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Writing a Band 5 Personal Statement, With Examples

Table of Contents

A Band 5 personal statement example is a great way to understand what is expected in your nursing application. A band 5 nurse is generally proficient and has the ability to work autonomously. When writing your personal statement, include specific examples demonstrating how you have exceeded expectations in nursing roles.

Make sure to highlight your unique skills and abilities and what distinguishes you from other applicants. Above all, ensure that your statement reflects who you are as a nurse and why you would be an excellent addition to any team.

This article outlines tips to write a high-quality band 5 personal statement and help you write one effectively.

What Is a Band 5 Nursing Personal Statement?

A band 5 nursing personal statement is an important document that showcases a potential nurse’s skills and qualifications. It is often used as a reference or application requirement by hospitals , care homes, or other health-related organizations.

The document provides additional information about the applicant, such as their education, work history, achievements, and goals related to their career in nursing. Having a well-crafted band 5 personal statement can often play a critical role in securing employment opportunities within the field of nursing.

What Is Unique About Band 5 Nurses?

Band 5 nurses are responsible for providing basic nursing care to patients. This includes tasks such as taking patient vitals, administering medication and treatments, and assisting with other medical procedures.

They also provide emotional support to patients and their families and help maintain a positive environment in the hospital or clinic setting. To be successful in this role, you need strong communication skills, compassion for others, and a dedication to providing high-quality care.

Tips for Writing a Nursing Personal Statement

Below are some valuable tips for writing a nursing personal statement:

• Ensure your personal statement is well-written and error-free. A sloppy or poorly written personal statement will likely count against you, no matter how good your qualifications otherwise may be.
• Start early and allow yourself time to write a strong essay. Don’t wait until the last minute to start writing; it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to produce your best work under pressure.
• Tailor your statement specifically for the nursing program(s) you are applying to. Research the requirements of each program carefully so that you can highlight relevant experience and skills in your essay.
• Finally, make sure your personal statement is authentic and representative of who you are. Avoid generic statements or clichés, and let the admissions committee see what makes YOU unique.

Band 5 Personal Statement Example

A nursing band 5 personal statement example is a way of understanding what is expected of you. It also shows what it will take to be competitive for a nursing job. Here’s a strong nursing personal statement example generated by the Hey INK tool.

I have always been passionate about nursing and working with children. I first discovered my interest in child nursing when I worked as a volunteer at a pediatric ward during my undergraduate degree. This experience solidified my decision to pursue a career in child nursing.

Since then, I have gained valuable experience working in various pediatric wards across the UK. In addition, I have also completed numerous modules related to child health care which has helped me develop strong core skills in this area. My educational qualifications further confirm that I am fully equipped to work as a nurse with children.

What drives me most is the desire to help children who are unwell or injured get better quickly and return to their families. Working as a nurse for children fills me with immense satisfaction. It makes me happy knowing through our efforts, we impact their life journey – no matter how small it may be!

My interest in nursing has always been quite strong. I have wanted to be a nurse since childhood because nurses are the backbone of any hospital setting. They provide essential medical care and support to patients who need it most. This is why I decided early on in my academic career that nursing would be the perfect career for me. This is a field where I could make a real difference in people’s lives.

I pursued this dream by studying Nursing at University. And during this time worked as an intern at St George’s Hospital in the intensive unit care ward. This experience was invaluable, as it allowed me to develop hands-on skills which will be vital in my future nursing career. I also gained qualifications such as First Aid certificates and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification. It stands me in good stead for working as a nurse.

My work experience at St George’s Hospital has taught me many valuable lessons about success in this profession. Integrity, empathy, and dedication top that list! As someone with strong ethical values, these are precisely the qualities that drew me towards nursing. And nursing is a field where upholding patient dignity is paramount above everything else. It is clear to see then why nursing holds so much value to me and my dedication to pursuing a career as a nurse.

Nurturing patients back to health is a rewarding but challenging role. If you’re dedicated to pursuing a career as a nurse, make sure to write a compelling personal statement for the position.

This article provides practical tips to help you write a Band 5 nursing personal statement with examples to use as guidance.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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Creating an effective personal statement for RNAs

Director of Nurse Education, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Roehampton

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Organisations are starting to redesign services to meet the changing health needs of the local community and align with the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan ( NHS England, 2023 ). These changes are creating new roles within a variety of settings, opening up the job market for the registered nursing associate (RNA). Applying for a new job can be a daunting and competitive process; standing out from the crowd is an essential criterion for success. When marketing yourself to potential employers, it is important to demonstrate that you have the qualities, skills and attributes they require, to convince them that you are the best person for the job.

Do your research

In the first instance when considering a new job, it is important to be sure it is what you want and where you want to work. If it is with a new employer, do your research: find out about its values and culture. As a health or social care provider, review its most recent Care Quality Commission report; review the latest news and developments shared on both its website and social media platforms. This will not only give an insight into it as a potential employer but also help with tailoring your personal statement and preparing for interview. More specifically, when considering the role, consider the job description and the person specification – is it clear what the role involves and what skills are required to undertake the role?

Adverts often include a contact person for an informal discussion; this is a great opportunity to interview them as a potential employer and get answers to questions about the organisation or the role. As an RNA, enquire about RNA roles in other departments and see how the role is being used across the organisation; it may even be possible to speak with an RNA already in post.

Applying for a role

The application form will consist of standard questions on previous employment and education. It is the personal statement section that provides the opportunity to showcase your skills and experience and to explain why you are the best candidate for the role. It is important to keep it concise and focused on the requirements of the role and to highlight how your skills and experience match these requirements.

Throughout the personal statement, reference should be made to the requirements of the job description and the personal specification. Take words and phrases from these to make it easier for the employer to see clearly how you are demonstrating the requirements of the role. Highlight your achievements and provide examples of how you have added value to previous roles. Use specific, measurable examples that demonstrate your skills and experience.

When looking to demonstrate performance in relation to professional practice, reflect on your previous studies, current and previous practice and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards of Proficiency for Nursing Associates ( NMC, 2018 ). By taking the time to reflect, you will naturally start to realise the skills and qualities you possess and identify examples that can be quoted to support a claim that you have the experience or skills required.

‘Examples of how you have used your teamwork and collaborative skills could include taking the lead in a project or activity, resolving conflicts, or encouraging others to achieve a common goal’

Demonstrate your skills

Some of the skills you will identify will be specific; for example, recording 12-lead ECGs if working in a cardiology department. However, other skills will be non-specific; these are equally important and often referred to as transferable skills.

Transferable skills are identified within the NMC standards for RNAs ( NMC, 2018 ) but can often be overlooked by people focusing on practical skills. The modern job market values individuals who can adapt to changing circumstances and continuously learn and develop. The journey from health or social care support worker to RNA will have supported this development. As an RNA, the journey through academia will have exposed you to various subjects, teaching methods, and learning environments, developing your ability to adapt and acquire transferable skills.

Whether through considering case studies, research projects or practical assignments, you will have encountered and resolved various challenges, therefore developing strong problem-solving abilities. Providing examples will demonstrate analytical thinking and the ability to consider creative solutions. These could include an instance where you identified a problem, developed a strategy, and implemented it effectively within your practice or your studies. Linked to this may be how you have honed your teamwork and collaborative skills through completing group projects on your academic journey.

Many job roles within health and social care require employees to work effectively in teams. Examples of how you have developed and used your teamwork and collaborative skills could include taking the lead in a project or activity, resolving conflicts, or encouraging others to achieve a common goal.

Demonstrating excellent organisational and time management skills will strengthen the examples of transferable skills already identified. During your studies, you would have balanced multiple assignments, exams, and extracurricular activities simultaneously. In addition, if you completed your Nursing Associate Foundation Degree as an apprentice you would have been working at the same time as studying. Ensure you identify instances where you have effectively managed your time and prioritised tasks to achieve desired outcomes. These examples will demonstrate your ability to meet deadlines and handle the demands of a professional role.

Underpinning all of this is demonstrating your ability to communicate effectively and professionally. Communication skills will clearly be shown through the personal statement, not only via the examples used for all the other transferable skills but also in the presentation of the personal statement. Ensure that what has been written is presented in a professional manner in the chosen writing style and terminology used, that there is clarity of thought and proofreading has been employed.

Submitting your application

The last stage in the application process is the submission of the application. Different organisations use different approaches to this, so ensure you have checked the closing date and time and that you have left yourself sufficient time to make the application. Make sure you keep a copy of what you have written; this will be useful when preparing for interview. Interviewers may want to explore the examples you have given with you, and it is helpful if you can remember what you wrote.

A strategic approach

Selling yourself via your application and, more specifically, your personal statement involves strategically highlighting the skills you have acquired through your academic and professional journey. Research the organisation and the role, communicate clearly, demonstrate problem-solving abilities, emphasise adaptability, showcase teamwork skills, discuss time management, and express your passion.

By effectively communicating how your values and skills align with the department's needs, you can leave a lasting impression and increase your chances of securing the job. Box 1 provides some top tips on writing your personal statement. Remember, an application is not just an assessment of your qualifications, it is also an opportunity to showcase your unique strengths and potential contribution.

Box 1.Personal statement top tips

• Tailor your personal statement to the job description
• Think about transferable skills, not just practical ones
• Use active words to give impact
• Give examples, not just sweeping statements
• Highlight positive things that only you can bring
• Proofread for errors, clarity and fluency

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Nursing Personal Statement

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Are you applying for a new nursing role, but stuck on what to write in your personal statement for your CV? Here is our expert advice on what to include and how to present your knowledge, skills and experience to create an excellent first impression.

Personal statements give you the chance to showcase what you’re all about and where your talents lie. We recommend using this personal profile to promote your strengths, achievements and key skills. Use this 100-150 words to provide examples of how you match the job specifications, and show your desire for this nursing vacancy.

You can also check out our full guide on  how to write a personal statement  for more information.

What to include in your nursing personal statement

Activity - Where have you gained nursing experience?

• Working on surgical ward with patients before they receive surgery.
• Department of Medicine for the Elderly.

Skills - What have you done?

• Developed my communication skills by working closely with other nurses and doctors and by interacting with patients of all ages.
• Developed my organisation skills by arranging the discharge of patients, liaising with the multidisciplinary team.

Evidence - Give examples of your experiences

• Managing group of patients waiting for surgery. I had to organise pre-operative care, ensuring that patients were prepared for theatre. I was responsible for discussing each patient’s post-operative needs and answer important questions they had about their surgery. It was important to pay attention to every patient and reassure them with the correct information.
• I was able to plan patients discharge after discussing the patient’s condition with the rest of the medical team treating them. Helped to keep accurate results and updates of the patients’ conditions.

Example Nursing Personal Statement

A dedicated and compassionate nurse with a first class honours degree from the University of Manchester and over five years of nursing experience. I am highly focused on providing the best possible care for patients and ensuring they are comfortable and receiving the correct pain relief. I am exceptionally organised and have excellent time management skills meaning that I work well under pressure and can manage the needs of individual patients effectively. From working at East Surrey Hospital, I developed my communication skills from discussing post-operative care and answering patients’ questions about their upcoming operations and provide reassurance. I pride myself on my professionalism and carrying out every duty to the highest standards, resulting in patience confidence and trust.

Need guidance on how to structure the rest of your CV? Check out our  Nursing CV Template.

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6 New Grad Nurse Cover Letter Examples + How To Write

Finding your first nursing position after graduation can be a daunting task. Knowing what steps to take to find your dream job will help propel you toward your goal of gainful employment as an RN. Once you have prepared an excellent resume, be aware that you have one final action to take in the application process; that of a persuasive cover letter. You may be unclear about how to write an exceptional cover letter and wonder what are some excellent examples of new grad cover letters? Using a professionally prepared cover letter as a guide is a great way to learn how to compose a top-notch document. Read the following article “6 best new grad nurse cover letter examples + how to write” for recommendations that will help you get started on your best ever nursing cover letter without stress.

What Exactly Is A New Grad Nurse Cover Letter?

How is a new grad nurse cover letter different from an experienced nurse cover letter, 4 reasons why an excellent cover letter makes a difference to new grad nurses, 1. nurses are professional-, 2. leads to an interview-, 3. expands on resume-, 4. you may be up against experienced nurses-, what are some excellent examples of new grad nurse cover letters, example #1: cover letter of diane joyner, what makes this an excellent new grad registered nurse cover letter:, example #2: cover letter of jan bock, example #3: cover letter of joan zimmerman, example #4: cover letter of lizzie arndt, what makes this an excellent new grad registered nurse cover letter: new grad nurse cover letter examples, example #5: cover letter of lynn horton, example #6: cover letter of paul linney, how to write an excellent new grad rn cover letter, 1. heading-.

• Your Name and Contact Information • The date • The recipient's name and address

2. Opening Paragraph-

• Your professional credentials (RN or BSN) • Which specific job you are applying for • A few brief points about why you are a great fit • Why you want to work for this particular institution or position

3. Background-

4. qualifications-.

• Specific clinical experience • Other job or volunteer transferable experience • " Soft skills " such as communication, leadership, group experience, compassion, and problem-solving

5. Closing Paragraph and Sign-Off-

6. don't just reiterate your resume-, 7. outshine with your willingness to learn-, 8. detail why you want the job-, 9. showcase your exceptional side-, 10. fashion the letter to the exact position-, 11. show your passion-.

• Adaptability • Ease with technology • Willing to accept change • Eager and positive attitude • Fresh perspective

12. Proof Read-

7 common mistakes to avoid when writing your new grad nurse cover letter, 1. too general-, 2. improper format-, 3. too wordy-, 4. duplicate resume-, 5. not selling yourself to the job-, 6. too informal-, 7. spelling and grammar errors-, 3 consequences of a poorly written new grad rn cover letter, 1. you may not be granted an interview-, 2. you may misrepresent yourself-, 3. compensation and opportunities may be compromised-, my final thoughts, frequently asked questions answered by our expert, 1. what is the difference between new grad nurse cover letter and new grad nurse cv, 2. is a cover letter necessary for a new grad nurse, 3. can i use the same cover letter for all new grad nurse positions i'm applying for, 4. how many cover letters do i need when applying for new grad nurse job positions, 5. can my new grad nurse cover letter expire, 6. my new grad nurse job applications says a cover letter is optional, should i still submit one, 7. do cover letters for new grad nurses have to be long, 8. as a new grad nurse, when should i write my cover letter, 9. what should be included in a new grad nursing cover letter.

• Heading • Salutation • Opening paragraph of who you are and your intentions for which specific job • Background paragraph, where you highlight your education and clinical experience • Qualification paragraph, which is used to “sell” the employer on your qualities and abilities as a nurse • Closing paragraph and sign-off

10. What Should Not Be Included In A New Grad Nursing Cover Letter?

11. how much time does it take to write a cover letter for a new grad nurse, 12. can i ask someone else to write my new grad nurse cover letter, 13. is it a good idea to use ready templates to write my new grad nurse cover letter, 14. are there any online apps or tools that make writing a good cover letter for a new grad nurse easy.

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• 28 May 2019

Claire's tips for writing your personal statement

• Claire Carmichael Registered Nurse
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Your personal statement could be the make or break of you getting the job - but how do you stand out against other candidates? Claire shares her tips and tricks to help you get writing!

Hi everyone and welcome back!

So this is my top tips for writing those personal statements your job application as a qualified nurse.

So when you go online you'll have this important information section to fill out - this is where you write your personal statement for that job and really sell yourself.

Draft it up in a text document first

So firstly I would advise just writing this on word document first just because a word document can spell check it for you.

You can sort of adjust and edit it as you go along.

So I personally do mine on Word first and then I copy and paste from Word on to the personal statement.

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Make sure you proofread it and get fresh eyes to proofread too!

Along with this get somebody to proofread.

Proofread, proofread, proofread.

You don't want to make the mistake of making spelling mistakes or saying the completely wrong thing that someone else reading it might not understand, that’s gonna be a little bit embarrassing.

I'm not gonna lie I've done that myself.

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I can't remember exactly what I said but I was trying to say that I had basically had cared for a lot of people with challenging sort of behaviours and aggressive behaviour to show that I was a naturally calm person and can handle myself in those sort of situations and I'm quite good at it and I work really well under pressure.

However, the sentence that I wrote which I didn't realise until after I'd submitted it was something like ‘I have challenging behaviours but I can manage these well’ or something so it sounded like I had the challenging, aggressive behaviours but it wasn't me, it was the patients!

The way it sounded, I just thought ‘oh my god why didn't I proofread this? Why didn't somebody proofread this for me?’ and, oh I was so embarrassed!

Don’t be repetitive

Make sure, in your personal statement, you want to include brand new information.

You don't want to repeat yourself from what's already on the application form.

Put in brand new sparkly information that they're gonna go ‘oh this is good!’

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Do you match the criteria?

Make sure you read the job description and person specification because you're going to need that to include that into this personal statement.

You're going to sort of show how you particularly meet these requirements that they're asking of you in your personal statement and show examples that just shows as well that you've actually read what they want from you and that you can meet those things.

Following on from that, you want to make every single personal statement completely separate from each other.

So if you're applying to quite a few jobs in different areas, you want to make sure that this isn't a generic personal statement.

You have to make it specific to that place that you're applying, which might seem like a little bit more work but you don't want a generic email just going out to everybody.

You want to make it specific and relevant to that particular place and that's going to just help you massively.

I think it just shows that you're taking the time out to be interested in that particular company as well. It's going to go in your favour!

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Sell yourself, sell yourself, sell yourself.

So this is something I get really awkward about, I get really embarrassed with but you know what? You have to go for it.

You have to put all of those feelings aside and just sell yourself because sometimes it is just down to your little bit of confidence that you might have and selling yourself that little bit more that gives you the position over the other person that's got the exact same qualifications as you.

So make sure you sell yourself and write anything that makes you stand out from everybody else because as a nurse you're going to have all the same qualifications or if you're student nurse you’ll have all the same qualifications and experience as your fellow student nurses.

So you want to put in there something extra about you that you've done through university, volunteering and anything like that.

That's going to make you stand out and make this person think ‘okay, she's got something a bit extra than that person’, so just do that, put all fears aside and just go for it!

Also, with this, you want to look into this person spec and have a look what's been listed on the essential or desirable parts.

So you want to cover all of the essential parts in there so that they know that you're meeting those targets.

You can also use subheadings and underline in bold parts just to make things stand out and make it easier for the person to read because if you've got a really long-winded piece of personal statement it might just get a little bit jumbled.

I personally use head little subheadings using the star technique.

So the star technique is something that I learned at University - just to help structure things a whole lot better and answer anything I'm trying to demonstrate out there.

It just helps to mould and keeps me on target of what I'm trying to say if that makes sense.

The star technique just means situation, task, action and then the result of the whole situation.

However I would not put the subhead and star technique with everything listed like that, please leave all that out and just in your mind using the star technique and then write it out nicely.

You could put it there as a draft but then delete it all and just make it flow nicely into a paragraph, but don't put that as a subheading!

So the ‘situation’ part is just explaining the situation briefly.

Then, the ‘task’ is just briefly explaining what you have to do in that situation.

So action is the most substantial part of it, around 50 to 70 percent of it is going to be the action.

This is where you can use examples of when, where, how and why all of that of helped you solve this problem or whatever they're asking you, just to provide an example of how you met that target.

Then the ‘result’ of your actions, you're just going to explain what the outcome was, what happened as a result of this basically, and that's pretty much it for the star technique.

It’s quite simple I think, if you sort of break it down and it just really helps you manage that.

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Why this job?

In your personal statement, you want to explain why you particularly want to work for the company that you are applying to or the area or the field that you're applying to why them specifically, and how you can be a benefit or use to them.

So, it's about what you've got to bring to them but also what they can bring to you and what sort of things stand out for you to actually want to work there if that makes sense.

I think that's going to look really good on a personal statement as well.

We're going to put in things like why you're applying for that job, why they should hire you over everybody else and again just using the job description to your advantage to help you do that.

Skills and qualities

Just a few skills and qualities that you can include in your personal statement could be including things such as team working and what you brought to that team.

So, working within the multidisciplinary team in the NHS or on your placements, wherever you've been and or whether you're currently a qualified nurse in a job.

What have you done to that team and what can you bring to this future team that you're applying to?

So all about assessing the complex needs of patients, because it's all about the patient.

You want to make sure that the patient's in there!

Care planning, implementing, evaluating and using appropriate nursing interventions.

You might want to put communication skills, so what sort of communication skills you have, and that you're exceptionally good at understanding confidentiality because we are high on confidentiality in the NHS and healthcare setting.

You might want to put something about, if you've done any, teaching or mentoring as you've gone along.

You could put in something about the NMC code of conduct and what you understand about it, you might want to put in about clinical governance safe medication management, things like that.

Also, probably a little bit about your continuous professional development, so what you've done, extra training and extra awareness days that you've gone to, events, congress conferences, any extra things that you've done to sort of update your own knowledge - put that in there.

Your passion for nursing

And lastly show your passion and enthusiasm around nursing through writing, if you can. Just make sure you put it all in there, make sure you sound amazing and make sure they want to interview you.

So that's it from me!

I hope some of these tips have been useful to you, let me know if you bagged that interview, let me know if you've got any other advice or tips for personal statements - drop a comment below and let somebody else know.

Let's help each other out, and good luck! 

About the author

I am a Registered Nurse with over 12 years healthcare experience including: elderly care, orthopaedics, sexual health / family planning, qualified GP nurse, transgender healthcare and now in my new role as an assistant lecturer (as of Nov 2022). I believe that nursing gets a lot of bad press, so I create blogs and vlogs to help anyone considering their nursing career and to create positivity surrounding our profession as I'm so passionate about nursing.

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Newly Qualified Nurse CV example

Congratulations, you’re now a qualified nurse, that’s very exciting! But now you need to update your CV to reflect this.

If you’re not sure where to start or you’re worried that your limited experience might hold you back, let us take care of you for once.

In our detailed guide below, we’ll share our top tips for writing an impressive application, and you’ll also find a newly qualified nurse CV example for extra support.

CV templates 

Newly Qualified Nurse CV example

This CV example demonstrates the type of info you should be including within your Newly Qualified Nurse CV, as well as how to format and layout the content in a way which looks professional and is easy for time-strapped recruiters to read.

This is the look and feel you should be aiming for, so remember to refer back to it throughout your CV writing process.

Newly Qualified Nurse CV layout and format

First impressions count, so a sloppy, disorganised CV may cause your CV to be overlooked..

Instead, perfect the format and structure of your CV by working to a clear logical structure and applying some simple formatting tricks to ease readability.

Don’t underestimate the importance of this step; if your CV lacks readability, your written content won’t even be seen.

Tips for formatting your Newly Qualified Nurse CV

• Length: Your CV should always be limited to two sides of A4, regardless of whether you have a year or three decades of experience. With recruiters juggling multiple responsibilities, they don’t have time to sift through lengthy applications.
• Readability : By clearly formatting your section headings (bold, or a different colour font, do the trick) and breaking up big chunks of text into snappy bullet points, time-strapped recruiters will be able to skim through your CV with ease.
• Design: It’s generally best to stick to a simple CV design, as funky or elaborate designs rarely add any value to your application. A clear, modern font and a subtle colour scheme work perfectly and allow your skills, experience and achievements to speak for themselves.
• Photos: Recruiters can’t factor in appearance, gender or race into the recruitment process, so a profile photo is not usually needed. However, creative employers do like to see them, so you can choose to include one if you think it will add value to your CV .

Quick tip: Creating a professional CV style can be difficult and time-consuming when using Microsoft Word or Google Docs. To create a winning CV quickly, try our quick-and-easy CV Builder and use one of their eye-catching professional CV templates.

CV structure

For easy reading, write your CV to the following CV structure:

• Contact details – Make it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by listing your contact details at the top of your CV.
• Profile – A short and snappy summary of your experience and skills, showcasing what makes you a good fit for the position.
• Work experience / career history – Note down all your work history, with your current position first, then working backwards.
• Education – A short list of your academic background and professional/vocational qualifications.
• Interest and hobbies – This is an optional section, which you can use to highlight any relevant hobbies or interests.

Now you understand the basic layout of a CV, here’s what you should include in each section of yours.

Contact Details

Write your contact details in the top corner of your CV, so that they’re easy to find but don’t take up too much space.

You only need to list your basic details, such as:

• Mobile number
• Email address
• Location – Don’t list your full address. Your town or city, such as ‘Norwich’ or ‘Coventry’ is perfect.
• LinkedIn profile or portfolio URL – Remember to update these before listing them on an application.

Newly Qualified Nurse CV Profile

Recruiters and hiring managers are busy, so it’s essential to catch their attention from the get-go.

A strong introductory profile (or personal statement , for junior candidates) at the top of the CV is the first thing they’ll read, so it’s a great chance to make an impression.

It should be a short but punchy summary of your key skills, relevant experience and accomplishments.

Ultimately, it should explain why you’re a great fit for the role you’re applying for and inspire recruiters to read the rest of your CV.

CV profile writing tips:

• Make it short and sharp: The best CV profiles are short, sharp and highly relevant to the target role. For this reason, it’s best to write 3-4 lines of high-level information, as anything over might be missed.
• Tailor it: No matter how much time you put into your CV profile, it won’t impress if it’s irrelevant to the role you’re applying for. Before you start writing, make a list of the skills, knowledge and experience your target employer is looking for. Then, make sure to mention them in your CV profile and throughout the rest of your application.
• Don’t add an objective: Leave your career objectives or goals out of your profile. You only have limited space to work with, so they’re best suited to your cover letter .
• Avoid generic phrases: Clichés like “ blue-sky thinker with a go-getter attitude” might sound impressive to you, but they don’t actually tell the recruiter much about you. Concentrate on highlighting hard facts and skills, as recruiters are more likely to take these on board.

Example CV profile for Newly Qualified Nurse

What to include in your newly qualified nurse cv profile.

• Experience overview: Recruiters will want to know what type of companies you’ve worked for, industries you have knowledge of, and the type of work you’ve carried out in the past, so give them a summary of this in your profile.
• Targeted skills: Employers need to know what skills you can bring to their organisation, and ideally they want to see skills that match their job vacancy. So, research your target roles thoroughly and add the most important Newly Qualified Nurse skills to your profile.
• Key qualifications: If you have any qualifications which are highly relevant to Newly Qualified Nurse jobs, then highlight them in your profile so that employers do not miss them.

Quick tip: If you are finding it difficult to write an attention-grabbing CV profile, choose from hundreds of pre-written profiles across all industries, and add one to your CV with one click in our quick-and-easy CV Builder . All profiles are written by recruitment experts and easily tailored to suit your unique skillset.

Core skills section

To ensure that your most relevant skills catch the eye of readers, create a core skills section below your profile.

This section should be presented in 2-3 columns of bullet points highlighting your applicable skills. Before crafting this section, carefully examine the job description and create a list of any required skills, specialisms, or knowledge.

Use this list to include the necessary information in your section and present yourself as the ideal match for the position.

Important skills for your Newly Qualified Nurse CV

Patient assessment and care planning – Assessing patients’ physical and mental health, developing a care plan and communicating this to the patient and the care team.

Medication administration – Utilising knowledge of medication dosages, routes of administration and accurately administering medication to patients.

Basic life support – Utilising knowledge of basic life support techniques and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in emergency situations.

Infection control – Utilising knowledge of infection control practices and procedures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in healthcare settings.

Wound care – Assessing, cleaning, and dressing wounds using appropriate techniques and materials to promote healing and prevent infection.

Clinical documentation – Completing accurate and timely documentation of patient assessments, care plans and interventions in electronic health records or other clinical systems.

Cross-functional collaboration – Working effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide safe and high-quality care to patients.

Quick tip: Our quick-and-easy CV Builder has thousands of in-demand skills for all industries and professions, that can be added to your CV in seconds – This will save you time and ensure you get noticed by recruiters.

Work experience section

By now, you’ll have hooked the reader’s attention and need to show them how you apply your skills and knowledge in the workplace, to benefit your employers.

So, starting with your most recent role and working backwards to your older roles, create a thorough summary of your career history to date.

If you’ve held several roles and are struggling for space, cut down the descriptions for your oldest jobs.

Structuring each job

Recruiters will be keen to gain a better idea of where you’ve worked and how you apply your skill-set in the workplace.

However, if they’re faced with huge, hard-to-read paragraphs, they may just gloss over it and move onto the next application.

To avoid this, use the simple 3-step role structure, as shown below:

Start with a brief summary of your role as a whole, as well as the type of company you worked for.

Key responsibilities

Using easy-to-read bullet points, note down your day-to-day responsibilities in the role.

Make sure to showcase how you used your hard sector skills and knowledge.

Key achievements

Lastly, add impact by highlight 1-3 key achievements  that you made within the role.

Struggling to think of an achievement? If it had a positive impact on your company, it counts.

For example, you might increased company profits, improved processes, or something simpler, such as going above and beyond to solve a customer’s problem.

Sample job description for Newly Qualified Nurse CV

Deliver high-quality, safe, and compassionate care in a variety of specialties, for one of the largest integrated providers of acute and community health services with five hospitals and 40+ community bases that delivers outstanding care for local people.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform a range of care assignments under the direct oversight of seasoned nurses and doctors.
• Carry out examinations and other diagnostic tests to identify the cause of mental and physical ailments.
• Determine appropriate interventions based on knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, clinical practices, and pharmacology.
• Encourage individuals to participation in therapeutic activities, as well as instruct patients in treatment methods prescribed by practitioners.

Quick tip: Create impressive job descriptions easily in our quick-and-easy CV Builder by adding pre-written job phrases for every industry and career stage.

Education and qualifications

At the bottom of your CV is your full education section. You can list your formal academic qualifications, such as:

• GCSE’s

As well as any specific nursing qualifications that are essential to the jobs you are applying for. Note down the name of the qualification, the organisation at which you studied, and the date of completion.

Hobbies and interests

The hobbies and interests CV section isn’t mandatory, so don’t worry if you’re out of room by this point.

However, if you have an interesting hobby , or an interest that could make you seem more suitable for the role, then certainly think about adding.

Be careful what you include though… Only consider hobbies that exhibit skills that are required for roles as a Newly Qualified Nurse, or transferable workplace skills.

There is never any need to tell employers that you like to watch TV and eat out.

A strong, compelling CV is essential to get noticed and land interviews with the best employers.

To ensure your CV stands out from the competition, make sure to tailor it to your target role and pack it with sector-specific skills and results.

Remember to triple-check for spelling and grammar errors before hitting send.

Good luck with the job search!

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CV writing for student nurses and newly qualified nurses

Writing a cv can be difficult at the best of times, but if you’re applying for your first ever nursing job it can be even trickier to know where to start. , if you're a student or newly qualified nurse looking for advice on how to make your cv stand out from the crowd, the rcn's career service can help., your first nursing cv.

Many students and newly qualified nurses worry that they won’t have adequate experience or skills to impress employers and compete with rival candidates. 

First of all, you  have  got experience, and lots of it. Think about all you’ve learnt at university through your lectures, assignments, research, presentations, studying and your dissertation. Then think about all the knowledge gained during your variety of placements, the coaching and support you received from your colleagues and mentors, and the skills, competencies, and lessons learnt first-hand whilst caring for your patients. What’s more, all this knowledge is fresh in your mind and ready to be put into practice. 

You will bring a positive and enthusiastic approach, along with passion, determination and an eagerness to learn; an asset to any employer. 

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What to include in your nursing personal statement

How to write a great nursing personal statement.

Whether you’re applying for a university course, a Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship (RNDA) or a new role as a Nursing Associate, a well-written nursing personal statement can help your application stand out from the crowd. Here’s what to include in your personal statement to boost your chances of getting to the next stage in your nursing career.

What is a nursing personal statement?

A personal statement is a step in the application process that helps you sell yourself to the recruiter. It sits somewhere between a CV and a cover letter and is the place to highlight your suitability and show your enthusiasm for a new role. A good personal statement is one that summarises your skills and experience while making them relevant to the role you are applying for. But it’s also the place where you can let some of your personality come through, helping you to stand out to a recruiter. You can discover more about the nursing application process in our blog and   

What to include in your nursing personal statement?

1.reveal a personal anecdote .

As well as highlighting your suitability for a nursing role, a personal statement is the chance for you to show a bit of your personality to the hiring team. Give examples of personal stories that motivated you to pursue a career in nursing. If you’ve got first-hand experience of the nursing profession or another relevant occupation, include it here. 

2.Highlight your qualifications

To become a Registered Nurse , you need certain academic qualifications, such as GCSE English and maths, and A-Levels that usually include a science. Even if you’ve been working as a nurse for some time, it’s important to include all your qualifications. That also includes any nursing degrees or apprenticeships that you have undertaken. You might be aiming for a role as a Nursing Associate , for which you will need GCSEs in maths and English or Functional Skills Level 2 in maths and English. Some employers will also ask for a level 3 qualification. You’ll also need to show that you can study for a foundation degree level and complete the Nursing Associate Apprenticeship programme.

3.Sell your soft skills

Think about the transferable skills that you possess that apply to a career in nursing. For example, being highly organised; an ability to be collaborative and work as part of a team; empathy, compassion and an enjoyment of working with people. Try to give examples of times when you’ve demonstrated these soft skills and explain how they relate to a career in nursing.

4.Experience counts

If you’ve had work experience in an area that’s directly related to the nursing profession then include it here. If you are a Healthcare Assistant, for example, then there’s an obvious link to nursing, and you can read more about how to transition from being a Healthcare Assistant to a nurse in our blog. But even if you haven’t got healthcare experience, there’s likely to be something that you have done that has helped you to develop skills that would be useful to nursing. For example, working in retail will have given you transferable skills such as teamwork and dealing with people. You could also sign up for useful courses such as a St John’s First Aid course or similar.

5.Be passionate 

Enthusiasm is infectious, so let your passion for a career in nursing shine through in your nursing personal statement. While hiring teams will have certain boxes to tick (such as your qualifications), showing how committed, dedicated and passionate you are about a career in nursing might just give you the edge over other candidates. For inspiration about why you want to work in healthcare , take a look at our blog and let that passion come through. 

6.Show awareness of healthcare issues 

Any recruiter will be impressed if you can demonstrate knowledge and a broader understanding of the nursing industry. It highlights your commitment to your chosen career path and a willingness to engage with the nursing profession. Research topical healthcare trends and think about your response to current healthcare affairs. In your nursing personal statement, explain how all of this has influenced your decision to work in nursing. 

Need more help to write your nursing personal statement?

At Safehands Recruitment, we have a team of specialist advisers who can guide you through the process of writing a great nursing personal statement. Get in touch to speak to one of our team and together, we’ll make sure your nursing application stands out from the crowd .

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Adult nursing personal statement example 4.

For the past fourteen years I have been working in the caring profession; almost twelve of those have been with the NHS.

Throughout this time I have gained various caring skills working in a hospital and community setting, which have also improved my people skills and how I interact with others. I have a genuine interest in all of my patient's quality of life and always aim to give one hundred percent towards this.

My experiences to date have involved caring for seriously ill children and adults. I have also cared for adults with debilitating mental illnesses such as Alzheimers and Dementia and physical illnesses such as Parkinsons, Cancer and MS.

My role as a community rehabilitation assistant requires me to support and encourage independence after fractures, strokes etc. It also requires me to work effectively as a team player and individually.

This involves liasing with various healthcare professionals, regarding patient care. Most frequently my contact would be with Community District Nurses. Their professionalism, commitment and skills inspire me.

I feel the rewards of a professional career in nursing would satisfy the goals I have hoped to achieve for quite a while. I feel I have the drive, enthusiasm and skills to train, and hopefully one-day work as a nurse. Nursing is more than a profession; it is a way of life, as so much of a nurse's personality and enthusiasm goes into their job.

I am eager to pursue this career as my present post gives me job satisfaction, but feel I could give so much more. To realise this goal I knew I needed to gain the appropriate qualifications.

While working in the Ulster Hospital, I returned to part time education in 1997 to gain Maths and English GCSEs. After this I began working in the community for the South & East Belfast Trust and in 2005 completed an NVQ level 3 in Diagnostic & Therapeutic Support.

I embarked on an Access course in 2006 at Belfast Metropolitan College, whilst remaining in my full time job. My employers were very accommodating and flexible, which allowed me time to attend college classes.

Although I have found this challenging at times, it has been a positive experience, which has made me more determined to study hard. It has also confirmed to me that I am capable of achieving my goals, by sacrificing my down time and working hard.

From the beginning of my Access course until present, I sacrificed a lot of my free time to ensure my assignments were completed and handed in on time. Most of my time had been previously dedicated to my favourite hobby; teaching Ballroom, Latin and Salsa dancing.

I really enjoy working with adults and building a rapport with them. Teaching has improved my confidence and made me more outgoing, I am not afraid of publicly addressing a group of people.

It has similarities to my job, both have taught me to appreciate people as individuals and be patient and understanding with them. I still enjoy dancing and teaching it as a form of exercise and use it as way to unwind.

I am positive that these skills and characteristics would be of benefit when training and working as a nurse. Nursing is a profession where the primary aim is providing indiscriminate care to the patient, which entails both physical and emotional support.

Secondary to the patient care, family involvement is a large factor. Providing emotional support to both patient and family in times of distress is one of the many skills required. My work experience to date has equipped me with these skills. On many occasions this has meant supporting patients until the end of life.

I am eager to pursue nursing as a life changing career in order to contribute to the welfare of others. My ultimate goal is to become as Community District Nurse, which I hope to achieve with further training.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by elly4 for application in 2008.

elly4's Comments

Hope this is helpful to any aspiring nurses like me!

This personal statement is unrated

Related Personal Statements

Wed, 14/01/2009 - 23:11

Thank you ever so much, your words have helped me in many ways. I hope you manage to follow your dreams and become a district nurse, i'm hoping to do the same, just getting started!

great statement

Wed, 20/05/2009 - 02:03

what a great statement you have really helped me in a certain way thanks.

I think this statement is

Thu, 04/03/2010 - 12:16

I think this statement is very clear and thought out. It speaks positively about previous employment while recognising the need to move on to a more fulfilling career path. Really good.

what a fantastic personal

Sun, 16/01/2011 - 20:14

what a fantastic personal statement i feel like mine wont even get considered now i have read yours i did apply the night before it was due as myself and my husband had enquired and realised the deadline was the next day!

Wed, 24/07/2013 - 15:34

Thank you for your article post.Much thanks again.

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Nurses - how does this job application statement sound?

smurfgirl · 31/03/2008 16:22

Applying for band 5 job in oncology. Will be newly qualified. I am a student nurse due to qualify in October 2008. I am hardworking and work well within a team, and have good numeracy, computer and literacy skills. I am enthusiastic, highly motivated, professional and work within the NMC Professional Code of Conduct and local trust guidelines and policies. During my training I have worked in areas caring for oncology patients within ward x Castle Hill and in the community. I have also cared for patients in the post anaesthetic for procedures such as the insertion of Hickman lines and removal of tumours. Whilst working in these areas I have built up a keen interest in oncology. I am very interested in this area of nursing and on completion of my training I am keen to join a nursing team providing care for cancer patients. Once I have settled into my role as a band five staff nurse I would like to gain further qualifications in this area. Througout my training I have been involved in palliative care and have used and have a good understanding of the ?Liverpool Care Pathway? and have seen how valuable it is within the care of the dying patient. The experience of providing care for the dying patient and their family has been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling parts of my training. As part of a teaching and learning module I recently taught another student about oxygen therapy and this experience confirmed that teaching and mentoring will be an aspect of nursing I will find highly fulfilling, once qualified. I have managed patients, giving direct nursing care under the supervision of a qualified nurse and have demonstrated that I have the prioritisation skills needed to organise my workload effectively and safely while implementing high quality holistic nursing care. I have shown excellent communication skills with patients, their families and carers and the multi-disciplinary team. Undertaking a module in evidence based practice, and participating in audits and quality monitoring programme on issues such as nutrition, infection control and wound care have helped me to understand the importance of research and continuing professional development in order to provide the most appropriate, effective care to patients. I am flexible with regards to my working hours and the needs of the service. Were I to be successful in this application, a position in oncology would allow me to consolidate my existing learning and put the skills I have gained throughout my training in to practice. I have got all the essentials in from the job description but have no desirables but have tried to include plans to get them.

sounds v. good to me. My personal statement is weak compared to that and i have got a job interview for every job i have applied for. (did not get job sometimes, as crap at interviews, but that is another story ) Good luck!!!

Do you think it is better to handwrite to do online application?

ive always handwritten my applications and ive always been asked to interview! good luck! your statement sounds very well thought out

Thats what I thought but I am feeling lazy. I have lovely handwriting so think its probably good to do I hand wrote the last one but only closed on Friday so no idea how thats gone haha!

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