Nurse CV Example & Writing Guide
Nursing CVs need to communicate clinical competence, patient care quality, and specialisation clearly and concisely. Whether you're a newly qualified nurse or a senior sister, your CV must show the wards or departments you've worked in, the patient populations you've cared for, and the specific skills and certifications you hold. ATS systems in healthcare recruitment filter hard for keywords like your NMC PIN, specialisation areas (A&E, ICU, oncology), and certifications. Hiring managers — often charge nurses or clinical leads — look for candidates who can demonstrate safe, compassionate care with a track record of professional development. A strong nursing CV is factual, specific, and structured: clinical experience first, then education, then certifications.
Use this example as your starting point
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Nurse CV Example — Sample
Alex Johnson
Band 6 Staff Nurse — Surgical Ward
alex.johnson@email.com · London, UK · linkedin.com/in/alexjohnson
Professional Summary
Registered Nurse (NMC PIN: 123456A) with 8 years of experience in acute medical and surgical wards. Specialist experience in post-operative care and IV therapy. Committed to evidence-based practice, patient safety, and multidisciplinary teamwork. BLS and ILS certified.
Experience
Band 6 Staff Nurse — Surgical Ward
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- —Provide post-operative care for 28-bed surgical ward covering colorectal, orthopaedic, and vascular patients
- —Mentored 5 newly qualified nurses and 3 student nurses in clinical practice and NMC Code standards
- —Led ward-level audit on pain management documentation, improving compliance from 71% to 94%
Staff Nurse — Acute Medical Unit
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
- —Managed complex patient caseloads of 6–8 acutely unwell patients per shift in a 36-bed AMU
- —IV cannulation, catheterisation, NG tube insertion, and wound care management
- —Completed Acute Care module (distinction) and IV therapy competency certification
Skills
Acute medical and surgical nursing, IV therapy, cannulation, catheterisation, wound care, BLS, ILS, NEWS2, medication administration, mentoring student nurses
Sample CV for illustration. Build yours free with CVmake — AI fills in your real details.
How to write a Nurse CV Example: 6 key tips
- 1
Include your NMC PIN prominently — recruiters will check and it speeds up shortlisting
- 2
List every ward or department specialism clearly — oncology, ICU, A&E, AMU, etc.
- 3
Include all certifications and their renewal dates: BLS, ILS, ALS, specialist courses
- 4
Quantify where possible: bed numbers, patient ratios, audit outcomes
- 5
Mention mentoring or supervision experience — it signals senior readiness
- 6
Keep it to two pages maximum — NHS recruiters have little time per application
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