Nurse Practitioner CV Example

Follow these four tips to write a nurse practitioner CV that impresses the hiring manager at your target clinic or hospital:

1. Know whether you need a nurse practitioner CV or resume

When you apply for a nurse practitioner job, you’ll see that some employers ask for a resume, while others request a curriculum vitae (CV). But don’t get confused. The difference between a nurse practitioner CV and resume is simple:

• A nurse practitioner resume is best if you’re a new graduate or early-career nurse practitioner, because it fits all of your qualifications on one page.
• A nurse practitioner CV has no page limit, and supplements standard resume information with extra sections for research, publications, presentations, and hobbies & interests. If you’re an experienced NP or following an academic or research career path, write a multipage CV.

Employers often use the terms “CV” and “resume” interchangeably, so if you’re still confused about whether you need a resume or a CV, contact the hiring manager for clarification.

2. Open with a professional summary

According to a recent study outlining the average human’s attentiveness, the human attention span fell from 12 to 8 seconds between 2000 and 2018. Ensure your CV captures the attention of the hiring manager within 8 seconds by summarizing your top selling points at the top of the page.

Just remember to examine the nurse practitioner job description carefully to discover which of your skills and achievements will impress your target employer the most.

Here’s an example of a nurse practitioner’s CV summary that quickly grabs the hiring manager’s attention with relevant qualifications:

Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) with 6+ years of experience providing compassionate health care. Skilled at diagnosing physical symptoms and formulating individualized treatment plans for patients of all ages, while staying current with the latest medical knowledge and equipment advancements. Natural leader with management experience at every professional position held, looking to inspire the nursing staff at Pflugerville Health Center.

3. Include keywords from the job description

When you read the job description, note the skills-based keywords the employer uses. Then use those keywords strategically throughout your CV to:

• show the hiring manager that you’re qualified for their open nurse practitioner position
• get your application through applicant tracking systems (ATS), which many employers use to ensure they only view the most relevant candidates

Keywords the hiring manager (and ATS) will look for in your CV include hard and soft skills like:

• medical procedures
• health care equipment
• medical software
• medical specializations
• relevant certifications and licenses
• communication skills
• management skills
• language skills

4. Include extra sections

Employers expect to see work experience, education, and skills sections on your CV. But you should include sections for additional information to stand out from other qualified applicants.

For example, a hobbies & interests section can show the hiring manager that you are energetic, healthy, and a well-rounded candidate:

HOBBIES & INTERESTS

• ​​Avid cyclist, regularly participating in regional races
• Amateur guitar player
• Run a blog called “The Practical Practitioner”
• Enjoy organizing parties with friends

Here’s more information to consider adding to your CV, depending on whether you’re writing an academic CV or applying for a hands-on nurse practitioner job:

• Publications
• Licenses & certifications
• Research
• Key skills
• Extracurricular activities
• Presentations & posters
• Awards
• Volunteer work