Operating Room Nurse Resume Template: Free Examples & Expert Guide for 2025

You've mastered sterile technique, scrubbed for hundreds of surgeries, and maintained perfect safety records. But when it's time to create your resume, you're stuck staring at a blank page.

The right resume template solves this problem instantly. It provides the structure to showcase your surgical expertise, ensures ATS compatibility, and presents your qualifications in the format recruiters expect.

Ready to get started? Browse our professional nurse resume templates designed specifically for OR nurses, or read on to learn how to customize them for your experience.

Why OR Nurses Need Specialized Resume Templates

Generic nursing templates don't work for operating room nurses. Your specialty requires showcasing:

Surgical specialties and case volumes
Technical equipment proficiency (robotic systems, specialized instruments)
Sterile technique and infection prevention metrics
CNOR certification and specialty training
Both scrub and circulating experience
High-stakes team collaboration

A specialized OR nurse resume template highlights these unique qualifications in an ATS-friendly format.

What Makes a Great OR Nurse Resume Template

1. ATS-Friendly Formatting

Your template must:

Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
Avoid tables, text boxes, headers, and footers
Include clear section headings
Use standard bullet points
Save as .docx or PDF

2. Essential Sections

The best templates include:

Header with name and credentials (RN, BSN, CNOR)
Professional Summary (3-4 lines)
Core Competencies (keyword-rich for ATS)
Professional Experience (reverse chronological)
Certifications & Licenses
Education

3. Clean, Professional Design

Appropriate margins (0.75" to 1")
Clear visual hierarchy
Sufficient white space
Consistent formatting throughout

6 OR Nurse Resume Templates for Different Roles

Template 1: Entry-Level OR Nurse

Best for: New graduates, perioperative residency graduates, career changers

Key sections:

Emphasize education and clinical training
Highlight perioperative coursework
Feature transferable skills
Showcase foundational competencies

Example Structure:

SARAH CHEN, RN, BSN
(555) 234-5678 | sarah.chen@email.com | Seattle, WA

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Recently graduated BSN-prepared RN with 500+ clinical hours in perioperative residency. Trained across general, orthopedic, and gynecologic surgery. Proficient in sterile technique, surgical counts, and patient positioning.

CORE COMPETENCIES
Sterile Technique | Surgical Instrumentation | Patient Positioning | Surgical Counts | Epic EMR | Patient Safety | Infection Prevention | BLS & ACLS Certified

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Perioperative Nursing Resident | Seattle Medical Center | June 2024 - Present
• Completed 500+ clinical hours across general surgery, orthopedics, and gynecology
• Assisted with 100+ surgical procedures in scrub and circulating roles
• Maintained 100% accuracy in surgical counts with zero discrepancies
• Participated in surgical time-outs ensuring correct patient, procedure, and site

Template 2: Experienced OR Nurse (3-7 Years)

Best for: OR nurses with solid multi-specialty experience

Key sections:

Highlight surgical specialty expertise and case volumes
Demonstrate scrub and circulating proficiency
Feature CNOR certification prominently
Show measurable outcomes

Example Structure:

MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ, RN, CNOR
(555) 345-6789 | m.rodriguez@email.com | Chicago, IL

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
CNOR-certified Perioperative Nurse with 5 years across general, orthopedic, gynecologic, and urologic surgery. Scrubbed for 1,500+ procedures maintaining 99.8% complication-free rate. Expert in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive techniques.

CORE COMPETENCIES
CNOR Certified | Robotic Surgery (da Vinci) | Sterile Technique | General Surgery | Orthopedic Surgery | Laparoscopic Procedures | Patient Positioning | Epic & Cerner EMR | Preceptor & Mentor

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Operating Room Nurse | Northwestern Memorial Hospital | March 2020 - Present
• Scrub for 300+ surgical procedures annually across 4 specialties with 99.8% complication-free rate
• Primary scrub nurse for 200+ robotic-assisted procedures using da Vinci system
• Maintain zero surgical site infections across 500+ procedures over 18 months
• Precept 8 new OR nurses in surgical instrumentation and critical thinking
• Achieved CNOR certification demonstrating advanced perioperative knowledge

Template 3: Senior OR Nurse/Charge Nurse

Best for: Experienced OR nurses in leadership roles

Key sections:

Emphasize leadership and operational management
Highlight team coordination and quality improvement
Show advanced clinical expertise
Demonstrate business acumen

Example Structure:

PATRICIA WILLIAMS, RN, MSN, CNOR
(555) 456-7890 | p.williams@email.com | Houston, TX

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Senior Perioperative Nurse with 12+ years OR experience and 5 years as charge nurse overseeing 12-OR department. CNOR-certified with expertise across cardiovascular, neurosurgical, orthopedic, and general surgery. Reduced SSI by 45% and improved first-case starts to 95%.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Charge Nurse, Operating Room | Houston Methodist Hospital | Jan 2020 - Present
• Lead 12-OR surgical department performing 8,000+ procedures annually
• Manage 28 perioperative nurses ensuring appropriate skill mix and safe ratios
• Reduced surgical site infection rate by 45% through enhanced protocols
• Improved first-case on-time starts from 78% to 95%
• Oriented 25 new OR nurses achieving 96% retention rate

Template 4: Specialty OR Nurse (Cardiovascular)

Best for: OR nurses with deep specialty expertise

Example:

DAVID MARTINEZ, RN, BSN, CNOR
(555) 567-8901 | d.martinez@email.com | Boston, MA

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Cardiovascular OR Nurse with 8 years dedicated experience. Scrubbed for 1,200+ cardiovascular procedures including CABG, valve replacements, and TAVR. Expert in cardiac instrumentation and cardiopulmonary bypass support.

CORE COMPETENCIES
Cardiovascular Surgery | CABG Procedures | Valve Replacement (TAVR/SAVR) | Cardiac Instrumentation | Cardiopulmonary Bypass Support | Cell Saver Operation | CNOR Certified

Template 5: OR Nurse Educator

Best for: OR nurses in education or clinical specialist roles

Example:

REBECCA JOHNSON, RN, MSN, CNOR
(555) 678-9012 | r.johnson@email.com | Denver, CO

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Perioperative Nurse Educator with 10 years combined clinical and educational experience. Designed OR orientation program reducing training time by 30% while improving outcomes. Maintain active clinical practice working 2 shifts weekly.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Perioperative Nurse Educator | UCHealth | Jan 2020 - Present
• Deliver comprehensive orientation program for 35 new hires annually
• Reduced orientation time from 12 to 8 weeks, improved competency scores 25%
• Developed specialty-specific competency assessments for 8 surgical services
• Achieved 92% new hire retention rate exceeding hospital benchmark

Template 6: Travel OR Nurse

Best for: Travel nurses working across multiple facilities

Example:

ASHLEY THOMPSON, RN, BSN, CNOR
(555) 789-0123 | ashley.thompson@email.com | Available Nationwide

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Versatile Travel OR Nurse with 6 years rapidly adapting to diverse surgical environments. Completed 8 assignments across Level I trauma centers and academic medical centers. CNOR-certified with proven quick integration and consistent high-quality care.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Travel Operating Room Nurse | Various Facilities | June 2019 - Present
• Completed 8 travel assignments maintaining 4.8/5.0 average performance rating
• Adapted to 6 different EMR systems with 25% faster onboarding than average
• Maintained 100% surgical count compliance across 800+ procedures
• Successfully integrated into new teams within 2-week orientation periods

How to Customize Your Template

Step 1: Match the Job Description

Note required surgical specialties
Identify specific certifications mentioned
List equipment or technology requirements
Mirror language in your Professional Summary

Step 2: Add Metrics

Number of procedures annually
Surgical specialties covered
Patient outcomes (infection rates, complication rates)
Efficiency metrics (turnover time, first-case starts)

Step 3: Optimize for ATS

Include keywords in Core Competencies:

Surgical specialty names from job posting
Required equipment and technology
Certifications mentioned
Specific procedures listed

Step 4: Keep It Current

Update after new certifications
Refresh metrics quarterly
Add recent continuing education
Remove outdated information

Common Template Mistakes to Avoid

Graphics-heavy designs - Fail ATS parsing and appear unprofessional
Overcrowding - Creates visual clutter; use white space effectively
Generic content - Customize for your specific experience
Missing keywords - Include ATS-friendly terms from job descriptions
Inconsistent formatting - Maintain uniform fonts, bullets, and dates
Outdated information - Remove lapsed certifications and old equipment

ATS Optimization Checklist

Standard section headings
Simple bullet points (no graphics)
Standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
Saved as .docx or PDF
Keywords from job description included
Acronyms spelled out on first use
Certifications with full names
No tables, text boxes, or images
Dates formatted consistently

Where to Download Professional Templates

Make.ai Nurse Resume Templates (Recommended)

Browse our professional nurse resume templates featuring:

ATS-optimized layouts for healthcare professionals
Clean, professional formatting
Easy customization for OR nursing
Multiple style options
Built-in sections for certifications and clinical skills

Get Your Free OR Nurse Template →

Quick Formatting Tips

Fonts: Arial, Calibri, or Garamond (10-12pt body, 14-16pt name)

Margins: 0.75" to 1" on all sides

Bullet Points: 4-7 bullets per position, 1-2 lines each

Length: 1 page (under 5 years experience), 2 pages maximum (5+ years)

File Name: YourName_Resume_HospitalName_2025.pdf

Final Checklist

Before submitting:

✓ Customized for specific job posting ✓ Quantified achievements with metrics ✓ Included relevant keywords ✓ Proofread for typos ✓ Tested on different devices ✓ Saved in requested format ✓ Professional file name

Conclusion

The right operating room nurse resume template provides the foundation for showcasing your surgical expertise professionally. Choose a template matching your experience level, customize it with specific achievements, and optimize for ATS systems.

Your years of OR experience, technical mastery, and patient safety commitment deserve a resume that reflects your professionalism.

Ready to create your standout OR nurse resume? Browse our professional nurse resume templates featuring ATS-optimized layouts designed specifically for operating room nurses. Start building your resume in minutes with our easy-to-customize templates.

Need help with bullet points? Try our free AI-powered Resume Bullet Point Generator that creates achievement-focused bullets tailored to your perioperative nursing experience.

About the Author: Jennifer Thompson, RN, BSN, CNOR, is a perioperative nursing specialist with 12 years of experience in high-volume academic medical centers. She holds CNOR certification and is an active member of AORN.