Nurse skills to include on a registered nurse CV

By Sophie · Published 30 October 2026

Clinical skills

Patient assessment and observation

Describe the observations you took and the patient group or setting in which you worked.

On your CV Recorded vital signs and assessed pain for patients on an acute medical ward.

Recognising and escalating deterioration

Give an example of how you identified a change in a patient’s condition and escalated it.

On your CV Escalated a rising NEWS2 score to the nurse in charge and supported further assessment.

Medicines administration

Name the types of medicines you administered and the clinical setting, within your competence.

On your CV Administered prescribed oral and subcutaneous medicines on an older people’s ward.

Care planning and evaluation

Explain how you assessed needs and reviewed care for a patient group.

On your CV Updated individual care plans after reviewing patients' mobility and skin integrity.

Infection prevention and control

Describe a procedure you followed to reduce infection risk in your setting.

On your CV Used aseptic non-touch technique during wound dressing changes.

Clinical record keeping

State what you documented and where the records were maintained.

On your CV Documented assessments, medicines and care provided in electronic patient records.

Qualities in practice

Patient-centred communication

Describe how you adapted an explanation to a patient’s needs.

On your CV Used written information and a discussion to explain discharge care to a patient and their carer.

Prioritisation under pressure

Show how you organised care when patient needs changed during a shift.

On your CV Reprioritised observations after a patient became unwell and informed the nurse in charge.

Multidisciplinary working

Name the colleagues you worked with and the care decision or task you supported.

On your CV Worked with physiotherapists to plan safe mobilisation after surgery.

Respect for patient dignity

Give a practical example of how you protected privacy or supported patient choice.

On your CV Discussed personal care preferences with patients and used curtains to maintain privacy.

Tools and systems

Electronic patient records

Name a system you have used and the records you completed in it.

On your CV Used SystmOne to record community visits and update patient notes.

Electronic prescribing and medicines administration

Describe how you used an electronic medicines system in your role.

On your CV Checked prescriptions and recorded medicines administration using the ward’s electronic system.

Infusion pumps

State the equipment you used and the care activity it supported, within your training.

On your CV Used infusion pumps to administer prescribed intravenous fluids on a surgical ward.

Qualifications and registration

NMC registration

State your registration status and the part of the NMC register relevant to your role.

On your CV Registered nurse, adult nursing, NMC registration current.

Nursing degree

Give the full qualification title, institution and year of completion.

On your CV BSc Nursing (Adult), University of Leeds, 2021.

Resuscitation training

Name the training you completed and its completion date.

On your CV Immediate Life Support training, completed March 2024.

How to choose nurse skills for a job advert

Start with the patient group and setting. A community nursing post may call for experience of home visits and independent care planning, while a surgical ward may place more emphasis on post-operative observations and wound care. Read the person specification as well as the job description, noting the essential requirements and any desirable experience.

Choose skills you can support with evidence from employment, placements or training. For example, if a role involves recognising deterioration, describe taking observations, using NEWS2 and escalating concerns where you have done so. If it asks for a specific clinical procedure, name it only if you have the relevant experience or training.

Use the employer’s terminology where it accurately describes your work. There is no need to include every skill in the list above. A concise selection that reflects your actual practice will be more useful than a long list without context.

Where to put skills on your CV

Place your NMC registration and nursing qualification where they are easy to find, such as near the top of your CV or in a clearly labelled registration section. Include your field of practice and keep your registration details accurate. Add relevant courses with their completion dates in a training section.

Use a short skills section for the clinical activities and systems most relevant to the post. Then show those skills in your employment history. Under each role, identify the setting and patient group, followed by bullets describing what you did. A newly registered nurse can use placement experience in the same way, making the placement setting clear.

Give enough context for a recruiter to understand your contribution. For instance, instead of listing care planning alone, explain that you reviewed mobility needs and updated care plans on a rehabilitation ward. Include figures only when they are accurate and help explain the work.

Mistakes to avoid on a nursing CV

Avoid claiming procedures or equipment experience beyond your training and competence. If you observed a procedure during a placement, say that you observed it rather than suggesting you performed it independently. Be equally precise about your registration and the dates of any courses.

Do not include patient names or details that could identify someone in a CV example. Describe the care activity and setting instead. Check that abbreviations are appropriate for the role, and spell out less familiar terms when doing so helps the reader.

Keep older or less relevant material brief so there is room for recent nursing practice. Before sending the CV, check the essential criteria against your evidence and correct any dates or system names. CV Ajuste can help tailor the document to a job advert using the facts you provide.

Official source on this job: Nurse (adult nurse) job profile, National Careers Service