ICU Nurse Resume Example
A career as an ICU nurse typically involves monitoring patient vitals and administering IV medications. A professional resume for ICU nurse applications will showcase your relevant skills and career achievements, to help you stand out from the crowd. In this article, we'll explain how to write a winning resume for ICU nurse applications that best showcases your skills and experience.
The aim of this article is to equip you with all the knowledge required to create a resume that positions you to succeed in your ICU nurse applications. The guide will show you practical examples of how to structure your resume to show off your best and most relevant skills and career achievements. It will also show you how to tailor your resume according to the job description and your unique skill set. Continue reading to find the best ICU nurse resume tips from careers experts at Jobseeker.
Key sections for an ICU nurse resume
Most resumes contain similar key sections, with an intensive care unit nurse resume being no different.
If you're applying for junior, entry-level or graduate ICU nurse positions and you lack work experience, consider using a skills-based resume format to emphasize your skills and education. Likewise, an entry-level resume might focus more on soft and transferable skills, as well as details about internships, voluntary work or relevant training you've completed.
If you have some experience as an ICU nurse, use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format and focus on showing how you've used the skills required for the job in your career to date. In your resume work experience section, outline your relevant achievements and showcase the impact you've made in your career to date. Make sure everything you include is relevant to the job description.
As a highly experienced candidate, you'll want your ICU nurse resume to showcase your depth of relevant work experience, as well as other achievements. Use a reverse-chronological format and add additional sections to prove you're a strong candidate. Your senior resume will likely be more comprehensive than resumes for more junior roles. You can add extra details about your career, such as awards, publications presentations, professional memberships or certifications.
How you choose to present your resume is up to you. There are plenty of options for a professional resume layout and format, but every application should include the following:
Resume Header and Personal Information
Your ICU nurse resume header is the place to add your contact details. Start by adding your full name and underneath, include your email address, phone number and location. Adding your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, can help the employer get a better insight into your skills and industry expertise. You don't need to include any additional personal information or a photo. Create a clear, well-structured header that acts as the headline of your resume. Use color accents and blocks to help this section stand out and catch the eye of the reader.
Use an email address that's professional and appropriate for professional communication. Typically this would be an email address based on your first and last name, or your initials. If necessary, you could include your profession or another unique identifier. Avoid using old email addresses that could be considered unprofessional or inappropriate. Additionally, always check your contact details before sending your resume to ensure they're up-to-date.
Riley Brooks
riley.brooks@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
280 South Verde Street, Los Angeles, CA
linkedin․com/in/riley–brooks123
Resume Objective
Next, write a short paragraph to introduce yourself. You could also call this section 'resume summary' or 'personal profile'. In two or three sentences, explain your professional background, achievements and key skills. If you choose to write a resume summary, this focuses on your career experience to date. On the other hand, a resume objective addresses your future plans and career ambitions. Always make sure your summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for ICU nurse roles.
Alternatively, focus on introducing your career ambitions, and why this role is a good fit, both for you and the organization.
A good resume summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for ICU nurse roles, while leaving the reader with an impression of your unique qualities and strengths. The most effective resume summaries also provide evidence to back up the claims made in them. You can see some positive examples of a resume summary for ICU nurse jobs below.
Good example:
Dedicated ICU nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and extensive experience in critical care. Proficient in managing complex patient cases, providing advanced life support, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Skilled in patient assessment, ventilator management, and emergency response in high-pressure environments. Committed to delivering compassionate care and continuous professional development
Bad example:
Nurse with some experience in healthcare and looking after patients in serious conditions. Worked in roles where I helped with patient care and worked with other healthcare professionals. Have worked with different patient needs and tried to help in challenging situations. Focused on providing care and learning more about nursing
On the other hand, a resume summary can be ineffective if it lacks specific information about how your skills align with the job description, or fails to paint a picture of your unique qualities and talents. In the graphic above you can find some negative examples of how to write a resume summary.
Work Experience
In the next section, list your employment history focusing on the most relevant previous roles and achievements that showcase your ICU nurse skills. Mention only the most appropriate and relevant jobs you've had in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent and working backwards. Add your job title, the name of the employer, the location of the role and your dates of employment.
Also include some bullet points for each job mentioned, showcasing your achievements so the employer can see the impact you made on the company. Pay attention to the job description and make sure each point is relevant to ICU nurse roles.
A successful resume work experience section will always showcase skills and experience relevant to the job description, and how you put each to good use in your previous roles. Offering quantifiable evidence in an intensive care unit nurse resume proves you're a strong candidate for the job, such as client feedback, project outcomes, KPIs or financial results. Review some strong examples of resume work experience sections in the graphic below.
Good example:
Critical Care Nurse, January 2022 - Present
VitalCare Nursing Solutions, Buffalo
- Successfully implemented a rapid response system, reducing patient mortality rates by 15%
- Led a multidisciplinary team in the management of high-acuity cases, improving patient outcomes by 20%
- Awarded Nurse of the Year for excellence in critical care and patient advocacy
Bad example:
Critical Care Nurse, January 2022 - Present
VitalCare Nursing Solutions, Buffalo
- Played a key role in improving patient care and outcomes in a fast-paced environment
- Contributed to team efforts in managing complex medical cases effectively
- Recognized for dedication and commitment to nursing excellence
Above, you can see a weaker example of a resume work experience section to best avoid. Ineffective work experience sections tend to focus too much on everyday responsibilities over skills and achievements. If you use vague descriptions of activities and fail to back up your achievements with evidence, you're likely to fail to make an impact on the reader.
Education
The education section provides space to list your highest and most recent academic achievements that are relevant to working as an ICU nurse.
If you're applying for ICU nurse positions you'll typically need to have a degree. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) will usually help your chances of success. You could also list any qualifications that demonstrate your EKG interpretation or ventilator management.
List every relevant qualification, including the name and level of the course, the name of the school, college or university, its location and your graduation date. Include bullet points to show any specialist modules you studied, awards or exceptional grades and achievements that can set you apart from other candidates. These will all contribute to creating a positive impression on employers.
Additionally, mentioning any leadership roles or any societies and clubs you participated in while studying shows proactivity and initiative.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), 2017 - 2020
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Skills
The skills section of an intensive care unit nurse resume is a chance to list any skills you have that match those of the job description. You could include EKG interpretation, effective communication skills or any other skills that show you're a suitable candidate. Once more, review the job description and pick out any key ICU nurse skills listed that match yours. Focus on these skills and any other key transferable skills that make you a strong candidate for the job.
Listing hard skills on your ICU nurse resume
Hard skills are specific skills related to the job you're applying for. They include particular abilities, technical skills and industry knowledge that relate directly to jobs as an ICU nurse. Furthermore, these skills are essential for an ICU nurse resume as they showcase your expertise in the field. If possible, add four or five hard skills that reflect the requirements of the job description. These will boost your chances of success in your applications.
The best resume hard skills sections focus on specific technical skills necessary for the job, showcasing skills that you have particular expertise in. There are some examples of valuable hard skills for an ICU nurse resume below.
- Critical care procedures
- Ventilator management
- EKG interpretation
How to list soft skills on your ICU nurse resume
In your soft skills list, include any personal characteristics that make you a good fit for an ICU nurse job. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, but they're no less important. Indeed, as the nature of work changes, soft skills are growing in importance, so make sure you include them in your resume. Think of your best soft skills and add up to five that match the requirements of the job description.
A strong soft skills section should play to your strengths, listing skills that reflect your personal qualities while also reflecting the skills listed in the job description. For some examples of good soft skills for an ICU nurse resume, see below.
- Critical thinking skills
- Effective communication skills
- Emotional resilience
Certifications and Training
In your certifications section, list any professional certifications or licenses that are relevant to working as an ICU nurse. These might be licenses that show you're qualified to operate certain equipment, or certifications that give you the edge over candidates with otherwise similar career history. Therefore, add any necessary licenses and certifications in this section, along with valid dates so employers can see you're still qualified for the job.
Take a look at some example certifications for an ICU nurse resume below:
- CCRN Certification, 2022
- ACLS Certification, 2022
- PALS Certification, 2022
Resume tip:
Optional Sections
To provide further information on your suitability for the role, you could add some optional sections to an intensive care unit nurse resume. Pick from the optional sections below to help show the employer you have the skills and experience for the job.
Hobbies
Listing your hobbies and interests can reveal key qualities that some employers may value. Your hobbies and interests are useful for an intensive care unit nurse resume if you want to show a different side to your personality, or to stand out among other candidates. They can also be valuable if you're a junior candidate without much relevant work experience. Don't include hobbies and interests in your resume unless they showcase a specific interest or aspect of your personality. You'll want them to add something to your application that you can't add elsewhere.
Volunteering
Listing volunteer work is another useful way to prove your relevant experience for ICU nurse roles. Include the title of your volunteer role, who you volunteered for, as well as the dates you carried out the work. Provide brief details of your responsibilities and the impact you made.
References
Standard ICU nurse resumes don't tend to include references, but you might find them requested occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Only include referees that you've had prior approval from, and notify them to expect contact from the employer.
References will be available upon request.
Best action words for your ICU nurse resume
Using strong action words to make your resume resonate with the employer. Add strong verbs from the list below to create a greater impact with your work experience section.
- Administer
- Monitor
- Assess
- Coordinate
- Document
- Evaluate
- Implement
- Prioritize
- Educate
- Advocate
If you need help creating a resume that impresses HR managers, take a look at Jobseeker's professional resume templates. You can also access beautiful cover letter templates that help your application stand out.
Sample resume for ICU nurse positions
Now we've covered the main sections to include in your ICU nurse resume, let's take a look at how it all comes together in the example below:
280 South Verde Street, Los Angeles, CA
•
riley.brooks@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/riley–brooks123
Dedicated ICU Nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and extensive experience as a Critical Care Nurse. Proficient in delivering high-quality patient care in high-stress environments, managing life-support systems, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. Skilled in patient assessment, critical thinking, and emergency response, committed to improving patient outcomes and ensuring safety in intensive care settings
Critical Care Nurse
2020
-2022
VitalGuard Health Services (Boise)
- Implemented advanced sepsis protocol, reducing patient mortality rate by 15% within one year
- Led multidisciplinary team in developing patient care plans, resulting in a 25% improvement in patient recovery times
- Trained 50+ nursing staff in new critical care techniques, enhancing overall unit efficiency and patient outcomes
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
2017
-2020
Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI)
Critical care procedures
Ventilator management
EKG interpretation
Critical thinking skills
Effective communication skills
Emotional resilience
CCRN Certification
ACLS Certification
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Tips for ICU nurse resumes
Key tips to help you craft a strong resume
- Include any relevant work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role, for maximum readability.
- Keep your ICU nurse resume as brief as possible. A single page is ideal for junior applicants, while two sides is acceptable for senior jobs.
- Tailor your resume to the job you're applying for by consulting the job description and using keywords throughout your document.
- Choose a resume format that's clear, professional and makes your resume as readable as possible. Pay particular attention to the font, line spacing, heading and margins to make your document as easy-to-read as possible for employers.
- Showcase your key skills throughout your resume, as well as in your dedicated skills list, with each skill reflecting the job description.
Things to avoid on your resume
- Don't use an unprofessional email address. Instead, opt for a simple email address based on your name.
- Don't lie or exaggerate about your ICU nurse experience or achievements as it can harm your chances in the long term.
- Don't use overly decorative formatting and layouts that can detract from the content and make your ICU nurse resume harder for scanning by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
- Don't mention hobbies or interests unless they help you prove a skill required for the role, that you haven't included elsewhere.
- Don't list personal details such as your age, gender or a photo, unless these are necessary for the role. They can lead to hiring bias.
Making an ATS-friendly resume
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are one of the key ways recruiters and employers manage the hiring process. The systems can screen candidates by scanning and ranking resumes based on each candidate's likely suitability for the vacancy. There are several things you can do when writing your ICU nurse resume, to give yourself the strongest chance of ranking highly in the ATS stage and progressing through the recruitment process.
Create an ATS-optimized resume by following these quick tips:
- Opt for an established, traditional resume format such as a reverse-chronological or functional structure. These will ensure your resume includes all the necessary details ATS systems scan for.
- Add keywords that match the job description throughout your resume, as ATS applications scan for these and well-placed, considered use can help your resume rank more highly.
- Include clear headings that make it easy to identify each section of your resume. This will help any ATS software navigate your resume during the scanning process.
- Utilize a clean, clear resume design that helps make your content more readable. Use simple fonts and subtle color accents and design elements that don't detract from the written content.
- Use simple, concise language to keep your resume to a maximum of one to two pages in length. This will make it easier for ATS software to read.
For tips and ideas to help you draft a professional resume to get noticed by employers, read our expert career articles and check out our detailed resume examples.
An ICU nurse resume FAQs
After writing your ICU nurse resume, you'll want to write an accompanying cover letter that helps your application stand out.
Firstly, choose whether you're going to write a full cover letter, or whether a brief email confirming your application and drawing attention to your resume will be sufficient.
For a full, traditional cover letter, follow formal letter-writing conventions with your header, address line and greetings. The main text of the letter tends to be split into three short paragraphs. Firstly, introduce yourself, confirm the role you're applying for and explain why you're applying for the ICU nurse role. In the second paragraph, highlight your skills and experience that are most relevant to the job description. The third paragraph gives you the opportunity to express your enthusiasm for the role and your gratitude to the employer, while leaving a call to action which encourages them to make contact with you.
For help creating an eye-catching cover letter that impresses recruiters and hiring managers, use Jobseeker's professional cover letter templates.
If you have no experience, it's still possible to write a professional ICU nurse resume that makes a positive impression on hiring managers. Opt for a skill-based resume format instead of a traditional layout. This places your skills and education in a more prominent position on your resume. Make the most of additional sections such as hobbies and interests, volunteer work, certifications and internships. These can help you showcase skills that you've developed outside traditional work settings.
If you want to create a strong first impression in your ICU nurse application, a resume headline can help. Resume headlines can also help you pass the ATS stage of the selection process, by highlighting the job title and one or two key details. Write a few words to set the tone for your resume, including the job title, your experience or track record and one or two key skills that make you stand out.
You can use this example resume headline as a template for creating your own:
- Entry-Level ICU Nurse Professional
- Expert Critical Care Nursing Professional
- Senior Intensive Care Unit Nurse
The top resume format for your applications will vary according to a couple of factors. First, how much professional experience you have. Second, what type of job you're applying for and its seniority level. For entry-level roles, or situations where you're changing to a new career, a functional resume is often the best option. This places your skills and education above your work experience. Once you have some relevant work experience, and for senior positions, a reverse chronological resume format is typically best. This emphasizes your work experience, which will probably be the key thing employers want to know about.
Key points for your ICU nurse resume
If you want to catch the eye of employers and recruiters, you need a professional resume that showcases your best skills and career achievements. Select a resume format that suits your experience levels and the job you're applying for, and make sure you tailor your resume for each application.
Jobseeker has a wealth of resume tools, including resume templates and examples, to help you create a winning job application. Sign up today to get started. To make the best possible impression with your applications, write a cover letter with the help of Jobseeker. You can also find plenty of expert-designed cover letter examples for inspiration.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
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