Years are rolling by with the bat of an eyelid. As we enter another new year, many job openings are expected to appear across all fields.
This is particularly true of nursing which has been grappling with staff shortages for some time. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), a dearth of 4.5 million nurses is expected by the year 2030.
This includes psychiatric nursing, especially across underserved areas. Are you an aspiring psych nurse looking for a role to serve patients in need of mental health services? If yes, then the first step to landing that role begins with preparing a relevant resume.
In this article, we will help you start your psychiatric nursing journey on the right note. Here’s how you can create a winning psychiatric nurse resume for 2025.
Overview of Key Responsibilities in a Psychiatric Nurse Resume
Resume tailoring is no less than an art that requires identifying the relevant keywords. They will indicate to recruiters as well as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that your skills and experience directly align with what the recruiter is looking for.
When applicants for psych nursing positions craft a strategic resume, it increases their chances of being seen and considered for an interview. So, start by reviewing the online job description from left to right and top to bottom.
In other words, spend time during this stage trying to identify the keywords you can use throughout your resume. Job postings generally outline the specific details the employer is looking for in terms of skills and experience.
Wherever you feel like you meet specific requirements, mention those keywords to tailor your CV to your employer’s needs. Take this time to closely understand the employing facility’s goals and vision. See if they align with yours and highlight that as well in your resume.
Choose the Right Format
Once you’re done reading the job description, you should have a good idea as to how well you fit the role. Now, it’s time to start customizing your resume for this employer.
Commence the process by choosing the right resume format. This is important because it will help you present your information efficiently. There are three kinds of formats to choose from.
Chronological Resume
In this resume, you can present your work experience in reverse chronological order. This means your most recent work would appear at the top followed by former positions you may have held.
The primary highlight of this resume is a candidate’s work history. This professional career document would be most suitable for those with rich industry experience. Write about your role in each setting along with the skills you developed from these experiences.
Functional Resume
The main focus of functional resumes is skill and not experience. A resume developed in this format would place skills at the top before the work experience section.
This option may work best for those who are new to the industry and have limited work experience. However, there is nothing to be discouraged. Studies have discovered that over 65% of hiring managers are willing to recruit candidates based on skills instead of traditional education or work experience.
Combination Resume
This format can be called the middle way out because it includes elements of both chronological and functional resumes. In other words, you get to showcase your work experience as well as skills.
We would recommend adjusting your resume based on what your employer is looking for. This format is ideal for those who wish to highlight both aspects.
Suppose an employer mentions that they’re looking for someone with at least five years of clinical experience. You can use this resume and place the work experience section at the top. If another employer mentions specific skills they are looking for, highlight those by keeping the skills section at the top.
Don’t Forget a Professional Summary
In this article, we will not be discussing the basic elements of a psychiatric nurse’s resume. You’re quite aware of them like contact details, educational background, fundamental skills, work experience, etc.
However, one thing that many candidates take lightly is a professional summary. This is something that you must not overlook. According to Walsh University, psychiatric nurses can extend advanced care for complex issues along with other holistic options.
This is something to leverage for landing the right job. If you have any specialty, especially one that is related to adolescent psychiatry or substance use disorders, include that in the summary. It will immediately meet your recruiter’s eye and help them determine why you’re a good fit for the position.
Create Multiple Resumes
The secret sauce to stand out amid cut-throat competition is to ditch the standard resume for all positions. The field of psychiatric nursing is complex and no two employers are looking for the same things.
For one role, you may have to stress more on work experience, whereas another may require emphasizing your skills. It makes no sense to send off the same resume for all job postings.
Your CV may get sifted by an Applicant Tracking System itself. As you are looking for a new place to work, your employers are also looking for a candidate who fits perfectly within their job requirements.
A custom version of the curriculum vitae will catch their eye instantly. It may be as simple as changing the format a bit or adding a few lines on how your vision aligns with the institution’s. In some cases, you may have to change an entire section to make the resume relevant.
Limit the Document to One Page
We understand the urge to let your employer know everything about your work passion, enthusiasm, and experience. While those are good, it is important to mention them sparingly and strategically in your CV.
Our suggestion is to limit the career document to a single page or two pages at most. Recruiters receive hundreds and thousands of applications for every posting. After all, nursing is the largest healthcare profession in the US. At one point, you can be sure that they will only skim through each document, eyeing for relevant keywords.
Including too many details, some of which may be unnecessary, will backfire. In case you want to disclose any further details, consider whether they will be worth the employer’s time. If yes, then include them in the cover letter.
We hope this guide has encouraged and motivated you to craft a winning resume for your dream job. The field of psychiatric nursing is already experiencing a labor crunch.
Even in general, the world is witnessing a dire shortage of nursing professionals. By early 2025, it is expected to exceed 500,000. The US nursing gap is huge and the industry is constantly on the lookout for ideal candidates, including registered psychiatric nurses.
So, apply now for the roles that you find yourself suitable for. It all starts with a winning custom professional document.
