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ER Nurse Resume Examples: Proven To Get You Hired In 2024

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ER Nurse Resume Template

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As an ER nurse, you're on the front lines of healthcare, providing immediate care and treatment to patients in crisis. Nowadays, hospitals and clinics are on the lookout for nurses who not only possess the necessary skills and qualifications, but also display resilience, adaptability, and the ability to work under immense pressure. When crafting your resume for ER nurse roles, remember it's your chance to show how you've excelled in high-stress situations, and how you've used your skills to improve patient outcomes. Moreover, with the recent impact of COVID-19 on healthcare settings, there's a significant increase in demand for ER nurses with experience in infectious diseases, as well as experience supporting critically ill patients. Your resume needs to reflect these industry demands and trends, displaying your comprehensive understanding of emergency care, including your familiarity with ventilators, and infectious disease protocol.

Screenshot of an ER nurse’s resume showcasing her emergency and infectious disease experience.

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Recruiter Insight: Why this resume works in 2022

Tips to help you write your er nurse resume in 2024, emphasize on-job emergency experience.

You should make a point to list the types of emergencies you've handled. Have you treated patients in trauma situations? Have you dealt with cardiac arrests, strokes, or acute respiratory issues? Showing your breadth of on-job emergency experience can make your resume stand out.

Emphasize on-job emergency experience - ER Nurse Resume

Showcase infectious disease understanding

Given the recent pandemic, hospitals are particularly interested in ER nurses who understand infectious diseases. Include specific training or experiences you've had dealing with infectious diseases - this could be anything from measles, to COVID-19.

Being an ER Nurse is no walk in the park. This job requires a unique blend of quick thinking, medical expertise, and genuine compassion. When you're crafting your resume, it's essential to wrap this trifecta in a neat, compelling package. Recently, there's been a trend of emphasizing special skills like triage, emergency procedures, and trauma care. More and more, ER Nursing roles require a balance of technical abilities and emotional intelligence. Therefore, your resume needs to show not just your qualifications, but also your knack for handling stressful situations and interacting with patients. Additionally, these days the hiring process has evolved considerably. Many hospitals and healthcare institutions use Application Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter through the flood of resumes. To dodge this digital gatekeeper, you need to include relevant keywords and demonstrate your experience through quantifiable achievements. A well-made ER nurse resume is not just a list of duties, but a showcase of your skills and contributions in a high-pressure environment.

ER Nurse resume highlighting technical skills and real-life scenarios.

Detail your emergency room skill set

It's crucial to list down the specific skills that make you a great ER nurse. For instance, if you're proficient in emergency procedures, acute patient care, or triage, do mention them. If you have crisis management skills, don't forget to include that too.

Feature scenarios where you shone

Describe situations where your quick thinking and nursing skills made a significant difference. It could be a life-saving intervention or a time when you managed a serious crisis. Just remember—it's not bragging if it's fact.

We spoke with hiring managers who recruit for top healthcare companies like HCA Healthcare, Tenet Health, and Johns Hopkins Medicine to understand what they look for in ER nurse resumes. The following tips incorporate their advice and will help your resume stand out.

Quantify your ER nursing experience

When describing your ER nursing experience, quantify your accomplishments with specific numbers and metrics:

Managed an average of 50 ER patients per 12-hour shift while consistently maintaining a 95%+ patient satisfaction rating
Triaged and treated 30-40 emergency cases per shift, including trauma, cardiac arrest, and stroke patients
Trained and mentored 15 new graduate nurses on ER protocols and procedures

In contrast, avoid vague statements that don't provide a clear picture of your experience:

Managed many ER patients during shifts
Handled various emergency cases
Helped train new nurses

Highlight your trauma and critical care skills

ER nurses need to be prepared to handle trauma and critical care situations. Showcase your experience in these areas, such as:

Provided advanced life support and resuscitation for 200+ critical trauma patients, resulting in a 90% survival rate
Managed care for 50+ ICU patients on ventilators and other life-support devices
Participated in 10 Code Blue emergency response teams for cardiac arrest and other life-threatening situations

Demonstrate your triage and prioritization abilities

ER nurses must quickly assess patients and prioritize care based on urgency. Show how you've successfully triaged and prioritized in a fast-paced ER setting:

Developed and implemented a new 5-level triage system, reducing average ER wait times by 30%
Triaged up to 20 patients per hour during peak times while accurately identifying and prioritizing critical cases
Collaborated with ER physicians to quickly diagnose and treat life-threatening conditions such as sepsis, stroke, and myocardial infarction

Include relevant certifications and continuing education

ER nurses need specific certifications and ongoing training. Include your most relevant and up-to-date certifications, such as:

Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN)
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

Also list any pertinent continuing education coursework you've completed to keep your skills current, like:

Completed 30-hour course on Advanced Trauma Nursing in 2022
Attended 3-day conference on Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course in 2021

Emphasize your patient care and communication skills

ER nurses interact with patients and families in high-stress situations. Highlight your ability to provide compassionate care and effectively communicate with patients and their loved ones:

Provided emotional support and education to 500+ patients and families in crisis, receiving frequent praise for compassion and clarity
Served as primary liaison between patients, families, and medical staff, clearly explaining complex diagnoses and treatment plans
Consistently maintained 95%+ patient satisfaction scores, even in high-volume and high-acuity situations

Avoid generic statements that don't give specific examples of your skills in action:

Gave patients and families needed support
Communicated with patients and staff
Received good patient feedback

Showcase your leadership and teamwork abilities

ER nurses rarely work alone - they collaborate closely with doctors, specialists, technicians, and other nurses. Show that you're a strong team player:

Collaborated with a 10-person ER team to treat an average of 200 patients per day
Partnered with ER physicians, radiologists, and specialists to rapidly diagnose and treat critical patients
Supported other nurses during resuscitations, traumas, and high-acuity cases as needed

Also highlight any leadership experience you have, such as:

Supervised and mentored a team of 8 ER nurses, providing ongoing training and support
Served as ER Charge Nurse, overseeing shift operations and managing staff assignments
Led quality improvement initiative to reduce ER medication errors, resulting in a 50% decrease in incidents

Writing Your ER Nurse Resume: Section By Section

summary.

Your resume summary is a brief overview of your skills, experience, and goals as an ER nurse. While a summary is optional, it can be a valuable addition to your resume if you're a career changer or have extensive experience to highlight. However, avoid using an objective statement, as it's outdated and focuses on what you want rather than what you can offer.

When crafting your ER nurse resume summary, focus on your most relevant qualifications and experiences that align with the job requirements. Emphasize your clinical expertise, patient care abilities, and any specialized skills that set you apart from other candidates.

How to write a resume summary if you are applying for an ER Nurse resume

To learn how to write an effective resume summary for your ER Nurse resume, or figure out if you need one, please read ER Nurse Resume Summary Examples , or ER Nurse Resume Objective Examples .

1. Highlight your ER nursing expertise

Your summary should showcase your specific skills and experience as an ER nurse. Mention your years of experience, key responsibilities, and any specialized areas of expertise.

Emergency Room Nurse with 5+ years of experience in fast-paced, high-volume trauma centers. Skilled in triage, patient assessment, and critical care interventions.
Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) with expertise in managing acute cardiac events, stroke care, and pediatric emergencies.

Avoid generic statements that could apply to any nursing role, such as:

Experienced nurse seeking a challenging position in a healthcare setting.
Dedicated and compassionate healthcare professional with strong communication skills.

2. Emphasize your impact and value

Use your summary to highlight the value you bring to the role and the positive impact you've made in previous positions. Quantify your accomplishments when possible.

Results-driven ER Nurse with a track record of improving patient outcomes and streamlining emergency department processes. Implemented a triage protocol that reduced average wait times by 25% and increased patient satisfaction scores by 30%.

Avoid making vague or unsubstantiated claims, such as:

Proven ability to work well under pressure.
Consistently goes above and beyond for patients.

Instead, focus on concrete examples of your impact and the specific results you've achieved.

Experience

In your work experience section, demonstrate your qualifications as an ER nurse by highlighting your clinical skills, ability to work in high-pressure situations, and patient care expertise. Showcase your most relevant and impressive accomplishments from your current and previous roles.

Here are some key tips to make your work experience section stand out:

1. Use strong action verbs to describe your nursing duties

When describing your work experience, start each bullet point with a powerful action verb that showcases your skills and accomplishments. This helps grab the attention of hiring managers and makes your resume more impactful.

Examples of strong action verbs for ER nurses include:

Triaged patients based on acuity and provided critical care to high-risk patients
Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement patient care plans
Monitored vital signs, administered medications, and performed wound care
Educated patients and families on post-discharge care instructions

2. Quantify your impact with metrics and patient outcomes

To make your work experience more impactful, quantify your accomplishments with specific metrics whenever possible. This helps hiring managers understand the scope and impact of your work.

Here are some examples of how to quantify your nursing experience:

Managed a caseload of 10-15 patients per shift in a fast-paced Level 1 trauma center
Reduced patient wait times by 25% by implementing a new triage protocol
Trained and mentored 5 new graduate nurses on ER procedures and protocols

In contrast, here are some examples of bullet points that lack specific metrics:

Responsible for patient care in a busy ER
Helped improve ER efficiency
Mentored new nurses

3. Highlight your experience with relevant tools and technologies

As an ER nurse, you likely have experience with a variety of medical tools and technologies. Highlighting your proficiency with these tools can make you a more attractive candidate to potential employers.

Some examples of relevant tools and technologies to mention in your work experience section include:

Electronic health record (EHR) systems like Epic or Cerner
Point-of-care testing devices like i-STAT or Hemochron
Ventilators, defibrillators, and other advanced life support equipment
Telehealth platforms for remote patient monitoring and triage

Proficient in using Epic EHR system to document patient assessments, interventions, and outcomes. Collaborated with IT team to optimize EHR workflows and improve documentation efficiency.

4. Show your career progression and leadership skills

Hiring managers love to see candidates who have progressed in their careers and taken on increasing levels of responsibility. If you've been promoted, taken on leadership roles, or expanded your skill set over time, make sure to highlight that in your work experience section.

Here are some examples of how to showcase your career progression and leadership:

Promoted from Staff Nurse to Charge Nurse within 2 years, overseeing a team of 10 nurses and support staff
Selected as a preceptor for new graduate nurses, providing orientation, training, and mentorship
Led a quality improvement project that reduced medication errors by 50% and improved patient safety

In contrast, here are some examples that don't effectively showcase progression or leadership:

Started as a Staff Nurse and worked my way up
Helped train new nurses sometimes
Participated in a project to improve medication safety

Education

The education section of your ER nurse resume is critical. It shows employers that you have the necessary training and qualifications for the job. In this section, we'll cover what to include and how to format your education details.

1. List your nursing degree first

As an ER nurse, your nursing degree is your most important educational credential. List it first in your education section, even if you have a higher degree in another field.

Here's an example of how to format your nursing degree:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA Graduated: May 2020

If you have an associate's degree in nursing, format it similarly:

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Community College of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA Graduated: May 2018

2. Include relevant coursework and clinical rotations

If you're a recent nursing graduate, you can strengthen your education section by listing relevant coursework and clinical rotations. This shows employers that you have hands-on experience in key areas.

Here are some examples of coursework and clinical rotations to include:

Emergency Medicine Clinical Rotation, 120 hours
Trauma Nursing
Pharmacology

However, if you have several years of ER nursing experience, it's best to leave out coursework and focus on your professional achievements instead. For example:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing XYZ University Relevant Coursework: Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, Nursing Fundamentals, Psychology

3. List your nursing license and certifications

In addition to your nursing degree, be sure to list your nursing license and any relevant certifications you have earned. These credentials show that you meet the legal requirements to practice nursing and have specialized knowledge.

Here's an example of how to list your nursing license:

Registered Nurse (RN), Pennsylvania License Number: 12345678 Expires: April 2025

And here's how to list a certification:

Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing Earned: June 2021

4. Keep your education section short if you're a senior ER nurse

If you have more than 10 years of experience as an ER nurse, your education section should be very brief. Employers will be more interested in your professional accomplishments than your degrees at this stage.

Here's an example of an education section for a senior ER nurse:

MSN, XYZ University
BSN, ABC College

In contrast, avoid listing graduation dates or details that could lead to age discrimination:

Master of Science in Nursing XYZ University, Anytown, USA Graduated: May 1985
Bachelor of Science in Nursing ABC College, Somewhere, USA Graduated: June 1981

Skills

The skills section of your ER nurse resume is a key place to showcase your specialized knowledge and abilities. Hiring managers scan this section to quickly assess if you have the right mix of clinical skills, certifications, and experience to excel in the role. Let's break down how to write an effective skills section step-by-step.

1. Highlight your top ER nursing skills

Focus your skills section on your most relevant and impressive abilities as an ER nurse. Analyze the job description for the specific role you're applying to, and mirror the language and skills it mentions.

Choose a balanced mix of clinical nursing skills, emergency care expertise, and relevant technical proficiencies. Incorporate both broad umbrella skills and niche competencies.

Skills: Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), emergency room (ER) nursing, triage, telemetry, patient assessment, wound care, electronic medical records (EMR), Epic

2. Categorize your skills to improve readability

If you have an extensive skill set, break your skills into categories. This improves readability by organizing related skills together and making it easy for hiring managers to skim.

Example categories for ER nurses could include:

Clinical Skills : Patient assessment, triage, telemetry, wound care, phlebotomy
Emergency Care : Advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS), trauma nursing core course (TNCC), pediatric advanced life support (PALS), critical care
Technology : Electronic medical records (EMR), Epic, Meditech, Pyxis medication management

3. Optimize for applicant tracking systems

Many hospitals use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to automatically screen resumes. These programs scan your resume for relevant keywords to determine if you're a good fit.

To get past ATS filters, use the exact terms from the job description in your skills section where applicable. For example, if the posting lists 'Meditech EMR' as a requirement, write 'Meditech' instead of just 'electronic medical records.'

Skills: Life support certifications, patient care, electronic charting, medication administration

Skills: Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), patient assessment, trauma care, Meditech EMR, medication administration, Pyxis

Tools like Score My Resume can help by analyzing your resume and identifying which key skills you may be missing.

4. Quantify your skills and expertise

When possible, add numbers to quantify your level of experience with a particular skill. This makes your abilities more concrete and credible.

For example:

5+ years of critical care nursing experience
Proficient in 3 EMR systems: Epic, Cerner, Meditech
Treated an average of 10-15 level 1 trauma patients per shift

You can also specify your proficiency level for technical skills:

Technology: Epic EMR (expert), Meditech (proficient), Cerner (familiar)

Skills For ER Nurse Resumes

Here are examples of popular skills from ER Nurse job descriptions that you can include on your resume.

Healthcare Information Technology (HIT)
Nursing Process
Clinical Research
Inpatient Care
Patient Education

Skills Word Cloud For ER Nurse Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on ER Nurse job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more likely you should include it in your resume.

Top ER Nurse Skills and Keywords to Include On Your Resume

How to use these skills?

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Nursing Resume Guide & Examples for 2022

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• Led a team of 10 nurses, ensuring efficient patient care and adherence to safety protocols, resulting in a 15% decrease in patient wait times.
• Implemented a new triage system that improved patient flow by 20%, enhancing overall emergency response efficiency.
• Trained 25 new nurses in emergency care procedures, emphasizing accuracy, speed, and compassionate care.
• Managed critical care for over 1,000 patients, with a focus on cardiac, trauma, and stroke emergencies, improving patient recovery rates.
• Coordinated with interdisciplinary teams to develop patient care plans, resulting in a 10% improvement in patient satisfaction scores.
• Provided high-quality care to an average of 30 patients per shift in a high-volume emergency department.
• Participated in a critical care initiative that reduced patient transfer times by 25%, enhancing overall treatment efficiency.
• Collaborated in a research project on emergency medicine best practices, contributing to hospital policy updates.
• Assisted in the development of a patient education program focused on preventative care, reaching over 500 patients.
• Managed emergency care for patients in critical conditions, including trauma, cardiac arrest, and stroke.
• Implemented a peer-review program that improved nursing practices and patient care quality.
• Actively participated in emergency drills, enhancing team readiness and response times.
• Contributed to a 10% reduction in medication errors through meticulous record-keeping and verification.

5 ER Nurse Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

An ER nurse plays a crucial role in providing immediate care to patients in emergency situations. On your resume, highlight your experience with trauma care, proficiency in emergency procedures, and ability to work under pressure. Consider emphasizing your strong communication skills and proficiency in advanced life support techniques. Including your success in managing high-stress situations and your commitment to patient advocacy will clearly demonstrate your contributions to the healthcare team.

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Resume Guide

ER Nurse Resume Example

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Hard & Soft Skills

Certifications & Education

Resume Summary & Objective

Additional Sections

Key Takeaways

Emergency room nurses keep a cool head while triaging critical cases, provide calm, compassionate support to patients and families, maintain detailed and accurate records, and facilitate communication of vital information between patients, families, and care teams. And they do all of this while performing clinical nursing duties.

Boiling down the extensive knowledge, multifaceted skills, and hands-on experiences in fast-paced environments required of an ER nurse within a resume's limited space can seem impossible.

The key to writing an excellent ER nurse resume is approaching it methodically, as you would an overwhelming ER shift.

This resume guide, including examples and pro tips, addresses many common resume writing challenges ER nurses encounter and offers a straightforward step-by-step approach to overcoming them.

See the guides below for additional resources and examples for related nursing specializations and medical professions.

Nurse resume examples
Nursing Assistant resume examples
Travel Nurse resume examples
Practice Nurse resume examples

ER nurse resume example

ER Nurse | Patient Care | Emergency Response resume example

Here’s what this applicant does well in their resume:

Highlighting Relevant Certifications and Courses: The inclusion of the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) certification and Advanced Trauma Nursing Course directly aligns with the specialized skills required for an ER nurse, showcasing the applicant's commitment to ongoing professional development in emergency care.
Quantifiable Achievements in Experience: The resume effectively uses numbers and specific results in the experience section, such as "reducing patient transfer times by 25%" and "improving patient survival rates." This approach demonstrates the applicant's impact in previous roles and their ability to handle the demands of an ER environment.
Leadership and Training Skills: By mentioning leadership roles like leading a team of nurses and training new staff, the applicant shows they possess essential soft skills for the ER nurse role, which often requires teamwork, mentorship, and the ability to manage stressful situations.
Tailored Summary Section: The summary is concise and tailored to the ER nurse role, highlighting over 7 years of experience, specific skills like triage and critical care, and a significant career achievement. This provides a strong introduction that aligns with the job requirements.

How to format an ER nurse resume

While nurses are always in demand, specialized nursing positions can be competitive. Utilizing every aspect of your ER nurse resume, including formatting, for optimal impact is an excellent way to ensure your resume stands out among other applicants.

Formatting is an opportunity to guarantee your qualifications stand out to employers and make an excellent first impression. To create an ER nurse resume that's well-organized, professional, and memorable, consider the following best practices:

Creative Elements - Include creative elements like colors and decorative patterns to make your resume unique and memorable.
Header Content - A prominent header featuring your name, desired job title, and contact information lets employers know who you are at a glance.
Ordering - Listing all section examples in reverse chronological order ensures your most recent and, therefore, relevant certifications and experiences appear first.

Understanding the role of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) is critical when formatting your ER nurse resume. ATS analyzes text on resumes, looking for precise keywords or phrases corresponding to desirable skills and qualifications for a particular position. Employers use these systems to quickly sort and prioritize resumes to view the most qualified candidates. ATS-optimized formatting facilitates ATS's ability to recognize and parse information from your resume accurately.

Here's what's considered "best practices" for ATS-optimized formatting on your resume:

Fonts - Select ATS-friendly fonts matching the overall style of your resume. Some ATS-friendly fonts are Calibri, Arial, and Times New Roman. However, by employing these overused fonts, you may miss a chance to make your resume stand out. For interesting, modern font options with excellent readability, try Rubik, Lato, Montserrat, Raleway, Exo 2, or Volkhov, all available on the Enhancv Resume Builder.
Document Type - Doc or PDF files are typical for resumes and most easily analyzed by ATS.
Creative Elements in Text - Avoid using nonessential stylistic features within text. Elements such as emojis and non-standard date formats can impede ATS’s ability to recognize information in these sections.
Headings and Subheadings - Ensure resume sections are logically organized and include simple, precise headings. Standard section titles ensure ATS accurately recognizes and extracts information from these sections.

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To improve the organization and ATS optimization of your resume, include the following top-recommended sections for ER nurses.

The top sections on an ER nurse resume:

Contact Information: Essential for the recruiter to know who you are and how to contact you.
Professional Summary: To provide a brief and concise overview of your qualifications, skills, and experience in emergency nursing.
ER Nursing Skills: Highlighting these would underline your capabilities and experience in handling emergency situations, essential for an ER nurse.
Experience in ER Nursing: This displays your practical knowledge and previous involvement in emergency medical contexts.
Certifications and Training: Displaying these would validate your abilities and indicate that you are up-to-date with current ER procedures and best practices.

Recruiters specifically seek out ER nurses with particular in-demand skills and abilities. Include the following qualifications within your resume sections to ensure your resume gets noticed:

What recruiters want to see on your resume:

Relevant ER Experience: This is prioritized due to the high-stress, quick decision-making nature of ER nursing. Recruiters need to know you can handle the pressure and respond effectively.
Certifications and Licenses: These are non-negotiables in nursing roles. They signify your adherence to industry standards and legal regulations.
Specialized Skills: These help recruiters ascertain your ability to perform specific ER tasks such as administering medication, performing resuscitation procedures, and wound management.
Patient Care and Bedside Manner: Due to the intensity of ER environments, having exceptional interpersonal skills and a compassionate approach to patient care are highly prioritized.
Continual Professional Development Evidence: ER nursing methods frequently change with emerging research and technology; recruiters look for candidates who stay updated in their knowledge and skills.

How to write your ER nurse resume experience

ER nurses require specialized skills and knowledge for working in fast-paced, high-pressure environments. The most effective way to demonstrate these skills is to showcase prior experiences, successfully navigating these environments, and making achievements.

The experience section of your ER nurse resume allows you to share valuable clinical experiences that illustrate the emergency nursing abilities and achievements you developed in these positions.

Your descriptions of these experiences must go beyond detailing duties you performed to highlight specific skills and accomplishments to showcase not only what you did but how well you did it.

Take a look at the following experience examples to better understand how quality descriptions strengthen your resume's experience section.

• Provided compassionate care to patients in a high-volume Level II Trauma Center.
• Conducted assessments of patient conditions, including triaging patients based on the severity of the condition.
• Participated in a new protocol for managing sepsis patients, contributing to a reduction in mortality rates.
• Contributed to patient care and teamwork in the emergency department.

This experience example describes skills and experiences pertinent to emergency nursing. However, it could be more effective by providing specific details such as keywords and quantitative data evidencing their impact in this role. The result is an overly general explanation that fails to leave a lasting impression.

• Provided high-quality, compassionate care to patients in a high-volume Level II Trauma Center, handling over 80 patients per shift in a fast-paced environment.
• Conducted thorough assessments of patient conditions, including triaging patients based on the severity of the condition, which led to a 15% improvement in patient flow efficiency.
• Played a key role in a task force that implemented a new protocol for managing sepsis patients, contributing to a 20% reduction in mortality rates within the first year of implementation.
• Received the Nurse of the Year award in 2020 for exceptional patient care, teamwork, and leadership in the emergency department.

This improved experience example incorporates percentages demonstrating this nurse's effectiveness in this role. They also utilize keywords like ¨fast paced¨ and ¨efficiency¨ by adding detail to their descriptions. Finally, they evidence the quality of their work by including their Nurse of the Year award.

When selecting experiences to include on your ER nurse resume, creating a targeted experience section is best. A targeted experience section only includes work experiences demonstrating the most desirable skills aligned to an available ER nurse position.

To quickly and easily create a targeted ER nurse resume for individual applications, follow these steps:

Create a resume template including a complete list of your experiences, certifications, education, and skills.
Make a copy of the template for each new application.
Review the job description for each new job you apply to, paying close attention to ideal candidate descriptions.
In the copy of the template, delete all examples that don't align with the job description.
Edit remaining examples to ensure they include keywords copied directly from the job description for increased ATS optimization.

How to quantify impact on your resume

To boost the impact of your ER nurse resume , include quantifiable evidence of your skills in experience descriptions. These are tangible, measurable, or verifiable details that highlight your accomplishments in past jobs, illustrating your abilities for employers.

The example above provides several excellent examples of using numbers and percentages to bolster descriptions. For example, stating the average number of patients treated daily quantifies the applicant's perception of a "fast-paced" environment.

Many other ways exist to quantify experiences on an ER nurse's resume. Here are a few additional options:

Percentages indicating improvements in patient satisfaction scores showcase your commitment to patient care.
The volume of trauma cases you've dealt with illustrates your expertise and experience in managing emergencies.
The size of the team you've worked with or led reflects your teamwork and leadership skills.
Reduced treatment waiting times under your purview indicate your efficiency and management abilities.
How many years worked as an ER nurse demonstrates your commitment to the specialized field.
Quantifiable results from initiatives you've implemented show your ability to drive change and improvement.
The number of hospital departments you've coordinated with underscores your collaborative abilities in complex organizational structures.

How do I write an ER nurse resume with no experience

The experience and certification requirements required to become an ER nurse mean that writing a resume without prior employment in the specialization shouldn’t be overly challenging.

The key to writing an experience section without ER nursing experience is to select closely related nursing jobs that showcase highly transferable skills—for example, experience in fast-paced medical environments or working with patients in high-stress situations.

To write a nurse resume that establishes your potential to succeed as an ER nurse without experience , follow these steps:

Compile a list of keywords from the job description.
Brainstorm previous positions, such as general nursing and practical clinical experiences, internships, and volunteer experiences showcasing the same keyword skills and knowledge from your list.
Utilize the keywords from the job description in your transferable experience descriptions.
Avoid including irrelevant work experiences .
Add credibility by including tangible evidence of transferable skills, such as certifications and quantifiable data.
List experiences in reverse chronological order to ensure your most recent and relevant examples appear first.

How to list your hard skills and soft skills on your resume

“Diverse” doesn’t seem to be a strong enough adjective to describe the skill set necessary for emergency nursing. Besides standard nursing skills such as medical expertise, effective communication, and the ability to perform clinical tasks, ER nurses need physical stamina, quick decision-making under pressure, and unparalleled patience and empathy.

Your skills section requires a blend of hard and soft skills to provide employers with an accurate understanding of your abilities.

Hard skills are the technical skills that require study, training, and practice. In nursing, these skills typically require certifications, such as CPR and triaging critical patients.

Reference the list below list for the most in-demand hard skills to include on your ER nurse resume:

Best hard skills for your ER nurse resume

Triage Skills
Emergency Response
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Critical Care Nursing
Wound Dressing
Intravenous Therapy
Medication Administration
Patient Assessment
Electronic Health Records (EHR)
Life Support Systems Operation
Cardiac Life Support
Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Usage
Blood Draws
Pain Management
Use of Emergency Medical Equipment
Knowledge of Intubation Procedures
Proficiency in using ventilation equipment
Operating Resuscitation Equipment
Surgical Assisting Skills

On the other hand, soft skills are some of the most highly valued skills in nursing. These intrinsic or personal skills demonstrate your ability to provide excellent patient care and think clearly in high-stress conditions. In ER nursing, these are skills such as attention to detail, emotional intelligence, and compassion.

As an ER nurse, these skills don’t just involve treating patients with kindness and empathy. Abilities like quick decision-making and crisis management could mean the difference between life and death.

Employers may be willing to train applicants in hard skills. However, the intrinsic nature of soft skills makes them challenging to teach and, therefore, immensely valuable. Including as many relevant, transferable soft skills as possible on your nurse resume is essential to establish overall nursing competence.

Use this list of the top soft skills for ER nurses to cultivate a comprehensive and compelling skills section:

Best soft skills for your ER nurse resume

Stress Management
Work Under Pressure
Emotional Intelligence
Crisis Management
Excellent Communication
Quick Decision Making
Cultural Competence
Adaptability
Sensitivity
Conflict Resolution
Multi-Tasking
Problem-Solving
Detail Oriented
Active Listening
Time Management

Selecting which skills to include on your resume without overwhelming the hiring managers can present a challenge. Follow these steps to create a logically organized skills section that shares your most valuable skills:

Format your skills section as a simple list without elaboration or examples.
Differentiate between hard and soft skills by listing them in separate subsections.
Target your skills section using keyword skills from the job description.
Write these keyword skills precisely as they appear in the job description to enhance ATS analysis.
Never lie about or exaggerate your skills on your resume.
Ensure consistency between your experience and skills sections by listing the skills mentioned in the experience section in the skills section and vice versa.

Nursing terminology on your resume

Including medical terminologies demonstrates experience in and familiarity with the field. However, excessive jargon or abbreviations can confuse hiring managers who might not have a nursing background. Therefore, you must balance nursing lingo and generally understood terms on your resume.

How to list your certifications and education on your resume

Education and certifications are essential for all nurses. However, ER nurses require additional qualifications to demonstrate their foundational knowledge and specialized skills in critical care. For example, while all registered nurses must obtain a nursing degree from an accredited nursing program, such as an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), many healthcare facilities prefer or require a BSN for ER nursing positions due to the complexity of the role.

Your resume's education section must include all standard nursing education as well as education and certifications specific to emergency nursing.

Follow these steps to write ATS-optimized certification and education sections:

Create separate sections titled "Education" and "Certifications" to allow ATS to parse information from your resume accurately.
List all degrees and certifications chronologically, putting your most recent and relevant at the top.

To craft a powerful education section on your ER nurse resume, follow these guidelines:

For each degree, include the name of the institution, its' location, the dates attended, and the title of your degree.
Continuing education courses required for maintaining your nursing license can be listed in the education section. However, if the section is excessively long, you can create a separate "Ongoing Education and Training" section, described below in "Additional sections for an ER nurse resume."
Including your GPA is optional unless the job description specifies a minimum requirement.

Here's an example of an excellent education section on an ER nurse's resume:

Your Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) credentials are, of course, the most essential feature of your ER nurse certifications section. Nevertheless, you can utilize this section to highlight numerous other specialized skills and knowledge relevant to ER nursing, such as advanced life support certifications.

These best practices will help you create a thorough and professional certification section :

Include the name of the certification, the certifying institution, and the year obtained.
Limit your certifications to those specifically named or directly related to the required skills mentioned in the job description.
Limit certifications to current, unexpired credentials.
If a certification requires renewal to remain valid, include the date first acquired as well as the most recent renewal date or a "valid through" date. For certifications you have held long-term, this demonstrates soft skills such as organization and responsibility.

The following are some of the most highly sought-after certifications for nurses and should be included on your resume whenever relevant.

Best certifications for your ER nurse resume

Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN)
Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN)
Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP-C)

Bogging down your resume with too many education and certification items can make it difficult for recruiters to recognize your most valuable qualifications. To prevent this, you should tailor these sections for each application by sharing only examples that are well aligned to the position to reinforce your targeted skills.

How to write your ER nurse resume summary or objective

A resume objective or summary statement is an effective tool for contextualizing the facts and data found in your ER nurse resume. These personal statements aim to construct a concise narrative clarifying your nursing experience, career trajectory, and future goals.

A summary statement focuses on your past nursing experiences to demonstrate a substantial background of transferable skills and knowledge. In contrast, an objective statement describes future career goals to illustrate how they correspond with the job opportunity.

Follow these best practices when writing either a resume summary or an objective:

Tailor the statement to the specific ER nurse job you're applying for by emphasizing keyword skills and experiences from the job description.
Start sentences with action verbs to make your summary dynamic and impactful.
Be brief. A summary should only be 3-5 sentences.

A summary is preferable for nurses with extensive experience in emergency medicine or similar medical specialties. It highlights past successes to indicate your potential to be successful in the available job.

When writing a summary for your ER nurse resume, follow these best practices:

Highlight your emergency nursing skills and experiences using keywords from the job description to make your summary more impactful.
Briefly mention years of emergency medicine experience to evidence your expertise level.
Use details such as names of specific medical software, equipment, procedures, and certifications to reinforce your stated skills and experiences.
Convey your enthusiasm for the opportunity to continue providing high-quality patient care in the medical field in this position.

A common mistake on ER nurse resumes is to be too generic and not specifically target your statement for an emergency nursing position. Check out how the following summary is enhanced by targeting it for a career in emergency medicine.

This applicant clearly demonstrates they possess nursing knowledge, experience, and skills. However, the information provided fails to highlight qualifications specific to emergency nursing. A generic resume may fail to grab the attention of hiring managers and stand out among numerous applicants.

This summary is improved by incorporating highly valued qualifications specific to ER nursing. By mentioning their critical care nursing certifications, hard and soft skills such as triaging patients and communicating in critical care situations, and work experience in fast-paced emergency medicine environments, this applicant’s summary can more effectively attract the attention of employers looking for an experienced ER nurse.

An objective statement is better suited for nurses with limited or no experience in an emergency care facility. It allows you to focus on how you plan to use your related background knowledge and experiences to achieve career goals while contributing to the success of the medical facility.

To write your ER nurse resume objective, follow these best practices:

Describe the type of position you are seeking.
Share relevant or transferable skills that will help you succeed in the position using keywords directly from the job description.
Clearly state your career goals and enthusiasm to work towards them in the role.
Highlight valuable contributions you can make while learning and gaining experience.
Avoid generic phrases. Instead, focus on specific skills and goals that set you apart.

Rephrasing specifics from the “Qualifications” or “Ideal Candidate” sections of a job description is a great way to guarantee you mention the skills and qualifications most valued by the employer.

Additional sections for an ER nurse resume

Once you’ve written the top-resume sections for ER nurses, including one or more of these additional resume sections can highlight particular qualifications or accomplishments and help you stand out among numerous other applicants.

Languages: Excellent patient communication is a cornerstone of the healthcare industry. Therefore, being multilingual is a valuable asset in nursing. Including a language section is an effective way to set yourself apart from other applicants.
Volunteer Experience: Include healthcare-related volunteer work or community service to demonstrate a commitment to giving back and supporting the community.
Leadership Experience: To demonstrate extensive experience leading teams and initiatives, share your past leadership roles, such as charge nurse, preceptor, or committee member.
Achievements and Awards: If you’ve received recognition during your nursing education or career, consider including an awards and achievements section to support your stated skills. In addition to individual awards, you can include awards your office or team received, such as being voted the top healthcare facility in your community.
Passion: If you have a personal experience that drives and motivates you as an ER nurse, sharing a short statement establishes your passion for and dedication to nursing excellence and personalizes your resume. For example, an experience in the Emergency Room as a child when a nurse was exceptionally kind and eased your fears, inspiring you to specialize in emergency medicine to provide the same level of care to others for others.
Professional Associations: Professional Association memberships highlight your dedication to ongoing improvement and staying current in dentistry. If you’d like to include a professional association membership to your resume, consider joining one of the leading professional associations for nurses below.

Professional associations for nurses:

These prominent professional associations for nurses provide resources, support, and opportunities for networking and continuing education:

General Nursing Associations

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses ( AACN )
Emergency Nurses Association ( ENA )
Society of Trauma Nurses ( STN )
American Nurses Association ( ANA )
National League for Nursing ( NLN )
National Student Nurses' Association ( NSNA )

Including training and ongoing education on your ER nurse resume

I ncluding a curated list of training and workshops you’ve completed specifically applicable to ER nursing can be impactful. They demonstrate up-to-date knowledge and skills and a commitment to the specialized field of ER nursing.

To include ongoing education and training on your ER nurse resume, follow these steps:

Create a simple ATS-friendly title for the section.
Target your list to include only recent training or courses directly related to emergency care.
List items in reverse chronological order to ensure the most recent appears at the top.
Include the date completed and a brief description of the content covered.
Use keywords from the job description when describing information and skills covered in the sessions.
Detail any technical skills developed during training sessions, such as using emergency equipment and software, including defibrillators, cardiac monitors, and infusion pumps.

Here is an example of how a Training and Continuing Education Section should look on your ER nurse resume:

Key takeaways

Creating your ER nurse resume is the first step towards acquiring a rewarding position supporting patients in their hour of need. Keep these vital key takeaways in mind to ensure your resume makes a lasting impression on hiring managers:

Organization is a critical component of your resume formatting, enabling employers and ATS to quickly and easily identify your skills, experience, and other qualifications.
A targeted experience section ensures your most relevant and transferable skills stand out to hiring managers.
To develop a full understanding of diverse skills, create a targeted list of skills that includes subsections for hard and soft skills.
Keep your resume summary or objective specific to ER nursing skills and experiences to showcase expertise in the specialization.
Include an ongoing education and training section to highlight your dedication to staying current in the field of emergency medicine.
Providing quantifiable evidence of achievements in your nursing experience descriptions demonstrates your impact in past roles.
Give context to the information on your resume by including either a summary or an objective section, depending on your experience in similar nursing positions.

Looking to build your own ER Nurse resume?

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