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Introduction

Your nursing resume summary is one of the most important parts of your resume. It is the first thing that recruiters and hiring managers will read, and it is your chance to make a good first impression. A well-written nursing resume summary will highlight your most relevant skills and experience, and it will make it clear why you are the best candidate for the job.

How long do recruiters spend reviewing a nursing resume?

According to a recent survey, recruiters spend an average of 6 seconds reviewing a nursing resume. This means that you have very little time to make a good impression. Your nursing resume summary is your chance to grab the recruiter’s attention and convince them to keep reading.

How should your nursing resume summary be formatted?

There are two main types of nursing resume summaries:

  • Skills-based summary: This type of summary focuses on your most relevant skills and experience. It is a good choice if you have a lot of experience in the nursing field, or if you are applying for a job that requires a specific set of skills.
  • Accomplishment-based summary: This type of summary focuses on your accomplishments and the value that you can bring to the employer. It is a good choice if you are new to the nursing field, or if you are applying for a job that is outside of your usual area of expertise.

What should be included in your nursing resume summary?

Your nursing resume summary should include the following:

  • Your most relevant skills and experience
  • Your career goals
  • Your unique value proposition

Your unique value proposition is what sets you apart from other candidates. It is what makes you the best candidate for the job. Think about what makes you special and how you can contribute to the employer.

How to write a keyword-rich and SEO-friendly nursing resume summary

If you want your nursing resume to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), you need to include relevant keywords in your resume summary. However, you need to be careful not to stuff your summary with keywords, as this can make it look spammy.

Here are a few tips for writing a keyword-rich and SEO-friendly nursing resume summary:

  • Use relevant keywords throughout your summary, but don’t overdo it.
  • Make sure your summary is still readable and flows well.
  • Use a variety of keywords, including long-tail keywords.
  • Use keywords in the context of your skills and experience.

Nursing resume summary examples: What to write and what to avoid

Here are a few examples of good and bad nursing resume summaries:

Good nursing resume summary example:

Registered nurse with 5+ years of experience in the medical-surgical setting. Proven ability to provide compassionate and high-quality care to patients of all ages. Expertise in wound care, IV therapy, and medication administration. Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Bad nursing resume summary example:

Registered nurse with 5+ years of experience seeking a position in a hospital setting. Skilled in all aspects of nursing care, including wound care, IV therapy, and medication administration.

The first summary is good because it is specific and highlights the nurse’s most relevant skills and experience. It also includes a keyword (“medical-surgical setting”) that is relevant to the types of jobs that the nurse is applying for.

The second summary is bad because it is too general. It doesn’t provide any specific information about the nurse’s skills and experience, and it doesn’t include any keywords.

The best nursing resume summary templates for every specialty

Here are a few nursing resume summary templates for different specialties:

Medical-surgical nurse resume summary template:

Registered nurse with 5+ years of experience in the medical-surgical setting. Proven ability to provide compassionate and high-quality care to patients of all ages. Expertise in wound care, IV therapy, and medication administration. Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Pediatric nurse resume summary template:

Registered nurse with 3+ years of experience in the pediatric setting. Proven ability to provide compassionate and high-quality care to children of all ages. Expertise in childhood illnesses and injuries. Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Psychiatric nurse resume summary template:

Registered nurse with 5+ years of experience in the psychiatric setting. Proven ability to provide compassionate and high-quality care to patients with a variety of mental health conditions. Expertise in crisis intervention, medication management, and psychotherapy. Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Critical care nurse resume summary template:

Registered nurse with 5+ years of experience in the critical care

Bonus: How to use your nursing resume summary to negotiate a higher salary

Your nursing resume summary can also be a powerful tool for negotiating a higher salary. When you are negotiating your salary, you need to be able to communicate your value to the employer. Your nursing resume summary is a great way to do this.

Here are a few tips for using your nursing resume summary to negotiate a higher salary:

  • Highlight your most relevant skills and experience.
  • Communicate your value proposition. Be specific about what you can bring to the company and how you can contribute to their success.
  • Be confident. When you are negotiating your salary, you need to be confident in your value. Remember that you are a skilled and experienced nurse and that you deserve to be paid fairly.

Conclusion

Your nursing resume summary is an important part of your resume. It is your chance to make a good first impression on recruiters and hiring managers. By following the tips in this guide, you can write a nursing resume summary that will help you get noticed and land your dream job.

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