How many skills should I list on my registered nurse resume?

List 8 to 15 skills on your resume. Focus on the most relevant ones for each job application. Include a mix of technical/hard skills and transferable soft skills. Quality and relevance matter more than quantity.

Should I include soft skills on a registered nurse resume?

Yes, but demonstrate them through achievements rather than listing them. Instead of writing 'strong communicator,' show it: 'Presented technical findings to 200-person all-hands meetings.' ATS systems also scan for soft skill keywords.

14+ Best Skills for a Registered Nurse Resume

Q: What skills should I put on a registered nurse resume?

Key skills for a registered nurse resume include Patient Assessment, Medication Administration, IV Therapy, Epic EHR, Cerner, Medical Charting, Patient Education, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and more. Prioritize skills mentioned in the job description and demonstrate them through quantified bullet points rather than just listing them.

Registered nurse resumes should highlight clinical competencies, patient care outcomes, and relevant certifications. Employers prioritize candidates who demonstrate both technical nursing skills and compassionate patient communication.

Clinical Skills

Patient Assessment Medication Administration IV Therapy Wound Care Vital Signs Monitoring

Patient Assessment in action

“Performed comprehensive assessments for 6-8 patients per shift in a 30-bed medical-surgical unit”

Technology & Documentation

Epic EHR Cerner Medical Charting Telehealth Platforms

Epic EHR in action

“Documented patient care for 1,200+ encounters in Epic with 99.5% charting accuracy”

Interpersonal Skills

Patient Education Interdisciplinary Collaboration Critical Thinking Empathy Conflict Resolution

Skill Priority Guide

Not all skills carry equal weight. Prioritize the ones most commonly requested in registered nurse job descriptions.

Skill	Priority
Patient Assessment	Must Have
Medication Administration	Must Have
IV Therapy	Must Have
Wound Care	Must Have
Vital Signs Monitoring	Must Have
Epic EHR	Must Have
Medical Charting	Must Have
Patient Education	Must Have
Cerner	Nice to Have
Empathy	Nice to Have
Conflict Resolution	Nice to Have
Telehealth Platforms	Bonus

Tip 1

List your RN license, state, and active certifications (BLS, ACLS, PALS) at the top of your resume. These are non-negotiable for most roles.

Tip 2

Include patient-to-nurse ratios and unit types to help hiring managers understand your experience level.

Keep Reading

→ Registered Nurse Resume Example → How to Write Your Skills Section → 200+ Resume Action Verbs That Get Results → The Complete ATS-Friendly Resume Guide

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