CV keywords

Nurse CV keywords: what to include and where

Nursing postings filter on the ward or specialty, the registration and the clinical skills. "Caring and hard-working" is true of most applicants and matches nothing. The unit you worked in and the procedures you did are the words that count.

Keywords for a Nurse CV

Use a word only if it is true for you. If the posting uses a different spelling, use the posting's.

What is specific to this role

Registration is the first thing many filters check: RN, NMC PIN, a state licence or your country's nursing council number. Write it exactly as the posting does, add the expiry date if it is asked, and list life-support courses such as BLS or ACLS only if they are current.

Five example bullets

Replace everything in [brackets] with your real facts. If you do not have the number, leave it out instead of guessing.

• Cared for up to [number] patients per shift on a [specialty] ward, including assessment, medication and care plans.
• Gave IV medication and managed infusions following [hospital or unit] protocols.
• Recorded assessments and care in [Epic, Cerner or the hospital's system] and gave structured handovers at each shift change.
• Taught patients and families how to manage [condition or treatment] before discharge.
• Trained [number] new staff or students on [procedure or unit routine] during their first weeks.

Where to put them

• Summary: give your registration, specialty and setting, for example "Registered nurse, surgical ward, acute hospital".
• Skills: list clinical procedures, systems and current certificates as separate items.
• Experience: name the unit, the type of patients and the usual patient load, then the main procedures you did.
• Registration and certificates: give them their own section with the number or body, and the expiry date if the posting asks.

Only the true ones

A keyword you cannot back up will not survive the interview, and the changes CVora proposes only use facts from your own CV. Take the words from this list that describe your work, and leave the rest.

Keywords for other roles

• Data analyst
• Customer service
• Project manager
• Administrative assistant
• Software developer
• Sales representative
• Marketing specialist
• Accountant
• Teacher