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Registered Nurse CV example

Nursing ads are specific: the ward, the patients, your registration and your practising certificate. This example shows a registered nurse CV that answers each of those in the first half page, with bullets that show clinical judgement rather than a list of duties.

Written for New Zealand, with notes for Australia · Checked

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The example

A Registered Nurse CV, start to finish.

Aroha Ngata is made up, and so are the employers. The layout and the wording are what New Zealand employers expect: no photo or date of birth, the most recent job first, and every bullet showing what was done and what came of it.

Aroha Ngata

Registered Nurse, acute medical

Christchurch · 021 555 0143 · aroha.ngata@email.com

Profile

Registered nurse with six years on busy acute medical wards, caring for patients with complex, changing needs. Calm in deteriorating situations, confident with early warning scores and escalation, and committed to culturally safe care for Māori patients and their whānau.

Skills

Acute medical nursing · Early warning scores and escalation · IV therapy and medication administration · Wound care · Discharge planning · Culturally safe practice · Preceptoring new graduates

Experience

Registered Nurse, Acute Medical Ward, Kōwhai Hospital

Christchurch · 2022 to now

  • Care for up to five acute medical patients a shift, including patients on continuous monitoring
  • Recognised early deterioration using the early warning score and escalated to the medical team, supporting timely review
  • Preceptored four new graduate nurses through their first six months on the ward
  • Led discharge planning with patients, whānau and community teams so patients went home with the right support

Registered Nurse, General Medicine, Harbourview Hospital

Timaru · 2020 to 2022

  • Rotated across day and night shifts on a 28-bed general medical ward
  • Administered IV antibiotics and fluids, and managed peripheral IV lines
  • Educated patients and families on new medications before discharge

Education

Bachelor of Nursing, Ara Institute of Canterbury

2019

Other details

Registration
Registered Nurse, Nursing Council of New Zealand, with a current annual practising certificate
Driver's licence
Full

Referees

Available on request

Aroha wrote a cover letter to go with it. Read the registered nurse cover letter

Skills and keywords

What registered nurse job ads look for.

Use the ad's own words where they're true of you. An ATS, and a recruiter skimming, both look for them.

  • Annual practising certificateSay you hold a current one. Many ads ask for it by name.
  • Acute careName the setting: acute medical, surgical, ED or mental health.
  • Early warning scoreShows you recognise and escalate a deteriorating patient.
  • Medication administrationInclude IV therapy if you're competent with it.
  • Discharge planningA common requirement on medical and surgical wards.
  • Culturally safe careNew Zealand ads often ask for Te Tiriti o Waitangi and cultural safety.
  • PreceptoringShows leadership before you hold a senior title.

Bullet points

9 strong lines to borrow from.

Each says what was done, how, and what came of it. Swap in your own facts: a line is only strong if it's true.

  1. 1Cared for up to five acute medical patients a shift, including patients on continuous cardiac monitoring
  2. 2Recognised early deterioration using the early warning score and escalated promptly to the medical team
  3. 3Preceptored four new graduate nurses through their first six months on the ward
  4. 4Led discharge planning with patients, whānau and community teams
  5. 5Administered IV antibiotics and fluids and managed peripheral IV lines safely
  6. 6Educated patients and families on new medications and warning signs before discharge
  7. 7Took charge of the ward on afternoon shifts when the charge nurse was away
  8. 8Completed the hospital's cultural safety programme and applied it in daily care
  9. 9Contributed to a falls prevention project on the ward

Common mistakes

What costs registered nurse CVs interviews.

  • Listing duties every nurse does, like "administered medications" and "monitored patients".

    Show the setting and the judgement: how many patients, how acute, and what you noticed and did.

  • Leaving your registration and practising certificate to the end, or out.

    Put them where they're found fast, in your details or near the top. Employers check them first.

  • One long list of every ward you've rotated through as a student.

    Once you've worked as a registered nurse, keep clinical placements brief and lead with paid experience.

New Zealand and Australia

What changes across the Tasman.

New Zealand

Registered nurses must be registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and hold a current annual practising certificate. Show both clearly.

New Zealand CV format

Australia

Nurses in Australia register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, through Ahpra. Australian employers usually say resume rather than CV, and expect about two pages.

Australian CV format

Sources: Nursing Council of New Zealand, Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Something else on your mind? Email support@smartcvs.ai and a person will reply.

How long should a nursing CV be?

Two pages in New Zealand is plenty for most nurses. Put your registration, current ward and key skills on the first page.

Should I list my clinical placements?

As a new graduate, yes: they're your experience. Once you've worked as a registered nurse, keep them short and lead with your paid roles.

Do I need to say I have a practising certificate?

Yes. It shows you can practise now. Many New Zealand nursing ads ask for a current annual practising certificate by name.

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