Created by CakeYou'll learn:How to write an ICU
nurse resume?
What to put on a
resume for an ICU
nurse?
Tips for Writing the Best ICU
Nurse Resume
How to write an ICU
nurse cover letter?
ICU
Nurse Resume Sample
An ICU (Intensive Care Unit)
nurse, also called a critical care
nurse, is the one who provides health care to patients with severe illness or injuries in intensive-care units. This position’s typical responsibilities include closely assessing and recording each patient’s recovery condition, explaining intricate medical knowledge with patients and their families in an understandable way, and assisting the doctors with the treatments.
Some people may confuse an ICU
nurse with an ER (emergency room)
nurse. Although there are some similarities between them, an ER
nurse faces a more fast-paced environment since he/she has to evaluate patients’ conditions and give treatments almost simultaneously in a very short time. They have to deal with patients in various situations, from sore throat to even gun-shoot injury. By contrast, an ICU
nurse’s daily work is to give detailed care only to seriously ill patients.
Now, if you are excited to do a highly stressful but meaningful job, it is time to write an ICU
nurse resume to land the job!
How to write an ICU
nurse resume
Before discussing what to include in one’s ICU
nurse resume, here are six steps you should know when it comes to
resume writing.
Step 1: Choose Which One to Use - an ICU
nurse CV or an ICU
Nurse?
Both CV (Curriculum Vitae) and
resume are about one’s professional experience, but the information in an ICU
nurse resume tends to be more compressed. Therefore, an ICU
nurse CV will usually exceed two pages, while an ICU
nurse resume is only one page (at most two pages). It is better to confirm whether the employers require a CV or a
resume since different regions may have their practices.
Step 2: Select the Right
Resume Format for your ICU
Nurse Resume.
Here are four types of
resume formats to choose from for your critical care
nurse resume: chronological, functional, hybrid (combination), and targeted
resume format. It is optional to use some of these
resume formats at the same time to create a layout that distinguishes you the most. For example, the hybrid
resume format uses both chronological and functional
resume format. That is, you can list your work experience in reverse chronological order, and meanwhile, emphasize your skills.
Step 3: Take a Look at ICU
Nurse Resume Examples and Templates.
Before writing your ICU
nurse resume, it is helpful to look at how others did. In this article, we also provide a sample for an ICU
nurse resume.
Step 4: Tailor Each
Resume for the ICU
Nurse Position.
If you are going to apply for the ICU
nurse position in several hospitals or healthcare facilities, try to tailor each of your ICU
nurse resumes. For instance, since the ICU
nurse position is sometimes under a specific ICU unit, it is weird if a cardiac ICU
nurse resume (or CVICU
nurse resume) is the same as a neuro ICU
nurse resume or a pediatric ICU
nurse resume.
Step 5: Write an ICU
Nurse Cover Letter.
Although not every employer requires a cover letter, an ICU
nurse cover letter is another opportunity to demonstrate one’s qualifications. Step 6: Ensure an Error-free ICU
Nurse Resume and Cover Letter.Proofreading is essential for
resume writing! One of the crucial characteristics of an ICU
nurse is detail-oriented, and an error-free ICU RN
resume can prove your attention to detail.
What to put on a
resume for an ICU
resume
📍Your ICU
nurse resume should include the following sections. 1. ICU
Nurse Resume Profile (Personal Information)
✔️A
resume profile is about one’s personal details and should have:
Full name to make an initial connection with recruitersJob title to indicate the professional level of your experienceEmail address (the most crucial contact information)Phone number (in case receiving a phone interview)Address (city, state, and country)
It is up to you to include your Linkedin and personal website.
🚫On the other hand, some information isnot recommended to put in your ICU
nurse resume since they are irrelevant to the evaluation:
Current salaryNational insurance numberRace, date of birth, nationality, genderSexual orientation, marital status, religious beliefPhotograph (but in Singapore, Germany, and Asia, photos are acceptable)
2. ICU
Nurse Resume HeadlineA
resume headline is a cue to trigger employers to read through your critical care
nurse resume. It indicates the most outstanding accomplishments of an applicant. Hence, it is best to list several of your greatest strengths related to the ICU
nurse position first and craft them in one capitalized sentence.
Critical care
nurse resume sample for the headline section:
3-Year Experienced ICU
Nurse with Strong Intravenous Skills and Stress-Resistant Ability
📃Further Reading:
Resume Headline|
Examples, Templates, Writing Guide3. Professional Critical Care
Nurse Resume SummarySince employers do not have so much time on one’s
resume, it is thoughtful to provide a summary to outline your most distinguishing achievements. Keep note that a summary should be concise and within two-to-three sentences.
ICU RN
resume sample for the summary section:
Empathetic ICU registered
nurse with 2 years of critical care experience in large-scale hospitals. Currently eager to enter Hopevale General Hospital as an ICU
nurse. Proficient in providing both proper healthcare and emotional support to patients and their families.
📃Further Reading: Summary for
Resume|
Examples, Templates, Writing Guide4. Critical Care
Nurse Resume ObjectiveYour critical care
nurse resume will include either a
resume summary or a career objective. Both have a similar layout, but a career objective is more about one’s career goal and hence, more suitable for people with no experience.
Example of critical care
nurse resume objective:
BCLS certified
nurse with great ability to respond quickly in a rapidly changing environment. Known for accuracy and efficiency. Desire to gain experience in critical care in Riverside Hospital.
📃Further Reading: Career Objective for
Resume|Samples, Formats, Writing Guide5. ICU
Nurse Skills for
ResumeThe skill section is one of the most critical sections in one’s ICU
nurse resume. Hiring managers can quickly understand the expertise you have and decide whether to call you for an interview. There are 4 ways to list your ICU
nurse skills on a
resume: a simple bullet list, an expanded bullet list, integrated with work experience, and a categorized skills section. No matter which method to adopt, remember to back those skills you listed up in other parts.
Sample of ICU
nurse resume skills:
📎Technical skillsBasic Life Support (BLS)Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS)Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS)CCRN (Adult)Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)Intravenous (IV) SkillsPatient and families educationVentilator managementAdministering medication
📎Personal skills
Interpersonal skillsCommunication skillsPriority setting skillsCritical thinkingEmotional stabilityPhysical stamina
6. Work Experience for Your ICU
Nurse ResumeMost ICU
nurses need at least one year of experience in critical care or nursing. To receive an interviewing chance, try to adopt position-specific keywords to your intensive care
nurse resume. You should take a close look at job descriptions to know the skills and personal traits employers expect.
📝Also, remember to provide:
Organization’s nameJob locationRole titleEmployment periodDescriptions of the position’s duties and accomplishments (3-5 bullet points)
Example of work experience section in surgical ICU
nurse resume:
Surgical ICU
nurse, Jan 2018 - Present
Lifecare Hospital, Phoenix
Provided medical expertise and compassionate healthcare to patients in an 8-bed surgical ICU unitMonitored and assessed vital signs of patients who received organ transplantation or advanced life supportCommunicated with families to explain patients’ treatments and recovery conditions while also informing about post-surgical care
📃Further reading:Work Experience on a
Resume|Samples, Formats, Writing Guide7. Education Section for Your ICU
Nurse ResumeEducation is exceptionally fundamental to an ICU
nurse. Most employers require an accredited nursing diploma. According to All Nursing School, having a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree may land you a job with a higher salary. Hence, be sure to put your educational diploma in your critical care RN
resume.
Here are things you need to add in the education section:
School’s nameDegreeMajors minorsYear of graduationOptional: honors awards, GPA, relevant courses, extracurricular activities
8. Certification/Volunteer/Hobbies in Your ICU
Nurse Resume
You can also include the following information in your ICU registered
nurse resume:
CertificationAlmost every employer states in their job descriptions that a current BLS and ACLS certification is necessary for the ICU
nurse position.
VolunteerICU
nurse is a job that needs compassion and dedication, and the volunteer experience can indicate your commitment and care for other people.
HobbiesAn ICU
nurse should be able to shift between day and night and conduct physical tasks such as supporting and lifting patients, pushing beds equipment. Hence, hobbies like hiking or jogging are a good demonstration of your physical stamina.
Tips for Writing the Best ICU
Nurse Resume
Tip 1: Customize Each of Your ICU
Nurse Resume
Customization does not mean creating a totally different ICU
nurse resume. If you are going to apply for positions under the same unit, say, medical ICU unit or trauma ICU unit, your
resumes may be quite similar (even simply replace the hospital’s title). However, if you apply for several ICU units, it is better to spend more effort on tailoring a medical ICU
nurse resume and a trauma ICU
nurse resume.
Tip 2: Quantify Achievements on ICU
Nurse Resume
Quantified data is more measurable to the employers.
Tip 3: Create an ATS-friendly ICU
Nurse Resume
Many large-scale organizations use the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to filter
resumes automatically. A critical care
nurse resume with too many graphical decorations is not ATS-friendly. For instance, do not use charts like Likert-plots to indicate your professional level.
Tip 4: Use Action Verbs in Your ICU
Nurse Resume
Action verbs such as “performed,” “coordinated,” and “conducted” can enliven your ICU
nurse resume and make it more convincing to employers.
Tip 5: Send an ICU
Nurse Resume in PDF
Unless employers require another file format, sending an ICU
nurse resume in PDF can prevent any layout change. It will be a pity if your perfect ICU
nurse resume becomes a mess when it shows up on the employer’s computer.
Cake is a user-friendly
resume builder. People can craft their outstanding
resumes and save them as a PDF easily.
Try it Out
How to write an ICU
nurse cover letter
Since it takes employers 20 seconds on average to read one’s cover letter, creating well-structured content for your ICU
nurse cover letter is essential.
✉️ Here are five necessary parts in your critical care
nurse cover letter.
1. Contact DetailsJust like your ICU
nurse resume has a
resume profile, your ICU
nurse cover letter also deserves a personal information section. Place those contact details on the top of your cover letter.2. GreetingTry to search for the receiver’s name and greet them at the beginning of your ICU
nurse cover letter.3. Motivation to the ICU
Nurse PositionWhat makes you want to pursue a career as an ICU
nurse in that hospital? This is the question employers are curious about, so answer this question in your critical care
nurse cover letter. 4. Qualification to Be an ICU
NurseThis part is your ICU
nurse cover letter’s primary purpose - to convince hiring managers that you are a qualified ICU
nurse for their hospitals! You can select some of your most excellent achievements and connect them into a compelling story. 5. ClosingRemember to appreciate employers for their time and efforts and using a closing letter in the end.
Please send your
nurse practitioner resume and CV in PDF files unless recruiters ask for Microsoft Word files. Transferring your documents to PDF files ensures the
resume formatting on different devices like mobiles, laptops, and computers.
ICU
Nurse Resume Sample (Text Format)
Sophia BeverlyCompassionate ICU
Nurse with 4+ Years of Experiences Cross-Training in Cardiac and Neurological ICU Units
Mobile: (567) 316-888
Email:
[email protected]
Address: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/sophiabeverly
Summary
BLS ACLS certified ICU
nurse who delivered accurate and timely service to both pediatric and adult populations. Skilled in the administration of medicines and IV therapy. Awarded as the Hospital Star in 2018.
Work Experience
Neurological ICU
Nurse | Grand Willow Medical CenterOct 2018 - Present
Conducted continual neurological assessments and assisted physicians with the treatment decision makingMonitored patients’ intracranial and blood pressure and administered medicines to control their conditionsCooperated with 20+ coworkers, including other ICU
nurses, physicians, and doctors, to provide the best care for patients
Cardiac ICU
Nurse | Blessings HospitalJan 2016 - Aug 2018
Recorded over 200 patient information and monitored patient status with weekly checks and administered prescribed medication.Provided mental support and counseling services for patients.Assisted physicians in patient examination and rehabilitative services.
Skills, Languages, CertificationsHard SkillsVentilator ManagementIntravenous Therapy
Soft SkillsInterpersonal SkillsEmotional StabilityLanguagesEnglish (Native)Germany (Fluent)CertificationsBLSACLSCCRNCPR
Education
BSN | University of WashingtonGPA: 3.9Relevant Courses: Foundational Skills for Professional
Nurses, Practicum: Nursing Care of III Adults, Nursing Care of Childbearing Families2011 - 2015
--- Originally written by Angela Ye ---