In most cases, a resume will suffice when applying for nursing jobs or other opportunities. But at times a personal biography is required, especially when applying to graduate school, vying for awards and other honors, or contributing articles or presentations to industry publications and conferences. Your biography shouldn’t repeat everything listed on your resume, but should highlight key qualifications relevant to the situation and the audience.
Your biography should be tailored to your audience. Health care professionals should use technical language and a more formal tone. If you’re applying for a master’s program in nursing, for example, your bio might begin by noting that you graduated summa cum laude and that the university named you outstanding senior nursing student. When writing for a lay audience, adopt a more informal and friendly approach. Some schools require that candidates have specific work experience. You can write, for example, that in two years as a pediatric nurse, youve treated patients with conditions ranging from asthma to severe anemia, and have accumulated 1,500 clinical hours providing direct bedside care.
How to Write a Nurse Bio – Tips & Samples
When you may need a nurse bio
Different educational and vocational opportunities may require a nurse bio. Students may need to include a bio when applying to an undergraduate or graduate nursing program. Additionally, nurses applying for a different role may need to write a professional bio. This can happen when nurses:
You may also need to provide a bio if you apply for or receive an award or special recognition. Your bio may appear on your company website or in the documentation that recognizes your achievement.
What is a nurse bio?
A nursing bio, or biography, highlights your key education, experience and qualifications. Your professional biography allows you to provide more details about the information on your resume. You can also discuss other opportunities or roles that dont appear on your resume, such as volunteer roles or personal achievements.
How to Write a Nurse Bio
Here are the steps you can follow to write a strong nurse bio:
1. Write an introductory paragraph
Your introductory paragraph introduces you to readers and typically includes general information such as your name and post-nominal letters, such as “BSN” or “RN.” Your introductory paragraph should also include your educational or professional goal. For example, if you are applying to graduate school, your goal may be to earn a masters degree in nursing. If you are applying for a job, be sure to state the specific position youre applying for, such as director of nursing.
Example: “My name is Susan Hale, BN, MSN, and I am applying to the Middle City University Doctor of Nursing program.”
2. Detail your education
This section states the schools you attended. Generally, you do not need to include your high school. You can begin your education section with any college education, including community college courses, associate degrees, bachelors degrees and graduate degrees. If you have a high GPA, typically 3.5 or higher, you can include this in your bio to help you stand apart from other candidates, especially if you are applying to a graduate program as this demonstrates your ability to succeed in an academic environment. You might also include if you graduated summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude.
3. Discuss your work history
Discuss previous positions youve held, with a focus on nursing experience or related roles in the medical field. You can list your job responsibilities and any awards or recognition you received while in those roles, such as employee of the month. Highlight skills you have that correlate to the program or job to which youre applying. For example, if youre applying for a head nurse position, include any leadership positions youve had. If you are applying to a graduate program, you might mention your experience with certain software or team projects.
5. Include any other relevant qualifications
After your work experience, you may want to add a section for other qualifications or skills that make you a well-rounded candidate, even if they are not directly related to nursing. You may include:
These extra features may help you become a more appealing candidate. They can also show that you have soft skills that can help make you successful in the role, such as communication skills, leadership skills or technological proficiency.
6. Proofread your bio
As with any professional document, review your biography before sending it for spelling, content and grammatical errors. Consider asking a colleague or family member to read your bio and provide feedback. You may also want to check your bio on different screen sizes to make sure readers can access the file from several types of devices, such as a laptop or phone.
Tips for writing a professional nurse biography
Here are several helpful tips for writing a nurse biography:
Choose a professional design
Your biography is a professional document and should look neat and organized. It may be the piece that introduces you to a hiring manager or program director, so it should reflect positively on you. Choose a font that is easy to read and at least 12 point or larger. Avoid graphics or distracting colors. If possible, create a bio that complements your resume and cover letter in style.
Speak to your audience
Taylor your professional biography to the audience receiving it. For instance, if you are providing a bio for your companys website, you may choose to add a few personal details, such as your hobbies and the names of your children. For a bio that accompanies a job application, you may want to highlight professional or academic accomplishments, such as serving as president of your nursing class.
Make it personal
You can use you biography to connect with readers on a personal level. Consider sharing a powerful moment during your nursing career or an incident that led you to pursue nursing. These anecdotes can help you engage the reader and make your bio more memorable.
Review other biographies
If possible, you can ask to see other biographies as an example of what an employer or director is looking for. Reviewing other bio can help you craft one with a similar style and tone. You can also make notes of what types of information other nurses included.
FAQ
How do you write a nursing bio about yourself?
- Write an introductory paragraph. …
- Detail your education. …
- Discuss your work history. …
- Include any other relevant qualifications. …
- Proofread your bio.
How do I write a biography about myself?
- Introduce yourself. Start your bio with a brief introduction that shows who you are. …
- Keep it concise. Start with a word count in mind. …
- Use third person. It may feel strange or even challenging to write about yourself. …
- Write strategically. …
- Include your contact information. …
- Edit thoroughly.
What is the profile of a nurse?
- Introduce yourself.
- State your company or brand name.
- Explain your professional role.
- Include professional achievements.
- Discuss your passions and values.
- Mention your personal interests.
