Why a good resume is essential when applying for a new home health nursing job

A well-crafted and effective resume is necessary to secure a job as a home health nurse. Your resume is your first introduction to an employer and is a tool to showcase your professional qualifications, skills, and unique experience. A compelling resume is your initial point of contact with a potential employer and should be written for a lasting impression.

Your resume should be detailed, yet concise, and should highlight your nursing degree (BSN or ADN) and any beneficial certifications. It is used to effectively communicate your proficiencies and to differentiate you from a field of competitive candidates.

We will provide a few important tips and an example of a template resume to help improve your resume/CV and secure a job interview.

How long should a home health nurse’s job resume be and what information should be included?

A home health nurse’s resume should be comprehensive but concise. You should provide enough information to showcase your qualifications, skills, and experience. Generally, a resume should be around one to two pages in length if you have under 10 years of experience.

The following information should be included in your resume: contact information, resume summary or objective, education, licensure, clinical experience, skills, professional membership, continuing education, certifications, and any honors and awards.

Key Points that need to be included in a Home Health Nurse resume

Contact Information: Include your full name, professional title, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable).

Pro Tip: Your name should be highlighted with the biggest text on the page and listed near the top. Your address should only include city and state. The provided email should be a professional email, but not an employer email. (Never use your current job email for a resume.)

Resume Summary or Objective: Provide a brief, targeted statement summarizing your expertise, career goals, and what you offer as a home health nurse.

Education: Include your educational background, including the name of the institution, degree earned, and graduation date. List your education in reverse chronological order with your most recent and highest degrees first. List your nursing degree.

Pro Tip: If you are a new graduate, you may want to place the education section above the experience section. As you gain work experience, your education section should be shortened. If you have not graduated, you can add “expected graduation date” to the school.

Certifications and Licenses: While there is no longer a specific certificate required for a home nurse, other certifications from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) , the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) or in areas like wound care, infusion therapy, or pediatric can be an advantage.

Clinical Experience: Include your work history in reverse chronological order. For each position, include the name of the hospital, medical center or home agency, location, and dates of employment. Highlight any specialized procedure or technique you have experience performing.

This is the most important section as a home health nurse. Your professional experience should be presented in bullet points, and a separate section should be created for each relevant previous job. The headline for each previous job experience section should in bold with the addition of the time you were employed. Beneath the company name, the position should be mentioned, and the bulleted points should list the job responsibilities.


Pro Tip:  It is important to mention not only the job responsibilities but also the achieved results at that job.

Presentations and Conferences: If applicable, include any conferences or seminars where you have presented your work or findings.

Skills: Outline both your technical and interpersonal skills that are relevant to a home health nurse. Include your proficiencies in relevant subspecialties such as gerontology, pediatrics, and psychiatric/mental health nursing.

Professional Memberships: List any home nursing associations like the International Home Care Nurses Organization (IHCNO) or any home health organizations liketheNational Alliance for Care at Home (NAHC & NHPCO) or the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA)

Awards and Honors: Highlight any special recognition or awards you have received for your contributions to the profession.

Professional Development: Showcase ongoing education and training that you have attended to stay current in the field.

Note: If applicable, mention any languages that you proficient in. 

A home health nurses’ resume should highlight a combination of medical, technical, interpersonal, and leadership skills. Here are some important and relevant skills to include:

  • Condition Assessment:
    • Proficiency in assessing a patient’s physical, mental and environmental condition.
  • Medication Management:
    • Administer medications with accuracy.
  • IV or Catheter Administration:
    • Deliver IV therapy or change the catheter as needed.
  • Vital Sign Management and Identification:
    • Rapidly recognize in-distress vital signs and intervene if complications should develop.
  • Wound and Infection Care:
    • Prevent infections and manage wounds.
  • Chronic Disease Management:
    • Knowledge and management of chronic disease.
  • Decision-Making:
    • Make independent decisions based on sound clinical judgement.
  • Relationship Development:
    • Develop empathy, compassion, and build trust with patients and their families.
  • Communication Skills:
    • Effectively communicate with patients, caregivers, and other providers.
  • Patient Advocacy and Case Management:
    • Demonstrate proficiency in case management and coordination while advocating in the best interest of the patient.
  • Documentation and EMR Proficiency:
    • Accurate charting in electronic medical records to ensure continuity of care and legal compliance.
  • Home Health Device and Platform Proficiency:
    • Knowledge in the use of home health platforms and the use/ maintenance of medical devices like infusion pumps or glucometers.

Pro tip: It is common for each job post to received hundreds of applications and a resume checking system is often in place for recruiters to filter through relevant applications. You should customize your resume to each specific home health job you are applying for. Be sure to emphasize your relevant skills and experience to demonstrate to the employer you understand the requirements of the job and are the best candidate. You will be more successful if you identify the key phrases in the job description and incorporate them into your resume. 

Resume example-template: You can view sample home health nurse resumes online, and can even build and customize your resume on websites like Live Career.

Now that you are ready to land the job! Check out our open Home Health Nurse opportunities!