A hiring manager will look for evidence that you will be successful in the position when they review your resume.

A good resume includes details about previous work and accomplishments, particularly past work and experience relevant to the job position.

So, in order for your nurse practitioner resume to stand out, you must use the proper format and highlight both your hard and soft skills. Listing your education and work experience will also help you create a winning resume.

We’ve compiled a list of the best nurse practitioner resume tips to help you stand out from the crowd!

• Characteristics of an Ideal Nurse Practitioner Resume
• Tip 1: Keep a clean header 
• Tip 2: Highlight your skills and experience in the Professional Summary
• Tip 3: Use metrics to give context 
• Tip 4: Highlight essential skills 
• Tip 5: Don’t forget your soft skills  
• Bonus tip: The Importance of your Cover letter 
• FAQs About Nurse Practitioner Resume

Characteristics of an Ideal Nurse Practitioner Resume 

Nurse practitioner is the primary care provider for a large portion of the population; they are expected to be both medically knowledgeable and compassionate. Hiring managers prefer candidates with a mix of interpersonal and technical skills.

That is why your resume is the first place they look for these qualities. Certifications, education, and previous job responsibilities should all be included in a well-written resume. You should also use soft skills like communication and diplomacy to assist patients.

What are the characteristics of a nurse practitioner resume that will make you stand out?

Here are the qualities of the best nurse practitioner resume that you should not overlook:

Summary

The first is the summary, which explains why you’re a good fit for the job, such as “patient nurse practitioner with expertise in diagnostics, including laboratory data, evaluation of X-rays and MRIs, and blood work results.” It summarizes your professional achievements, experience, and skills that are relevant to the job.

Skills 

Second, you should emphasize your skills in relation to the job requirements. For example, if the job requires “conducting patient interviews and collecting and interpreting diagnostic data,” don’t forget to mention your communication and record-keeping skills.

• Creating training materials for health education
• Arranging physical therapy
• Maintaining a record of the patient’s condition and treatment plans
• Following ethical principles
• Medical test interpretation

Education

This must include your credentials and training that are appropriate for a nurse practitioner, such as:

• Advanced Life Support Certification
• Basic Life Support Certification
• Board-certified family nurse practitioner
• Advanced nursing degree
• Certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support

Work experience

Your work history is another feature you should include on your resume. List your work experiences chronologically, beginning with your most recent and current position. To describe your work accomplishments, use action verbs such as “created a charting process for the entire department, resulting in increased efficiency and more patients seen per day.”

Tip 1: Keep a clean header 

A resume header is one of the most fundamental elements to include on your resume. It is, however, also one of the most important.

The first thing a hiring manager will see on your resume is your header. As a result, it must appear professional, match your cover letter header, and convey your contact information quickly.

Don’t worry if you’re not sure where to start. We have resume header examples and tips to help you format your own.

Choose a clean header and consider whether the job you’re applying for is professional or casual. Is it necessary for your resume design to be creative or traditional?

Consider the level of formality required for the job you want as well as the layout of your resume before selecting a resume header. After determining the appropriate level of formality, you have three basic types of resume headers to choose from:

Professional-looking header

The most formal (and also most common) type of resume header is the standard left-aligned horizontal header.

A horizontal header is a safe bet that can be used at any level of formality. It’s simple, readable, and emphasizes your name.

Your resume should not be titled “resume” or “[name resume]”; these headers should only include your name and contact information.

Two-page resume header

If you have over a decade of relevant work experience, your resume may require a second page. If it does, repeat your header on both pages.

This makes your resume look consistent and helps the hiring manager remember your name.

Vertical header resume

Most resume templates have a horizontal resume header. Some resume layouts, however, place the header in a vertical bar along one side of the resume.

A vertical resume heading is a great way to make your resume stand out and add a creative, modern flair to your application.

Keep in mind, however, that a vertical resume header is less formal. Use a horizontal header instead if you’re applying for a job in a serious industry like law, medicine, etc.

Why separate your list of certifications on your resume  

Consider including certifications on your resume when applying for a job. Certifications must be included in your resume because they demonstrate to employers how far you have advanced. It will highlight your abilities in your chosen field. As a result, it deserves a separate section in your resume that highlights your accomplishments, which is a must in a nurse’s resume.

If you want your professional career to sail smoothly, you should use your certificates and properly display them on a resume. Keep in mind that certification reflects qualifications. As a result, this issue must be taken very seriously.

Tip 2: Highlight your skills and experience in the Professional Summary

We already know that the professional summary is the first thing most employers look at when reviewing your resume, so it will be important when applying for a job because it summarizes your professional achievements, experiences, and skills that are relevant to the job. 

Although being a nurse practitioner requires technical skills due to the nature of the work, soft skills are also essential. That is why emphasizing your skills and years of experience can be extremely beneficial.

By doing so, you are demonstrating to them the values you can provide for them. You want to demonstrate to employers that you are a knowledgeable nurse who can do their job efficiently. Demonstrate your ability to collaborate with others in a variety of settings.

In your summary, try to incorporate a mix of soft and hard skills. This demonstrates that you have the interpersonal skills to serve patients as well as the technical knowledge to provide excellent medical care.

Professional Summary vs Professional Objective  

Professional summary and professional objective what is the difference between these two?

Although both resume objectives and summary statements aim to sell you to a potential employer and provide a concise introduction to your resume, the main difference between the two lies in the text’s details and focus.

A professional objective, on the other hand, is a concise, position-centered statement that describes the value you can add to the needs you can meet. An objective primarily includes a brief statement of the skills and qualifications you will bring to the position. 

It discusses the applicant’s skills for that specific position; it uses keywords from the job advertisement or job description and focuses on these skills to demonstrate how the specific jobseeker can be of sufficient value to the company. It also describes the type of job the applicant is looking for in terms of their objectives.

A professional summary is longer and contains more information than a professional objective. It will summarize and identify the type of job you seek, as well as provide more detailed descriptions of your skills and qualifications. 

Professional summaries are most useful for experienced professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise and the suitability of skills gained from a variety or depth of previous experiences for a specific type of position. Professional summaries are helpful for networking and uploading resumes to job search websites.

It summarizes the work experiences that correspond to the specific job requirements, demonstrating how the candidate has previously worked in similar positions and can thus perform the required work. It aims to quickly show the hiring manager that you have the required experience and are the best candidate for the job.

What to include in Professional Summary

When writing a resume summary statement as a registered nurse, consider the specific skills and experience you want to highlight. Your ability to work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, doctor’s offices, or nursing homes, as well as your medical professional training, are all considered. Include your soft skills to round out this concrete skills list.

When writing a resume summary statement, include certifications and professional accomplishments to ensure that potential employers recognize your skills. 

In order to distinguish yourself from other applicants, highlight areas where you went above and beyond your basic responsibilities with patients, the community, and coworkers.

Adding your nursing qualifications with concrete examples and explanations is part of writing a resume summary statement. To establish yourself as a well-rounded and competent candidate, highlight major skill sets such as monitoring, communicating, observing, and teaching.

Tip 3: Use metrics to give context  

Include resume metrics to tell a more compelling story about yourself and your background. You’ll need to do some self-discovery to figure out which metrics to include on your resume. Here’s how it’s done:

List measurable accomplishments

When adding personal metrics to your resume, include figures that demonstrate the breadth of your accomplishments, such as the budget, the number of people you impacted, and the positive impact you made. Examine your resume and write down all of your measurable accomplishments for each position.

Evaluation and comparison 

When including metrics on your resume, consider how your results compare to those of your peers, department, company, or industry. You can quickly demonstrate your effectiveness by pulling out numbers, percentages, or cost-savings comparisons. In your resume, highlight the most outstanding results.

List all of your firsts

Describe any “firsts” you’ve had in your career or in a specific role. If your company was the first to introduce a new product or service, you should include it on your resume to showcase that you were part of a strong team, even if you don’t have specific results to back up your claims.

Benefits of including hard numbers in your resume 

Your resume serves as a marketing tool. As a result, it’s critical to understand your target audience. Far too many job seekers believe that a resume should list the tasks associated with previous positions. 

That could not be further from the truth. A resume must include resume metrics that highlight your accomplishments in order to be effective. Whenever possible, these accomplishments should be quantified.

If you want to stand out from the crowd, you must include metrics on your resume. The average time spent “reading” a resume is a depressing 14 seconds. When a recruiter looks at your resume, he or she is looking for keywords and outstanding achievements. Adding metrics to your resume is one way to quickly capture the recruiter’s attention.

In today’s competitive job market, candidates must do everything possible to stand out from a crowded field of qualified applicants. Including resume metrics can help you stand out.

Tip 4: Highlight essential skills

A skills section is necessary on a resume. While your skills section will differ depending on your industry and relevant skill set, it is always an important part of a resume.

Employers should be able to get an overview of your most important professional abilities from your skills section. If an employer is looking for candidates with specific technical skills, for example, the first place they’ll look on your resume is your skills section.

That is why, for potential employers, a well-structured resume clearly highlights your most appealing skills and experiences. This enables them to proceed with the best candidate. As a result, it’s critical that your most recent skills and experiences are represented in your resume.

If you’re a nurse practitioner, one of the most important hard skills you have to highlight is extensive experience in healthcare and patient care in both school and professional settings. Nurse practitioners must also be well-versed in performing diagnostic tests and making diagnoses.

When it comes to soft skills, nurses should prioritize empathy and be willing to advocate for the patients in their care. Nurse practitioners frequently work long, demanding shifts, so endurance is essential.

What to look for in a job listing

Many new graduate nurses are having difficulty finding their first jobs as registered nurses. These are the things you might want to consider looking for in a nurse job listing:

Training and safety

Nurses require the proper tools to do their jobs well, including training and safety. This includes regular in-services on critical topics like sharps safety, proper lifting technique, and infection prevention. Regular reminders of proper technique and company policy will assist nurses and patients in remaining safe and healthy.

Idea Inclusion

Everyone’s ideas are valuable and can help your facility as a whole. They should emphasize during department meetings that all suggestions will be heard, considered, and respected.

Employee well-being. 

If the nurses are unhealthy, they will be unable to keep the patients healthy. Good nutrition, proper hydration, smoking cessation, adequate sleep, and emotional health maintenance are all behaviors that should be encouraged. 

If their facility has a wellness program and resources to help nurses stay healthy, that is fantastic. This can include nutritious food options in the cafeteria and vending machines, water coolers at each station, smoking cessation assistance, a limit on the length of shifts, and so on.

The primary goal should be high-quality patient care, but they should also be concerned with employee satisfaction. Unethical workplace practices should not be tolerated, and regular meetings about employee integrity should be held. 

They should have a staff member who nurses can approach with concerns and who will keep all conversations private—a no-retaliation policy is essential. They should encourage nurses to speak up if they notice anything out of the ordinary at your facility.

Education and career advancement 

Helping nurses advance their careers can only benefit their facility. Continuing education opportunities are one way for their staff to maintain their credentials and advance in their nursing careers.

The following are the top qualities that most employers seek in a nurse practitioner:

Advanced Capabilities

Employers are looking for highly skilled nurses with advanced nursing competencies in areas such as technology integration, research translation, and data-driven decision-making.

Leadership

Nurses who are strong advocates for their clients and skilled at leading teams to achieve better clinical outcomes are needed in high-performing organizations. Nurses with strong leadership skills are in high demand in today’s health care organizations.

Flexibility

Working long shifts, commuting to different locations, or adapting to a hectic clinical environment will help you land your next dream job in the nursing field by demonstrating to employers that you have the energy, commitment, and enthusiasm to get the job done.

Include your areas of expertise 

A person’s professional skills and abilities that are typically related to an industry or field are referred to as “areas of expertise.” To demonstrate to hiring managers that a job seeker is qualified, they can list their areas of expertise on their resume, cover letter, or portfolio. In the skills section of your resume, you can list your areas of expertise.

Communication, leadership, and time management are examples of areas of expertise. They may also be job-related skills. A computer programmer, for example, could state that they are fluent in several coding languages. Specialties, such as certification or fluency in multiple languages, may also be considered areas of expertise. These sections highlight your skills and qualifications.

There are numerous reasons why it is critical to demonstrate your areas of expertise, which may include:

Displaying your areas of expertise can help you stand out from the crowd of job candidates. This is useful because many candidates may have applied for the same position as you. You can distinguish yourself from the other candidates to increase your chances of getting the job. For example, you may have impressive skills that others do not list on their documents.

The primary goal of displaying your areas of expertise is to list your credentials. This is significant because when you apply for a job, you are attempting to convince the hiring manager that you are the best candidate.

You have a better chance of getting the job if you are the most experienced candidate. Areas of expertise are excellent ways to demonstrate your qualifications because they represent your relevant professional skills and abilities.

Keywords are words and phrases that employers use in job descriptions to describe what they want in a candidate. You can use their keywords by displaying your areas of expertise. This is advantageous because it directly demonstrates that you are the type of candidate who fits their job description. Make an effort to list areas of expertise that reflect both your skills and the keywords used by employers.

Highlighting your area of expertise can demonstrate your level of education because some skills you acquire are typically acquired through schooling. For example, you could list certification as an area of expertise earned through class attendance. 

This is advantageous because education typically results in a more experienced candidate. A person with a master’s degree, for example, typically has more experience than someone with a bachelor’s degree because they have spent more time educating themselves.

Tip 5: Don’t forget your soft skills  

Employers frequently assess a candidate’s soft skills to determine whether or not the candidate will be successful in working with the rest of their team and their patients. 

Some employers may even prefer candidates with a stronger set of soft skills, as hard skills are often more easily taught through on-the-job training. 

Soft skills are more social in nature; they enable people to collaborate and assist a wide range of people. As a nurse, developing soft skills improves one’s creativity and adaptability, as well as emotional and social intelligence. Professionals who combine hard and soft skills can thrive.

The following are some of the most important soft skills for nurses to possess:

• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Compassion
• Critical observation
• Professionalism
• Teamwork
• Accountability
• Stress management
• Self development
• Resilience

Bonus tip: The Importance of your Cover letter 

Cover letters for resumes demonstrate to hiring managers that the applicant is interested in the position they have available. In response to a job posting, anyone can click “reply” and attach a one-size-fits-all resume.

A cover letter tailored to a specific position demonstrates that an applicant has taken the time and effort to make a good first impression.

Writing an effective nurse practitioner cover letter is a critical step in the job search process. When writing a cover letter, make sure to refer to the job description’s requirements. Mention your most relevant or exceptional qualifications in your letter to show employers why you’re a good fit for the position.

Yes, the cover letter is your chance to show off your personality. That is, to an appropriate degree. Hiring managers must sift through hundreds or even thousands of resumes and cover letters to find candidates for high-level executive positions. 

A brief, concise cover letter can be refreshing. A too-long, too-detailed, or too casual one is a waste of time. It can be difficult to write a winning cover letter that allows your personality to shine through without being too wordy or including unnecessary details.

Make your application stand out with a well-written cover letter

A well-written, one-of-a-kind cover letter can help you stand out from the crowd. Here are some tips for creating an eye-catching cover letter:

Improve your resume

Some of the bullet points on your resume can be converted into more detailed explanations of your qualifications in your cover letter. Cover letters are typically one page in length, giving you plenty of space to include additional information that can help outline your job history or describe your unique skills.

Display your personality

Allowing some of your personality to shine through your writing is one of the most effective ways to make your cover letter stand out. You can express your personality through tone, vocabulary, and any personal characteristics you choose to share.

Make your letter relevant to the job

You can tailor your cover letter to the job for which you’re applying. When looking for a new employee, hiring managers typically read dozens, if not hundreds, of cover letters. Using specific language can help you capture the attention and interest of the hiring manager.

Maintain a professional demeanor

While displaying personality in your cover letter can be effective, it is also critical that your letter demonstrate your professionalism for the role. You can accomplish this by addressing your letter formally, using professional vocabulary, and following a consistent cover letter format.

Write accurately

When your cover letter is efficient, it is most effective. This includes removing any unnecessary words or sentences. Filling each paragraph with highly relevant and purposeful content is one way to make your cover letter stand out.

FAQs About Nurse Practitioner Resumes

How do you write nurse practitioner on resume?

Before you begin, ensure that you understand how to write a resume that highlights your strengths. Select the best format for your experience and skills. Include your education and a list of certifications to increase your chances of being hired.

What is a good objective for a nurse practitioner resume?

It should explain your career goals in relation to the employer’s values. Nurse resume objectives should describe your experiences and skills, as well as how you intend to use them in future positions.

What looks good on a resume for nursing?

If you have a degree and a variety of accomplishments in this field, it will undoubtedly help you land this position. Credentials and any certification in this field that demonstrate your abilities would be advantageous in creating a winning resume.

What is a CV for nurse practitioner?

Your CV should depict the entirety of your professional history. While you should limit its contents to medical-related experience, skills, and training, document your experience with the diverse tasks associated with the nurse practitioner position, such as testing, diagnosis, treatment, education, and collaboration with other medical professionals.

How many pages should a nurse practitioner resume?

A nurse practitioner’s resume should be one to two pages long and include all relevant professional affiliations, club memberships, and leadership experiences. Because your resume should be brief, it must showcase your history and what you bring to the table.

Should I put my NPI on my resume?

Medical practices should use NPIs with caution and consideration. Who has access to them? NPIs are required, but they should not be included on documents. Only give out your NPI to people you know and trust. Make sure you understand why your NPI is being requested and who will be using it.