Healthcare Resume Guide: Getting Past Hospital ATS Systems

Healthcare-Specific ATS Requirements

Healthcare employers use ATS systems with specific requirements:

• License and certification verification
• Credential expiration tracking
• Specialty-specific keyword matching
• Compliance and regulatory requirements

Certifications and Licenses

How to List Credentials

Include complete information for each:

LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS
Registered Nurse (RN), State of California, License #12345, Exp. 12/2026
Basic Life Support (BLS), American Heart Association, Exp. 06/2025
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), AHA, Exp. 06/2025
Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), BCEN, #67890, Exp. 03/2026

Credential Formatting Tips

• List credentials after your name: "Jane Smith, RN, BSN, CEN"
• Include license numbers for verification
• Show expiration dates (proves currency)
• List issuing organization

Multi-State Licensure

If you have compact license or multiple state licenses, list them:

• Compact RN License (eNLC) - 40 states
• Or list specific states if limited

Patient Care Metrics to Include

Quantifiable Achievements

• Patient-to-nurse ratios managed
• Number of beds in unit
• Patient satisfaction scores
• Quality metrics improvements
• Reduction in adverse events

Example Bullet Points

"Managed care for 5-6 patients per shift in 32-bed Medical-Surgical unit, consistently achieving 95%+ patient satisfaction scores."

"Reduced medication errors by 30% through implementation of barcode scanning protocols and staff education."

"Decreased patient fall rate from 3.2 to 1.1 per 1,000 patient days through evidence-based fall prevention program."

Clinical Experience Optimization

Structure for Each Role

Staff Nurse, Emergency Department
Memorial Hospital, San Francisco, CA
June 2020 - Present

- Provide emergency nursing care in Level I Trauma Center with 45,000+ annual visits
- Triage and assess patients using ESI system, managing up to 20 patients per shift
- Specialize in cardiac emergencies, stroke response, and trauma resuscitation
- Precept new graduate nurses and nursing students
- Serve on unit Practice Council and Quality Improvement Committee

Highlight Specializations

• Unit types (ICU, ED, OR, L&D, etc.)
• Patient populations (pediatric, geriatric, oncology)
• Specialized procedures performed
• Equipment and technology proficiency

HIPAA-Compliant Language

What to Include

• General patient population descriptions
• Aggregate data and statistics
• Process and protocol information
• Quality metrics and outcomes

What to Avoid

• Any individually identifiable patient information
• Specific patient cases (even without names)
• Protected health information
• Details that could identify patients indirectly

Hospital vs Clinic vs Private Practice

Hospital Resume Emphasis

• Acuity levels and complexity
• Team collaboration
• Emergency response capabilities
• Technology and EMR proficiency
• Quality improvement participation

Clinic Resume Emphasis

• Patient education and counseling
• Chronic disease management
• Preventive care
• Care coordination
• Community health

Private Practice Resume Emphasis

• Patient relationship building
• Administrative capabilities
• Insurance and billing knowledge
• Practice efficiency
• Business development

Healthcare Keywords by Specialty

Emergency/Critical Care

Trauma, triage, resuscitation, ventilator management, hemodynamic monitoring, rapid response, code blue, ACLS, PALS, critical thinking, crisis management

Medical-Surgical

Post-operative care, wound care, medication administration, patient education, discharge planning, care coordination, chronic disease management

Pediatrics

Developmental assessment, family-centered care, pediatric dosing, child life, immunizations, growth monitoring, parental education

Labor & Delivery

Fetal monitoring, labor support, postpartum care, neonatal resuscitation, breastfeeding support, high-risk pregnancy, C-section assistance

EMR/EHR Systems to List

Include systems you're proficient in:

• Epic (most common)
• Cerner
• Meditech
• Allscripts
• athenahealth
• eClinicalWorks

Specify modules or specializations within systems if applicable.

Healthcare Resume Checklist

• [ ] All active licenses listed with numbers and expiration dates
• [ ] Certifications current and properly formatted
• [ ] Credentials listed after name
• [ ] Clinical experience includes unit type and size
• [ ] Patient care metrics quantified
• [ ] EMR/EHR systems listed
• [ ] Specialty keywords included
• [ ] No HIPAA violations
• [ ] Education includes clinical rotations for new grads