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ICU nurse resume example

A resume for a senior critical care nurse with eleven years in ICUs, now a clinical ladder III in a cardiovascular surgical ICU. ICU managers hiring at this level want high-acuity skills plus leadership, so the bullets put mechanical support next to the CLABSI program and the preceptors she trained.

ICU nurse resume example, page 1 of 1Ngozi IbekweBSN, RN, CCRN, CSCngozi.ibekwe@example.com · (410) 555-0162 · Baltimore, MD · linkedin.com/in/ngoziibekwe-rnSummaryCritical care nurse with eleven years in ICUs, the last eight in a 24-bed cardiovascular surgical ICU. I recover freshopen-heart patients, manage IABP, Impella, ECMO and CRRT, and lead the unit’s preceptor program and CLABSIwork.ExperienceClinical Nurse III, Cardiovascular Surgical ICUJan 2018 – PresentChesapeake University Medical Center · Baltimore, MD•Care for 1 to 2 patients a shift after cardiac surgery, transplant and on mechanical circulatory support, includingfresh recoveries and open chests.•One of 18 ECMO-trained nurses; managed ECMO circuits for about 40 patients and helped write the bedsidetroubleshooting guide.•Lead the unit CLABSI team: daily line rounds and bundle audits cut CLABSI from 2.1 to 0.4 per 1,000 line days overtwo years.•Coordinate the preceptor program: trained 22 preceptors and oriented 30 new ICU nurses, with 87% still on theunit after one year.•Rapid response nurse 4 shifts a month, attending about 30 calls a month across the hospital.Registered Nurse, Medical ICUJul 2015 – Dec 2017Harbor Point Hospital · Baltimore, MD•Cared for ventilated, septic and post-cardiac arrest patients in a 20-bed MICU, including targeted temperaturemanagement.•Super-user for the critical care flowsheet go-live, training 45 nurses.EducationBachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)2011 – 2015University of Maryland School of Nursing · Baltimore, MDLicense and certificationsRegistered Nurse, multistate license2015Maryland Board of NursingCCRN (Adult)2018American Association of Critical-Care NursesCardiac Surgery Certification (CSC)2020American Association of Critical-Care NursesACLS and BLS2025American Heart AssociationAwardsDAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses2022The DAISY FoundationSkillsPost-cardiac surgery recovery · IABP and Impella · ECMO · CRRT · Vasoactive titration · Ventilator management ·Pulmonary artery catheters · Temporary pacing · Targeted temperature management · CLABSI and CAUTI prevention · Precepting · Epic
ICU nurseUse this example

What recruiters look for

  • ICU type and acuity: CVICU, MICU, SICU, neuro, trauma or burn, plus the devices and therapies you manage.
  • Advanced skills: mechanical circulatory support, ECMO, CRRT, vasoactive titration, ventilators. Name each one.
  • Critical care certification: CCRN, and subspecialty certifications such as CSC or CMC.
  • Unit leadership: preceptor programs, charge, rapid response, quality projects with results.
  • Evidence-based practice: CLABSI, CAUTI, pressure injury, delirium or early mobility projects with numbers.

Writing the summary

Lead with years in critical care, the ICU type and the advanced therapies you manage. Add your leadership role and certifications. At senior level the summary should read like someone the unit relies on.

The summary in this example

Critical care nurse with eleven years in ICUs, the last eight in a 24-bed cardiovascular surgical ICU. I recover fresh open-heart patients, manage IABP, Impella, ECMO and CRRT, and lead the unit’s preceptor program and CLABSI work.

ICU nurse applying for CRNA school

Critical care nurse with four years in a 32-bed surgical trauma ICU, titrating vasoactive drips, managing ventilators and caring for patients on CRRT. CCRN certified, with a 3.7 science GPA and shadowing completed with 3 CRNAs. Applying to nurse anesthesia programs for 2027.

ICU nurse moving into a travel role

Travel ICU nurse with nine years in medical, surgical and cardiac ICUs at four hospitals. Comfortable with CRRT, Impella and ECMO patients after a short orientation, and experienced in Epic and Oracle Health. CCRN, multistate license.

Bullet points that work

Strong lines for this role, beyond the ones in the example. Borrow the shape and put in your own numbers.

  • Cut ICU delirium rates from 32% to 19% by leading the unit’s rollout of the ABCDEF bundle with daily CAM-ICU screening.
  • Charge nurse 2 shifts a week for a 24-bed ICU with 14 nurses, handling admissions from the OR, ED and transfer center.
  • Raised early mobility for ventilated patients from 20% to 55% of eligible days with physical therapy and respiratory therapy.
  • Managed 1:1 care for patients on ECMO, Impella and CRRT at the same time during a pandemic surge.
  • Taught the hemodynamics section of the hospital’s critical care course to 60 nurses a year.
  • Led a pressure injury project for proned patients, cutting facial injuries by 70%.
  • Mentored 5 nurses through the CCRN exam; all passed on the first try.
  • Served on the code committee and reviewed 120 code events a year for quality.
  • Presented a poster on CLABSI reduction at AACN’s National Teaching Institute.

Skills to list

Hard skills

  • Hemodynamic monitoring (arterial lines, PA catheters)
  • Vasoactive and sedation titration
  • Mechanical ventilation and proning
  • Mechanical circulatory support (IABP, Impella)
  • ECMO
  • CRRT
  • Temporary pacing
  • Targeted temperature management
  • CLABSI, CAUTI and VAP prevention bundles
  • Precepting and education

Soft skills

  • Calm leadership in emergencies
  • Clear communication with intensivists and surgeons
  • Supporting families through critical illness
  • Teaching under pressure

Certifications and licenses worth listing

  • CCRN (Adult, Pediatric or Neonatal), AACN: the critical care certification most ICUs prefer or require.
  • CSC or CMC, AACN: cardiac surgery and cardiac medicine subspecialty certifications for CVICU and cardiac ICU nurses.
  • ACLS and BLS: required; PALS for pediatric ICUs.
  • NIH Stroke Scale: for neuro ICUs.
  • TNCC or TCRN: for trauma ICUs.

Length and format

One or two pages. With ten or more years and leadership work, two pages are fine. Keep page one for your current ICU role, devices and certifications; earlier jobs can be one or two lines each.

Common mistakes

  • Saying “critical care experience” without naming the ICU type, ratio and therapies.
  • Leaving out mechanical support and CRRT, which many ICUs screen on.
  • Leadership buried at the bottom. At senior level, precepting and quality work belong near the top.
  • Listing a certification acronym without its full name or body. Not every recruiter knows CSC or CMC.
  • Using two pages to repeat the same bullets for each ICU. Show something different from each job.

Questions and answers

How much ICU experience do I need for CCRN?

AACN requires a set number of direct care hours with acutely or critically ill patients within the last two or five years. Check the current hours on AACN’s site before you apply.

Should I list every device I have managed?

List the important ones in your skills and mention the advanced ones (ECMO, Impella, CRRT) in bullets with numbers. That is what ICU managers scan for.

Do awards like the DAISY Award belong on a nursing resume?

Yes, in a short Awards section. They are peer- and patient-nominated, and nurse leaders recognize them.

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