duties and achievements in up to 5–6 bullet points for each position.
• Start each bullet point with a resume action verb. For example: devised, developed, supervised, coordinated, etc.
• Present your expereince relevant to the job.
• Put numbers wherever possible to show the real impact of your actions.

Pro Tip: Make sure the experience bullets on your nurse manager resume show your hard and soft skills. Both are necessary in managerial positions.

4. Make Your Nurse Manager Resume Education Section Deliver

The education resume section is an important part of your nurse manager resume. Without your educational background, you wouldn’t be able to hold the position you’re applying for.

• If you have more than 5 years of experience keep your education section short, and only list your degree, school name and location, as well as the graduation year.
• Less than 5 years of experience? You can consider adding info on your GPA (if above 3.5), extracurricular activities, academic achievements and awards, or relevant coursework.
• Put your certifications and licenses in a dedicated section so they don’t get drowned out.

5. Highlight Your Nurse Manager Skills

The list below can help you identify your key nursing skills to put on a nurse manager resume.

Nurse Manager Resume—Skills

• Leadership skills
• Knowledge of managed care program policies and procedures
• Knowledge of managed care and insurance industry
• Verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• PC proficiency (MS Office, Apple iWork)
• Analytical skills and sound clinical judgment
• Nursing Practice Act, JCAHO
• Basic patient care (incl. taking temperature, pressure, catheterization, etc.)
• Patient monitoring
• Administering medications
• Organizational skills
• Project management
• Communication skills
• Wound care
• Admitting and discharging
• Meditech documentation
• Patient/family education
• Collaboration
• Care plan assessment
• Acute and rehabilitative care
• Glucose checks and blood pressure monitoring
• Cooperation
• Resilience

• Critical thinking
• Analytical skills
• Problem solving
• Decision making
• Time management
• Leadership

It’s important you focus on your key professional skills. Avoid dumping everything you can do.

Here’s how to nail your nurse manager skills section on a resume:

• First off, compile a long list of all your skills. Include your soft skills and hard skills, as well as technical skills.
• Revisit the job posting to see what skills are mentioned there by name.
• Go back to your list and see if you have them. Great! Now focus only on those you’re exceptional at. These are the skills to put in the key skills section.
• Remember: you’re welcome to sprinkle your entire resume with skills. The resume profile and experience sections are great places to show off your key competencies.

Pro Tip: Make sure the skills on your resume are tailored to the position. A clinical nurse manager may want to focus on a slightly different skill set than an assistant nurse manager.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

6. Add Other Sections to Your Nurse Manager Resume

Want to make your nurse manager resume is truly unique? Consider adding extra sections that will stress your other assets:

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

7. Attach a Nurse Manager Resume Cover Letter

How important is a cover letter?

Quite important.

Five in ten recruiters would like to read yours. But only one in two candidates bothers to write a cover letter.

Guess who’s got higher chances of getting the job?

Our proven cover letter step-by-step guidelines will help you write yours in a flash:

• First off, format your cover letter properly..
• Great cover letter openings are essential to engage the reader.
• Focus on what you can offer the company.
• Remember, the best cover letter endings have a call to action.

Pro Tip: Sending your job application is rarely enough. Stand out from the rest, and learn how to follow up on a job application.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

There you go!

That’s how you make a resume for nurse manager positions.

Are you writing a nurse manager 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!