Work Experiences Nurses Forget to Put on Their Resume (But Should)
If you’re a nurse updating your resume, there’s a good chance you’re leaving out some of your most valuable experience (often without realizing it).
Many nurses focus their resumes on job titles and basic responsibilities, assuming everything else was “just part of the job.” Precepting a new nurse, taking charge on a busy shift, serving on a committee, or helping roll out a new process can feel routine in a profession where extra responsibility is the norm.
But those experiences matter. A lot.
Hiring managers and recruiters aren’t just scanning for task lists. Whether you’re applying for a new bedside role, exploring non-bedside nursing jobs, or simply keeping your resume current, they’re looking for leadership, adaptability, problem-solving, and communication skills. Nurses develop these skills every day, often through experiences they don’t think to include on a nursing resume.
In this post, we’ll break down:
Common work experiences nurses forget to put on their resumes
Why they’re valuable
How they support long-term career growth.
If you’ve ever looked at your resume and thought, “I don’t have anything special to add,” this post is for you.
→ Curious about the skills you’re already using every day? Check out7 Transferable Skills Every Nurse Has (and Why They Matter) to see how the strengths you take for granted can open doors in any nursing career.
Why Nurses Undersell Their Experience
Most nurses don’t leave important experience off their resumes because they lack skills or ambition. They do it because nursing culture teaches us to minimize our contributions.
Extra responsibility is treated as “normal.”
Precepting a new nurse. Taking charge during a chaotic shift. Stepping in during staffing shortages. These experiences are often framed as “just part of the job,” not as career-building skills.
There’s rarely a formal title attached.
If it wasn’t an official role or promotion, many nurses assume it doesn’t belong on a nursing resume. Even when the responsibility was real and ongoing.
Nurses are conditioned to stay humble.
Calling out leadership or expertise can feel uncomfortable, especially in a profession where teamwork is emphasized and self-promotion is discouraged.
Hiring managers don’t automatically know what you do.
Recruiters and non-clinical reviewers may not understand the nuances of bedside nursing. If you don’t clearly name your experience, they won’t see the scope of your skills.
The challenge isn’t that nurses lack experience, it’s that the language of resumes doesn’t match the way nurses talk about their work. Learning how to translate your day-to-day responsibilities into resume-friendly language helps others see the value that’s already there
Work Experiences Nurses Often Forget to Include
Many of the experiences that strengthen a nursing resume aren’t tied to official titles or promotions. They’re the added responsibilities nurses take on over time, often without much recognition.
The sections below highlight common examples that are easy to overlook but highly relevant to career growth.
Precepting and Mentoring New Nurses
Precepting or mentoring new nurses is one of the most overlooked resume experiences, especially when it isn’t a formal title.
Supporting someone through orientation requires far more than clinical knowledge. It means teaching in real time, adjusting communication styles, and helping others build confidence in a high-pressure environment. Being asked to precept also reflects trust from leadership and peers.
Skills and strengths this experience highlights:
Leadership and professional credibility
Teaching and knowledge-sharing
Clear communication and adaptability
Coaching and feedback skills
Emotional intelligence and patience
Charge Nurse (Even If Occasional)
Even if you only acted as charge nurse occasionally, the experience demonstrates your ability to manage a unit and make critical decisions under pressure.
It’s easy to overlook this responsibility because it may have been temporary or rotated among staff. But stepping into this role shows leadership, problem-solving, and accountability that go beyond day-to-day bedside duties.
Skills and strengths this experience highlights:
Decision-making and prioritization
Leadership under pressure
Conflict resolution and team coordination
Resource and time management
Accountability and reliability
Unit-Based Committees or Councils
Participating in unit-based committees or councils (like shared governance, practice committees, or policy review groups) is a valuable experience that often goes unrecognized on nursing resumes. Even if your contribution was informal, it shows engagement with your unit beyond daily patient care and reflects your ability to collaborate on improving systems, policies, or workflows.
Skills and strengths this experience highlights:
Collaboration and teamwork across disciplines
Process improvement and systems thinking
Communication and advocacy
Critical thinking and problem-solving
Initiative and professional engagement
Quality Improvement or Safety Initiatives
Working on quality improvement or safety initiatives is another experience nurses often forget to include. Whether it’s leading a falls reduction project, participating in chart audits, or helping implement a new workflow, these efforts demonstrate your ability to identify problems, collaborate on solutions, and improve patient care or unit efficiency. These skills extend well beyond bedside tasks.
Skills and strengths this experience highlights:
Analytical thinking and data-driven decision making
Problem-solving and initiative
Collaboration and teamwork
Process improvement and systems awareness
Attention to detail and patient safety focus
Training, Education, or Inservices Led
Leading trainings or inservices is another type of experience that’s easy to overlook, especially if it wasn’t part of a formal educator role. Teaching colleagues how to use new equipment, rolling out a policy update, or leading a skills session shows initiative and the ability to communicate complex information clearly. These experiences highlight skills that are valuable in both bedside and non-bedside roles.
Skills and strengths this experience highlights:
Teaching and knowledge translation
Communication and presentation skills
Leadership and initiative
Adaptability to different learning styles
Professional credibility and trust
→ Are you a nurse who loves teaching? Check out our Nursing Career Spotlight: Nurse Educator to see how teaching and mentoring can shape a rewarding nursing career.
Cross-Training or Floating Between Units
Cross-training or floating between units is often seen as just “helping out,” but it reflects adaptability, quick learning, and a broad understanding of patient care across different populations. Even temporary assignments or short-term coverage demonstrate that you can step into unfamiliar situations, manage diverse responsibilities, and support your team when it’s most needed.
Skills and strengths this experience highlights:
Adaptability and flexibility
Quick learning and problem-solving
Broad clinical knowledge across specialties
Teamwork and collaboration
Resilience under changing circumstances
Acting as the “Go-To” Nurse (Unofficial Expertise)
Being the “go-to” nurse (whether for equipment, policies, EMR systems, or unit-specific procedures) is a type of experience that often goes unrecognized. Even if it’s informal, serving as a resource for colleagues demonstrates expertise, reliability, and problem-solving abilities. It shows that your team trusts you to handle challenges and guide others through complex situations.
Skills and strengths this experience highlights:
Subject matter expertise and technical knowledge
Problem-solving and troubleshooting
Communication and guidance
Reliability and trustworthiness
Informal leadership and influence
How to Decide What’s Resume-Worthy (Without Listing Everything)
Not every task or responsibility needs to appear on your resume. When deciding what to include, ask yourself:
Did this experience add a new skill?
Did it increase responsibility or visibility on the unit?
Did others rely on me for this?
Focus on relevance over exhaustiveness. The goal isn’t to list every single thing you’ve ever done. It’s to highlight the experiences that show your strengths, impact, and growth.
Final Thoughts: Your Experience Is Bigger Than Your Job Title
Nurses often underestimate the value of their day-to-day work. The experiences you gain (mentoring new hires, stepping in as charge nurse, participating in committees, leading trainings, or being the “go-to” expert) reflect real skills, leadership, and professional growth. Even if these responsibilities don’t come with a formal title, they shape the nurse you are and the contributions you bring to any team.
Take a moment to reflect on your own experiences. The work you do every day is meaningful, and it deserves to be recognized. Not as a measure of hustle, but as a reflection of your strengths and impact.
→ If you want to take this reflection a step further, Own Your Career: A Nurse’s Guide to Growth & Change walks you through identifying your strengths, mapping your career path, and turning everyday experiences into actionable growth - without the overwhelm.
Disclaimer: The content shared here is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your personal needs.