Healthcare

ATS Keywords for Registered Nurse Resumes (2026)

Key ATS keywords for registered nurse resumes. Include clinical, patient care, and certification terms that hospital ATS systems are programmed to find.

Hard Skills & Technical Keywords

Patient assessmentMedication administrationIV therapyElectronic health records (EHR)EpicCernerWound careVital signs monitoringTelemetryCritical careACLSBLSTriageClinical documentationInfection controlPatient education

Soft Skills & Competencies

Patient advocacyCompassionate careCritical thinking under pressureTeam coordinationClear communicationEmotional resilienceAdaptabilityCultural competence

Certifications & Credentials

Registered Nurse (RN)Basic Life Support (BLS)Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

Action Verbs

AdministeredAssessedMonitoredEducatedCollaboratedDocumentedImplementedCoordinatedTriagedAdvocatedManagedSupported

Job Titles to Include

Registered Nurse (RN)Staff NurseCharge NurseClinical NurseICU NurseEmergency Room NurseTravel NurseFloat Pool Nurse

Industry Terms & Buzzwords

Patient-to-nurse ratioShift handoffCare planningMultidisciplinary teamEvidence-based practicePatient satisfaction scoresHCAHPSNursing process (ADPIE)Scope of practiceJoint CommissionMagnet designation

How to Use These Keywords on Your Registered Nurse Resume

  1. 1

    List your specialty certifications prominently — CCRN, CEN, and ONC are highly ATS-searchable for specialty units.

  2. 2

    Include the specific EHR you've used — 'Epic' and 'Cerner' appear frequently in hospital ATS filters.

  3. 3

    List your patient-to-nurse ratio experience: 'Managed 5-7 patient assignments in high-acuity medical-surgical unit' shows relevant context.

  4. 4

    Include unit type and patient population clearly: 'Adult ICU,' 'pediatric oncology,' or 'labor and delivery' are specific ATS targets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What certifications should a nurse list on their resume?+

Always list your RN license with state and license number. Include BLS and ACLS as standard. Add specialty certifications (CCRN, CEN, CNOR) in the relevant unit. Include any additional certifications relevant to your specialty such as NIHSS stroke certification or IV certification.

Should a nurse resume include patient satisfaction scores?+

Yes, when you have them. Hospital systems often report unit-level HCAHPS scores. Including 'unit maintained 95th percentile patient satisfaction scores' or 'received 3 DAISY Award nominations' adds credibility and differentiates clinically strong nurses.

How should a travel nurse tailor their resume?+

Lead with your specialty, years of experience, and key skills. List each travel assignment as a separate position with facility name, location, unit type, and patient population. Emphasize adaptability, quick onboarding, and experience with multiple EHR systems as key differentiators.

Test These Keywords Against Your Resume

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