A UK nursing CV should make your relevant qualifications, registration status, experience and clinical evidence easy to find. Use the vacancy’s person specification to decide what to emphasise, and describe only work you are qualified or supervised to undertake.
Check the application format first. Some employers request a CV; others require an application form and supporting information. NHS Jobs guidance advises matching your evidence to the person specification and giving clear examples in supporting information. A CV does not replace a required application form.
A UK nursing CV structure to adapt
[YOUR NAME]
[City or region] | [Professional email] | [Phone]
PROFILE
[Your nursing background, relevant experience and the role you are seeking.]
REGISTRATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
[NMC registration status and field, stated accurately]
[Nursing qualification] | [Institution] | [Completion or expected date]
[Relevant current training or certification]
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
[Role or placement] | [Employer or provider] | [Month Year – Month Year]
• [Relevant responsibility, your contribution and an outcome you can explain.]
• [Scope of practice or supervision where relevant.]
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT
[Relevant work, placements, improvement activity or professional development]
Use a downloadable Word or Google Docs CV template, then adapt the sections above. The examples below are fictional illustrations, not claims or qualifications to copy unchanged. Do not include patient names, identifiable case details or confidential employer information.
Does your CV clearly show results for each role?
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Newly qualified nurse CV example
Profile
Newly qualified adult nurse seeking a ward-based role. Developed assessment, communication and care-planning skills during supervised placements in acute and community settings. Committed to clear documentation, appropriate escalation and learning within the team.
Use “newly qualified” only if you have qualified. If you are still studying or awaiting registration, state that clearly instead.
Education and registration
BSc Adult Nursing | [University] | [Year]
NMC registration: [Your actual current status]
Placement evidence
Adult nursing placement | [Provider] | [Month Year – Month Year]
- Contributed to assessments and care documentation under supervision, discussing changes with the registered nurse.
- Supported patient communication and handovers within the responsibilities agreed for the placement.
- Reflected on feedback from the placement team and identified priorities for further learning.
Replace these prompts with your actual responsibilities. Do not present supervised student activities as independent registered practice, and list training only when completed and relevant.
Experienced staff nurse CV example
Profile
Registered adult nurse with experience in ward-based care, multidisciplinary handovers and supporting colleagues. Seeking a staff nurse role where clear communication, accurate documentation and patient-centred care are central to the team’s work.
Experience evidence
Staff Nurse | [Employer] | [Month Year – Present]
- Coordinated care within the responsibilities of the role, contributing to multidisciplinary discussions and escalation when required.
- Supported new colleagues with local documentation and handover processes.
- Contributed to [specific service-improvement activity], with [an outcome you can verify].
A useful bullet explains what you did and why it mattered. Add numbers only when they are accurate, appropriate to disclose and attributable to your contribution. You do not need to invent clinical outcome improvements to make a CV persuasive.
Other nursing roles: what to emphasise
| Target role | Evidence to consider, when you have it |
|---|---|
| Community nursing | Coordinating visits, communication across services and independent working within your scope |
| Mental health nursing | Therapeutic communication, multidisciplinary work and relevant experience |
| Senior or leadership role | Supporting staff, coordinating work and service-improvement contributions |
| Specialist post | The specific qualifications, competencies and experience named in the person specification |
These are prompts, not a substitute for the vacancy’s criteria. Qualifications and registration requirements vary by role; check the advert and the relevant professional requirements.
CV vs supporting information
A CV gives a structured overview. Supporting information explains how your examples meet the advertised criteria. Avoid pasting the same generic profile into every application.
For each essential criterion, note one truthful example: the context, your role, what you did and the outcome or learning. Follow the word limit and any anonymisation instructions. The Royal College of Nursing’s application guidance explains how applications can differ between employers.
To turn your experience into criterion-by-criterion evidence, use the nursing CV and supporting information worksheet. For a care assistant vacancy, use the care assistant CV guide and the qualifications appropriate to that role.
Final checks before applying
Check registration wording, qualification names, training dates and employment dates. Make sure the opening profile matches the role and every important claim has evidence. Ask a trusted reviewer to check clarity, then inspect the exported document and complete any separate application form required by the employer.