Ultimate Guide to an ATS-Friendly Remote Nurse Resume Template

Why Your Resume Needs a Makeover for Remote Nursing Jobs

If you’re applying for remote nursing jobs, you might think all you need is a solid remote nurse resume template. But without the right details, it’s just a framework, you still need to customize it for remote nursing roles. It isn’t as simple as swapping out a few details from your bedside nursing resume. Many of us have only struggled to land interviews as new grads or when applying for leadership roles, but even entry-level remote nursing positions are incredibly competitive.

With thousands of applicants for some roles, getting your resume through the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and into the hands of a recruiter requires more than just years of nursing experience; it takes the right formatting, keywords, and structure that’s just the first step.

It’s easy to assume that if you’re not getting interviews, you just need a better resume. And while that’s true to an extent, updating a bedside nursing resume for remote roles requires more than just adding buzzwords.

One of the easiest, most effective first steps? Making sure your resume is formatted correctly for ATS. Without the right structure, even a highly qualified nurse can get filtered out before a recruiter ever sees their application.

But remember, formatting is just one part of it. A strong remote nurse resume also needs to highlight the right skills, experience, and keywords that hiring managers are looking for. In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how to optimize your resume for remote nursing jobs, plus share links to the best ATS-friendly resume templates to help you get started.

What is Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

If you’ve never heard of an ATS (Applicant Tracking System), it’s software that employers use to screen resumes before a human ever sees them. When you apply online, your resume often gets processed through an ATS, which scans for keywords and qualifications before deciding if it moves forward.

Chances are, you’ve already interacted with ATS software without realizing it. Some common ATS platforms include:

• Greenhouse.io
• Lever.co
• Ultipro
• ICIMS

Understanding ATS is essential when applying to remote nursing jobs because these roles receive hundreds of applications, sometimes in the first hour after it’s posted. If your resume isn’t optimized, it may never be seen by a real person. The bright side? If a job is using ATS, it’s often a good indicator that it’s a legitimate opportunity and not a scam.

Why Traditional Nursing Resume Strategies Won’t Work

Many of us were taught to write one strong resume and send it out to multiple job postings, hoping to land interviews. Unfortunately, that approach isn’t the most effective, especially for competitive remote nursing positions. The use of ATS software requires a more tailored approach to ensure your resume aligns with each job description.

It may seem tedious to adjust your resume for every job, but there are time-saving methods (which I teach inside my Premium Membership) that make this process easier.

Here’s a short example of how ATS can impact your job search:

• The job description states that a BSN is required.
• You list your degree as Bachelor of Science in Nursing on your resume but don’t include ‘BSN’ anywhere.
• The ATS might not recognize that you meet this qualification, and your resume gets rejected automatically.

This is one of the many reasons candidates receive quick rejection emails after submitting applications. If you’ve been experiencing this, check out my detailed post on why remote nursing applications get rejected.

Key Components of an ATS-Friendly Remote Nurse Resume (with Remote Nurse Resume Examples)

To increase the likelihood of your resume making it past the initial ATS screening, be sure to include:

1. Clear, Professional Formatting

• Use a clean, simple layout (no fancy fonts, graphics, columns, or tables).
• Stick to standard fonts like Times New Roman or Arial.
• Include essential resume sections or headers: Professional Summary, Skills, Work Experience, Education, and Certifications.
• Save your resume as a Word document (.docx) or an ATS-friendly PDF. Some ATS software parse text better from one format than another, so if one doesn’t work well, try the alternate format.

2. Strong, Keyword-Optimized Professional Summary

Your summary should immediately showcase your nursing qualifications relevant to the job while incorporating keywords from the job description naturally. It helps to include the exact job title and company name also!

Example:

• Registered Nurse with extensive experience in nephrology and dialysis within an acute care setting.
• Skilled in patient education, care coordination, and chronic disease management, with a strong ability to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams.
• Adept at assessing patient needs, developing care plans, and ensuring continuity of care to manage disease progression.
• Proficient in EHR documentation, remote patient monitoring, and patient advocacy, transitioning bedside expertise into case management.

3. Skills Section Tailored for Remote Nursing Roles

Many remote nursing jobs require skills beyond bedside care, like starting IV’s and inserting foleys. Be sure to remove things like ACLS or BLS if it isn’t mentioned in the job description. Example skills from a job description could include:

• Care Coordination & Chronic Disease Management
• Electronic Health Records (EHR) & Documentation
• Patient Education & Advocacy
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration
• Utilization Management & Value-Based Care
• Strong Written & Verbal Communication
• Time Management

4. Work Experience That Showcases Remote-Applicable Skills

When describing past roles, focus on using language from the job description for your transferable skills and measurable outcomes.

Example:

Emergency Department Registered Nurse | XYZ Hospital | 2021 – Present

• Assessed and triaged an average of 30-40 patients per shift in a high-acuity emergency setting, prioritizing care based on severity and stabilizing critical cases.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams, including case managers and social workers, to coordinate post-discharge care, reducing readmission rates by 15% over six months.
• Provided patient education on discharge instructions, medication adherence, and follow-up care, improving patient satisfaction scores by 25%.
• Utilized electronic health records (EHR) to document care, track patient outcomes, and ensure compliance with hospital policies and HIPAA regulations.

5. Proper Use of Job Description Keywords

Always mirror the job description’s language in your resume in a way that accurately reflects your experience. If the posting mentions:

• “Utilization Review” → If you don’t have direct experience, highlight how you collaborated with utilization review nurses to assess pertinent patient information and ensure appropriate levels of care.
• “Case Management Experience” → Instead of simply stating “coordinated patient care,” emphasize how you assisted case managers with assessing social determinants of health and reducing readmission rates.

Common ATS Resume Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

• Using fancy templates with graphics → Stick to simple, clean layouts
• Submitting a PDF with unrecognized formatting → Save as .docx or ATS-compatible PDF (when in doubt, use a .docx)
• Listing tasks & duties instead of achievements → Use measurable outcomes in bullet points
• Not using exact job description terms → Match keywords directly from the posting

Final Steps: Testing Your ATS Resume

Before submitting your resume, test it:

1. Run your resume through Jobscan’s ATS scanner to check how well it aligns with your target job posting.
2. Upload your resume to a job application system. If the text doesn’t populate the correct fields, this may indicate formatting issues. Try switching between .docx and PDF formats to see which works best.
3. Manually compare your resume to the job description, ensuring key terms and required qualifications are clearly included.

Taking the right steps will help your resume stand out, get noticed by hiring managers, and bring you closer to landing a remote nursing job.

Need more help? Check out The Perfect Resume Guide blog post for even more resume tips!

Final Thoughts

Landing a remote nursing job takes more than just an ATS-friendly resume. With thousands of applicants for each role, the competition is intense. Many nurses come into the Premium Membership and say, I had no idea how much I was missing, I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time trying to figure this out on my own.

That’s because most job seekers don’t realize that submitting applications alone isn’t enough. Inside the membership, I don’t just help you with your resume, I teach you the strategies that actually get nurses hired. You’ll learn:

• How to optimize your resume so it gets seen by the right people, not stuck in the ATS filter
• Proven networking techniques to connect with the right recruiters and hiring managers
• How to find job openings before they’re flooded with applicants
• The best ways to get your resume directly in front of decision-makers instead of lost in a sea of applications

If you’re tired of applying and hearing nothing back, don’t waste months trying to figure it out alone.

Join the Premium Membership and get the expert guidance that’s already helping nurses land interviews and remote roles faster.

Remote Nurse Connection is proudly Ad-free. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read full disclosure here.

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