Surgical Nurse Resume Examples and Templates

What Do Hiring Managers Look for in a Surgical Nurse Resume

1. Proficient in assisting surgeons during surgical procedures, ensuring a safe and sterile environment.
2. Strong knowledge of surgical instruments, equipment, and sterile techniques.
3. Skilled in prepping patients for surgery, including administering anesthesia and monitoring vital signs.
4. Ability to assist in surgical procedures, including passing instruments, suturing, and wound care.
5. Proficiency in post-operative care, including monitoring patients, administering medications, and providing patient education.

How to Write a Surgical Nurse Resume?

To write a professional Surgical Nurse resume, follow these steps:

• Select the right Surgical Nurse resume template.
• Write a professional summary at the top explaining your Surgical Nurse’s experience and achievements.
• Follow the STAR method while writing your Surgical Nurse resume’s work experience. Show what you were responsible for and what you achieved as a Surgical Nurse.
• List your top Surgical Nurse skills in a separate skills section.

Before we proceed any further, checkout our medical resume templates that are loved by thousands of medical professionals.

How to Format a Surgical Nurse Resume?

To format your Surgical Nurse Resume:

• You can create a resume from scratch, use a resume builder, or use a Google doc resume templates or Word resume template.
• Make sure to select the right resume layout. You can pick from reverse chronological format, combination resume format or a functional resume format.
• Include some or all of these sections within your resume: resume header, summary or objective, resume experience, skills, certifications, education, portfolio, interests, achievements, references, or your publications.
• Make sure that you have an ATS friendly resume template. Your resume can look good, but you are likely to be filtered through an ATS system.
• You can take feedback from friends/family/colleagues, use an AI resume builder, or even use a professional resume formatting or review service if you are unsure.
• If you are still unsatisfied with your resume’s formatting, consider a professional resume writing service.

How to Write Your Surgical Nurse Resume Header?

Write the perfect Surgical Nurse resume header by:

• Adding your full name at the top of the header.
• Add a photo to your resume if you are applying for jobs outside of the US. For applying to jobs within the US, avoid adding photo to your resume header.
• Add your current Surgical Nurse job title to the header to show relevance.
• Add your current city, your phone number and a professional email address.
• Finally, add a link to your portfolio to the Surgical Nurse resume header. If there’s no portfolio link to add, consider adding a link to your LinkedIn profile instead.

Bad Surgical Nurse Resume Example - Header Section

Valentin 696 Rock Maple St. South Lyon, MI 48178 Marital Status: Married, email: cooldude2022@gmail.com

Good Surgical Nurse Resume Example - Header Section

Valentin Ross, Lyon, MI, Phone number: +1-555-555-5555, Link: linkedin/in/johndoe

Make sure to add a professional looking email address while writing your resume header. Let’s assume your name is John Doe - here is a formula you can use to create email addresses:

• firstnamelastname@email.com - johndoe@email.com
• firstname.lastname@email.com - john.doe@email.com
• lastname.firstname@email.com - doe.john@email.com
• f.lastname@email.com - j.doe@email.com
• l.firstname@email.com - d.john@email.com
• firstnamelastname12@email.com - johndoe12@email.com

For a Surgical Nurse email, we recommend you either go with a custom domain name (john@johndoe.com) or select a very reputed email provider (Gmail or Outlook).

How to Write a Professional Surgical Nurse Resume Summary?

Use this template to write the best Surgical Nurse resume summary: Surgical Nurse with [number of years] experience of [top 2-3 skills]. Achieved [top achievement]. Expert at [X], [Y] and [Z].

How to Write a Surgical Nurse Resume Experience Section?

Here’s how you can write a job winning Surgical Nurse resume experience section:

• Write your Surgical Nurse work experience in a reverse chronological order.
• Use bullets instead of paragraphs to explain your Surgical Nurse work experience.
• While describing your work experience focus on highlighting what you did and the impact you made (you can use numbers to describe your success as a Surgical Nurse).
• Use action verbs in your bullet points.

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Top Surgical Nurse Resume Skills for 2023

1. Preoperative patient assessment and preparation
2. Intraoperative surgical assistance
3. Sterile technique and surgical asepsis
4. Surgical instrument identification and handling
5. Surgical site marking and verification
6. Surgical instrument sterilization and decontamination
7. Operating room (OR) setup and equipment preparation
8. Anesthesia administration and monitoring
9. Surgical scrubbing and gowning
10. Surgical draping and positioning
11. Wound care and dressing application
12. Surgical team collaboration and communication
13. Infection prevention and control in the OR
14. Surgical instrument and supply management
15. Patient monitoring during surgery (vital signs, anesthesia, etc.)
16. Surgical specimen handling and labeling
17. Operating room turnover and cleaning
18. Surgical wound closure techniques
19. Postoperative patient care and monitoring
20. Pain management and medication administration
21. Surgical patient education and discharge planning
22. Hemostasis techniques
23. Suture removal and wound assessment
24. Operating room safety protocols and procedures
25. Emergency response and crisis management in the OR
26. Surgical equipment troubleshooting
27. Surgical site infection prevention strategies
28. Blood and fluid administration during surgery
29. Patient positioning and transfer techniques
30. Surgical instrument count and accountability
31. Surgical nursing documentation and charting
32. Assisting with surgical procedures (e.g., retraction, suturing)
33. Monitoring and managing sterile field integrity
34. Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) care and monitoring
35. Sterile gown and glove donning and doffing
36. Surgical equipment setup and maintenance
37. Surgical patient assessment during recovery
38. Surgical wound assessment and care planning
39. Airway management during surgery
40. Surgical patient safety measures
41. Surgical team dynamics and communication
42. Surgical emergencies recognition and response
43. Mediation of surgical team conflicts

How Long Should my Surgical Nurse Resume be?

Your Surgical Nurse resume length should be less than one or two pages maximum. Unless you have more than 25 years of experience, any resume that’s more than two pages would appear to be too long and risk getting rejected.

On an average, for Surgical Nurse, we see most resumes have a length of 2. And, that’s why we advise you to keep the resume length appropriate to not get rejected.

How can I highlight my experience as a Surgical Nurse on my resume?

Emphasize your expertise in preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative patient care. Highlight your role in assisting surgeons, maintaining a sterile environment, and monitoring patients' vital signs to ensure safe and effective surgical procedures.

What are the key skills to feature on a Surgical Nurse's resume?

Focus on skills such as patient assessment, sterile technique, and emergency response. Detail your proficiency with surgical instruments, your ability to anticipate the needs of the surgical team, and your experience in patient education and recovery monitoring.

How do I demonstrate my ability to handle surgical procedures on my resume?

Provide examples of surgeries you have assisted in, highlighting your role in maintaining sterility, passing instruments, and communicating effectively with the surgical team. Mention your experience in handling critical situations calmly and efficiently.

Should I include metrics on my Surgical Nurse resume? If so, what kind?

Yes, include metrics like the number of surgeries assisted, improvements in patient recovery times, or reduction in surgical site infections. These figures demonstrate your impact on patient outcomes and surgical team efficiency.

How can I showcase my experience with patient care on my resume?

Detail your experience in preparing patients for surgery, monitoring vital signs, and providing post-surgical care instructions. Highlight your ability to build trust with patients and families, ensuring they feel supported throughout the surgical process.

What kind of achievements should I highlight as a Surgical Nurse?

Highlight achievements such as improving surgical protocols, reducing infection rates, or being recognized for excellence in patient care. Mention any leadership roles or additional responsibilities you’ve taken on in the operating room.

How do I address a lack of experience in a specific surgical procedure on my resume?

Emphasize your adaptability and willingness to learn. Highlight relevant training, certifications, or shadowing experiences that have prepared you to assist in a variety of surgeries.

How important is teamwork for a Surgical Nurse role?

Teamwork is essential, as it involves working closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare professionals. Emphasize your experience in effectively communicating, anticipating team needs, and supporting a collaborative operating room environment.

How do I demonstrate my ability to handle emergencies on my resume?

Mention your experience in recognizing early signs of complications, responding to emergencies, and following established protocols for patient safety. Highlight any certifications in emergency response, such as BLS or ACLS.

Should I include certifications on my Surgical Nurse resume?

Yes, certifications like Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) or Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) can strengthen your resume by showcasing your specialized knowledge and commitment to surgical nursing excellence.