When you update your nursing resume or sit in an interview, one question always comes up: “What technical skills do you have?”
Technical skills are the hands-on tasks that prove you can do more than understand theory. They show you can deliver safe, confident, and effective care.
Think IV starts, wound care, or charting in an electronic record. These skills prove to patients and employers that you’re ready for the floor.
In this guide, we’ll walk through clear nursing technical skills examples you can use right away. You’ll see how they look in different settings, why they matter, and how to highlight them on your resume. Whether you’re a nursing student or an experienced RN, this list will help you polish your toolkit.
What Are Nursing Technical Skills?
Nursing skills fall into two main groups:
- Soft skills like empathy, communication, and teamwork.
- Technical skills — the practical, hands-on tasks that keep patients safe.
Nursing technical skills are measurable abilities tied to direct care, equipment, and procedures. They answer the question: “Can you actually do this?”
Think of them as the bridge between classroom knowledge and bedside action.
- Knowing the anatomy of a vein is knowledge.
- Starting an IV line correctly is a technical skill.
These skills usually fit into four areas:
- Core care — vital signs, medication administration, wound care.
- Specialized procedures — catheterization, suctioning, intubation support.
- Technology use — EHRs, infusion pumps, monitoring equipment.
- Setting-specific care — ventilator management in ICU, growth checks in pediatrics, or mobility support in long-term care.
Employers look for these skills because they show you can handle the real demands of the job. Patients value them because they mean safer, more reliable care. And for you, they’re a way to stand out—on a resume, in an interview, or when asking for a promotion.
Nursing Technical Skills Examples (Grouped by Type)
Core Nursing Skills
Core nursing technical skills are the foundation of practice. These are the everyday tasks you’ll perform in almost any healthcare setting, and they’re often the first things listed in job postings. By mastering them, you show both competence and readiness for patient care.
- Vital Signs Monitoring — One of the most essential nursing technical skills examples, this involves tracking temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure.
Resume Example: Accurately measured and recorded vital signs for 15+ patients per shift, escalating abnormal results to providers immediately. - Infection Control & Aseptic Technique — A critical skill for preventing hospital-acquired infections and ensuring safe care.
Resume Example: Maintained aseptic technique during dressing changes and consistently followed infection control protocols. - Medication Administration — Among the most in-demand nursing technical skills, this shows you can safely administer meds across different routes.
Resume Example: Administered oral, subcutaneous, and IV medications to diverse patient populations with 100% accuracy. - IV Therapy — Employers look for this core competency on resumes because IV therapy is such a common technical skill for nurses.
Resume Example: Initiated peripheral IV lines, managed IV fluids, and ensured proper documentation in EHR. - Wound Care — A practical skill that proves your ability to monitor healing and prevent infection.
Resume Example: Performed wound assessments and sterile dressing changes, documenting progress in daily notes. - Patient Mobility & Transfers — Safe patient movement is one of the most practical nursing technical skills examples for preventing injuries and promoting recovery.
Resume Example: Assisted immobile patients with transfers using gait belts and lift equipment to reduce fall risk.
Advanced & Specialized Nursing Skills
Advanced nursing technical skills are gained with training, certifications, or specialized unit experience. They set you apart as a professional who can handle complex care and high-risk patients.
- Catheterization — A precise technical skill in nursing involving insertion and care of urinary catheters.
Resume Example: Inserted and managed Foley catheters using sterile technique, accurately monitoring intake and output for surgical patients. - Suctioning & Airway Management — Essential for maintaining airway clearance and oxygenation.
Resume Example: Performed tracheostomy suctioning to maintain airway patency and monitored patient tolerance. - Ventilator & Respiratory Support — A specialized nursing technical skill critical in ICU and respiratory care.
Resume Example: Monitored ventilator settings and patient oxygenation in a 12-bed ICU, collaborating with respiratory therapy team. - Central Line & PICC Line Care — These advanced skills prove your competence with invasive devices.
Resume Example: Performed sterile central line dressing changes and flushed lines per hospital policy, reducing infection risks. - Phlebotomy & Blood Administration — A highly transferrable nursing technical skill across multiple settings.
Resume Example: Collected venous blood samples and initiated blood transfusions while monitoring for adverse reactions. - Specialized Equipment & Monitoring — Showcases expertise with devices like dialysis machines, cardiac monitors, or smart pumps.
Resume Example: Managed continuous cardiac monitoring and titrated IV medications using smart pump technology.
Setting-Specific Nursing Skills
Different environments emphasize different nursing technical skills examples. Showing that you know which skills apply to Med-Surg, ICU, ED, Pediatrics, or LTC demonstrates adaptability and awareness of patient needs.
Medical-Surgical (Med-Surg) Nursing
- IV Starts & Medication Administration — Common technical skills for nurses in Med-Surg units.
Resume Example: Started peripheral IV lines and administered IV antibiotics to post-op patients with 100% accuracy. - Wound & Drain Care — A practical nursing technical skill for post-surgical patients.
Resume Example: Performed daily wound assessments and maintained Jackson-Pratt drains to support healing. - Post-Op Monitoring — Critical for spotting complications early.
Resume Example: Monitored post-op patients for signs of infection or bleeding, escalating abnormal findings to physicians.
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nursing
- Ventilator Management — An advanced nursing technical skill vital in critical care.
Resume Example: Monitored ventilator settings and patient oxygen levels in a 12-bed ICU, collaborating with respiratory therapists. - Titrating Critical Drips — A specialized example of precision-based nursing skills.
Resume Example: Safely titrated norepinephrine and dopamine infusions according to hemodynamic parameters. - Frequent Neuro & Cardiac Checks — Regular assessments highlight vigilance in the ICU setting.
Resume Example: Performed hourly neurological checks and cardiac assessments, documenting changes in patient condition.
Emergency Department (ED) Nursing
- Rapid Triage — A defining nursing technical skill example for ED nurses.
Resume Example: Performed triage assessments and prioritized care for patients based on acuity in a high-volume emergency unit. - Critical IV Access — A skill that proves speed and accuracy under pressure.
Resume Example: Established IV access for unstable patients and prepared emergency medications within minutes. - Code & Trauma Response — Life-saving skills that set ED nursing apart.
Resume Example: Assisted in multiple Code Blue events, performing CPR and preparing defibrillation equipment.
Pediatric Nursing
- Growth & Development Checks — A specialized technical skill in pediatric nursing.
Resume Example: Conducted growth chart assessments and documented developmental progress for pediatric patients. - Weight-Based Medication Dosing — A must-have pediatric nursing skill.
Resume Example: Calculated and administered weight-based antibiotics and analgesics for pediatric patients. - Family-Centered Care — Technical skills paired with communication.
Resume Example: Educated parents on medication schedules and post-discharge care plans.
Long-Term Care (LTC) Nursing
- Mobility Support & Fall Prevention — Essential nursing technical skills examples in LTC settings.
Resume Example: Assisted elderly residents with mobility and used lift equipment to reduce fall risk. - Chronic Wound Management — A daily responsibility in long-term care facilities.
Resume Example: Provided daily wound dressing changes and monitored for infection in bedridden patients. - Medication Administration — High-volume medication management is one of the most critical nursing technical skills in LTC.
Resume Example: Administered scheduled oral medications to 25+ residents during each shift with accuracy and compassion.
How to Showcase Nursing Technical Skills on a Resume
Employers don’t just want to hear that you “provided patient care.” They want clear nursing technical skills examples that prove you can handle the work. The good news? With the right format, you can make your resume stand out even if you’re a new grad.
Create a Dedicated “Skills” Section
Keep this section short, clear, and scannable. Use keywords from the job description so your resume passes applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Example layout:
Skills
– IV Therapy & Fluid Management
– Wound Care & Dressing Changes
– Medication Administration (Oral, IV, SubQ)
– Catheterization & Specimen Collection
– Electronic Health Record (Epic, Cerner)
This shows recruiters your core nursing technical skills in seconds.
Add Skills to Work Experience
Listing skills is good, but proving them with action is better. Turn duties into impact-driven bullet points with numbers when possible.
Examples:
- Administered IV medications and fluids to 15+ patients daily with zero dosage errors.
- Performed wound assessments and dressing changes, reducing infection rates on unit by 10%.
- Operated ventilators and managed oxygen therapy for critically ill patients in a 12-bed ICU.
This way, your technical skills in nursing come across as proven experience, not just claims.
Highlight Certifications and Training
Certifications instantly back up your technical competence. Include things like BLS, ACLS, PALS, or wound care certification.
Example:
- Certified in PICC Line Insertion and Maintenance.
- ACLS Certified; proficient in emergency code response.
Tailor Skills to the Job Description
Not every employer needs every skill. Mirror the posting’s language so your resume feels like a perfect match.
Example: If the ad says “phlebotomy required,” write:
- Performed 20+ venipunctures per shift for lab diagnostics.
For New Grads: Use Clinical Rotations
If you don’t have much work experience, highlight technical skills you practiced during rotations.
Example:
- Performed catheter insertions and IV starts during clinical rotations at a 300-bed teaching hospital.
Common Mistakes Nurses Make With Technical Skills
Even skilled nurses sometimes misstep when showing or using their technical abilities. Here are the most common errors—and how to fix them.
1. Listing Only Generic Skills
Writing “patient care” or “medication administration” is too vague.
- Fix: Be specific. Say “Administered IV antibiotics and monitored for side effects.”
2. Forgetting Numbers
Saying you “performed wound care” doesn’t show scale.
- Fix: Add numbers. “Provided wound care for 10+ surgical patients per shift.”
3. Highlighting Rarely Used Skills
Showcasing a skill you’ve done once or twice.
- Fix: Focus on the skills you use often and confidently.
4. Skipping Technology Skills
Leaving out EHR, infusion pumps, or monitoring tools.
- Fix: Employers expect digital know-how—make sure it’s listed.
5. Using Outdated Practices
Including tasks that are no longer best practice.
- Fix: Keep your resume current with modern techniques and training.
Avoiding these mistakes shows you’re detail-oriented and up to date—two qualities every employer values.
FAQs About Nursing Technical Skills
1. What are examples of basic nursing technical skills?
Basic skills include checking vital signs, giving medications, starting IVs, performing wound care, and documenting in electronic health records. These are the foundation of safe patient care.
2. How are technical skills different from soft skills?
Technical skills are hands-on tasks you can measure—like inserting a catheter or managing a ventilator. Soft skills are people-centered—like teamwork, empathy, and communication. Both are essential, but technical skills prove your clinical ability.
3. Do new nurses need advanced skills right away?
Not at first. Most new grads begin with core skills and learn advanced ones over time through mentorship, training, and practice.
4. How can I improve my technical skills?
- Practice in simulation labs.
- Ask senior nurses to demonstrate.
- Join workshops or CE courses.
- Apply skills consistently in clinical settings.
5. Should I list every technical skill on my resume?
No. Quality matters more than quantity. Choose the skills most relevant to the role and those you’re confident in.
Conclusion: Building Confidence With Nursing Technical Skills
Technical skills are the backbone of nursing. They’re more than school check-offs—they’re what help you deliver safe, effective care in real life.
Every time you start an IV, change a dressing, or manage equipment, you’re proving your ability. These moments build trust with patients and show employers you’re ready for the challenge.
When you highlight your skills clearly—with examples, numbers, and setting-specific tasks—you turn your resume into proof of competence. More importantly, you remind yourself of how much you can do.
Key takeaway: Keep learning, practicing, and updating your technical skills. They’re not just tasks on a checklist—they’re evidence of your growth and value as a professional nurse.
