Common key skills and action verbs for nursing resumes
Nursing resumes aren’t all about your achievements. Stellar work performance and impeccable character references are one thing, but that isn’t the end-all-be-all. Writing your resume takes skill – and there is one thing most people forget about. People don't notice that most employers look for keywords in resumes.
Your usual words aren’t cutting it
The usual action verbs are drilled into your head since the early days of your resume-making. Think ‘achieved,’ ‘detail-oriented,’ ‘goal-driven,’ and the like. Those words sound good, but they don’t catch the eye of hiring employers in the market anymore.
Keeping resumes current and updated don’t just mean keeping up with the trends. Think smart when it comes to your resume.
While descriptive fluff and buzzwords may sound good and pad your profile, they’re ultimately meaningless. They won’t convey special meaning or make you sound like an uber-professional.
Change your vocabulary and introduce new words to showcase your skills. A simple change in your choice of words can make a difference and put you on the top of the list of candidates.
Nursing employers usually look for keywords that show you are skilled and proficient. Action verbs that are medically aligned will showcase your capabilities better and appeal more to the hospital. Descriptive words sound better when they hold weight and aren’t just mindless adjectives – think Registered Nurse versus a detail-oriented Nurse.
Aim for verbs and keywords that showcase your work rather than who you are.
If you’re hard-pressed for action verbs that you can use in your resume, here is a list of 10 common verbs that will spice up your nursing resume instantly.
10 action words to use in your resume
There are a lot of action words commonly used in resumes. To make yours stand out to hiring managers, choose verbs that specifically align with your field of profession.
Instead of using:
Use these words in place of common verbs to improve your resume.
Trained
Achieved
Finished
Completed
Helped
Managed
Created
Performed
Understood
Introduced
Try using:
Certified
Delivered
Collaborated
Conducted
Assisted
Administered
Developed
Executed
Analyzed
Implemented
Although simple, these changes of words are refreshing and will help your resume look better for employers. Simple changes like this will instantly make your nursing resume sound more professional and make you more credible.
Common key skills and proficiencies
Action words aren’t the only thing you need to keep in mind. Hiring managers don’t just want to know your personality as an employee. They also want to know your abilities as a nurse, your proficiencies, and your skills.
Hiring managers will use keywords that will signal proficiency, especially in cases of online or digital resumes. These are the essential skills and proficiencies you need to put in your resume to make it pop.
Common key skills for your resume:
Case management
Patient advocacy
Electronic medical records
Medication administration
Pediatric care
Patient intake
Patient management
Trauma care
Triage
Surgical care
The essential skills you write in your resume should correspond to your actual capabilities in real life. Try to focus on areas you specialize in and find keywords for them.
Butter yourself up
The proper certifications will make the difference between you and the next person who applies for the job. Generic-sounding adjectives will only be dismissed. The right adjectives will help employers be enticed into hiring you.
Adjectives that showcase certifications are much more preferred. Think registered nurse, certified CNA, or specialty nurse.
The phrases you incorporate in your job resume should be tailored to your achievements as a nurse.
Your expertise, nursing field, and the emphasized terms in the job advertisement will determine your resume. Even if you are an outstanding nurse, if your resume lacks the crucial keywords listed by the employer, it may not be considered.
It is crucial to keep your resume updated and tailor it to each job opportunity. Carefully review the job descriptions and incorporate the keywords that best showcase your qualifications for the position.
For registered nurses, highlight your abilities in phrases such as ‘assessment of the situation,’ ‘corrective action taken,’ or ‘empathetic to patients. These phrases both incorporate common industry phrases while simultaneously showcasing you.
If you’re applying for a medical assistant, you'll play a hands-on role in the healthcare industry. Try phrases such as ‘assisted in the development of…’ to show your involvement in the medical community.
Change your language
Your language in a resume is one of the most seemingly unnoticed things. The words that you use should be given a second thought. However, these words can make or break your resume. Adjusting your resume to keep up with the times will surely get you that job interview you want.