resume for nurse objective

100+ Nursing Resume Objective Examples + How To Write

Whether you are a new nurse graduate or a nurse with years of experience, applying for a new nursing job can feel a little overwhelming. One of the most important things you can do is prepare a great resume. If you plan to create a resume, you may have wondered, “What are some great nursing resume objective examples?” Nursing resume objectives are important parts of resumes. In this article, I will share 100+ great nursing resume objective examples + how to write them.

What Exactly is a Nursing Resume Objective?

When should you include an objective on your nursing resume, 5 reasons why a great nursing resume objective makes a difference.

1. A great nursing resume objective gives nurses the opportunity to make a good first impression. 2. A well-written objective on a nursing resume helps demonstrate your written communication skills, which are vital for nursing success. 3. A nursing resume objective can show prospective employers how you have cultivated your career. 4. Resume objectives are an excellent way to briefly showcase your experience. 5. Great Nursing resume objectives offer excellent opportunities to show confidence in your knowledge and skills.

How to Write a Great Nursing Resume Objective?

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34 Best Nursing Resume Objective Statement Examples

What is an objective statement, and do you need one? Some people might say that you don’t need one, or that it is outdated. Well, if you want to stand out from the pack and be able to tell the employer compelling information about you that it won’t find anywhere else, then use an objective statement.

Done correctly, this statement will highlight what you bring that the employer needs (directly from its job posting), and will give it a flavor for the soft skills it won’t be able to find elsewhere on your resume or in your application. A tailored objective statement also shows the employer that you are not just seeking any job, you want a job specifically with that particular employer and you are the right fit.

Below is a selection of objectives statements for nursing with a range of experience to guide you in writing a strong objective statement:

Experienced Nursing Objective Statements

• Seeking a position as an ER Nurse at County General Hospital, bringing over five years of emergency medical experience, incredible stamina, empathetic compassion, and a deep understanding of emergency response gained through previous roles at State Hospital ER and internships.
• Analytical and patient-focused team player seeking clinical nursing position, bringing experience in dermatological clinical nursing processes and protocol to provide evidence-based care for the best interests of the populations served, and to support the development of newly trained nurses through management and mentorship.
• Compassionate Registered Nurse of the highest integrity applying for a position at Grove Care, looking to utilize three years’ experience in geriatric health, elder care, and hospice to bring comfort and dignity to seniors.
• To serve as a mentor and a manager in the position of Head Nurse at West General, experienced in providing quality health care in hospital settings, leading nursing teams, and working across different hospital departments including emergency and oncology.
• Highly qualified and experienced Registered Nurse seeking a part-time faculty position at University Medical School, bringing outstanding communication skills, practical knowledge and insights, and an enthusiasm for educating the next generation of nurses.
• Dedicated Registered Nurse with a certification in adolescent mental health looking to secure a role in a private healthcare facility, bringing over four years’ experience in supporting clinical psychiatric teams and caring for the mental and physical health of patients.
• Experienced pediatric nursing professional seeking a position as a pediatric oncology nurse to apply current knowledge of pediatric care, experience communicating empathetically with patients’ families, and dedication to the highest standards of professionalism.
• To obtain a Registered Nurse role and provide quality healthcare to patients, drawing on excellent communication skills, solid stamina, management acumen gained through previous supervisory experience, clinical training and practical experience.
• To obtain a position as a Registered Nurse at Main Street GP, seeking to combine two years’ experience in general medicine with excellent communication skills in a friendly, patient-oriented manner.
• Compassionate nurse dedicated to quality healthcare for all, seeking a position in a free clinic, experienced in delivering quality care in under-resourced and high-stress medical settings.
• Looking to obtain the position of Registered Nurse with ABC Hospital, coming with utmost dedication to patient integrity and care, aiming to apply practical knowledge gained through 10 years’ experience of nursing in hospital settings across multiple departments including oncology, pediatrics, and obstetrics.
• Patient-centered Registered Nurse committed to providing high-quality health care, seeking new role at XYZ Hospital, looking to apply over seven years of clinical experience to lead a nursing team in a hospital setting.
• Caring and enthusiastic Registered Nurse with over six years of experience seeking opportunity to join a general practice, bringing extensive knowledge of family healthcare from both clinical training and ongoing professional development.
• Highly educated and experienced Registered Nurse seeking the opportunity to join Medical Cover as a Nurse Consultant, aiming to apply clinical and practical understanding of health care to support a national leading insurance company.
• To obtain the position of Practice Nurse at Women’s Medical Practice, seeking to utilize three years’ experience in OB/GYN practices, extensive understanding of female health, and outstanding interpersonal skills.
• Caring and committed Registered Nurse with 25 years’ experience working with pediatric cancer patients and their families, coming with excellent references and a demonstrated track record of professional performance and mentoring to entry-level colleagues.

Entry-Level Nursing Objective Statements

• Technologically savvy and physically fit Registered Nurse, applying for the Registered Clinical Nurse position at Johnston Inc. to provide compassionate care to adults who experience disabilities in group homes, coming with a sincere desire to work with people with disabilities and desire to bring joy into their lives each and every day.
• Devoted and patient-focused recently licensed Registered Nurse, looking for emergency room position, leveraging ability to multitask, ability to learn quickly, endless energy, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Recent nursing graduate enthusiastic to gain experience while contributing to an established medical practice, bringing demonstrated expertise in clinical protocols and healthcare obtained during internships and academic training.
• Energetic and professional pediatric nurse seeking to join Medical Associates, committed and passionate about providing high-quality healthcare to all patients and communicating children’s health needs to their families.
• Proactive newly qualified nurse looking to obtain a position in a general medical practice, coming with an excellent academic record and an eagerness to learn new skills.
• Seeking to join the team at Recover Healthcare as a Registered Nurse to make a difference in people’s lives, bringing dedication, stamina, and attention-to-detail to the delivery of the highest standard of patient care.
• Enthusiastic and empathetic nursing graduate looking for position with John Smith Hospital to become part of a patient-centered collaborative work environment, bringing a commitment to patient safety and life-long learning.
• Recent nursing graduate with experience in high-stress setting gained through an internship in Central Hospital ER, seeking to join a challenging and fast-paced emergency response team.
• Recently licensed Registered Nurse applying for position in Labor & Delivery at XYZ Hospital, bringing ability to think and react quickly, endless stamina, sunny disposition, and excitement for a career in nursing.
• Self-motivated and committed nursing graduate applying for a Registered Nurse position at ABC Medical Center, coming with deep comfort of computers and web-based applications, demonstrated responsibility and excellent work ethic.
• Hardworking and dedicated nursing graduate looking to join Tri-State Medical Center as an Acute Care Nurse to demonstrate commitment to compassionate care for patient population.
• To obtain a position as a School Nurse in the ABC Public School System, bringing passion for collaborating with other school and health care staff to maintain a healthy environment and promote the wellness of students.
• Empathetic and effective communicator looking for a registered nursing position to deliver home health care services to provide exceptional care, allowing individuals to remain at home and live as independently as possible. Seeking an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
• To obtain a Staff Nurse position at Taylor College, bringing dedication to customer service, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and advanced computer skills to the provision of high-quality healthcare services to the student population.
• Detail-oriented and organized Registered Nurse with effective verbal communication skills and the ability to respond quickly and appropriately in crisis, seeking nursing position to provide treatment to adults with problems involving substance use and mental health needs.
• High-energy and devoted Registered Nurse seeking position as an Occupational Health & Wellness Registered Nurse at Access Services Corporation, bringing superior verbal and written communication skills, compassion and integrity to caring for patients with work-related injuries and illnesses.

Career Change Nursing Objective Statements

• Dedicated mental health professional with over three years’ experience in a psychiatric health-care facility and recently licensed as a Registered Nurse, seeking to transition career into nursing and provide health assessments for patients who may benefit from inpatient psychiatric care.
• Enthusiastic and recently licensed Registered Nurse seeking to leverage two years of experience in an OB/GYN’s office to a career in nursing focusing on women’s health, bringing superior computer skills, deep understanding of a doctor’s OB/GYN practice in a private setting, and unbeatable stamina.

When you draft your objective statement, have the job listing in front of you. Pull the key skills from the job listing that you have, and work them into your objective statement. Emphasize that you can give the employer what it needs, both from a technical and from a personality perspective. Use the space to paint a picture of who you are to humanize yourself to the reader. Use the above objective statements as a guide for length. Be succinct but hit your key points. Finally, make sure there are no errors in your objective statement. Good luck!

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Nursing Resume Objectives: 7 Examples & Writing Tips 

Whether you’re an RN, LPN, CNA, or even an entry-level nurse, you’ll need a great nursing resume objective to start out your resume. Check out our writing tips and seven nursing resume objectives for help.

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How to write a great nursing resume objective

Six professional nursing resume objective examples.

When writing a resume for a nursing role, it’s essential to include a clear and effective resume objective. Our Career Advisor Chloe shares her expert advice in this helpful video:

Whether you’re a registered nurse (RN), licensed practitioner nurse (LPN), or even a new graduate looking to start your nursing career, starting your resume with a tailored nursing resume objective helps highlight your qualifications and skills.

Our free-to-use resume builder can make you a resume in as little as 5 minutes. Just pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.

Your resume objective is one of the first things any hiring manager at a hospital will see when they review your job application. To make a strong first impression, it’s essential you put together a great nursing resume objective.

Fortunately, writing a great nursing resume objective isn’t difficult. Generally, objective statements for nurses are three to four lines long (or around three sentences) and should be used to showcase a quick overview of your experience, skills, and prior achievements.

Want to learn more about writing your resume objective? Check out the following video where we explain exactly how to write a convincing objective for your nursing resume (or any other job):

Here’s how to craft a strong nursing objective for your resume in six steps:

• Highlight one or two of your career accomplishments
• Decide which nursing skills to list that are most relevant to the position you’re applying to, such as having great people skills and interpersonal skills
• Remember to mention any nursing licenses, certifications, or credentials you have
• Be mindful of where you’ll be working, and with what types of patients when deciding which work experience to highlight
• Review the job posting, ensuring to scan for industry-specific keywords to include in your resume objective
• Make sure you’re able to back up any information listed on your resume objective in your work experience , skills section , or education section on your nursing resume

Additionally, always add quantifiable data (i.e., figures, hard numbers, or statistics) to your nursing resume objective to give hiring managers a better sense of what you’ve achieved in your career.

For example, highlight how many beds you oversee in your current role or how many patients you take care of on a daily basis. You could also mention how many times you perform a particular procedure each week or how many junior nurses you’ve trained.

The best resume templates for 2024

One of the best ways to make your resume is by filling out one of our free resume templates. All our templates are designed by experts and free to download for Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

Now that you have a better idea of how to craft a great resume objective, take a look at our nursing resume objective examples below for more inspiration.

1. RN resume objective

Here’s a nursing resume objective for an RN working in an emergency care unit:

Dedicated and patient-focused RN with 5+ years of experience treating avg. of 30 patients daily in an emergency care unit. Expertise in handling and monitoring trauma, emergency response, and critical-care patients. Possesses a master’s qualification in nursing, and currently focused on earning a doctorate in the field. Eager to fill the RN vacancy at the ECU in Deerwood Hospital and provide quality care to patients.

2. Entry-level nursing resume objective

Here’s a great resume objective example for an entry-level nurse resume :

Compassionate and hard-working nurse professional with 2+ years of experience caring for special needs children at Red Heart Hospital. Possess a BSN, and CNA certification. Eager to utilize my education and experience caring for developmentally and mentally disabled children to fill a nursing role at Bernard Hospital.

3. Experienced nurse career objective

Here’s a nurse resume objective for a senior-level nursing candidate:

Established psychiatric mental-health RN with 12+ years of experience providing care at Clarksville Area General Hospital to patients of all ages with various psychiatric conditions. Lead staff in training on counseling patients and their families with psychiatric needs. Aspire to fill the vacancy for a dedicated, caring mental-health nurse practitioner at Healthy Minds Clinic. Listed P/MH nurse with a Master’s in Community Mental Health Nursing.

4. Nursing student resume objective

Here’s an example of a resume objective for nursing students:

Hard-working recent-graduate nurse with clinical internship experience as an FNP diagnosing patients with acute and chronic illnesses, and developing treatment plans. Able to work under pressure, and handle any medical emergency or situation professionally. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Possess a BSN.

Now that you know how to write a great nursing student resume objective, make sure the rest of your nursing student resume  properly highlights your qualifications and skills.

5. Licensed practitioner nurse resume objective

Here’s an example of a resume objective for an LPN resume :

LPN with 4+ years of experience caring for elderly patients in facilities and at their homes. Specialties include infection control, IV insertion, blood drawing, and monitoring vital signs. Eager to fill the LPN vacancy at Willow Oaks Retirement Facility and tend to patients, making them as comfortable as possible. Bring a positive and empathetic attitude to the workplace, and hold a BSN.

6. Certified nursing assistant resume objective

Here’s a great objective for a CNA resume :

Reliable, caring CNA with 4+ years of experience caring for teenagers and young children. Excellent client care, and work well with bedridden, physically and mentally challenged adolescents. Supportive, dedicated, and compassionate, with excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills. Discreet and confidential in all dealings with patients, their families, and fellow staff.

7. School nurse resume objective

Have a look at this school nurse resume  objective:

Responsible School Nurse with 7.5+ years of experience working with elementary and middle school students. Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Washington. Seeking an opportunity to leverage my caring nature and healthcare expertise by applying for the open School Nurse position at Catlin Gabel School.

Nick Herschel

Digital Content Writer

Nick is a Digital Marketing Specialist at Resume Genius, where he assists people in writing outstanding resumes and CVs. Recently equipped with his MBA, you can find him discussing and writing articles on job searching and interviewing. He enjoys camping, hiking, and being outdoors in his free time.

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How to Write a Nursing Resume Objective (Examples Included)

Mike Simpson 0 Comments

By Mike Simpson

When you’re trying to land a nursing job , a nursing resume objective can be a powerful tool in your application arsenal. Standing out from the crowd is essential. Otherwise, you might miss out on your perfect opportunity.

Alright, we know you’re wondering, why do you need to stand out when demand for nurses is so high? After all, the need for registered nurses alone is going up by 12 percent between 2018 and 2028, creating a shocking 371,500 new opportunities. If companies need that many nurses, is going the extra mile necessary?

While it may seem like any nurse can just waltz in off the street and get a job, that isn’t the case. You still need to showcase yourself as a great candidate. If you don’t, even a nurse can struggle to find a job.

How can a nursing resume objective make a difference? Let’s take a look.

What Is a Resume Objective?

Alright, let’s address the elephant in the room. Yes, many people think that a resume objective is a bit antiquated. If you mention that you use one, your friends, family, or colleagues may sprain their eyes from rolling them so hard.

But, the trick is, when you use a nursing resume objective right, it can work in your favor. It lets you show the hiring manager what you bring to the table. Plus, it can answer questions a traditional resume doesn’t answer.

So, what exactly is a resume objective ? In the simplest terms, it’s a brief overview of your career and accompanying goals.

Usually, a standout statement includes details about how you enjoy applying relevant skills, as well as how you intend to use them if hired. If you’d like to learn more, we’ve covered it in-depth before. But, that’s the gist of what a resume objective is all about.

What is Unique About a Nursing Resume Objective?

In most cases, nursing resumes have a lot in common. Usually, each applicant brings something very similar to the table. Their education and certifications could be near identical. The nature of their work experience might be closely aligned.

This happens because nursing is incredibly technical. The requirements for a role are often ridiculously rigid. That means every person you are up against more or less looks like you on paper. If you don’t find a way to stand out, your resume might get lost in the pack.

That’s what can make a nursing resume objective so unique. It gives you a chance to do something extra, as long as you approach it the right way.

The most critical thing to understand is when to use one. Generally, a nursing resume objective is a smart addition if you are a recent graduate looking for their first nursing job, transitioning from another job into this kind of nursing role, or have a specific role target in mind. In those cases, this statement lets you highlight relevant skills or achievements as well as assert why this opportunity caught your eye.

If you already have nursing experience in a similar position, then you might want to go a different route. The resume summary statement may be a better choice for you, so see what that’s all about and choose the approach that’s the best match.

Common Mistakes When Writing a Nursing Resume Objective

As with all parts of a resume, nursing resume objective mistakes are pervasive. Many people misunderstand how to use these statements effectively, and that costs them opportunities.

You don’t want to end up in that boat, right? Didn’t think so. Luckily, we have your back.

First and foremost, whatever you do, don’t say that you “want the job.” You applied, so that’s already clear. It’s a nothing statement that provides zero value to the hiring manager.

Another common misstep is a lack of specifics. You want an objective to align with the role you want to land. If it’s so generic it could apply to any nursing position (or be true from any nurse), you’re missing the mark.

3 Tips for Writing a Nursing Resume Objective

If your goal is to create a winning nursing resume objective, here are three tips that can help you do just that:

1. Explain How You Want to Use Your Skills

Since a resume objective involves discussing your goals (and you don’t want to say that your goal is to get the job), then your best bet is to explain how you want to apply your skills to the role. For example, stating that you want to utilize your expertise “to enhance patient care at ABC clinic” could work, suggesting that it is one of your goals.

2. Be Specific to Highlight Your Value

When you create a nursing objective statement, be as specific as possible. Highlight individual skills , accomplishments , and goals that are highly relevant to the role . That ensures you showcase your value, which can make a significant difference.

3. Don’t Go Overboard

Your nursing resume objective shouldn’t be a massive wall of text. Ideally, you want to keep it to four sentences or less. If you don’t, there’s a decent chance it is unfocused or unrefined. That’s an immediate turnoff for hiring managers. Ultimately, brevity is your friend, so embrace it.

3 Nursing Resume Objective Examples

Okay, you have a solid understanding of how to create a standout objective. Would you like to see exactly what the end results can look like? Yeah, thought so. For your enjoyment, here are three examples, with one each focused on registered nurses , nurse practitioners , and licensed practical nurses.

1. Registered Nurse

“Recent RN graduate with well-developed interpersonal skills and strong fundamentals seeking to bring acquired knowledge into a fast-paced, patient-oriented environment. Proven ability to thrive under deadlines while remaining professional, upbeat, and empathetic. Open-minded, enthusiastic, and eager to learn.”

2. Nurse Practitioner

“Nurse practitioner with 3+ years of experience and proven record of thriving in a results-oriented environment. Advanced knowledge of medical techniques and a long-standing history of performing routine nursing services of the utmost quality. Empathetic and patient-focused, consistently striving to provide the highest level of patient care. Seeking out an opportunity in a growing practice where improving the lives of patients is a priority.”

3. Licensed Practical Nurse

“Licensed practical nurse with 5+ years of experience looking to apply highly developed phlebotomy, infection control, and patient care skills in a small clinic setting to enhance the patient experience. Aiming to bring a positive attitude and empathetic mindset into an environment where the quality of patient care remains a top priority, enhancing the workplace and assisting with the organization’s primary goals.”

Putting It All Together

Alright, you now know not just what a nursing resume objective is, but when and how to use one. When properly deployed, these statements can be powerful resume additions, helping you stand out from the sea of other applicants.

Just bear in mind that it isn’t the only approach. In some cases, a resume summary might be a stronger option. Take a look at them both and see which best meets your needs. That way, you can craft your ideal resume, increasing your odds of landing your perfect job.

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.

His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others.

Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

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Mike simpson.

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com. His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

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Career Advice > Job Search > Resumes and Cover Letters > Nursing Resume Objective: Tips and Examples

Nursing Resume Objective: Tips and Examples

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A nursing resume objective is a strategic tool within your resume to quickly distinguish yourself from the competition. It grabs the recruiter’s or hiring manager’s attention and piques their interest for more, similar to an amuse-bouche or other appetizer. Resume objectives specifically cater to nurses that don’t meet the typical candidate profile.

If you are preparing to look for a new job and want to learn more about what a nursing objective for a resume is, when to use it, and how to write one, we’re here to help. We’ll provide you with this essential information, along with 10 nursing objectives examplesthat will give you a head start on crafting a well-written resume.

What Is a Nurse Resume Objective?

A resume objective is a focused and concise career statement at the top of your resume, just below the header. Its purpose is to highlight your achievements and skills and to express your job goal. It serves as a bridge between your past and future roles.

Nurse Resume Objective vs Professional Summary

For nursing resumes , deciding whether to use an objective or a professional summary depends on your unique circumstances. Using an objective for nursing resumes is ideal for:

• New or novice nurses who have limited work experience
• Nurses who aspire to transition to a different nursing specialty, such as a bedside nurse seeking a non-bedside nursing position
• Nurses who are seeking a career position outside the nursing field

On the other hand, a professional summary is highly effective for experienced nurses seeking a job within their current specialty or field. It’s a longer, more detailed statement that allows nurses to illustrate how their accomplishments and skills from previous related experiences complement the desired position.

How to Write a Nursing Resume Objective

In this section, you’ll learn tips on how to create your objective for a nursing resume. The objective should be:

• Brief — In only one to two sentences, capture who you are as a candidate and what you bring to the position.
• Tailored — Since a nursing objective is so succinct, adapt your objective for each job by focusing on keywords from the job posting.
• Experience-oriented — Prioritize showcasing your best accomplishments, qualifications, and skills that align with what the employer is seeking.
• Goal-centered — Define your career goal so the employer clearly understands what you hope to achieve, especially if you are a non-traditional candidate.
• Simple — Avoid overcomplicating or overembellishing this section, and keep in mind that the objective is geared towards what you can offer the employer, not just what you are seeking.

Nurse Skills for Resume

When you begin writing a resume, you sometimes need to remember all the great skills you developed as a nurse. For easy reference, here are some nurse skills for resume writing you can use:

• ACLS, BLS, PALS, etc.
• Communication skills
• Compassion or empathy
• Computer skills or EHR skills
• Critical thinking
• Medication administration
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Other languages

Nursing Resume Objective Examples

Writing nursing objectives and goals can seem daunting at first. To help you get started, here are 10 different nursing resume objective examples that you can customize for your specific needs.

New Graduate Nurses

• Highly motivated and compassionate new BSN graduate nurse with strong academic and student clinical experience, as well as two years’ experience as an ICU tech. My goal is to join the cardiac ICU nurse residency program at Clara Barton Hospital, where I can apply and expand my nursing skills to provide patient-centered care for critically ill cardiac patients.
• Newly graduated certified registered nurse anesthetist seeking a CRNA position at Loretta C. Ford Hospital’s anesthesia care team. Five years’ experience as a medical ICU nurse with excellent critical care, problem-solving, and communication skills, and the ability to work in high-stress and fast-paced environments.

Nurses Changing Fields

• Compassionate and empathetic RN with three years of acute care experience seeking a hospice nurse position at Dorothea Dix Hospice Center. I apply my nursing skills, emotional intelligence, and communication abilities to provide holistic, palliative nursing care to terminally ill patients and their families.
• Detail-oriented RN with five years of experience in medical-surgical nursing as a bedside and charge nurse, with strong patient advocacy, team-building, and communication skills. Seeking a new role as a nurse case manager at the Lillian Wald Skilled Nursing Facility, where I can apply my clinical and interpersonal skills to coordinate all aspects of patient care and serve as a facilitator between the patients and their multidisciplinary teams.
• Energetic, highly skilled, adaptable RN with four years’ experience as an emergency and trauma nurse with CEN, TNCC, ACLS, and PALS certifications. I thrive in fast-paced environments and am ready to begin a career as a travel nurse with the Walt Whitman Nurse Staffing Agency.
• Detail-oriented public health nurse with high integrity and excellent research, analytical, and writing skills. Looking to enhance my career and utilize my strengths as a clinical research nurse at the Mary Seacole Nurse Health Network to implement, evaluate, and manage clinical trials to improve patient care.
• Outgoing, professional LPN with nine years’ experience in post-acute care with expertise in catheter, tracheostomy, and wound care ; phlebotomy and IV skills; patient and caregiver education; and time management. Searching for a position as a home health nurse at Florence Nightingale Home Care to provide excellent skilled nursing care that promotes patient autonomy and prevents hospitalizations.
• Meticulous, empathetic, SANE-certified, psychiatric RN with over two years of experience and robust critical thinking, physical assessment, and communication skills. Eager to transition to a new role as a forensic nurse at Mary Eliza Mahoney Hospital and combine nursing knowledge with forensic science to make a positive impact on crime victims, survivors, and the legal system.

Nurses Leaving the Profession

• With seven years of critical care experience, I aim to transition into a real estate agent role at Virginia A. Henderson Realty. I will utilize my strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills and display dedication to help clients navigate the buying and selling process with confidence to help them find their dream homes.
• I aspire to transition into the health education specialist position within the Department of Health. With one year of acute care nursing experience, I aim to use my skills as a foundation to create and execute effective health education programs that empower individuals to adopt positive lifestyle choices.

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Nursing resume objective examples.

Curated by hiring managers, here are proven resume objectives you can use as inspiration while writing your Nursing resume.

• Nursing (Career Changer)
• Nursing (Experienced Professional)
• Nursing (Recent Graduate)
• Nursing resume templates
• Similar objective examples

Nursing Resume Objective Example

Power of skill specificity.

Being specific about your nursing expertise, like 'neonatal intensive care,' communicates your specialization to recruiters. It also indicates your readiness to handle similar roles or challenges in the new role.

Highlighting Real Impact

Quantifying your achievements, like 'managed over 50+ high-risk pregnancies,' exhibits your capability to handle complex and risky situations, a critical trait in nursing.

Showcasing Leadership Skills

Mentioning experiences where you've led multidisciplinary teams underlines your leadership skills, which are highly pertinent in healthcare settings where teamwork is pivotal.

Focus on Patient Outcomes

Highlighting your contributions to improved patient outcomes directly speaks to the core of nursing - patient care. It shows your commitment to quality service.

Nursing (Career Changer) Resume Objective Example

Leveraging past experience.

Referencing your past role as a 'Healthcare Administrator' gives you an edge as it shows you understand the broader healthcare system, which could enhance nursing care delivery.

Merging Old and New Skills

Combining 'knowledge of healthcare systems and regulations' with new nursing skills makes you an attractive candidate. It shows you bring more to the table than just nursing skills.

Quantifiable Achievements

Sharing achievements like 'reduced hospital readmission rates by 20%' prove you're results-oriented. It assures potential employers of your ability to contribute positively to their goals.

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Nursing (Experienced Professional) Resume Objective Example

Leverage extensive experience.

Stating your '20+ years of experience in critical care' sets you apart as a seasoned professional, which can be especially relevant for leadership roles.

Evidence of Problem-Solving Skills

Sharing an accomplishment like 'decreased medication errors by 25%' exhibits your problem-solving skills and your commitment to improving care quality.

Leadership Recognition

Mentioning you're 'recognized for leading nursing teams' underlines your proven leadership skills, demonstrating your capability to manage teams in high-pressure environments.

Innovation in Nursing

Highlighting 'innovative problem-solving' shows you're an individual who thinks outside the box. This is an attractive trait, especially in an industry that's constantly evolving.

Nursing (Recent Graduate) Resume Objective Example

Showing special interest.

Mentioning a 'special interest in geriatric care' gives employers a peek into your passion and potential expertise, which could be a deciding factor in specialized roles.

Practicum Experience

Sharing your 'successful practicum in a hospice setting' shows you're not completely green. You’ve had some hands-on experience, even as a recent graduate.

Soft Skills Matter

Highlighting 'excellent patient communication skills' emphasizes your soft skills, which are essential in nursing for patient satisfaction and quality care.

Proactive Patient Safety

Mentioning your 'proactive approach to patient safety' shows you're not just about doing the job, but doing it right, and keeping patients safe is a priority.

Nursing Resume Templates

Dental assistant.

Respiratory Therapist

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Nursing Resume Objective Examples

Nursing Resume Objective

Outgoing and energetic with a strong passion for fitness, holistic health, and nutrition. Qualified as a multi-style yoga teacher, pre/post natal yoga teacher and doula.

Passionate learner who is eager to share what I learn with others. My wide work experiences emphasize my strong work ethic, drive to try new experiences and explore new ideas, and excellent skills in leadership, communication, and collaboration. Greatly enjoy working with students and colleagues and consider myself very lucky to have a dynamic and challenging vocation in education.

An experienced healthcare professional with extensive knowledge of hospital workflows and more than 11 years of Health IT experience.

Passionate about driving healthcare innovation and improvement, with a positive track record of developing and leading new initiatives as well as proactively facilitating improved systems & processes that increase efficiency.

Licensed practical nurse committed to serving patients of all needs and backgrounds. Has 6 yrs of experience working in long term and rehab units, treating patients with varying levels of ailments. eager to learn and grow,and use my calm demeanor and commitment to provide excellent services to help patients through their healing journey or end of life, eager to apply my problem solving and critical skills to any nursing role assigned to me and in any setting my qualification may allow.

Highly skilled in generating key stakeholder collaborations that foster creativity and challenge the current state by developing new healthcare delivery models and achieving client satisfaction through targeted outcomes.

Having worked in Admin I am committed and motivated with exceptional customer service and decision-making skills. I carry a strong work ethic, professional demeanor and great initiative. With childcare experience I am a friendly and approachable individual, with excellent communication skills. I can build relationships easily and encourage participation in group settings.

Demonstrated leadership abilities and teamwork skills as well as the ability to accomplish tasks under minimal direction and supervision. Proven history of utilizing strong analytical skills, attention to detail, unyielding diligence and ethics to outstanding performance.

I have a background in medical surgical nursing as well as transplant nursing. I critically think and anticipate patients' needs based on vital signs, assessments and their current disease process. I utilize evidence-based practice guidelines to improve clinical practice and provide quality patient care. Most importantly I advocate for patients and their families.

Highly trained and skilled nursing professional with extensive clinical background. Energetic, eager, and collaborative APRN that works well in fast-paced environments to address patient needs.

Track record of success in creatively developing and driving initiatives to meet the business needs; establish efficient and effective business workflows; achieve best practice often within tight time frames and limited budgets.

Enthusiastic and competent team member able to collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary team members through effective communication. Ability to work under pressure and effective time management along with critical thinking. Detail oriented, prioritizing tasks with the knowledge of clinical skills to deliver patient centered care.

15+ years seasoned LVN with a great deal to offer the healthcare industry. I have gained an extensive amount of experience in Home Health, SNF, Geriatric, Pediatric, Management and Corrections.

A dedicated individual looking to bring my strategic decision-making skills, motivational strategies, executive leadership, and management education to benefit in a stimulating and challenging environment while experiencing advanced opportunities to grow.

Compassionate, with a strong focus on providing outstanding customer service. Experienced Caregiver knowledgeable about safe patient ambulation, personal grooming assistance and housekeeping. Remain current on relevant medical conditions and working with qualified healthcare staff to maximize care.

Devoted to patient physical comfort and emotional support. Patients benefit from improved care and a flexible learning approach. Committed to providing consistent and focused attention to the safety, comfort, and dignity of clients.

I have been working in the healthcare industry within the nursing vertical for several years and I'm excited to make a difference in my patients' lives. I have experience and training within Critical Care environments and have worked across multiple facilities.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist with nursing experience in intensive care, field trauma, tactical operations, inpatient telemetry, outpatient cardiology, administrative policies and procedures, and medical readiness and training.

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• Nurse objectives and summaries

Nurse Objectives and summaries

88 Nurse objectives and summaries found

A well-written objective or summary on your resume can be the difference between getting rejected, or getting invited for an interview. Copy any of these Nurse objective or summary examples, and use it as inspiration for your own resume. All examples are written by certified resume experts, and free for personal use.

Learn more about: objective vs. summary

Registered nurse (RN)

Summary examples.

Supportive, motivated, and patient-oriented registered nurse (RN) with 2 years’ clinical experience. Dedicated, efficient, and detail-oriented team player with excellent interpersonal skills, compassion, and dedication towards collaboratively maintained treatment plans. Licensed medical professional with history of monitoring patients, administering medications, and supporting doctors and hospital staff on operational tasks.

Patient, persistent, and reliable registered nurse (RN) with relevant clinical experience supporting patient care initiatives in a hospital setting. Proactive and responsible problem solver with excellent multitasking skills, attention to detail, and ability to work independently or as part of a team to coordinate hospital rounds and patient treatment schedules. Solutions-oriented team player with strong communication skills.

Motivated, reliable, and efficient RN with 5+ years’ experience supporting monitoring patients and controlling treatment plans. Efficient and collaborative medical professional with excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to multitask to complete daily responsibilities, and thorough understanding of HIPAA regulations and patient confidentiality best practices. Accurate and organized expert in wound care, IV maintenance, and efficient patient transfers.

Objective examples

Proficient and self-driven registered nurse (RN) eager to leverage clinical experience and skills in managing patient treatment plans towards new healthcare opportunities. Adaptive and hands-on learner leveraging strong multitasking skills and passion for continued personal and professional growth.

Passionate and patient-oriented nursing student with clinical experience pursuing RN license and seeking immediate opportunities to continue work in healthcare administration. Eager and dedicated problem solver looking to leverage impressive interpersonal skills and proven track record in maintaining patient relationships to support collaborative and forward-thinking teams in a clinical setting.

Proficient, organized, and self-driven senior RN with 15+ years’ clinical management skills and pursuing new opportunities in healthcare management. Reliable problem solver seeking to lead nursing teams to provide top-quality patient service and support healthcare initiatives.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Efficient, innovative, and patient-oriented certified nursing assistant (CNA) with 5 years’ experience supporting healthcare initiatives and daily hospital operations. Proactive and reliable multitasker with excellent organization skills and ability to prioritize patient needs and coordinate daily basic care needs. Highly motivated team player with excellent written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, and passion for process improvement efforts.

Patient, empathetic, and driven certified nursing assistant with CNA certification and 3 years’ experience supporting patient care in hospital setting. Dedicated, efficient, and collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and passion for providing excellent patient service and solving problems. Knowledgeable healthcare professional with acute care proficiencies and ability to thrive in fast-paced environments.

Flexible, reliable, and compassionate CNA with 5+ years’ experience supporting RNs and LPNs with basic and advanced healthcare needs across several healthcare and hospice establishments. Experienced subject matter expert (SME) with great research skills, passion for mastering new care methodologies, and established proficiencies in acute care needs, including emergency and urgent care best practices.

Efficient, insightful, and passionate certified nursing assistant with related experience in diverse healthcare settings seeking new opportunities to provide personalized patient care in support of RNs and dedicated healthcare leadership teams. Motivated and hands-on learner eager to master new policies and procedures while contributing to patient care initiatives within a fast-paced hospital, outpatient, or hospice setting.

Reliable and self-driven certified nursing assistant eager to apply 3 years’ resident internship and dedicated patient care experience towards new opportunities in the healthcare industry. Flexible and collaborative team player leveraging patient advocacy and customer service skills to pursue nursing roles with greater responsibilities and room for professional growth.

Self-directed Certified Nursing Assistant(CNA) offering 7 years of experience in direct patient care promoting resident independence and dignity. Eager to provide personal care services with compassion to meet client's needs in a skilled nursing facility.

Compassionate, dedicated Registered Nurse with multifaceted experience in critical care, acute care, primary care, routine medical examinations, and cardiac post-operative care. Deep experience working in diverse facilities including critical care units, community hospital wards, clinics, rehabilitation/skilled, and nursing/long-term care facilities.

Compassionate ICU nurse with broad knowledge of patients' pain levels, sedation requirements, and dosage calculations. Keen on listening to patients’ medical histories and responding to family members’ concerns concerning medications, post-op care, and treatment procedures. Desirous of making a strong contribution to the healthcare field through solid nursing practices based on technology and active communication with patients and families.

Skilled nurse with over 9 years of experience in intensive care units (ICUs) and serving in some of the area's busiest hospitals. Able to implement safe and ethical nursing interventions for patients and their families while delivering continuous quality treatments following institutional policies and regulations. Keen on monitoring the health condition of both adults and children and working under the supervision of expert physicians to intervene against sepsis or shock ahead of time.

A highly motivated medical professional with broad knowledge of patient diagnosis techniques and able to handle critical cases in a fast-paced healthcare environment. Looking to take on more responsibilities as an ICU nurse and utilize my strong organizational skills to provide high-quality patient care.

Qualified ICU nurse with strong skills in administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and assisting physicians in high-volume trauma situations. Eager to apply expertise in emergency response to handle victims in intensive care units and provide them with the best assistance using all available resources.

Top-performing ICU nurse with extensive experience implementing core emergency care plans based on patients’ different health conditions. Eager to take on challenging roles within the Intensive Care department by handling emergencies, assessing patients’ needs, and utilizing all resources to ensure their utmost wellbeing.

Nurse practitioner

A highly capable nurse graduate with a natural ability to build relationships with patients and familiar with patient advocacy procedures. Able to interpret diagnostics studies and communicate test results following evidence-based protocols. Compassionate and adept at collaborating professionally with other healthcare professionals to meet the needs of individuals and ensuring high standards of care.

Certified nurse practitioner with 3+ years of experience in busy, small-sized clinics. Strong knowledge of clinical terminology, electronic medical records, and patient confidentiality regulations. Performed initial medical diagnosis, provides consultation under physician’s recommendations, and proposed treatment for acute and chronic illnesses. Eager to assist the healthcare team in treating complex medical cases while maintaining patient wellness and comfort.

Natural caretaker with a holistic approach to patient care acquired from multi-faceted healthcare roles as medical assistant, registered nurse, and clinical operations specialist. Collaborative health activist and patient advocate enhancing quality of care through a multi-pronged approach to nursing and health education. Completed 600 hours of clinical rotations in the areas of family medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics, mental health, and internal medicine.

Enthusiastic registered nurse with excellent communication skills and proven expertise in healthcare protocols and best practices. Looking to obtain a position in public health to build long-term professional relationships and expand my nursing skills while promoting favorable patient outcomes.

Patient-focused Nurse Practitioner with 10 years of combined experience in clinical and administrative oversight. Expertise in diagnosing and managing acute and chronic conditions. Looking to explore opportunities in ambulatory care, family practice, and emergency department settings.

Practicing nurse with extensive knowledge about reviewing electronic medical records and submitting examinations in advanced online databases. Eager to work in a clinic where I can diagnose and treat acute illnesses while supporting the institution’s mission and goals.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Patient-focused, dedicated, and compassionate Nursing professional with 10 years of experience providing exceptional care for patients with many different types of diseases, injuries, and health concerns. Ensure accurate, efficient, and individualized care by working with other healthcare providers to execute strategic plans. Team Leader who forges skills in training employees to reach organizational goals more effectively.

Passionate LPN with a strong dedication to providing medical assistance for patients of all ages as they enjoy a safe and comfortable environment. Skilled at completing patient status assessments, keeping patient records up to date, and ensuring optimal supply levels in treatment rooms. Possessing extensive healthcare knowledge and able to familiarize with different diagnoses and treatment protocols.

Licensed Practical Nurse with 3+ years of experience caring for patients with a patient-centered approach and building connections with senior physicians and nurses. Proven ability to monitor and sterilize medical equipment before each surgical operation within a short timeframe. Boasting strong interpersonal skills and able to facilitate communication between patients and families to optimize care and recovery.

A dedicated medical professional with a passion for nursing care and proficiency in various medical procedures. Looking to secure a position as a Licensed Practical Nurse and utilize exceptional communication skills to foster professional relationships with patients, physicians, and senior medical staff.

Results-driven Licensed Practical Nurse with a strong background in progressive health care settings. Experienced in basic nursing functions such as bandage change and dressing wounds. Seeking to provide exceptional patient care, monitor patient recuperation, and assist families to support ailing ones and improve recovery.

Organized LPN with well-rounded knowledge about patient health assessment, appointment scheduling, and recording medical histories. Looking to help a fast-paced team manage the workflow of patients by monitoring vitals, assessing their health conditions, and providing solutions for a faster recovery.

Charge nurse

Dedicated Registered Nurse with 2 years of experience facilitating efficient and smooth patient workflow within busy medical wards. Brings a proven ability to communicate effectively between patients, families, physicians, and CNAs, while motivating the nursing team to deliver superb patient care.

Patient-centered Charge Nurse with 5 years of experience implementing robust measures guaranteeing the smooth running of medical ward shifts. Excels at delivering patient care while leading, guiding, and supporting nursing staff to complete all tasks efficiently and on time—a compassionate nurse with solid judgment and problem-solving skills and a demonstrated facility to handle stressful situations.

Results-focused Charge Nurse with 10 years of experience within demanding psychiatric wards. Impeccable track record in superintending nursing, coordinating daily administrative duties, including patient admissions, transfers, and discharges, and providing mentorship and training to junior staff. Renowned for heightening efficiency through strategic scheduling and nursing assignments.

Enthusiastic Registered Nurse seeking a charge nurse position within an established healthcare institution to leverage 2 years of experience in optimizing workflow efficiency.

Seeking a role with ABC Hospital as a Charge Nurse. Targeting to continue with a history of optimizing efficiency and managing crises in psychiatric ward environments. 

Seasoned Clinical Nurse seeking a charge nurse position with ABC Hospital to leverage extensive shift management experience to maintain/improve service standards.

Emergency Room nurse

Dedicated and passionate newly certified ER Nurse with a year of experience within a busy ER environment. Proven capacity to handle emergencies effectively according to instructions and under intense pressure. A sympathetic and cheerful individual with a record of quickly establishing rapport and calming unsettled patients.

Patient-centered ER Nurse with five years of experience providing critical care to traumatic injury or gravely ill patients. Well-versed in swiftly performing appropriate procedures for emergencies, including CPR, wound stitching, patient vitals assessment, and drug administration. An astute communicator who can calm patients and cooperate with other staff to ensure exceptional patient care.

Seasoned ER Nurse with over a decade of experience delivering all-inclusive emergency medical support and care to patients in the emergency room. Impeccable track record in performing specialized, life-saving interventions, including CPR, advanced cardiac life support, and infant resuscitations. Deep dedication to diagnosing and treating heart attacks, severe burns, and strokes.

Compassionate, results-oriented ER Nurse seeking to leverage five years of experience within fast-paced, high-stress emergency rooms in delivering exceptional patient care.

Seeking an ER Nurse position with ABC Hospital to utilize critical care experience, team leadership, and passion for enhancing patient care and heightening the Emergency Department's performance.

Poised, team-oriented nursing professional seeking an ER Nurse position with John Doe Hospital to utilize and hone skills in client vitals assessment, wound suturing, and resuscitations.

Operating room nurse

Highly qualified and enthusiastic RN with 8 years of experience in operating and emergency room settings. Competently assists physicians during surgery, and properly maintains and handles optical and surgical instruments. Recognized as a calm and focused professional in high-stress situations who can effectively problem solves by recommending solutions and acting quickly to ensure patient safety and comfort.

Licensed RN with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing seeking BSN to further my experience in nursing. 2 years of experience in Pre-Op, Intra-Op, and Post-Op procedures, mechanical aptitude, and manual dexterity while operating complicated diagnostic equipment. Effective leadership and interpersonal skills supported by an enthusiastic team player attitude. Able to perform all necessary duties effectively and accurately.

Ten years of proven experience as an operating nurse at Springfield City Hospital. Tremendous leadership and mentorship skills who directs teams of 3 to 4 student nurses through various operation room processes and procedures. Possesses a solid understanding of patient safety and precautions with in-depth knowledge of aseptic techniques, sterile techniques, and surgical procedures. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Hard-working and dedicated Operating Room Nurse with 5 years’ experience desires a position at Gotham City Medical Health Center. Eager to utilize emergency room expertise and ability to maintain calm and poise in fast-paced and high-stress environments to improve patient outcomes.

Operating Room Nurse with 8 years of experience desiring a posting to apply expertise in administrative, management, and specialized nursing skills. Adept at preparing patients for operative procedures, administering anesthesia, and providing support to doctors and senior nurses.

Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

Empathetic and dedicated Licensed Vocational Nurse with clinical rotation experience to deliver safe, therapeutic, and competent nursing care. Clear understanding of healthcare procedures with a proven history of managing caseload adhering to HIPPA regulations. Effectively Collaborate with RNs, Physicians, and other healthcare staff to create a warm healing environment. Solid knowledge of all medical procedures and multiple medical conditions.

Patient-centered Licensed Vocational Nurse with 5 years of experience providing bedside care and support for patients of various ages and illnesses. Excels at gathering and recording patient information on admission, assisting RNs with developing care plans, and evaluating and reporting the efficacy of nursing interventions on patients. A friendly individual with a proven ability to quickly establish rapport with patients, families, RNs, and physicians.

Compassionate Licensed Vocational Nurse with a year of experience delivering first-rate patient care within a high-traffic hospital. Well-versed in assessing patient vitals, administering prescribed medication, and assisting RNs with administrative tasks. Exhibits excellent communication and interpersonal skills, keen attention to detail, and a commitment to ensuring utmost patient satisfaction.

Empathetic Licensed Vocational Nurse looking for a position at ABC Hospital to leverage skills in bedside care, records management, administrative assistance, and medication administration.

Skilled LVN seeking a position at ACME Nursing Services. Brings demonstrated expertise in patient care, basic treatment administration, and wound dressing.

Labor and delivery nurse

Patient-focused Labor and Delivery Nurse with two years of experience within busy delivery wards. Hands-on experience providing appropriate antepartum and postpartum care to patients with delivery difficulties. Brings a proven capacity to quickly learn new concepts, establish rapport with patients and their families, and work well individually or as part of a cross-functional team.

Compassionate and personable Labor and Delivery Nurse with 5 years of experience providing care to labor patients and supporting key procedures such as labor inductions and c-sections. Adept at all facets of labor and delivery, including antepartum and postpartum nursing care. Proven capacity to maintain productivity within fast-paced, high-tension delivery environments.

Seasoned Labor and Delivery Nurse offering two decades of experience in providing critical nursing care to high-risk deliveries. Expertise in labor inductions, OR, normal and c-section deliveries, antepartum and postpartum care, and NICU. Track record of training and mentoring new staff to deliver exceptional service that ensures successful deliveries.

Seeking a labor and delivery nurse position within a busy delivery unit to utilize 10 years of experience in implementing patient-centered interventions for optimizing delivery success.

Empathetic entry-level Labor and Delivery Nurse seeking a position with ACME Hospital utilize and hone skills in antepartum and postpartum care.

Seeking a position with Gotham City Hospital as a labor and delivery nurse to leverage 5 years of experience in providing critical care for high-risk delivery patients.

Pediatric nurse

Personable and capable licensed RN with 2 years of pediatric nursing experience in conducting diagnostic tests; good time management and prioritization skills. Provides high-quality pediatric care; detail-oriented, multitasker with exceptional skills in written documentation and verbal communication able to problem solve and liaise between patients, families, and doctors. Hands-on patient care and demonstrated compassion for family needs.

Eight-year career as a school nurse with comprehensive knowledge of methods and techniques for preparing patients for a variety of tests. Utilizes a systematic approach to patient care, and maintains professional ethics. Facilitates outcome-based care to patients and families. Demonstrates independent critical-thinking skills and sound patient care judgment. Plans efficient patient exam workflow to minimize stress on colleagues and patients.

Compassionate healthcare professional with 15 years of experience as a registered nurse in a clinical setting providing comprehensive pediatric care. Possesses extensive knowledge in all instruments and supplies to perform physical examinations and procedures. Demonstrated proficiency in Windows and Apple OS, computer navigation, and electronic patient care health records. Flexible and able to perform tasks with minimum to no supervision.

Dedicated nursing professional with 5 years of experience as a pediatric nurse seeking a position at a teaching health facility to further professional skills in specialized pediatric care. Hard-working and team-focused with a willingness to assume new responsibilities as necessary.

Licensed LVN with 4 years of experience seeking a full-time position as a pediatric nurse at Washington University Public Health Center. Brings dedication and compassion, with the ability to work with diverse colleagues and patients in high-stress situations.

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Nurse Resume Objectives

The field of nursing is widely varied and the types of positions more numerous than can be individually addressed. However, no matter the particulars of the area in which you are interested, the need for a strong objective statement that indicates what you bring and what you are looking for remains the same. Whether you are looking for your first nursing position, or a new position after receiving certification or relocating, or simply advancing your career as an experienced health care practitioner, we hope you will find just the right statements or the inspiration to create a powerful statement that suits you. Choose from a variety of objective statement examples, and feel free to alter the details to create a powerful nurse resume.

Example Nurse Resume Objectives

A position as a Registered Nurse in a Health Care facility where I can make the most of my nursing education and training, in addition to my interpersonal skills to provide the highest level of patient care.

Hsin Tseng – Longview, TX

To obtain a position in a Health Care Facility where I can utilize my skills, knowledge and experience to provide quality health care.

Marilyn Morgan – Hutchins, TX

Seeking a Registered nurse position which will give me an opportunity to expand my practical experience at the same time as providing quality health care to residents.

Debra Bryant – Maitland, MO

As a beginner in the field of medical science, with my good interpersonal and communication skills, I will be able to confidently deal with all the level of people working in the organization. I would put all my efforts in research and development of present health care system.

Michelle Torres – New York, NY

To secure a position with a well established organization with advancement opportunities utilizing my skills in the field of medical billing and coding.

Susan Watson – Surprise, AZ

Fresh but enthusiastic RN with ability to stay calm and intervene during crises seeking job in a hospital to make use of the knowledge acquired at the High Nursing Academy.

Jessica Young – Elizabethtown, KY

RN position that will expand my nursing education, skills and knowledge and utilize it to reinforce the facility’s operations.

Zi Kang – West Sacramento, CA

As an experienced medical professional, I would like to use my extensive clinical experience working as a physician in the field of medical science. My quality of being helpful, self-motivated would insist me to take care of the poor people and provide special medical facilities for poor and economically weaker section.

Kevin D. Verret – Garden City, NY

Secure a fulfilling CNA position in a hospital setting and continue to utilize my knowledge in First Aid, patient care and hygiene, and standard medical emergency procedures.

Beverly White – Florence, SC

With a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a two-year experience in behavioral health, my objective is to continue my profession in the field of psychiatric nursing and obtain a full-time position at any Ohio-based facility.

Michelle Symba – Akron, OH

To obtain a position as a RN with ABC Clinic that will enable me to be befit my employers professionally and give the highest level of comfort and care to patients.

Yan Pai – Tucson, AZ

With over 4 years of professional experience as a CNA, my goal is to continue my passion in medicine, assist doctors and registered nurses, and help in caring for patients. Strong background in nutrition and training with American Red Cross.

Amy Williams – Stamford, CT

With an associate’s degree in nursing and valid Texas RN licensure, my goal is to find a rewarding position as a pediatric nurse at a hospital or pediatrician’s clinic. Interned with an OB/GYN and pediatrician for two consecutive years.

Rosa Bischoff – Houston, TX

Dedicated registered nurse certified in mental health willing to obtain a position in a reputed health care facility.

Linnie Brown – Charleston, WV

To obtain a certified nursing assistant position in a Michigan-based assisted living facility that focuses in providing seniors with privacy, medical care, and companionship.

Helen K. Speidel – West Point, MS

Trained as a registered clinical nurse at the emergency department of California’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, my goal is to continue to provide critical nursing services to patients upon my relocation to NYC. Holds over 5 years of hands-on nursing experience. Recently obtained New York licensure to practice.

Marge M. Berg – NY

To work as an ophthalmic assistant or administrator in hospitals, or with professionals as surgeons or physicians with a specialty.

Katrina C. Richards – Concord, NC

As an intern, I would be using my knowledge of medicines and would work under senior medical health professional and help poor people by giving them knowledge about health care facilities. I would make use of my helpful and sacrificing nature in providing healthcare and medical facilities to the poor and downtrodden.

Anne Washington – Chicago, IL

Top 10 New Graduate Nurse Resume Objective Examples

A well-written resume is essential for any new graduate nurse looking to land their first job.

Among all the sections, the objective statement holds the most significance. It acts as a powerful tool to capture the recruiter’s attention and compel them to read your resume in detail.

In this guide, we will provide you with the 10 best examples of new graduate nurse objectives to help you understand how to craft a compelling one for your entry-level RN resume.

By following our practical tips and incorporating impressive words and phrases, you can grab the recruiter’s attention, demonstrate your enthusiasm, and highlight your ability to provide high-quality patient care.

A well-crafted objective statement is the key to a successful resume that piques the interest of potential employers, increases your chances of securing an interview, and opens the door to exciting opportunities in the nursing field.

So let’s dive in and create an objective statement that sets the stage for your career as a new graduate nurse.

10 New Graduate Nurse Resume Objective Examples

Tips for Writing a New Graduate Nurse Resume Objective

• Be Specific: Tailor your objective to the specific position and healthcare facility you are applying to.
• Highlight Skills: Emphasize the key skills and experiences that make you a strong candidate, such as clinical rotations, internships, or relevant coursework.
• Show Enthusiasm: Demonstrate your passion for nursing and your eagerness to contribute to patient care.
• Include Career Goals: Mention your long-term career aspirations and how the position aligns with them.
• Use Keywords: Incorporate keywords from the job posting to increase the chances of your resume passing through applicant tracking systems.
• Focus on Value: Show how your skills and experiences can add value to the healthcare facility and improve patient outcomes.

Recommended: Entry Level RN Cover Letter Sample

Call to Action

Take these tips and examples and start crafting your own compelling resume objective today. Stand out to recruiters and secure your first job as a new graduate nurse by demonstrating your unique skills, passion, and commitment to providing excellent patient care.

Top Comments from Readers

Samantha W.

This guide was exactly what I needed! As a new nursing graduate, I was struggling to write a compelling objective statement. The examples provided really helped me understand how to frame my experience and enthusiasm. I just landed an interview at my top-choice hospital – thank you!

I appreciate the detailed tips and the real-world examples. It’s challenging to stand out as a new grad, but these suggestions make it seem a lot more doable. I’m feeling more confident about my resume now.

The emphasis on being specific and using keywords is such a game-changer. I’ve read so many generic objectives, and I didn’t realize how important it was to tailor it to each job and facility. Great advice!

Fantastic resource for new graduate nurses! The examples were not only practical but also inspiring. I modified one of the examples to suit my needs, and it made my resume shine.

Thank you for the comprehensive guide! I struggled with how to showcase my clinical rotations effectively, and your tips on highlighting specific skills made a huge difference. Feeling so much better about my resume now.

The call to action to share our own objectives was a nice touch. I’ll be sure to share my journey in the comments soon. It’s great to have a community where we can support each other!

This couldn’t have come at a better time. I have been tweaking my resume for weeks and felt like I was getting nowhere. These examples gave me the clarity I needed to craft a strong objective statement. Thanks a lot!

Brilliant tips! The idea of aligning career goals with the position truly resonated with me. I think it will help show potential employers that I’m serious about my career in nursing.

This guide went above and beyond just listing examples. The tips for writing a strong objective, especially focusing on value and patient outcomes, were incredibly helpful. Definitely recommending this to my classmates!

Loved the practical examples and actionable tips. I was able to create a personalized and impactful objective statement and already noticed a difference in responses from potential employers. Thank you for the help!

Engage with Us

We’d love to hear from you! Share your own resume objectives or success stories using these tips in the comments below. Your experiences can inspire and guide fellow new graduates on their journey to a rewarding nursing career.

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Top 17 Nurse RN Resume Objective Examples

Updated July 14, 2023 13 min read

A resume objective is a short statement that outlines the job seeker's professional goals and aspirations. It should be tailored to the specific nursing position for which you are applying and should highlight your qualifications, experience, and skills. When writing a resume objective for a Nurse RN position, it is important to focus on the areas in which you excel, such as patient care, clinical skills, and medical knowledge. Additionally, mention any past experience or certifications that make you a desirable candidate for the job. For example: “RN with 5+ years of experience in oncology seeking to leverage clinical expertise and patient care abilities to provide exceptional care at ABC Medical Center.” Or: “Certified RN with 8+ years of acute care experience looking to join ABC Hospital as an RN Supervisor.” Make sure your resume objective conveys why you are uniquely qualified for the position and what you can bring to the organization.

or download as PDF

Top 17 Nurse RN Resume Objective Samples

• To obtain a Registered Nurse position in a challenging and professional healthcare environment.
• To apply my knowledge and skills to provide quality patient care as an RN.
• To utilize my experience, knowledge, and skills to provide excellent patient care.
• Seeking an RN position in a hospital setting where I can use my nursing skills to improve patient outcomes.
• To work as an RN with an established healthcare team to ensure the best possible patient care.
• To contribute my nursing experience and expertise to the highest standards of patient care.
• To pursue a career as an RN in order to make a positive difference in the lives of patients.
• Seeking a Registered Nurse role that will allow me to utilize my clinical skills and knowledge for the benefit of patients.
• Looking for an opportunity to use my nursing experience and education to provide quality patient care.
• To bring my passion for nursing and commitment to providing excellent patient care into a new role as an RN.
• Seeking a Registered Nurse position that provides opportunities for growth while allowing me to utilize my clinical skills and knowledge of healthcare principles.
• Desire a challenging Registered Nurse role that allows me to use my education, experience, and dedication towards providing quality healthcare services.
• Aiming for an RN position where I can apply my strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving abilities towards providing exceptional patient care.
• To secure a position as an RN where I can provide compassionate yet effective health care services in accordance with established standards of practice.
• Looking for a Registered Nurse role that allows me to utilize both my clinical expertise and interpersonal skills in delivering high-quality medical services.
• Seeking an opportunity as an RN where I can demonstrate strong leadership abilities while utilizing evidence-based practices for improved patient outcomes.
• Aiming for an RN position where I can leverage my critical thinking skills, technical aptitude, and commitment towards providing excellent patient care services

How to Write a Nurse RN Resume Objective

Writing a resume objective for a nurse RN position is an important first step in the job search process. A resume objective is a short statement that provides an overview of your qualifications and helps to explain why you are applying for the position. It should be tailored to match the specific needs of the employer and give them an idea of what you can bring to their organization. In this essay, we will discuss how to write a nurse RN resume objective that will help you stand out from other applicants.

When writing your resume objective, it is important to include both your professional goals and specific skills that make you qualified for the job. Begin by outlining any relevant experience you have in nursing or healthcare, such as internships or previous employment. This will show employers that you have prior experience with patient care and medical procedures. Additionally, highlight any specialized training or certifications you have acquired related to nursing or healthcare.

Next, identify any unique qualifications or qualities that make you an ideal candidate for the position. For example, if you are bilingual, mention this in your objective statement as it may be beneficial to employers who need nurses who can communicate with patients from different cultural backgrounds. You can also mention any awards or honors that demonstrate your commitment to excellence in nursing practice.

Finally, explain how your skills and experience align with the needs of the employer. Make sure to emphasize how your qualifications can benefit their organization and help them reach their goals. By doing this, employers will be able to easily see why they should consider hiring you over other applicants for the job opening.

In conclusion, writing a nurse RN resume objective is essential in order to successfully apply for positions within this field. Be sure to include relevant experience, specialized skills, unique qualifications, and how they meet the needs of potential employers when crafting this statement so that it stands out among other applications received by recruiters and hiring managers alike. With careful planning and attention given to detail when composing this part of your resume, you are sure to gain greater consideration when applying for nursing positions within healthcare organizations across the country!

Related : What does a Nurse RN do?

Key Skills to Highlight in Your Nurse RN Resume Objective

In the highly competitive field of nursing, it's crucial to craft a compelling resume that effectively showcases your skills, experiences, and competiveness. A key component of this is your resume objective, which should succinctly highlight your most relevant skills and qualifications. In this section, we will explore the essential skills you should emphasize in your Nurse RN resume objective to make a powerful first impression on potential employers. From technical abilities to soft skills like communication and empathy, these are the attributes that can set you apart from other candidates.

1. Phlebotomy

Phlebotomy is a crucial skill for a Nurse RN as it involves drawing blood from patients for various tests, transfusions, research, or donations. This skill demonstrates the nurse's ability to perform essential medical procedures accurately and safely. It also shows their capability to handle sensitive patient interactions, maintain patient comfort during the procedure, and adhere to strict health and safety protocols. Including phlebotomy in a resume objective can highlight the nurse's technical competencies and hands-on experience in patient care.

2. Catheterization

Catheterization is a crucial skill for a Nurse RN as it involves the care and management of patients who require catheters for various medical reasons. This skill demonstrates the nurse's ability to perform technical procedures, maintain patient comfort, and prevent infections. Including this on a resume objective shows potential employers that the candidate possesses essential practical nursing skills, can handle delicate procedures, and is capable of providing high-quality care to patients.

3. Wound care

Wound care is a crucial skill for a Nurse RN as it involves the ability to assess, treat, and monitor wounds of various types. This includes surgical wounds, burns, pressure sores or ulcers. This skill is needed for a resume objective because it demonstrates the nurse's capability to provide essential patient care, reduce chances of infection, and promote healing which are all key aspects of nursing roles. Furthermore, proficiency in wound care also shows that the nurse can work effectively under pressure and has strong attention to detail - qualities that are highly valued in healthcare settings.

4. IV insertion

IV insertion is a critical skill for a Nurse RN as it involves administering medications, fluids, or drawing blood directly into a patient's veins. This skill demonstrates the nurse's technical ability and precision, which are crucial in providing effective patient care. Including this on a resume objective shows potential employers that the candidate possesses essential practical nursing skills. It also indicates the candidate's capability to perform under pressure and manage patient discomfort, reflecting their commitment to patient care and safety.

5. Medication administration

Medication administration is a crucial skill for a Nurse RN because it involves knowledge of different types of medications, their uses, dosages, and potential side effects. This skill is directly related to patient care and safety. A nurse must be able to accurately administer the correct medication and dosage to patients as prescribed by the doctor. Including this skill in a resume objective demonstrates the candidate's competence in this critical area, showing potential employers that they are capable of performing one of the essential duties of the job effectively and safely.

6. EKG interpretation

EKG interpretation is a critical skill for a Nurse RN as it demonstrates the ability to understand and analyze electrocardiograms, which are essential in monitoring and diagnosing cardiovascular conditions. This skill shows potential employers that the nurse can provide high-quality care for patients with heart-related issues. It also indicates that the nurse can work effectively in high-stress situations, make informed decisions about patient care, and collaborate effectively with cardiologists and other healthcare professionals.

7. Patient assessment

Patient assessment is a crucial skill for a Nurse RN as it involves evaluating and monitoring the health condition of patients. This skill is essential in making accurate diagnoses, planning appropriate care, and evaluating patient outcomes. Including this skill in a resume objective demonstrates the candidate's ability to provide high-quality patient care, make sound clinical judgments, and work effectively within a healthcare team. It also shows potential employers that the candidate possesses strong observational and analytical skills necessary for this role.

8. CPR certification

A CPR certification is crucial for a Nurse RN as it demonstrates the ability to perform life-saving procedures during emergency situations. This skill is vital in a healthcare setting where patients' lives often hang in the balance. It shows that the nurse is not only trained to provide routine care but also equipped to handle critical situations effectively. Including this on a resume objective highlights the candidate's preparedness and commitment to patient safety, making them more attractive to potential employers.

9. Infection control

Infection control is a critical skill for a Nurse RN as it involves understanding and implementing measures to prevent the spread of diseases in healthcare settings. This skill is essential for a resume objective because it showcases the candidate's ability to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients, staff, and visitors. It also reflects their knowledge of health protocols and standards, their attention to detail, their responsibility, and their commitment to patient care. Furthermore, in the context of ongoing global health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, this skill has become even more crucial in healthcare professions.

10. Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Electronic Health Records (EHR) is a crucial skill for a Nurse RN because it involves the ability to accurately document and manage patients' health information. This skill demonstrates proficiency in using modern healthcare technologies, ensuring efficient and effective patient care. Including this skill in a resume objective shows potential employers that the candidate is capable of handling critical data management tasks, contributing to improved healthcare delivery and outcomes.

In conclusion, effectively highlighting your key skills in your Nurse RN resume objective is crucial in setting a strong foundation for your application. This section provides an opportunity to showcase your unique abilities and experiences that make you the ideal candidate for the job. It's not just about listing skills, but also demonstrating how these skills have been applied in real-life situations to deliver quality healthcare. Remember, your objective should be compelling and concise, capturing the employer's attention and making them eager to learn more about you. Tailoring this section to align with the specific requirements of the job can significantly increase your chances of landing an interview.

Related : Nurse RN Skills: Definition and Examples

Common Mistakes When Writing a Nurse RN Resume Objective

Writing an effective resume objective for a nurse Registered Nurse (RN) position is essential to ensure that you stand out from the competition. Unfortunately, many nurses make some common mistakes when crafting their resume objectives.

One of the most common mistakes made by nurses when writing a resume objective is failing to tailor it to the specific job they are applying for. Generic statements such as “To obtain a nursing position” or “To pursue a career in nursing” are too vague and don’t tell employers what you can bring to their organization. Instead, focus on how your skills and qualifications match the requirements of the job and how you can add value to the organization.

Another mistake that nurses often make is making the objective overly long or detailed. A resume objective should be concise and precise, no longer than two sentences at most. It should also be free of any unnecessary words or phrases that don’t add anything meaningful to your statement.

Finally, another common mistake made by nurses is not proofreading their resume objective thoroughly before submitting it. It’s important to ensure that there are no spelling or grammar errors in your statement as this could give employers an unfavorable impression of you as a professional nurse.

In conclusion, crafting an effective resume objective for a nurse RN position requires careful consideration and attention to detail. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can give yourself a better chance of being noticed by employers and securing an interview for the job.

Related : Nurse RN Resume Examples

The right objective for a Nurse RN resume should focus on how the candidate can provide value to the organization, while a wrong objective would simply focus on what the candidate wants out of the position.

Editorial staff

Brenna Goyette

Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

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33 Nursing Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

• Nursing Resumes
• Nursing Student Resumes
• Nursing Resumes by Credentials
• Nursing Resumes by Role

Writing Your Nursing Resume

Although the demand for nurses is growing, getting a job in the nursing industry isn’t easy, especially if you’re making a start or submitting a letter of resignation at your current position. 

How are you supposed to know how to  write a stunning resume  so employers will immediately want to hire you and create a cover letter detailing your accomplishments? 

Getting into the nursing field is tough, so  we analyzed dozens of nursing resumes to learn what works and what doesn’t to help you get a great nursing job .

No matter your specialty or where you are in your nursing career, we’ve got 33 nursing resume samples to help you  make a resume online  from scratch or update your current resume to get you your next nursing job in 2024!

Nursing Resume

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• One of the quickest ways to do so is by including your licenses in your title. This clearly signals to the employer that you’re qualified for the position.
• Adding an optional licenses section is another way to demonstrate your abilities, so if you have the room, make sure to add that section.
• Instead, tailor your resume to the  nursing job description . What keywords did they list? What responsibilities do they expect you to complete? Use this as your guide to include what employers most want to see.

Experienced Nurse Resume

• Some professions require CVs for senior-level officials, while other industries are fine with a resume no matter their seniority level. Check the job description to see what kind of information the employer requires, so you know what to write.
• Try to demonstrate the different specific responsibilities you’ve had throughout your career. What kinds of clinical techniques have you done? For example, have you assisted with ADLs, administered particular tests, or diagnosed specific types of diseases?

Nursing Student Resume

• The key is to be specific about what you contributed or learned during your time in school.
• How did you assist your peers or supervisors? Did you witness anything especially noteworthy? What did you learn? Listing details like these helps employers qualify your abilities. 
• While an objective is strictly optional, it’s a great way to convey your excitement for the position and some of your relevant skills. 

New Grad Nursing Resume

• If you lack experience, that’s okay! Just include more details about your clinical rotations. You can also mention non-healthcare-specific work experience if you have it.
• For example, does the job description talk a lot about compassionate care? Then you should include the phrase “compassion” in your skills section.

New Nurse Resume

• Including devices and software such as Hill-Rom smart beds, Omnicell, PeraHealth’s Rothman, and Vocera Badge shows employers that you’re all ready to hit the ground running and help senior nurses treat patients with the latest gadgets in hand.

• As you progress, unleash quantified achievements in your previous roles, emphasizing how you helped patients and improved outcomes (hint: reducing medication errors by 28% and enhancing patient safety).

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Resume

• In addition to your title, if you have any certifications or additional licenses, include them on your resume in a designated section.
• If you’re struggling to know what to write on your CNA resume, it can help to look at  CNA resume examples  and local CNA job descriptions to determine what employers want to see and what metrics to include. 

RN BSN Resume

• Go beyond helping patients and list all the times you’ve helped doctors treat a condition more quickly or improved after-surgery recovery rates. Add how you’ve endeavored to assist patients remotely during tough times (if any) such as providing remote sessions during COVID-19.

Registered Nurse Resume

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Resume

• If your current specialization is different from the job description, don’t stress! You should still be specific about your experience, but focus on transferable skills that go hand-in-hand with other fields.
• For example, do you specialize in long-term care, nephrology, or developmental disabilities? Include how you applied those abilities throughout your LPN resume.
• Of course, you need to include where you got your nursing degree, but don’t stop there! Adding a certifications or licenses section can show off your training and catch a hiring manager’s eye quickly.

Nursing Home Administrator Resume

• Begin with a careful analysis of the job listing and grasp the matching qualifications, skills, and requirements that resonate with your own experiences. Found them? Fantastic! Now, strategically incorporate those golden nuggets into your resume. In addition, picture how Amanda flaunts her nursing license–if you’ve got similar credentials or those shiny certifications, mention them somewhere in the side column.

Psychiatric Nursing Resume

• Take Sarah, for example. She didn’t just casually namedrop accomplishments like “reducing 30-day readmission rates by 14%” and “spreading awareness of mental health services among 1,280+ community members.” Nope. She made those wins pop out in her resume with bolding and underlining to wow the recruiter from the get-go.

Nursing Manager Resume

• How far back should you go? You wonder. If you have a master’s degree in nursing or healthcare management, make that the centerpiece of your education section. Otherwise, a bachelor’s degree fits the bill! Of course, don’t forget to add the institution’s name and the year you graduated.

Critical Care Nursing Resume

• Gain promotion and assume a new role with greater responsibility after that. Use this to show your dedication by backing your achievements with numbers.

Director of Nursing Resume

• List down all the variety of software you’re proficient in and write how you’ve used each right from the beginning of your career. Last but not least, never forget to add your RN license!

NICU Nurse Resume

• Use the career objective to frame your clinical experience through the lens of NICU by highlighting your ability to communicate with families or work in high-pressure environments.

Operating Room Nurse Resume

• Surgeons are always seeking cutting-edge technology that can unlock new medical capabilities. Showcase your expertise in working with these innovative systems—like robotic arms—to enhance your operating room nurse resume .

School Nurse Resume

• Are you skilled in using platforms specific to educational institutions, such as SchoolMessenger? Include them on your school nurse resume to prove that you’re prepared to handle the caseload.

Telemetry Nurse Resume

• You can bolster your telemetry nurse resume by listing any special certifications that further qualify you for the task, such as Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS).

Nurse Practitioner Resume

• The best format for nurses in 2024 is the reverse-chronological format since it shows how you’ve grown your skills over the years. However, if you have a gap in your job experience, there are other formats you can use to disguise that.
• Adding a few splashes of color to your  nurse practitioner resume  makes it look prettier and helps readability. Just be sure to choose a color that is easy on the eye (no neons, please).

ICU Nurse Resume

• To avoid the fear of the blank page, start by using a  resume outline  to give you a basic structure to follow and show you what your finished resume should look like.
• So, when you’re writing the work experience bullet points, use general responsibilities like “provided effective care”), but be specific about how you helped your patients (and what resulted from your ministrations). 

Travel Nurse Resume

• To help stand out above the competition, clarify your work experience sections so employers know if you’ve had traveling nurse contracts or not. 
• More likely than not, you don’t need a resume objective or summary, nor do you need to list individual projects. Remember that you can go into more detail about achievements and skills in your  nursing cover letter .

Charge Nurse Resume

• For example, have you had the opportunity to manage or lead co-workers? Have you ever trained a nurse and oversaw scheduling? Be specific about how you’ve managed projects and people and what resulted from your leadership.
• Want to know a quick and easy way to write a  charge nurse resume ? Start by using a  resume template  to format your information, then fill in the blanks with specific details about your past experience and skills.

Chief Nursing Officer Resume

• This formatting showcases your career growth and leadership development by highlighting your most recent (and likely most relevant) job. 
• We recommend you include six to 10 skills, with at least 70 percent hard skills such as BLS, QA/QC, federal compliance, and fiscal health analysis.

Telehealth Nurse Resume

• Luckily, there are multiple  resume tips  you can incorporate to make your resume a cut above the rest, including choosing specific hard skills in your skills section and formatting your resume in reverse-chronological order.
• If you have a degree higher than a high school diploma, ignore your high school information since employers don’t need it. If you have multiple nursing degrees, include all of them.

Nurse Consultant Resume

• Use business-related numbers like sales growth or revenue/profit increases to demonstrate your worth as an employee.
• Don’t forget to add other sections to showcase your training and certifications.
• If you decide to include these sections, keep them brief and include only what’s relevant to the job you’re seeking.

Office Nurse Resume

• Do your homework on the environment you’re applying to work in, and ensure you showcase why you’re a good fit for that specific job. After all, an ER unit with high patient turnover may be much more interested in your high-efficiency standards than an in-home clinic that consistently services a much smaller patient load.
• Sure, your resume may look good when you finish writing it, but have you run it through a  resume checker  yet? You might not realize you’ve been using passive voice or inconsistent punctuation, and even though you’re not applying for a job as an English Teacher, a hiring manager won’t be thrilled if you overlook little details when they’re going to literally put lives in your hands.

Home Dialysis Nurse Resume

• Unfortunately, as much as it may be interesting for you to look back over your life history, most hiring managers won’t be quite as thrilled about the prospect. Adding a career summary to your resume can give recruiters the highlights, without drowning them in a sea of information.
• Trust us on this, nothing bothers a hiring manager more than a resume that is 1.01 pages long.

ER Nurse Resume

• Certifications like the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) depict that you’ve done the work and undergone the rigorous training needed to be an ER nurse.

Labor and Delivery Nurse Resume

• If you’ve spent your time outside work organizing events to promote women’s health and reproductive rights, it’s a powerful statement that shows your passion and commitment and deserves to be mentioned in your resume.

Nurse Manager Resume

• If you’re well versed with a particular HR management tool or medical management software, it’s one less thing a hospital or healthcare center will have to train you on.

Pediatric Nurse Resume

• An extensive program, like a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, from an esteemed institute like Johns Hopkins University, for example, is a worthy inclusion in your pediatric nurse resume , demonstrating that you’ve learned from the best.

Staff Nurse Resume

• Take a good look at Allianah’s staff nurse resume and notice how she leverages a Registered Nurse (RN) license. This isn’t just another document that’s good to have but proof of the grit and effort it takes to be a professional nurse, which further adds to her existing value.

Related resume guides

• Physician Assistant
• Dental Assistant

Hiring managers typically receive a torrent of resumes whenever there’s an open position, so if you prepare your nursing resume haphazardly, you are more likely to get the boot than the job. To avoid that sad scenario, you need to make your nursing resume readable, logical, and pleasing to the eye. It should showcase your skills and experience while being ATS-compliant, and it should show off a bit of your personality, too. 

It make sound like an impossible task, but before your get overwhelmed, start by taking it one step at a time. First, choose your formatting style: reverse-chronological, functional, or hybrid.

Reverse-chronological, functional, and combination/hybrid format

A well-structured resume is essential for your job search. Even if your resume has perfect content, if your resume isn’t easy to skim at a glance, it’s unlikely you’ll be called for an interview. Your content matters, but so does  how  you present that content. Therefore, proper  resume formatting  is a salient feature you don’t want to get wrong.

There are three popular formatting options for designing your resume in 2024: reverse-chronological, functional, and hybrid. 

• Focuses more on your skills
• Ideal for a recent graduate or an entry-level candidate
• Reverse-chronological format
• The most common format
• Lists relevant experiences and skills in reverse-chronological order
• The best for making it past the ATS
• Combines functional and reverse-chronological features
• Highlights both your skills and experience
• Ideal if you have a handful of experience or are re-entering the workforce

The best bet for a nursing resume would be the reverse-chronological format. This helps the recruiter see your upward career progression. If you started as an intern in a given health organization, and then moved up the career ladder to become a full-fledged nurse, your potential employer will be able to track your progression and assess your qualifications faster.

Contact header

It’s important to include the relevant contact header information in the right order. If you’re a nurse, your   contact header should have the following:

• Your name —Employers won’t automatically know you, so you need to include your first and last name. 
• Phone number —Use your personal cellphone number instead of a work phone in case a potential employer calls when you’re not on the job.
• Email address —Include a professional email address, preferably combining your first and last name.
• City & state —This is optional but recommended so employers know if you’re local. 
• LinkedIn —Some employers require your LinkedIn profile, but even if it’s not mandatory, it’s helpful for employers to see your career progression.

The contact header should be, you guessed it, at the top of the page. Good font choices are Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri, all at 12 point size. When it comes to color, remain conservative with black and white. Some  resume templates  can format your resume to strikingly display your contact information, just like this header:

Will your nursing resume beat the ATS?

Optimizing your resume for the Application Tracking System (ATS) increases your chances of being called for an interview. The ATS is a tool that many companies use to quickly scan resumes and weed out applicants without relying on someone to read through them first.

Most resumes aren’t designed to beat ATS, and end up being filtered out before they ever reach the recruiter. However, if you know how to properly  format your resume , you’ll pass the ATS scan and make your way to a person. Here’s what you should know about the role of fonts, font size, margins, header names, logical order, skills, and page length, as far as ATS-friendly resumes are concerned:

• ATS-friendly fonts make it easy for a computer to read your resume. Some of the most commonly used ATS-friendly fonts include: Times New Roman, Calibri, and Arial. Preferably, they should have a font size of 10-12 points.
• Beyond just font type, font size also matters. Preferably, your body font size should be 10-12 points, while your headers can be bigger.
• Margins also matter, since the ATS automatically assumes your margins are the standard size of one-inch all around. Any bigger or smaller, and the ATS might mis-read your resume.
• Keywords are the main focus of the ATS, so make sure your skill keywords and header names match what’s in the job description.
• The ATS is not sensitive to the number of pages, but one page is the standard across professions. 

Writing your nursing resume

Putting together an effective nursing resume may seem overwhelming and not worth your effort. However, putting in the extra effort now will pay off when you get an interview. And remember, you’re not doing this alone. We’re dedicated to helping you  write an amazing resume  by providing advice on common frustrating decisions like this:

• When an objective is most useful on your nursing resume
• When a summary can be the preferred choice
• How to list your most relevant nursing work history
• Adding volunteer work and academic endeavors when work history is light

Do you need an objective or summary on your nursing resume?

When crafting your nursing resume, you have the option to use career objectives and summaries.

When to include a career objective in your resume:

• You can use an objective when changing or modifying your career.
• For instance, if you plan to change from a surgical assistant registered nurse to an emergency room registered nurse, you’d use an objective to highlight that you’re pursuing a new subfield within nursing.
• Use a career objective if you’re looking for an entry-level job and lack experience. 

When a summary is right for your resume:

• Use a summary to highlight your most valuable experience and skills. These are ideal when you have vast experience in nursing.
• For example, if you’ve worked in a health setting for 10 or more years, you can include a summary.
• A summary is effective for connecting varied work experiences.

When not to use objectives or summaries:

• Skip the objective or summary if you’re not planning to customize it to each position you apply for. Otherwise, it’s generic filler that takes up too much white space.
• This lacks specificity and reads “I just need a job to pay the bills.” While that may be true, employers want to know you’re passionate about your work and will improve your workplace.
• This lacks depth and work history details that should hallmark a summary. It’s void of substantial expertise, specializations, and skill specifics.

When objectives or summaries are worth including:

• This objective highlights the years of experience and the candidate’s field of expertise while also naming the potential employer.
• This summary highlights their years of experience, the key areas they’ve worked in, and their specialities within those fields.

Nursing work experience?

Don’t forget to indicate relevant experience in your resume. While we wouldn’t recommend including every job you’ve had since you were 16, you can get away with adding work experience from different fields if you’re an entry-level candidate.

However, if you’re applying for a senior position, you’ll need to include at least  three  nursing positions on your resume, especially if you’re applying for a managerial or specialty position. For instance, a director of care management requires nine years of experience, four of which must be managerial.

Conversely, a registered nurse position may require one year of direct patient care. The responsibilities, in this case, are not very demanding. If you lack experience overall, you can include any academic projects and volunteer work that is relevant to the  nursing job description .

Writing your job experience bullet points for your nursing resume

Three examples of poor job experience bullet points for nurses:

• Generally, you should avoid using “I,” and you should include specifics, not just generic statements of experience.
• This bullet includes “I” and lacks job specifics and quantifiable metrics.
• Although it may sound nice on the surface, it doesn’t answer exactly what the patient did and the results of their work.

Three examples of good job experience bullet points for nurses:

• This uses an action verb combined with quantifiable metrics.
• Again, this uses an action verb but furthermore, it describes exactly what the candidate provided (primary care training). 
• Specific, pertinent job duties show employers your skills and can also help you pass the ATS; two thumbs up for this one!

Quantify your impact as a nurse

When preparing your resume, remember that no employer wants to waste time reading vague statements about your performance. Instead, they want to see supporting details. So, whenever you can, you should quantify your impact and achievements.

For instance, if you say you “served many patients daily,” a potential employer might wonder about the exact number because ‘many’ is a relative term.

Examples of how to quantify metrics:

Suppose the  nursing job description  asks for a training specialist who can train other nurses. In that case, you can indicate the number of training sessions you conducted per day in your previous employment.

• Number of clinical training sessions per day
• Trained 75% of new hires on pre and postoperative care >20 days per month

Some of the health facilities labor under tremendous pressure. The number of patients you serve per day can help potential employers gauge whether you will cope well under pressure. So, it’s lucrative to include the number of patients you served per a specific amount of time.

• Number of patients served in a day 
• Worked in a setting with a 6:1 patient-nurse ratio, receiving 400+ visitors per day

Top skills for your nursing resume

It’s helpful to understand the differences between hard and soft skills to list in your  resume skills section . Keep the number of skills you list in between six and 10 to avoid overwhelming the reader.

Hard skills are those tools you use to do the job, aka technical abilities that require training. 

Examples of hard skills:

• ERM systems
• Medical documentation
• Infant and child care
• Emergency care
• Ambulatory care
• CPR certified

On the other hand, soft skills are abilities that are harder to quantify and are more personality-based.

Examples of soft skills:

• Communication 
• Professionalism
• Positive attitude

Get noticed! Look for keywords within a job description:

• Many companies use ATS to scan resumes for keywords from the job description, so it’s in your best interest to include the right keywords.
• Include keywords in both your  nursing cover letter  and resume. 
• Choosing keywords from the job description helps you customize your resume and thus, makes you more appealing to the hiring manager.
• Employing the right keywords makes your resume relevant and noticeable, giving you an edge over the competition.

Nursing education and certifications

When preparing your nursing resume, include all the elements that will increase your chances of getting the job. You need to indicate the following:

• Your education level
• Any certifications or licenses
• Your experience in other nursing environments
• Your years of experience as a nurse

On the topic of licenses, you need to share your area of specialization. Specialists include registered nurses (RNs), certified registered nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists. Including your area(s) of expertise helps potential employers determine whether you’re the right candidate for the job.

Besides, including this information is easy to do and shouldn’t take up much space! Simply place certifications and licenses in a short section toward the bottom of your resume: 

Should you add projects, interests, or hobbies to your nursing resume?

Most of the time, you don’t need to include projects or  interests/hobbies on your resume . However, you may be able to add them depending on your level of experience and the type of role you’re seeking.

If you’re an experienced nurse, you’ve likely gained tangible experience that’s more important than undergraduate projects you’ve completed. Instead, you should highlight your key areas of experience and show your new employer how you’ll impact their business.

In the same vein, you may not need to indicate your hobbies or interests unless it’s encouraged. However, you can gain an advantage over the competition if you have strong qualifications and hobbies that match the company culture. 

To help you determine whether or not to include hobbies, visit the company’s website and read the “About Us” section to gauge whether they have a unique cultural fit. 

If you’re an entry-level candidate or a recent graduate, listing hobbies and projects can help you fill space and showcase your personality. However, it’s always good to review the job description to ensure these additions are relevant. Either way, keep the project and hobbies lists short and at the bottom of your resume.

Examples of hobbies/interests:

• Volunteering for community health services
• Learning new languages

Examples of projects:

• Organized and led breast cancer awareness campaign for two consecutive semesters
• Researched mental and psychiatric issues for semester-long experiment

Adjust your nursing resume for every job application

Remember to customize your resume when applying for a new job. Even if you’re only applying for specific roles, like LPN jobs, that doesn’t mean every job description for that title requires the same qualifications. There’s usually something unique to each position. Thus, for every application, make sure you tailor the following sections:

• (These can stay mostly the same, but you should adjust responsibilities and keywords slightly.)

To recap, each job description comes with different skill requisites. Furthermore, remember to note keywords you can use within the body of your resume and cover letter.

Your nursing resume must be error-free

As a nurse, you need to show the hiring manager that you’re observant and have an eye for detail. Remember, you’ll be working with patients and should demonstrate accuracy and precision. To ensure a flawless resume, run your document through a  resume checker  and have your colleagues proofread it. Don’t let typos cost you a job!

Confidently land your next Nursing gig

Many job seekers languish in the job market, especially considering the number of nursing graduates produced by universities each year and the fierce competition. So, you must be creative and savvy to survive the market. Happily, you’ve already taken the first steps by reading this guide, so congratulations!

We know you’ve worked hard to get this far, and we wish you all the best as you write a power-packed nursing resume and get ready for interviews in 2024! 

12.1 The Nurse’s Role in Assessment

Learning objectives.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Describe the primary focus of a nursing assessment
• Explain the domains of the nursing assessment
• Identify how to conduct assessments with clinical reasoning

The systematic and dynamic process of collecting and analyzing data about a patient’s health is called assessment , and it forms the cornerstone of patient care (American Nurses Association, n.d.). In essence, the nursing assessment is a comprehensive approach to understanding a patient’s health status. The process aims to identify the needs and concerns of patients, serving as the foundation for subsequent nursing care plans. A nursing assessment is not just an evaluation of physical symptoms—it encompasses a broader perspective that includes psychological, sociocultural, and environmental factors influencing a patient’s well-being.

In every assessment, nurses must decipher a complex array of information. They must sift through various data points, from clinical signs and laboratory results to the patient’s expressed concerns and behaviors. This process requires technical knowledge, expertise, and a keen sense of empathy and intuition. The goal is to create a holistic picture of the patient’s health, enabling nurses to prioritize care and interventions effectively.

Primary Focus of a Nursing Assessment

The primary focus of nursing assessment is to gather comprehensive and accurate information about a patient’s health status, including physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors. First, nurses gather detailed health histories encompassing past illnesses, surgeries, medications, allergies, and family medical backgrounds. Subsequently, a thorough physical examination is performed to evaluate vital signs, general appearance, skin condition, cardiovascular and respiratory functions, neurological status, and body systems. Psychosocial assessment is crucial, revealing a patient’s mental health status, emotional well-being, coping mechanisms, support systems, cultural beliefs, and socioeconomic factors. Functional assessment evaluates the patient’s ability to perform daily activities and mobility, while nutritional assessment delves into dietary habits, nutritional status, and related concerns. Pain assessment is fundamental, examining pain presence, intensity, duration, and impact. Medication review ensures accurate reconciliation and identifies potential drug interactions. Risk assessment aims to pinpoint safety concerns, and collaboration with the healthcare team facilitates comprehensive care planning. The nursing assessment is the foundation for developing an individualized care plan and effective nursing care.

To conduct a thorough and accurate assessment, nurses must recognize the signs of apparent physical health issues, such as high blood pressure or mottled skin, as well as the more subtle indicators that may suggest underlying problems. For example, a patient might mention specific sources of stress or allude to a family history of a particular condition. It is essential to recognize that assessment is an ongoing, dynamic process. Nurses continuously collect data , assess patient responses, and adapt care plans as the patient’s condition progresses. This proactive approach ensures that care remains responsive and tailored to evolving patient needs.

Evaluate Patient’s Response to Impaired Health

When evaluating a patient’s response to impaired health, nurses consider the effect of health issues on the patient’s overall well-being. The nurse must look at physical symptoms and assess how these symptoms affect the patient’s mental and emotional health. For example, a patient recovering from surgery might show signs of depression or anxiety. A patient with chronic arthritis might experience reduced mobility, leading to feelings of frustration or dependency; they may experience social isolation or financial strain due to an inability to work. All these concerns are as important to address as the physical aspects of recovery.

A critical component of this evaluation is understanding the patient’s resilience and coping mechanisms. This part of the assessment might include identifying a patient’s support networks, such as family or community resources, or the use of coping strategies like meditation or exercise to manage pain. Nurses assess these factors to provide holistic care, which encompasses the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of an individual patient.

Evaluate Basic Human Needs

Evaluating basic human needs is a fundamental component of the nursing assessment. This concept, rooted in theories such as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs , suggests there are fundamental needs that must be met for a person to achieve optimal health. These needs include physiological requirements, safety and security, love and belonging, self-esteem, and self-actualization (McLeod, 2018). Maslow’s hierarchy is discussed in greater detail in 12.3 Collection of Assessment Data .

Nurses primarily concentrate on assessing their patients’ physiological needs, particularly in the initial stages of the assessment. They must thoroughly review factors such as nutrition, hydration, breathing, circulation, sleep patterns, and pain management. Nurses assess these factors to ensure that a patient’s fundamental health requirements are being met, which is crucial for recovery and stability. For example, a patient with diabetes requires careful monitoring of dietary intake and blood sugar levels, addressing their physiological need for homeostasis.

Safety and security also play a role in assessment. In particular, nurses seek to identify environmental or personal factors that might pose risks to a patient’s health. For instance, in cases of malnutrition, nurses must address the patient’s immediate dietary needs as well as explore potential causes like food insecurity or disordered eating. If these significant contributors are not addressed, the patient will continue to struggle with malnutrition.

Real RN Stories

Assessing basic human needs as part of the nursing assessment.

Nurse: Leonard, RN Clinical setting: Medical-surgical unit Years in practice: 11 Facility location: Las Vegas, Nevada

I was working on a busy medical-surgical unit when I encountered a patient admitted for exacerbation of congestive heart failure. Upon initial assessment , it was evident the patient was experiencing significant difficulty breathing. They also exhibited anxiety and appeared fatigued. Since assessing basic human needs is important, I began my assessment by prioritizing the patient’s physiological needs.

First, I made sure the patient’s airway was clear and that oxygen therapy was initiated to improve oxygenation. While addressing the physiological aspect, I also recognized the patient’s psychological needs, as evidenced by their anxious demeanor. I engaged in therapeutic communication with the patient, offering reassurance and support to alleviate their anxiety. I also assessed the patient’s nutritional status and hydration, recognizing the importance of meeting these basic needs for their overall well-being and recovery. I collaborated with the dietitian to ensure the patient received dietary modifications and adequate hydration as appropriate for their medical condition. I also considered the patient’s sociocultural needs, acknowledging their religious beliefs and preferences regarding care. I facilitated spiritual support by arranging for a visit from the hospital chaplain, who provided emotional and spiritual guidance to the patient and their family.

Throughout the patient’s hospital stay, I continually reassessed their basic human needs, adjusting interventions as needed to promote healing and comfort. By holistically addressing the patient’s physiological, psychological, and sociocultural needs, I provided comprehensive care that contributed to their recovery and well-being.

Actual Problems

In the context of nursing assessment , an actual problem refers to current health issues that are identifiable through a patient’s symptoms or clinical evidence. They are the immediate concerns that the patient presents with and require prompt attention. The nurse’s role is to accurately assess these concerns, document them, and initiate appropriate interventions (Ajibade, 2021).

Accurate identification of actual problems is crucial, as it forms the basis of the care plan and interventions. For example, when assessing a patient with respiratory distress, the nurse would note symptoms like shortness of breath, then check the patient’s oxygen saturation levels and respiratory rate and listen to their lung sounds. This thorough evaluation allows the nurse to determine the severity of the problem and the urgency of the required care.

Clinical Judgment Measurement Model

Analyze cues: assessing a patient’s pain level.

The nurse is providing care to a patient who is recovering from a recent surgery. When conducting an assessment, the nurse would gather data through observation and patient communication, noting the presence of pain behaviors such as grimacing, guarding of the surgical site, and verbal expressions of discomfort. The nurse would also assess the patient’s pain level using a standardized pain scale.

On assessment, the nurse notes the presence of redness, swelling, and tenderness at the surgical incision site. The patient reports pain intensity of eight out of ten on the numerical pain scale. The pain significantly affects their ability to perform activities of daily living and rest comfortably.

Based on this assessment data, the nurse identifies “Acute Pain related to surgical incision” as an actual problem requiring nursing intervention.

Potential Problems

A potential problem includes a risk or condition a patient is susceptible to but is not currently manifesting symptoms of. A nurse’s ability to foresee these issues is critical to preventive care. If not properly monitored and addressed, potential problems could become actual problems (Gaines, 2023). For example, a bedridden patient is at risk of developing pressure ulcers. Even if the ulcers are not present at the time of assessment, the nurse must recognize the risk and implement preventive measures like regular repositioning and skin assessments. Similarly, a patient with a history of falls requires a thorough assessment to identify any risk factors present, such as medication side effects or environmental hazards, to prevent future incidents. Identifying and addressing potential problems is a key aspect of proactive nursing care.

Cultural Context

Ethnicity and genetic predisposition in nursing assessments.

Ethnicity and genetic factors can significantly impact a patient’s risk for certain health conditions. However, nurses should always remain sensitive to individual variations and avoid stereotyping, ensuring that each patient’s care is informed by their unique health profile and needs. Nurses must be aware of the predispositions common to their patients, otherwise assessments might miss potential problems. Here are a few examples:

• Individuals of Black ancestry are known to have a higher risk of hypertension, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Tailoring assessments to these risks involves closely monitoring blood pressure and blood sugar levels and educating patients about the importance of lifestyle factors in managing these conditions (American Heart Association, n.d.).
• Individuals of South Asian descent often have an increased risk of heart disease, including myocardial infarction, at a younger age. Nurses should consider early cardiovascular screenings and discussions about heart health for patients in this demographic (Pursnani & Merchant, 2020).
• Individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent are more susceptible to certain genetic conditions, such as Tay-Sachs disease, and certain types of breast cancer ( BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations). Nurses should be aware of these risks when assessing symptoms and collecting family health histories (Levy, 2023).
• There is a heightened prevalence of type 2 diabetes in individuals of Hispanic and Latin American descent. Nurses should prioritize diabetes screening and provide culturally appropriate dietary and lifestyle education (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).
• Individuals of American Indian descent have higher rates of death from several diseases, including heart disease, liver disease, and stroke. Assessments should include screenings for these conditions and discussions about preventive health measures (Indian Health Service, 2019).

By incorporating knowledge of specific predispositions into assessments, nurses can more effectively identify potential health risks within specific patient populations. This approach enables early intervention and personalized care planning, improving health outcomes for diverse patient populations.

Domains of the Nursing Assessment

To provide holistic care , the nurse must give each patient a comprehensive assessment covering all health domains, including physical, psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual (American Nurses Association, n.d.). These domains represent different aspects of a patient’s well-being, and each plays a crucial role in determining how best to address their needs. Consider a patient with a history of cardiovascular disease who is complaining of shortness of breath and chest pains. A thorough assessment would likely begin by noting these physical symptoms, but the nurse would then need to assess the other domains to get a complete picture of the patient’s health.

The physical domain of the nursing assessment involves a systematic examination of the body. To thoroughly assess a patient’s physical health status, the nurse will focus on various aspects of the patient’s anatomy, physiology, and functioning. Nurses begin by measuring vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiratory rate, to assess the patient’s physiological status. They observe the patient’s general appearance, including skin color, hydration status, body posture, and grooming, which may provide valuable insights into overall health. A head-to-toe assessment follows, with nurses examining each body system, assessing the skin for abnormalities, auscultating heart and breath sounds, evaluating neurological status, and assessing musculoskeletal function. Additionally, they thoroughly examine the gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) systems, along with the lymphatic and endocrine systems, for any signs of dysfunction or irregularities. This comprehensive assessment allows nurses to identify any abnormalities or areas of concern, guiding interventions to promote optimal health and well-being. By focusing on the physical domain of assessment, nurses gather essential data to inform diagnosis, treatment planning, and ongoing patient care, ensuring holistic and individualized care delivery.

For example, a physical assessment for a patient with signs of cardiovascular disease would include measuring blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation. The nurse would also perform a cardiac examination, listen to the heartbeat to detect murmurs or irregularities, and inspect the patient’s extremities for signs of poor circulation, such as edema or cyanosis. The nurse might also review the results of diagnostic tests, such as electrocardiograms (ECGs) or lipid profiles, to corroborate physical findings and obtain information that will help them determine the severity and specific characteristics of the patient’s condition.

Psychosocial

The psychosocial domain includes both psychological and social components of mental health. This domain of nursing assessment delves into the patient’s mental, emotional, and social well-being, recognizing the interconnectedness between psychological and social factors and how they affect health.

Nurses employ a holistic approach to gathering information about a patient’s mental health status, emotional state, coping mechanisms, social support network, and cultural beliefs and values. Again, therapeutic communication and active listening help nurses establish rapport with patients, creating a safe and supportive environment for open expression of thoughts and feelings. The nurse comes to understand the patient’s perception of their illness, their level of distress or anxiety, and their ability to cope with stressors. Additionally, nurses consider the patient’s social context, including family dynamics, living situation, and socioeconomic factors, which may influence their health and treatment outcomes. By addressing psychosocial factors in nursing assessment, nurses can identify potential barriers to care, provide emotional support and counseling, and facilitate referrals to appropriate resources such as social services or mental health professionals.

To continue the previous example, the nurse would likely assess the patient’s understanding of their condition, mental state, and any stressors that might exacerbate their symptoms of cardiovascular disease. Assessment questions might explore the patient’s support network, occupation, lifestyle, and coping mechanisms. For example, a patient experiencing high stress at work or lacking a reliable support network may be at increased risk for a heart attack. The nurse might use validated tools such as the Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory to measure the stress level experienced by an individual based on the occurrence of certain life events within a specified period, to quantify the patient’s stress levels and guide interventions, such as educating them about stress management techniques or connecting them with support groups (American Institute of Stress, 2023).

Link to Learning

The Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory instructs patients to identify potentially stressful life events they have experienced in the past year, such as the death of a family member, a pregnancy, a vacation, or a legal problem. Each event is assigned a certain number of points. Patients who score higher on the inventory are experiencing more stress and are therefore more likely to experience a health problem in the near term.

The emotional domain of the nursing assessment requires the nurse to observe the patient’s demeanor and emotional responses regarding their health condition. Distinguishing between psychological and emotional needs, psychological needs encompass broader aspects of mental well-being such as cognition, behavior, and self-perception, while emotional needs focus specifically on feelings and expressions associated with experiences, including the need for validation, support, and empathy in response to emotional states. To elicit these responses, the nurse typically asks open-ended questions. The nurse will also employ empathetic communication and active listening skills to create a supportive environment where patients feel comfortable expressing their emotions and concerns. Through therapeutic interactions, the nurse can assess the patient’s emotional responses to their illness or injury, including fear, anxiety, sadness, or frustration.

Another tool in the nurse’s arsenal is screening for common mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, for which they can use standardized assessment tools as available and appropriate. Conducting screenings helps nurses identify patients who may require further evaluation or intervention from mental health professionals.

To continue with the example, the nurse might ask how the patient feels about their risk of heart attack and listen for signs of anxiety, depression, or other emotional responses. The nurse would also observe nonverbal cues, such as body language or facial expressions, to gauge emotional state. Tools such as the Beck Depression Inventory , a widely used self-report questionnaire designed to assess the severity of depression symptoms, may be used for more structured emotional assessment (American Psychological Association, 2020).

The Beck Depression Inventory consists of twenty-one questions relevant to the patient’s feelings of optimism and self-esteem.

Effective communication skills help nurses encourage patients to express their concerns and fears. For instance, a patient who is anxious about their condition may need reassurance and information about their treatment plan, and providing that information can alleviate anxiety and improve compliance with medical recommendations.

The nurse also needs to assess a patient’s spiritual needs, which involves understanding their religious practices, if any. It also explores their beliefs and values concerning their place in the universe, as well as the fundamental meaning and purpose of their life. These beliefs may shape the patient’s approach to their health care and preferences about treatment.

The nurse should approach the spiritual assessment with sensitivity and respect for the diverse spiritual and religious backgrounds of patients. It is important to use open and nonjudgmental communication to explore a patient’s spiritual beliefs, including their faith traditions, rituals, and sources of spiritual strength or comfort. The nurse will specifically ask about a patient’s spiritual needs, such as the desire for prayer, religious rituals, or pastoral support, to ensure that these aspects of care are incorporated into the patient’s treatment plan, if desired. The nurse will also need to understand how the patient’s spiritual beliefs influence their coping mechanisms, resilience, and sense of meaning and purpose in life.

The nurse could start this conversation by asking the patient open-ended questions, such as the following:

• Please tell me about your spiritual and religious preferences.
• Please tell me about your religious practices that may impact your health care.
• How does your faith or spirituality help you cope with challenges?
• How important is your faith in your health and healing process?
• How would you describe your connection to a religious or spiritual community?
• How does your community support you during difficult times?

The Faith, Importance and Influence, Community, and Address (FICA) tool , a tool used by healthcare professionals to assess patients’ spiritual and religious beliefs and practices, provides a more structured approach to understanding a patient’s spirituality (GW Institute for Spirituality and Health, 2024).

The FICA tool is a framework used by healthcare professionals, including nurses, to assess and address the spiritual needs of patients. FICA stands for the following:

• faith, belief, meaning
• importance and influence
• address/action in care

More information about FICA is provided at this website, including a free download of the tool.

Conducting Assessments

Nursing assessment is a critical skill that requires clinical reasoning , a structured, thoughtful approach that synthesizes a nurse’s knowledge and experience with patient data to determine an appropriate response to a medical problem (Gruppen, 2017). An effective assessment is not just about collecting data; it involves collecting the right data in the right way. Data should be purposeful, prioritized, complete, systematic, accurate, and significant, and the nurse should ensure that documentation follows established standards and guidelines. We explore each of these aspects in the context of a patient presenting with signs of cardiovascular disease.

A purposeful assessment involves conducting evaluations with specific goals in mind. Before beginning an assessment, nurses clearly define the objectives they aim to achieve, such as identifying symptoms, assessing responses to treatment, or evaluating progress toward therapeutic goals.

Purposeful assessments help focus attention on relevant information, leading to more efficient use of time and resources. For example, when caring for a patient with potential heart disease , the nursing assessment would be specifically tailored to look at the function of the patient’s cardiovascular system. In addition to physical tests, the nurse would take the patient’s personal and family history of previous heart conditions and identify any relevant lifestyle factors, such as smoking or exercise habits. This targeted approach ensures that the information gathered is directly relevant to the patient’s current health concerns.

Prioritized

Prioritizing assessments is how the nurse arranges for the most urgent and essential aspects of a patient’s condition to be addressed first. Nurses must triage assessments based on the patient’s immediate needs, severity of symptoms, and potential risks. For a patient with cardiovascular risk, priority might be given to evaluating the intensity of their chest pain, asking about shortness of breath, and identifying other signs of an imminent heart attack, such as lightheadedness or nausea. Such prioritization is critical in acute settings where timely interventions can be lifesaving.

A complete assessment covers relevant aspects of the patient’s health. This includes gathering information about physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors that may affect the patient’s well-being. Nurses must consider the patient’s medical history, current symptoms, functional status, and risk factors during assessments. For a patient with chest pain, the nurse would assess related systems and risk factors, such as blood pressure, lipid profiles, and glucose levels, to create a more comprehensive picture of the patient’s current health status.

Systematic assessments follow a structured and organized approach, ensuring consistency and reliability in data collection. Nurses should use standardized assessment tools and protocols, when possible, to guide their evaluations. By following a systematic process, healthcare professionals can methodically gather information, identify patterns or trends, and track changes over time. When assessing a patient for cardiovascular disease, for instance, the nurse would follow a set sequence, typically starting with a health history, then a physical examination, and a review of diagnostic tests. This systematic approach promotes thoroughness and reduces the likelihood of assessment errors or omissions.

Accuracy in assessments involves collecting reliable and precise data that reflect the patient’s true health status, which is crucial for correct diagnosis and treatment planning. Nurses should use validated assessment techniques and reliable, evidence-based measurement tools to ensure the accuracy of their observations. They should also critically evaluate the quality of information gathered, considering factors such as source credibility, relevance, and consistency. For example, assessing a cardiac patient involves using precise techniques for measuring blood pressure, accurately interpreting heart sounds, and correctly reading diagnostic tests like ECGs. Each nursing assessment needs to be original and not just copied from the previous nurse’s assessment to ensure that any changes in the patient’s condition are accurately identified. Accuracy ensures the reliability of the assessment data.

Significant

Significance in assessment refers to the importance and relevance of the data collected. The nurse must ascertain the most relevant information for a patient’s condition and care plan. Significant assessments help healthcare professionals identify priorities, set goals, and tailor interventions to meet each patient’s unique needs. For example, a cardiovascular assessment of a patient may provide the nurse with a wealth of important data, including a history of myocardial infarction or the presence of risk factors like hypertension . Identifying a smoking history would be relevant and significant to the cardiac patient as well as even learning that the patient’s favorite snack is a salty food, which may increase fluid retention.

Documentation Follows Standards and Guidelines

Proper documentation in nursing assessments is critical for ensuring effective patient care and legal compliance. It involves adhering to established protocols and regulations that govern how patient information is recorded and shared. Key aspects of these standards and guidelines include the following:

• Accuracy and completeness: Documentation must accurately and completely reflect the nursing assessment. This means recording all relevant findings, including the patient’s statements, observations made during the physical examination, and results from diagnostic tests. Documenting both normal and abnormal findings is essential to provide a full picture of the patient’s health status.
• Timeliness: Entries should be made as soon as possible after an assessment to ensure the information is current and accurate. Timely documentation is crucial when a patient’s condition changes rapidly, as it can significantly impact subsequent care decisions.
• Confidentiality and privacy: Throughout an assessment, the nurse must adhere to laws and regulations related to patient confidentiality, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a U.S. law protecting identifiable patient health information and preventing its disclosure without patient consent. These regulations dictate how patient information can be shared and stored, emphasizing the need to protect patient privacy.
• Standardized format: Many healthcare facilities have standardized formats for documenting information, including an electronic health record (EHR), a digital version of a patient’s comprehensive medical history. These systems often include templates or checklists that guide nurses in recording specific information, ensuring consistency and completeness in the documentation process, and enabling all members of a patient’s care team, including the patient, to easily access the information.
• Legibility and professional language: Documentation should be legible and use professional, nonbiased language. In the case of electronic records, this includes ensuring that entries are typed accurately. Standardized medical terminology and abbreviations are necessary for clear communication among healthcare professionals.
• Legal and ethical considerations: Nurses must be aware of the legal implications of nursing documentation. Inaccurate or incomplete documentation may violate federal or state laws and negatively affect the quality of patient care. Ethically, nurses are responsible for ensuring their documentation reflects an honest and accurate account of the assessment. This documentation also serves as proof of care when legal issues arise.

By following these protocols and regulations, nurses ensure that their documentation is a reliable and useful tool in the patient care continuum. Well-documented assessments aid in clinical decision-making, ensure continuity of care, and provide legal protections for both the patient and the healthcare providers (American Nurses Association, 2010).

Clinical Safety and Procedures (QSEN)

Enhancing nursing assessment documentation with qsen competencies.

Streamlining nursing assessment documentation while adhering to Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) competencies ensures high-quality patient care. By integrating QSEN competencies into documentation practices, nurses can enhance patient safety, improve care coordination, and promote evidence-based practice. The following is how key QSEN competencies align with effective documentation of nursing assessments:

Patient-centered care:

• Ensure that documentation reflects a patient-centered approach, emphasizing the patient’s preferences, values, and goals.
• Include patient-reported outcomes and concerns in the assessment documentation to ensure care plans are tailored to individual needs.
• Document communication with patients and families, including education provided, shared decision-making, and care preferences.

Teamwork and collaboration:

• Document interdisciplinary communication and collaboration regarding assessment findings, care plans, and patient progress.
• Clearly communicate assessment findings and care priorities to other members of the healthcare team through comprehensive documentation.
• Document interprofessional care conferences, consultations, and recommendations to facilitate coordinated care delivery.

Evidence-based practice:

• Ensure assessment documentation is based on evidence-based guidelines, protocols, and best practices.
• Document the rationale behind assessment decisions, interventions, and care plans, referencing current evidence to support clinical decisions.
• Use standardized assessment tools and validated measures to gather and document data systematically and accurately.

Quality improvement:

• Document outcomes of nursing assessments and interventions, tracking progress over time and identifying areas for improvement.
• Use documentation data to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for enhancing the quality and effectiveness of nursing assessments.
• Document safety measures implemented during assessments to prevent adverse events and ensure patient safety.
• Document patient identifiers, allergies, and precautions to prevent medication errors, falls, and other safety incidents.
• Use documentation to report and follow up on safety concerns, near misses, and adverse events, contributing to a culture of safety within the healthcare organization.

Informatics:

• Utilize EHR systems to streamline documentation.
• Leverage telehealth platforms and remote monitoring devices to conduct virtual assessments and monitor patients’ vital signs remotely.
• Incorporate mobile health applications and patient portals to empower patients in self-assessment, symptom tracking, and health management.

By aligning documentation practices with these competencies, nurses can enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and effectiveness of nursing assessments, ultimately improving patient outcomes and experiences.

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• Authors: Christy Bowen, Lindsay Draper, Heather Moore
• Publisher/website: OpenStax
• Book title: Fundamentals of Nursing
• Publication date: Sep 4, 2024
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/fundamentals-nursing/pages/1-introduction
• Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/fundamentals-nursing/pages/12-1-the-nurses-role-in-assessment

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