Nursing CV Examples, Template, & Writing Guide for 2025

You’re in the right place to write your perfect nursing CV. Did you know that nursing is one of the fastest-growing jobs on the market, and registered nurses are in high demand?

Yes, it may be easy for nurses to find job openings, but it’s still a good idea to optimise your nurse CV before applying. Most healthcare staff, like you, are well qualified. Taking the time to perfect your nursing CV example gives you an edge over the competition. Let’s begin!

This guide will show you:

• A nursing CV template better than 9 out of 10 other CVs.
• How to write a nursing CV that will land you more interviews.
• Nurse CV examples showing how to present your skills and achievements.
• How to describe your experience on a CV template for nursing positions to get any job you want.

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Nursing CV template

1. Format your nursing CV properly

The nursing profession operates in a fast-paced environment that values protocol and sanitation. These values should be evident in a nursing CV, which is a document highlighting your nursing skills, formal education, and relevant experience. 

Your nursing CV should also mention the licence type and number, preferably in the header, along with your current contact information. Placing the licensure information in this part of your nurse CV will make the recruiters’ lives easier, as they will know right from the start that you have the necessary qualifications. 

Choose a traditional format for your nursing CV template. A reverse-chronological format will be best for most candidates, as it emphasises your experience and education. Plus, it’s the one that recruiters are most familiar with. But—when writing a nursing CV, you can tweak it a little by placing the skills section right after your CV profile.

Also, go with a CV layout that makes good use of white space and easy-to-read subheadings. And be sure to choose a classic, legible CV font.

Unless instructed otherwise, save your nurse CV template as a PDF to preserve the layout. Use your complete name and job title to name your file.

Still not sure about how to format your nursing CV? Want to see other types of CV formats? Read our guide: CV Format: Best Examples for Job Hunting Success

2. Craft a perfect nursing CV work experience section

Think of the work experience section as the heart of a patient’s chart—it beats with the most critical information, highlighting the progression of your career. To make sure your nursing CV has all the life force it needs, focus not only on presenting your achievements but also your responsibilities. Keeping a healthy balance between the two will prove you’ve both the hard and soft skills needed for the job.

Precision and attention to detail are key in your line of work, and they’re no different when it comes to your nursing CV. By tailoring your work experience section to the job description and providing all the necessary information, you can ensure the recruiter that you have the necessary skills for the job.

So, when you include duties on your nursing CV, follow these steps:

• Provide details. For example, instead of saying just “catheters,” specify by writing “Swan-Ganz catheters.”
• Use the job description from the nursing job offer as your roadmap of what type of experience and skills you should highlight the most in your CV.
• Mention the number of beds: one of the things recruiters want to know is whether you’ve worked in a hospital or ward of a similar size.
• Specify the ward & facility type: indicate the type of ward you’ve worked in, whether it’s an ER, ICU, or a different specialized area. Also, include the details of each facility you’ve worked at, such as whether it was a hospital, urgent care, or long-term care facility, as each setting demands different skills. 

Mentioning such details on a registered nurse CV not only showcases your professionalism but also increases your chances of getting invited to an interview. Now, check out the samples below:

Nursing CV examples: work experience

Nursing CV tips are great, but you might want to take a second to check out the tips that take any CV from average to amazing. Read our guide: Expert CV Writing Tips & Advice for (with Examples)

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

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

3. Present your educational background on your nursing CV

Are you writing an entry-level CV for nursing? If yes, your education section will include your biggest achievements to date—your degrees.

Consider putting education at the top of your CV after the introduction. New grad nursing CVs will be short on experience. So, draw attention to your education instead.

Are you writing a CV and have a few years of experience? In that case, you can put your education lower on your CV after the experience section.

Regardless, always start your education section by listing your highest degree first—it should come first on a nursing CV because it’s a permanent qualification. List your highest degree followed by lower degrees. If you have two equal degrees, list the most relevant one first.

Be sure to include the following information:

• The name of your alma mater
• The dates when you entered and left school—If you’re still at school, write “in progress” as your end date and add your expected date of completion.
• The degree you’ve obtained
• The location of your school

Take a look at the example below:

Nurse CV example: education section

In the next chapter, we’ll analyse which skills should you put on your nursing CV template.

Still need nursing CV samples of how to add your degree? Want to find out what kind of extra information can go in an education section? Read our guide: CV Education Section: Examples & How to Include It

4. Pick relevant skills for your nursing CV

The key to crafting an attention-grabbing skills section on a nurse’s CV is tailoring it to the job description. Scan it for skill-related keywords that both the recruiter and the applicant tracking systems (ATS) will be looking for to make sure you’re a match for the job.

But—what should you do if the job offer is vague and doesn’t emphasise certain skills? Simply research similar job descriptions to see what nursing skills they list. 

To make things easier, we can divide skills for a nursing CV into four categories:

• Basic care
• Job-related technical skills or specialities
• Administrative skills
• Computer skills

Technical skills are not the same as computer skills. As electronic health records are becoming a standard in the UK, knowing how to manage them is an invaluable qualification that should appear on every nurse's CV. 

Check the job description for specific types of billing or recording software. If no specific software or program is listed, include your computer skills anyway. That way, you’ll stand out from other candidates, especially since 43% of healthcare professionals in the UK view the absence of specialised skills and expertise as the main obstacle in the digital transformation of the healthcare sector.

Technical skills aren’t limited to those that require extra certifications. They can include anything that a person without an LPN or RN license may find hard to do.

I’ve prepared a list of skills for a nursing CV. Of course, the list isn’t exhaustive, but it can help you create this section of your CV for nursing jobs.

Nursing CV: examples of skills

One last thing: focus on the skills matching the position. This will give you an advantage over the other candidates. Especially in the context of a significant skills gap in the healthcare sector.

Want more examples of skills that recruiters like to see on CVs? Not sure how to list skills for a nursing CV? We’ve got you covered. Read our guide: 99+ Key Skills for a CV [Best List of Examples for Every Job]

5. Add extra information to your nursing CV

Yes, you should always include your licence number in the nursing CV’s header, but apart from this, you should also expand on it in a separate section. Granted, your license information is an essential part of any nursing CV, but there are a few other things you should consider adding to your job application. Let’s analyse them all, starting with the details on how to present your nurse license on a CV.

Licenses and NMC registration

To work as a nurse in the UK, you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and renew your registration by revalidation every three years. On your CV for nursing jobs, always list your NMC registration number (PIN) along with any advanced qualifications or specialties, such as Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) or Nurse Prescriber.

Make sure to include the following information when listing your license:

• Registration Type: RN, ANP, Nurse Prescriber, etc.
• Registering Body: Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
• NMC Pin: Your unique NMC registration number.
• Active or Expiry Date: State when your registration became active or when it expires.

Nurse CV example: licence entry

Nursing certifications

Some nursing specialities require additional certifications. For example, nurses working at an ITU need to possess an ALS Certification, which is crucial for taking care of critically ill patients. If the job offer you’re applying to requires you to hold some specific certifications, display them in a separate CV section.

When listing certifications, include the following details:

• Certification Name and Acronym: Write out the full name and acronym, e.g., Advanced Life Support (ALS).
• Certifying Body: Mention the organization that issued the certification, such as the Resuscitation Council UK or the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).
• Expiration Date: If the certification has no expiration, list the date of acquisition.
• Certification Number (if applicable).

Take a look at the example below:

Nurse CV example: certifications section

Professional associations

Are you a member of any professional associations for nurses? If yes, do mention it on your CV, as it showcases your commitment to constant growth and development.

Here’s what to identify when listing your professional affiliations:

• Name of the Organization
• Date of Membership
• Any Offices Held (if applicable)
• A Brief Description of Your Role (if applicable)

Nursing CV sample professional associations

Awards and honours

What better way to grab the recruiter’s attention than highlighting any relevant awards and honours you’ve received? Awards and honours can include recognition received from schools, nursing organizations, social clubs, hospitals, and other healthcare units. Such distinctions are the ultimate proof of professionalism and dedication.

When listing awards and honours on your nursing CV, include:

• Name of the Award
• Awarding Body
• Date Received

Nursing CV example: awards

Pro Tip: It’s always best to write out acronyms. You should never assume the reader knows all industry jargon. At the same time, acronyms are important for Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software. Be sure to include acronyms that you find in the job description.

6. Write a nursing CV summary or objective

Should you write a nursing CV objective or summary statement? Are you a fresh graduate, a career changer, or a nurse looking for a niche or specific role? Then you should choose an objective for a nursing CV. CV objectives are for applicants who don’t have a lot of on-the-job experience.

Take a look at these sample objectives for a nursing CV:

Nurse CV examples: CV objective

If you’re an experienced candidate, you should use a CV summary.

Nursing CV examples: CV summary

Pro Tip: A CV summary is also a good place to put your hours of availability. Nursing is a 24/7 job. Adding your hours of availability will help the hiring manager place you better. Especially if you’re applying for a general position instead of responding to a job offer.

7. Add a cover letter to your nursing CV

It’s still necessary to write a short cover letter. For a nursing CV, write a brief letter focusing on your highest qualifications and dedication to your profession. Add a few accomplishments from your most recent job. But—don’t make your cover letter a repetition of your resume.

Also, it’s worth it to find out who will read your letter so that you can address it to that person. One last thing: use a cover letter template that will visually match your registered nurse CV. This is how you showcase true professionalism and attention to detail.

Not sure how to write a cover letter? We’ve got you covered. Read our guide: How to Write a Cover Letter: A Complete Guide

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your CV 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:

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key takeaway

Let me sum up how to write a nursing CV:

• Include your licence type and the number beside your name and contact information.
• In the work experience section, mention the number of beds, the facility type, and the ward type for each job you held.
• Remember to list your certifications, professional associations, awards, and honours.
• Only use a nurse CV objective if you’re a fresh graduate or are changing specializations.
• Prioritize the skills mentioned in the job description.
• Proofread your nursing CV and write a tailored cover letter.

Thank you for reading my article on writing a perfect CV for nursing jobs. Do you have any questions on how to make a nursing CV? Let me know in the comments—I’m here to help you out.

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Sources

• NHS England, "Purpose of the GP electronic health record"
• GlobalData, "Digital Transformation and Emerging Technologies in the Healthcare Industry - Thematic Intelligence"
• Nursing and Midwifery Council, "Becoming a nurse"
• Nursing and Midwifery Council, "Renewing your registration"
• HCR Law, "Solving the health and social care skills gap – what can be done?”