Top 12 Nurse RN Skills to Put on Your Resume
Crafting a compelling resume as a Nurse RN means spotlighting clinical know‑how alongside the soft skills that keep care human. The 12 skills below reflect the core abilities employers expect—and the judgment, speed, and empathy that patients feel.
Nurse RN Skills
- Patient Assessment
- IV Insertion
- Wound Care
- Electronic Health Records (EHR)
- Medication Administration
- CPR Certified
- Patient Education
- Telemetry Monitoring
- Infection Control
- Phlebotomy
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
1. Patient Assessment
Patient assessment is a structured process to gather and interpret data about a person’s condition—history, symptoms, physical exam, and risk factors—so you can plan care that fits the moment and the patient.
Why It's Important
Accurate assessment anchors every downstream decision. It reveals priorities, guides interventions, flags safety issues, and tracks response to treatment.
How to Improve Patient Assessment Skills
Sharpen your clinical eye and your listening. Then layer in method.
Enhance observation: Tune into nonverbal cues, affect, work of breathing, skin tone, and subtle changes over time.
Stay current: Refresh skills through continuing education focused on head‑to‑toe and focused assessments.
Use your tools: Pull prior notes, labs, meds, and trends from the EHR to frame better questions and hypotheses.
Elevate communication: Ask open questions, confirm understanding, and avoid leading language.
Practice cultural humility: Adapt assessments to beliefs, language, and health literacy.
Apply frameworks: Use ABCDE, pain scales, sepsis screens, neuro checks—consistent structure reduces misses.
Run simulations: Scenario practice builds speed and pattern recognition without risk.
Seek mentorship: Invite real‑time feedback on assessments, especially in complex cases.
Reflect after shifts: Brief debriefs expose blind spots and cement wins.
Stay organized: Prioritize sickest first, cluster care, and document promptly to protect continuity.
How to Display Patient Assessment Skills on Your Resume
2. IV Insertion
IV insertion establishes peripheral venous access for fluids, medications, blood products, or nutrition—typically in the hand or forearm—using aseptic technique and vigilant monitoring.
Why It's Important
Fast, reliable access changes outcomes. It enables rapid meds, fluid resuscitation, labs, and transfusion, especially when seconds matter.
How to Improve IV Insertion Skills
Technique plus repetition. Calm hands, good lighting, the right cannula.
Know anatomy: Map common sites, vein depth, valves, and what to avoid.
Match equipment to patient: Choose gauge and length based on therapy, vessel size, and fragility.
Palpate, don’t just look: Feel for bounce and direction; warm the limb for better fill.
Perfect the angle: Low angle, steady advance, release tourniquet early, secure without strangling the site.
Maintain asepsis: Skin antisepsis, no-touch technique, and clean securement reduce phlebitis and infection.
Simulate and drill: Practice on task trainers to build muscle memory.
Request feedback: Quick tips from a seasoned nurse can fix a problem you can’t see.
Log attempts and outcomes: Track success rates, dwell times, and complications to spot trends.
How to Display IV Insertion Skills on Your Resume
3. Wound Care
Wound care covers assessment, selection of dressings and therapies, infection prevention, debridement support, pain control, and education that promotes durable healing.
Why It's Important
Thoughtful wound care prevents infection, protects function, shortens recovery, and spares patients unnecessary pain.
How to Improve Wound Care Skills
Evidence first, then tailor to the person and the wound.
Keep learning: Review current guidance from wound care organizations and specialty nursing groups.
Assess comprehensively: Size, depth, undermining, tissue type, exudate, edges, peri‑wound skin, and signs of bioburden.
Choose dressings wisely: Aim for moisture balance; match product to drainage and tissue needs.
Control infection: Recognize colonization vs infection, use antimicrobials judiciously, escalate when indicated.
Optimize nutrition: Protein, calories, vitamins, and hydration power tissue repair; involve a dietitian early.
Manage pain: Blend pharmacologic and non‑drug strategies; time dressing changes to analgesia.
Work as a team: Partner with wound care specialists, PT/OT, and the provider to align the plan.
Teach clearly: Show patients and caregivers how to protect the site and spot trouble early.
Leverage technology: Use standardized photos and measurement tools to track progress.
Document precisely: Consistent descriptors and staging support continuity and reimbursement.
Note: The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel is now the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP); use the updated terminology in documentation.
How to Display Wound Care Skills on Your Resume
4. Electronic Health Records (EHR)
EHRs are real‑time, digital charts containing history, meds, problems, allergies, orders, results, and notes—accessible to the care team for safer, faster coordination.
Why It's Important
Clean, timely documentation drives safer handoffs, fewer errors, and clearer clinical reasoning. It protects patients—and you.
How to Improve Electronic Health Records (EHR) Skills
Make the system work for you and your patients.
Master your workflow: Learn shortcuts, templates, smart phrases, and order sets that cut clicks without cutting accuracy.
Prioritize accuracy: Reconcile meds, allergy details, and problem lists every shift; fix copy‑forward errors.
Use decision support: Alerts, dosing checks, and protocols help—verify, don’t autopilot.
Chart in real time: Document close to the moment of care to preserve detail and reduce gaps.
Champion interoperability: When available, review outside records and share updates to smooth transitions of care.
Protect privacy: Follow least‑access principles, strong passwords, and log‑off discipline.
Give feedback: Report usability issues; small fixes can save everybody minutes every hour.
How to Display Electronic Health Records (EHR) Skills on Your Resume
5. Medication Administration
Medication administration covers preparing, verifying, giving, and evaluating medications—ensuring the right patient, drug, dose, route, and time, with vigilant monitoring and documentation.
Why It's Important
Safe med passes prevent harm, control symptoms, and speed recovery. It’s one of the highest‑risk, highest‑impact nursing tasks.
How to Improve Medication Administration Skills
Precision over haste. Systems over memory.
Keep knowledge fresh: Review indications, contraindications, major interactions, and black box warnings for commonly given meds.
Follow the rights of safety: At minimum the five rights; many settings include right documentation, right reason, and right response.
Perform independent double‑checks: Especially for high‑alert meds, pediatric doses, and drips.
Use technology well: Barcode scanning, smart pumps, and EHR prompts reduce slips—verify the data behind the beep.
Educate patients: Explain purpose, timing, and key side effects; use teach‑back.
Report and learn: Near misses and errors fuel system fixes; speak up and close the loop.
Manage interruptions: Create no‑interruption zones or visual cues during med prep to protect focus.
How to Display Medication Administration Skills on Your Resume
6. CPR Certified
Being CPR certified confirms you’re trained to deliver high‑quality chest compressions and rescue breathing, and to act quickly with an AED during cardiopulmonary arrest. Most RNs maintain BLS certification to validate this competency.
Why It's Important
Immediate, correct CPR doubles or triples survival odds in cardiac arrest. Skill fades fast; refreshers keep it sharp.
How to Improve CPR Certified Skills
Short, frequent practice beats rare marathons.
Refresh regularly: Follow current guidelines and renew on schedule—typically every two years.
Drill with feedback: Train on devices that measure compression rate, depth, and recoil.
Advance your training: Add ACLS or pediatric courses as your patient population demands.
Work in teams: Practice roles, choreography, and closed‑loop communication.
Debrief each event: Quick huddles surface what to keep and what to fix.
Self‑check: Use quick quizzes and mental walkthroughs to keep the sequence automatic.
How to Display CPR Certified Skills on Your Resume
7. Patient Education
Patient education equips people and families with the knowledge and skills to manage conditions, medications, and follow‑up—bridging hospital to home.
Why It's Important
Clear teaching prevents readmissions, improves adherence, and grows patient confidence. It reduces avoidable worry.
How to Improve Patient Education Skills
Teach to the person in front of you, not the pamphlet.
Assess readiness and literacy: Gauge baseline knowledge, language, and preferred learning style.
Set shared goals: Use SMART goals that matter to the patient, not just the chart.
Speak plainly: Trade jargon for everyday words; pause often and check understanding.
Use visuals: Diagrams, pill cards, and simple infographics make ideas stick.
Leverage tech: Patient portals and vetted apps extend learning beyond the bedside.
Invite questions: Normalize “What questions do you have?” and use teach‑back.
Send them home prepared: Provide concise written instructions and contact info for follow‑up.
Follow through: Quick calls or messages after discharge close gaps and catch issues early.
How to Display Patient Education Skills on Your Resume
8. Telemetry Monitoring
Telemetry tracks heart rate and rhythm continuously via wireless leads, letting nurses spot arrhythmias and trends in real time—on the unit and at the desk.
Why It's Important
Early detection triggers early action. Subtle rhythm shifts warn of deterioration before symptoms scream.
How to Improve Telemetry Monitoring Skills
Rhythm knowledge plus equipment fluency.
Deepen rhythm interpretation: Recognize common arrhythmias, ischemic changes, and artifact.
Place leads correctly: Good signal in, good data out; confirm skin prep and placement every shift.
Audit equipment: Batteries charged, cables intact, alarms configured to the patient.
Communicate crisply: Use structured handoffs to report notable events and trends.
Reduce alarm fatigue: Tailor alarm limits, address frequent artifacts, and escalate meaningful alerts.
Educate patients: Explain the purpose and what not to do with leads to keep monitoring clean.
How to Display Telemetry Monitoring Skills on Your Resume
9. Infection Control
Infection control encompasses practices—hand hygiene, PPE, device care, cleaning, isolation precautions—that break transmission chains and keep patients and staff safe.
Why It's Important
Fewer infections mean fewer complications, shorter stays, and safer teams. It’s everyday work with life‑and‑death stakes.
How to Improve Infection Control Skills
Consistency wins.
Hand hygiene first: Before and after every patient, every time; monitor your own compliance.
Use PPE correctly: Right gear, right sequence, right fit; don/doff without contaminating.
Practice safe injections: One needle, one syringe, one patient; dispose sharps immediately.
Clean the environment: High‑touch surfaces and shared equipment need routine, documented disinfection.
Follow transmission‑based precautions: Contact, droplet, airborne—apply and remove isolation promptly as criteria change.
How to Display Infection Control Skills on Your Resume
10. Phlebotomy
Phlebotomy is venipuncture performed to collect blood for diagnostics, transfusion, or research—executed with strict attention to identification, order of draw, and specimen handling.
Why It's Important
Good samples mean good data. Accurate labs guide diagnoses, dosing, and day‑to‑day decisions.
How to Improve Phlebotomy Skills
Smooth, safe, and swift—without surprises.
Practice often: Simulation arms and supervised attempts build confidence.
Know your tubes: Order of draw, additives, mixing, and transport requirements prevent redraws.
Refine technique: Palpate thoughtfully, anchor the vein, and maintain a steady angle.
Communicate well: Set expectations, coach breathing, and reduce anxiety to ease the stick.
Prevent needlestick injuries: Activate safety devices immediately and never recap.
Seek feedback: Review complications like hemolysis or failed draws to correct patterns.
How to Display Phlebotomy Skills on Your Resume
11. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
ACLS bundles algorithms, airway management, vascular access, medications, and team coordination to treat cardiac arrest, peri‑arrest rhythms, stroke, and acute coronary syndromes.
Why It's Important
When a patient crashes, ACLS readiness shortens time to effective action and improves survival with neurologic integrity.
How to Improve Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Skills
Make high‑stakes actions instinctive.
Review current algorithms: Keep H’s and T’s, dosing, and shock protocols front of mind.
Simulate frequently: Practice code roles, airway choices, and defibrillator use under time pressure.
Debrief deliberately: Structured reviews turn chaos into lessons you’ll remember.
Strengthen team communication: Closed‑loop language and clear leadership reduce errors.
Analyze cases: Walk through real events to connect decisions with outcomes.
How to Display Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Skills on Your Resume
12. Basic Life Support (BLS)
BLS covers recognition of arrest, high‑quality CPR, airway support, and early defibrillation—core skills every RN needs, every shift.
Why It's Important
BLS is the foundation on which every advanced intervention rests. Done right, it buys precious time.
How to Improve Basic Life Support (BLS) Skills
Keep it simple, keep it strong.
Follow the latest guidance: Compression rate, depth, recoil, minimal pauses—update your muscle memory.
Practice hands‑on: Short, spaced sessions with feedback devices cement quality.
Refreshers on schedule: Don’t wait for renewal; quarterly drills prevent skill decay.
Team practice: Rehearse roles, AED setup, and airway handoffs with your unit.
Debrief and iterate: Quick reviews after codes sharpen future performance.
Mental rehearsal: Visualize the sequence so you can act without hesitation.
How to Display Basic Life Support (BLS) Skills on Your Resume
