Pediatric Nurse Resume Example
If you're hoping to start a career as a pediatric nurse, you'll need experience in administering IV medications and educating patient families. For a successful pediatric nurse application, you'll want to submit a professional resume that showcases your relevant skills. In this article, we'll outline how to write a winning resume to boost your chances of success in your pediatric nurse applications.
After reading this article, you'll feel confident creating a pediatric nurse resume that effectively showcases your relevant skills and experience. 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. Read on to learn how to write a perfect pediatric nurse resume, from the advice of careers experts at Jobseeker.
Main elements of a pediatric nurse resume
It's essential to include a few core sections in your pediatric nurse resume, while there are also a few optional sections you can make use of to strengthen your application.
A functional or skills-based resume format might be best for applications where you have little or no relevant pediatric nurse experience. This layout prioritizes your skills and education sections above your work experience. 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.
Work experience is typically the most important resume section for pediatric nurse applicants with some prior experience. As such, it's best to use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format. Your resume should focus on your career achievements, and the role you've played in successful projects and activities for your employers. Consult the job description for guidance on what to showcase, and provide evidence to support your claims.
For senior pediatric nurse applications, concentrate on your work experience and any accolades or achievements that prove your status as a highly experienced candidate. Use a reverse-chronological resume format with additional sections. It's likely that your senior resume will be longer than a standard resume of one-to-two pages. This is because you'll be listing additional achievements beyond your work experience, such as awards, publications and professional memberships.
You will have some choice over your resume layout and structure, but be sure to include these sections as the core of your document:
Resume Header
Your pediatric nurse resume header should contain your name and contact details. These include your email address and phone number. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can also add that, to give employers the chance to learn more about your skills and experience. It's not necessary to include a photo or any other personal information. Make sure your resume header is as brief as possible and doesn't take up too much valuable space. Choose a clear, professional design that sets the tone for your application.
Make sure your email address appears as professional as possible, and doesn't include anything like nicknames, inappropriate language or personal information. If it does, set up a new email account with an address based on your name or initials, and use that for your job applications. Always double-check your contact details are up-to-date before sending your resume.
Randy Green
randy.green@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
0001 Cemetery Lane, New York, NY
linkedin․com/in/randy–green123
Resume Summary
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. Additionally, make sure your resume summary reflects the job description and focuses on qualities that are relevant to working as a pediatric nurse.
Alternatively, use this section to emphasize your career objectives and explain how and why this role is a suitable step for you at this stage of your career.
The best resume summaries reflect the job description and focus on qualities that are relevant to working as a pediatric nurse, while highlighting elements of your personality that make you an ideal candidate. They also quantify the information provided with evidence. The graphic below showcases some good examples of what to include in your pediatric nurse resume summary.
Good example:
Dedicated Pediatric Nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and extensive experience as a Pediatric Registered Nurse (RN). Proficient in providing comprehensive care to children of all ages, managing pediatric emergencies, and collaborating effectively with healthcare teams and families to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Skilled in conducting assessments, administering medications, and developing individualized care plans. Passionate about child health and committed to fostering a compassionate and supportive environment for young patients and their families
Bad example:
Nurse with some experience in healthcare and working with children. Involved in situations where I helped care for young patients and worked with others to make sure things went well. Have done assessments and given medications as needed. Interested in child health and aim to create a supportive place for kids and their families
Conversely, an ineffective resume summary would include generic, unspecific information on your skills and experience, while failing to provide any useful information on what makes you a unique and interesting candidate. See above for some examples of things to avoid when writing your pediatric nurse resume summary.
Employment History
Next, list your relevant employment history and any key achievements that show you're suitable for a pediatric nurse position. Add each previous employment in reverse-chronological order. This means starting from your current or most recent role and working back in time from there. Include your job title, the company name, the location of the job and your dates of employment.
Under each job entry, add several bullet points highlighting your responsibilities and achievements. Consult the job description for a list of the key requirements for the role and make sure your work experience section showcases how you meet these requirements.
The best resume work experience sections focus only on the most relevant previous jobs, and link each bullet point back to a skill or experience listed in the job description. It's also critical to provide evidence that shows the value you added to each role in a quantifiable way, such as project outcomes, key performance indicators or feedback from customers, colleagues or managers. Review some strong examples of resume work experience sections in the graphic below.
Good example:
Pediatric Registered Nurse (RN), January 2022 - Present
Sunrise Pediatric Care, Bakersfield
- Successfully implemented a pediatric pain management protocol, reducing patient discomfort and improving recovery times by 30%
- Spearheaded a vaccination awareness campaign, increasing immunization rates among pediatric patients by 25% in one year
- Trained and mentored 15 new pediatric nurses, enhancing team competency and improving patient care quality within the department
Bad example:
Pediatric Registered Nurse (RN), January 2022 - Present
Sunrise Pediatric Care, Bakersfield
- Improved patient care through various initiatives and protocols
- Led awareness campaigns to enhance community health
- Provided training and guidance to nursing staff
In the graphic above, you'll see some examples of less effective resume work experience sections. 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.
Educational Achievements
Under education, add details of any degrees or professional qualifications relevant to pediatric nurse roles.
Opportunities as a pediatric nurse and similar roles in the sector usually require a specialist degree. If you have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, be sure to mention this in your resume. You might also want to list any qualifications that highlight your developmental milestone assessment or pediatric patient care.
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.
If you organized or participated in any clubs or societies while at university, or you took part in any voluntary work, you could also mention these here.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), 2017 - 2020
University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
Skills
Adding a list of your key skills provides a quick reference for the reader of what you can bring to a pediatric nurse role. Skills such as pediatric patient care or empathy and compassion are particularly useful for pediatric nurse jobs. Again, refer to the pediatric nurse job description for an indication of the types of skills the employer is looking for, and make sure your skills section reflects these.
How to list hard skills on your pediatric nurse resume
For your hard skills list, include any technical abilities or specific industry knowledge that's essential to working as a pediatric nurse. These could be skills gained through work experience or qualifications. Furthermore, your list of hard skills provides a strong indication to the reader of your expertise in pediatric nurse roles, and how well you'll fit into the position. Aim to include four or five key hard skills. If you have space, explain how and where you've used that skill to create successful outcomes in your career. These skills will demonstrate your credentials and show how you meet the job description.
Your resume hard skills list should reflect your unique and specific industry expertise and experience, while also fulfilling the requirements listed in the job description. See the examples below for an idea of what an effective pediatric nurse resume hard skills list looks like.
- Pediatric patient care
- IV insertion skills
- Medication administration
Listing soft skills on your pediatric nurse resume
Your soft skills are the core qualities and personal characteristics that make you a good employee. They tend to apply to multiple professions and jobs, though the soft skills you'll require may change as you move from junior to senior positions. Indeed, transferable skills are growing in importance in the modern world of work, so make sure you include several of these in your resume. In this section, add four of five transferable skills that match the job description.
Your soft skills section should make the most of your unique personal qualities and strengths, while also reflecting the requirements laid out in the job description. See below for some examples of useful soft skills for a pediatric nurse resume.
- Empathy and compassion
- Communication and listening
- Patience and resilience
Certifications and Training
Under this section, list any relevant certifications or licenses that are relevant to pediatric nurse jobs. These could be official licenses required for the job or certifications that improve your employability. Therefore, make sure you list the dates of your certifications and licenses so employers can see they're up-to-date and valid.
Read on to see some relevant example certifications for a pediatric nurse resume:
- CPN - Certified Pediatric Nurse, 2022
- PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support, 2022
- CPNP - Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, 2022
Expert Tip:
Additional Information
In addition to the core sections of a pediatric nurse resume, there are several optional sections you could include to enhance your chances. Add any of the sections below that help you showcase your key skills and experience.
Personal Interests
Listing your hobbies and interests can reveal key qualities that some employers may value. Hobbies can help you show different sides of your personality and make your resume more memorable to hiring managers. They're ideal to include if you're a junior candidate who might lack real world pediatric nurse experience. Think about adding hobbies and interests to your resume if they add some insight into your personality that you can't express elsewhere in your application.
Volunteer Experience
This section can be valuable for a pediatric nurse resume, if you've done any voluntary work that showcases your relevant skills. Add any voluntary roles, including your position, the name of the organization, the dates of your voluntary work and a brief explanation of your responsibilities and achievements.
References
It's not typical to include references in a pediatric nurse resume, but some employers might ask for them. Don't add references unless requested by the employer. Add two or three professional references, and be sure to approach each referee before you include them.
Please contact me for a list of references.
Best words to use in a pediatric nurse resume
Start each bullet point in your work experience section with a strong verb to show actions you took. Choose from the list of words below to make the best possible impression.
- Administer
- Assess
- Collaborate
- Educate
- Monitor
- Document
- Advocate
- Implement
- Evaluate
- Coordinate
If you want to create a resume that stands out from the crowd, use Jobseeker's expert-designed resume templates. You can also find cover letter templates that work to get you noticed by employers.
Sample resume for pediatric nurse positions
The pediatric nurse resume example below includes all the sections above, so you can see how a completed resume looks:
0001 Cemetery Lane, New York, NY
•
randy.green@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/randy–green123
Dedicated Pediatric Registered Nurse (RN) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and extensive experience providing compassionate care to pediatric patients. Proficient in administering medications, performing diagnostic tests, and collaborating with healthcare teams to create and implement patient care plans. Strong advocate for patient education and family support, ensuring a positive and nurturing environment for young patients. Skilled in managing acute and chronic conditions, with a commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care
Pediatric Registered Nurse (Pediatric RN)
2020
-2022
Happy Hearts Pediatric Care (Corpus Christi)
- Successfully managed pediatric care for over 100 patients annually, achieving a 95% satisfaction rate from families and caregivers
- Implemented a new patient monitoring system, reducing medication errors by 30% within the first six months
- Led a team in a hospital-wide initiative to improve vaccination rates, increasing compliance by 40% over two years
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
2017
-2020
University of Kansas (Lawrence, Kansas)
Pediatric patient care
IV insertion skills
Medication administration
Empathy and compassion
Communication and listening
Patience and resilience
CPN - Certified Pediatric Nurse
PALS - Pediatric Advanced Life Support
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Quick tips for a pediatric nurse resume
Simple tips for creating a winning resume
- Review your resume thoroughly and correct any errors before sending it, to avoid unnecessary harm to your chances.
- Reference your key qualifications and educational achievements, including grades if these help you stand out from other candidates.
- Showcase your key skills throughout your resume, as well as in your dedicated skills list, with each skill reflecting the job description.
- Tailor your resume for each application you send. Review the job description and adapt the content to reflect the specific requirements, including key skills and experience.
- Keep your pediatric nurse resume as brief as possible. Aim for one page for an entry-level role, and two pages for more senior jobs.
Keep away from these common resume mistakes
- Don't forget to review your contact information before sending your resume, to ensure it's all up-to-date.
- 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 use complex and elaborate formatting that can make your pediatric nurse resume less readable and more difficult for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan.
- Don't clutter your document by trying to add too many details. Focus on core pediatric nurse skills and achievements that are relevant to the role.
- Don't add work experience that's unrelated to the role you're applying for, as it isn't likely to help your chances of success.
Making an ATS-friendly resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are increasingly taking responsibility for the management and processing of job applications, helping hiring practices to become more efficient. This can include screening resumes by scanning and ranking each application according to how closely it matches the job description. There are several things you can do when writing your pediatric nurse resume, to give yourself the strongest chance of ranking highly in the ATS stage and progressing through the recruitment process.
Here a some simple tips to follow for an ATS-friendly resume:
- 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.
- Include keywords throughout your resume that align with the job description. ATS software tends to compare your resume to the job description for points of similarity, so careful, considered use of keywords should help your chances of success.
- 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.
- Adopt a resume design that uses clear, professional design principles and leaves white space for your content to breathe. Use the most readable fonts and incorporate subtle design elements to enhance the readability of your document.
- Use concise language to keep the length of your resume to between one and two pages. This will make it easier to scan for ATS applications.
If you're looking for inspiration for your resume, discover our comprehensive resume examples and in-depth, expert career blog.
Frequently Asked Questions for a pediatric nurse resume
Alongside your pediatric nurse resume, it's important to produce a professional cover letter that creates a similar positive impact on the reader.
Firstly, think about whether you want to write a full, formal cover letter or whether a brief email to introduce yourself and draw attention to your resume will suffice.
If you decide you want to write a traditional cover letter, follow the standard letter-writing conventions around layout and structure. In the main body of the letter, write an opening paragraph to introduce yourself and explain why you're applying for the pediatric nurse role. Your second paragraph is typically where you highlight your key relevant skills and achievements. Finally, close by expressing your enthusiasm for the role and leave a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to make contact with you.
You can create a professional cover letter in just a few simple, easy-to-follow steps using Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates.
If you have no experience, it's still possible to write a professional pediatric 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.
Use a resume headline to make it easy for the reader to start assessing your suitability for pediatric nurse positions at first glance. A well-written resume headline is also a way to increase your chances of passing the ATS resume scanning stage, by referencing keywords that match the job description. Write a concise headline including the job title, a reference to your experience or track record and one or two key skills.
Here's an example of a strong resume headline:
- Compassionate Junior Pediatric Nurse
- Dedicated Pediatric Nursing Professional
- Experienced Senior Pediatric Nurse Specialist
The best format for your resume depends on two key factors. Firstly, the amount of relevant work experience you have. Secondly, the type of role and its level of seniority. If you don't have much experience, for example if you're applying for a graduate role or changing careers, you might consider a functional resume format. This focuses on your skills and education above your work experience. If, however, you have experience in your chosen profession, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format might be the way to go. This showcases your relevant skills and achievements in your work experience section.
Key takeaways for your pediatric 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. Choose the most suitable resume format for your experience levels, and focus on tailoring your resume based on the requirements listed in the job description.
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. Whether you're a junior or senior candidate, a professional cover letter can help to grab the attention of the employer. Jobseeker's cover letter examples were created by careers experts to provide useful tips and ideas for your cover letter.
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/
Impress potential employers with your resume
Follow step-by-step professional guidance to create a polished resume in minutes.
