Ensuring accurate documentation of patient care and treatment plans is a significant CV challenge for you, the practice nurse. Our comprehensive guide provides clear steps and best practices to enhance your record-keeping skills and ensure your CV reflects the high-quality care you provide.
- Applying the simplest CV design, so that recruiters can easily understand your expertise, skills, and professional background;
- Ensuring you stand out with your header, summary or objective statement, and a designated skills section;
- Creating your CV experience section - no matter how much expertise you have;
- Using real life professional CV examples to enhance the structure and outline of your profile.
If you still have no muse to write your professional CV, find some more industry-leading examples.
How to ensure your profile stands out with your practice nurse CV format
It's sort of a Catch 22. You want your practice nurse CV to stand out amongst a pile of candidate profiles, yet you don't want it to be too over the top that it's unreadable. Where is the perfect balance between your CV format simple, while using it to shift the focus to what matters most. That is - your expertise. When creating your practice nurse CV:- list your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your latest roles;
- include a header with your professional contact information and - optionally - your photograph;
- organise vital and relevant CV sections - e.g. your experience, skills, summary/ objective, education - closer to the top;
- use no more than two pages to illustrate your professional expertise;
- format your information using plenty of white space and standard (2.54 cm) margins, with colours to accent key information.
Once you've completed your information, export your practice nurse CV in PDF, as this format is more likely to stay intact when read by the Applicant Tracker System or the ATS. A few words of advice about the ATS - or the software used to assess your profile:
- Generic fonts, e.g. Arial and Times New Roman, are ATS-compliant, yet many candidates stick with these safe choices. Ensure your CV stands out by using a more modern, and simple, fonts like Lato, Exo 2, Volkhov;
- All serif and sans-serif fonts are ATS-friendly. Avoid the likes of fancy decorative or script typography, as this may render your information to be illegible;
- Both single- and double-column formatted CVs could be assessed by the ATS;
- Integrating simple infographics, icons, and charts across your CV won't hurt your chances during the ATS assessment.
PRO TIP
Use bold or italics sparingly to draw attention to key points, such as job titles, company names, or significant achievements. Overusing these formatting options can dilute their impact.
The top sections on a practice nurse CV
- Professional Summary showcases your nursing philosophy and dedication.
- Nursing Qualifications highlight your specific education and certifications.
- Clinical Experience demonstrates your hands-on nursing skills and patient care.
- Nursing Skills section focuses on specialized techniques and practices you excel in.
- Professional Development details ongoing learning and commitment to the nursing field.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your clinical skills and nursing qualifications, making sure to mention any specific certifications or training relevant to practice nursing such as immunisation, cervical screening, or chronic disease management.
- Emphasise your experience in patient education and health promotion, reflecting your ability to support patients in understanding their health and wellness.
- Showcase your proficiency in clinical tasks and procedures unique to a practice nurse role like wound care, ECGs, and triage competencies.
- Demonstrate your ability to work autonomously and within a multidisciplinary team, including your collaboration with general practitioners and other healthcare professionals.
- Include examples of your administrative and organisational skills, which are crucial in managing patient records, appointments, and coordinating care within a general practice setting.
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Making a good first impression with your practice nurse CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for practice nurse:
- Practice Nurse | BSc in Adult Nursing | Chronic Disease Management | 5+ Years of Experience
- Senior Practice Nurse | Immunisation Lead | Diabetic Care Expert | Advanced Nurse Practitioner Qualification
- Lead Practice Nurse | Women's Health Specialist | Prescriber | 10 Years' Clinical Practice
- Practice Nurse Manager | Team Leadership | Clinical Governance | Non-medical Prescriber | 8 Years of Service
- Community Practice Nurse | Health Promotion Champion | Wound Care Proficiency | 12 Years' Dedication
- Junior Practice Nurse | Infection Control Enthusiast | BSc Honours Nursing Graduate | Committed to Patient Care
Opting between a practice nurse CV summary or objective
Within the top one third of your practice nurse CV, you have the opportunity to briefly summarise your best achievements or present your professional goals and dreams. Those two functions are met by either the CV summary or the objective.
- The summary is three-to-five sentences long and should narrate your best successes, while answering key requirements for the role. Select up to three skills which you can feature in your summary. Always aim to present what the actual outcomes were of using your particular skill set. The summary is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals.
- The objective is more focused on showcasing your unique value as a candidate and defining your dreams and ambitions. Think about highlighting how this current opportunity would answer your career vision. Also, about how you could help your potential employers grow. The objective matches the needs of less experienced candidates, who need to prove their skill set and, in particular, their soft skills.
Still not sure about how to write your CV opening statement? Use some best industry examples as inspiration:
CV summaries for a practice nurse job:
- With over 12 years of robust experience in primary care, a seasoned practice nurse prides herself on compassionate patient-centred care, adept in chronic disease management, and a proven track record of implementing successful health promotion programs, leading to a 20% increase in patient engagement.
- Diligent nursing professional with 15 years’ experience in fast-paced hospital settings, transitioning to practice nursing with a prolific background in acute patient care, triaging, and emergency response, aiming to apply extensive clinical skills to manage and educate patient populations in a community health environment.
- An educator for 8 years, eager to transfer strong communication and organizational skills into nursing practice, having recently obtained an RN qualification with a focus on primary health care, and driven by a commitment to making a tangible difference in the lives of patients and their families.
- Former military medic with 10 years' experience in high-pressure environments, now seeking to contribute a robust skill set in trauma care and emergency response to a practice nursing role, bringing a disciplined approach and exceptional leadership abilities developed during service.
- Recently qualified nurse with a BSc in Nursing, passionate about providing holistic care, seeking to leverage hands-on practicum experience in a community health setting to establish a foundation in practice nursing, with an emphasis on patient education and preventive health strategies.
- Graduate with comprehensive theoretical knowledge in nursing and a fresh perspective on patient care, aiming to apply learning experiences garnered through various clinical placements and volunteer work to build a career in practice nursing with a focus on continuous professional development.
Narrating the details of your practice nurse CV experience section
Perhaps you've heard it time and time again, but, how you present your experience is what matters the most. Your CV experience section - that details your work history alongside your accomplishments - is the space to spotlight your unqiue expertise and talents. So, avoid solely listing your responsibilities, but instead:
- adverts' keywords and integrate those in your experience section;
- Use your CV to detail how you've been promoted in the past by including experience in the reverse chronological order.
Before you start writing your practice nurse CV experience section, dive into some industry-leading examples on how to structure your bullets.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Conducted initial patient assessments, taking detailed histories and performing basic diagnostic tests to support patient diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Administered vaccinations and immunisations in line with current public health guidelines and maintained accurate records of all inoculations.
- Managed wound care for patients, including dressing changes, suture removal, and providing advice on home care to minimise infection risk.
- Performed routine screening procedures, such as cervical smears, blood pressure monitoring, and cholesterol checks, contributing to early detection of health issues.
- Liaised with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement patient care plans, ensuring a coordinated approach to treatment and support services.
- Provided patient education on chronic disease management, promoting self-care and empowering patients to take control of their health conditions such as diabetes and asthma.
- Facilitated health promotion clinics focused on areas such as smoking cessation, weight management, and sexual health, helping to improve community health outcomes.
- Utilised electronic health record systems to document patient interactions, ensuring continuity of care and compliance with legal and professional standards.
- Collaborated with General Practitioners and other healthcare professionals to manage acute and chronic health issues, offering comprehensive care within a busy practice environment.
- Initiated a diabetes management programme that educated over 200 patients on glucose control, leading to a clinic-wide 25% improvement in diabetes management outcomes.
- Carried out 50+ health screenings per week, including blood pressure and cholesterol tests, contributing to early detection of potential health issues in patients.
- Led the implementation of a new electronic health records system, training 15 staff members, which increased efficiency of patient data retrieval by 40%.
- Standardised treatment protocols for chronic diseases such as asthma and COPD, reducing emergency hospital admissions by 15% over a two-year period.
- Coordinated with a team of 10 nurses to deliver immunisation programmes, successfully immunising 95% of eligible children in the practice.
- Performed minor surgeries including mole removals and joint injections, averaging 20 procedures per month with a 98% patient satisfaction rate.
- Developed a comprehensive women's health programme, increasing the number of annual cervical screenings conducted by 30%.
- Managed anticoagulation monitoring for over 150 patients, ensuring INR levels remained within target range 92% of the time.
- Orchestrated a series of public health awareness workshops, leading to a 20% increase in patient engagement with preventative care services.
- Spearheaded a vaccination drive that reached over 500 patients during a severe influenza outbreak, minimising the spread of infection within the community.
- Supervised the transition of the clinic’s patient records to a digital format, ensuring a seamless transfer for 3,000+ patients' records.
- Facilitated weekly chronic pain management clinics, providing tailored support and therapy plans for more than 100 patients, significantly enhancing their quality of life.
- Implemented a triage system in the walk-in centre, which led to a 20% reduction in waiting times for urgent care patients.
- Developed and maintained collaborative relationships with local pharmacists to improve medication compliance, affecting 1,000+ patients.
- Conducted community outreach for older adults, increasing accessibility to primary care services by 25% within the elderly population.
- Launched a digital portal for remote patient consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic, accommodating over 300 virtual visits per month.
- Initiated a hypertension control pilot study with 50 patients, which successfully reduced average blood pressure readings by 10 mmHg over six months.
- Oversaw the practice's annual flu immunisation campaign, resulting in a record high 2,000 patients receiving their vaccine in the 2020 season.
- Pioneered a mental health first-aid programme that trained all clinic employees, markedly enhancing the support network for patients with mental health conditions.
- Conducted comprehensive travel health consultations and vaccinations for over 60 patients monthly, significantly reducing the risk of disease transmission upon their return.
- Managed the baby clinic, supporting new parents and ensuring over 500 infants received their developmental checks and vaccinations on schedule.
- Collaborated in a research project on preventing hospital readmissions, which informed the creation of practice-based follow-up care plans for discharged patients.
- Directed the annual health promotion initiative, focusing on obesity and lifestyle diseases, engaging with 300+ patients leading to a 10% collective weight loss.
- Administered first contact physiotherapy assessments, offering early intervention for musculoskeletal conditions to over 20 patients per week.
Swapping your professional experience (when you have none) with skills and more
Never underestimate the importance of relevancе when it comes to your practice nurse CV. Even if you don't happen to have much or any standard (full-time contract) professional experience, this doesn't mean you shouldn't apply for the role. Instead of a bespoke CV experience section:
- Showcase more prominently any internships, part-time roles, and volunteer experience that are applicable to the role and have taught you job-crucial skills;
- Feature a strengths or achievements section with your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your work or life experience;
- Write an objective statement that clearly outlines your values as a candidate and defines your career ambitions;
- List your education or certificates that match the job profile closer to the top of your CV.
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PRO TIP
Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
The CV skills' divide: between hard and soft skills
Of course, you may have read the job requirements plenty of times now, but it's key to note that there is a difference between technical and personal skills. Both are equally relevant to your job application. When writing about your skill set, ensure you've copy-pasted the precise skill from the job requirement. This would not only help you ensure you have the correct spelling, but also pass any Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessments.
- Hard skills show your technological capabilities. Or whether you'll be a good technical fit to the organisation. Ensure you've spotlighted your hard skills in various sections of your CV (e.g. skills section, projects, experience) by including the technology and what you've attained;
- Soft skills pinpoint your personality and people or communication skills, hinting at if you'll easily accomodate into the team or organisation. Quantify your soft skills in your CV achievements, strengths, summary/objective, and experience sections. Always support your soft skills with how they've helped you grow as a professional.
Top skills for your practice nurse CV:
Patient Care
Clinical Skills
Wound Dressing
Immunisation
Venipuncture
Diagnostic Testing
Medication Administration
Health Assessment
Chronic Disease Management
Infection Control
Communication
Empathy
Teamwork
Time Management
Problem-Solving
Adaptability
Attention to Detail
Professionalism
Resilience
Cultural Competency
PRO TIP
Order your skills based on the relevance to the role you're applying for, ensuring the most pertinent skills catch the employer's attention first.
Education and more professional qualifications to include in your practice nurse CV
If you want to showcase to recruiters that you're further qualified for the role, ensure you've included your relevant university diplomas. Within your education section:
- Describe your degree with your university name(-s) and start-graduation dates;
- List any awards you've received, if you deem they would be impressive or are relevant to the industry;
- Include your projects and publications, if you need to further showcase how you've used your technical know-how;
- Avoid listing your A-level marks, as your potential employers care to learn more about your university background.
Apart from your higher education, ensure that you've curated your relevant certificates or courses by listing the:
- name of the certificate or course;
- name of the institution within which you received your training;
- the date(-s) when you obtained your accreditation.
In the next section, discover some of the most relevant certificates for your practice nurse CV:
PRO TIP
Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
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Key takeaways
Here are five things you need to remember about writing your practice nurse CV for success:
- Sort your experience based on the reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent career items, to showcase how you've grown your career;
- Include within your CV header your relevant contact details, a headline that could spotlight your unique value, and a photo - if you're applying for roles outside the UK or US;
- Decide to use the CV summary, if you happen to have more professional experience, and an objective, if you want to showcase your career goals;
- Within the experience section, write your bullets using action verbs, skills, and success, instead of just merely listing your on-the-job responsibilities;
- Prove your technical skills, using your education and certificates, and your soft skills, with your achievements and strengths sections.
