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Chief nursing officer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Ashley Bell MSN, RN, OCN, CNE,

Dr. Catherine Stubin Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical chief nursing officer skills. We ranked the top skills for chief nursing officers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 18.2% of chief nursing officer resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a chief nursing officer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 chief nursing officer skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how chief nursing officers use patients:

Decreased in Medication Error - formed Medication PI Team resulting in timely delivery of medications to patients and improved documentation.
Coordinated ambulance services with different military treatment facilities or civilian organizations for the disposition of patients.

2. CNO

Here's how chief nursing officers use cno:

Assumed interim Chief Nurse responsibility upon resignation of previous CNO.
Expanded CNO role incorporating AA position responsibilities.

3. Rehabilitation

Here's how chief nursing officers use rehabilitation:

Created new standard operating procedures for the inpatient alcohol rehabilitation unit at Jacksonville, NC that improved consistency in processes.
Developed a free standing cardiac and rehabilitation outpatient center.

4. Patient Safety

Here's how chief nursing officers use patient safety:

Researched and collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to implement multifaceted programs as recommended Regulatory Agencies to increase patient safety.
Participated as Executive Member on Hospital board, Physician committees, employee/patient safety committees, Emergency Preparedness committees.

5. Performance Improvement

Performance improvement means an overall improvement of a business process to accomplish and achieve enhancement of the efficiency of the function/process, and to make it more profitable and economical, while the stated goals or objectives are accurately achieved and in a cost and time-efficient manner. Performance improvements can occur at several levels, including the employee level, the team level, the department or unit level, and the organization as a whole.

Here's how chief nursing officers use performance improvement:

Served as key catalyst in performance improvement by analyzing and trending nursing documentation as part of the Documentation Peer Review Program
Developed and led an overall nursing performance improvement plan that improved quality of patient care and increased customer service.

6. Quality Care

Here's how chief nursing officers use quality care:

Maintained quality care delivery within productivity and efficiency guidelines, ensuring clinical quality services hospital-wide.
Participate in local and corporate affiliations to improve community and hospital quality care.

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7. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how chief nursing officers use customer service:

Implemented retention initiatives including promoting reward and recognition, career paths/career development, improved selection and hiring process, customer service.
Developed customer service program and performance/behavioral standards for all employees which have resulted in excellent patient satisfaction ratings.

8. Patient Care

Patient care entails the diagnosis, recovery, and control of sickness as well as the maintenance of physical and emotional well-being through the use of healthcare providers' services. Patient care is described as services provided to patients by health practitioners or non-professionals under guidance.

Here's how chief nursing officers use patient care:

Designed and executed an enhanced medical-surgical patient care unit with key initiatives to improve patient outcomes and achieve regulatory guidelines.
Developed and implemented nursing strategy, budgetary requirements and corporate policies to ensure quality patient care and meet patient expectations.

9. Quality Improvement

Quality improvement (QA) is a systematic approach to eliminate or reduce rework, wastes, and losses in the production process. It is part of quality management, which aims to increase the ability to meet quality requirements. It manages change and uses data for making decisions to improve policies, programs, and results.

Here's how chief nursing officers use quality improvement:

Performed annual evaluations, monitored quality improvement programs, completed annual budgets, and ensured appropriate staffing in all areas.
Assess process, structure and outcomes and identify opportunities for implementation of Quality Improvement within the organization.

10. Employee Engagement

Here's how chief nursing officers use employee engagement:

Ensured all clinical regulatory requirements are met and responsibility for employee engagement and retention.
Implemented Strategies for Improved Employee Engagement Participation.

11. Oversight

Having oversight of someone means to monitor a process or a situation. If someone has oversight of something, they are responsible for the completion of the project. Oversight is usually given to experts as they monitor their juniors or newbies as they go through a project.

Here's how chief nursing officers use oversight:

Restructure and redevelopment of the outpatient wound care program through temporary oversight toward operation of a successful program.
Coordinated and provided professional oversight of the Clinical Nursing Department in conjunction with House Supervisors.

12. Health System

A health system or a health care system consists of the different health institutions, organizations, and other resources that promote health as a whole. One of the objectives of this is ensuring that all residents in a particular community or industry are protected and secured through an organized health system. Also, it is to protect people against financial crises because of illnesses or illnesses.

Here's how chief nursing officers use health system:

Served as TJC chapter expert across the Health System for Transplant Safety.
Participated in FTC challenge in order to merge with Inova Health system.

13. Infection Control

Infection control describes the principles and practices used in hospitals and other healthcare facilities to control and minimize the spread of infections with the aim of lowering rates of infection. Infection control refers to the process of detecting and controlling pathogens in order to reduce their spread.

Here's how chief nursing officers use infection control:

Provided executive leadership for Nursing Department, Infection Control and Level 1 Trauma Program reporting directly to Executive Director/CEO.
Developed and implemented research based infection control policies and procedures for management of infections in facility.

14. Executive Leadership

Here's how chief nursing officers use executive leadership:

Developed and presented numerous capital projects to the Regional Executive Leadership Team.
Maintain an active role in the hospital's governing body, executive leadership and medical staff processes.

15. Home Health

Here's how chief nursing officers use home health:

Led all nursing/ancillary clinical/clinical support programs/long term care services and programs/ambulance service/and community based services including home health and hospice.
Led organization through successful CHAP accreditation survey process for home health and hospice programs.

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What skills help Chief Nursing Officers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What type of skills will young chief nursing officers need?

Ashley Bell MSN, RN, OCN, CNE

Assistant Professor, Missouri Baptist University

In addition to critical thinking and clinical judgment skills, students should have skills sets in resiliency and emotional intelligence.

What soft skills should all chief nursing officers possess?

Dr. Catherine Stubin Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Rutgers University - Camden

Nursing is a complex profession that requires continuous interaction with a variety of individuals in a high-stress environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased nurses' psychological distress, which could leave the U.S. with an unstable nurse workforce in years to come.
Priority consideration must be given to the psychosocial needs of nurses, as preparing nurses to persevere through adversities is essential for maintaining their physical, mental, and emotional health throughout their careers. We need skilled, caring, competent nurses who can cope with the physical and psychological demands of the nursing profession. Resilience is a core value and fundamental theme that must be addressed in the nursing workforce. Research demonstrates that there is a correlation between a healthcare professional's resilience and well-being in the workplace. Access to or engagement with social resources can activate self-care and resilient attributes, and resilience training can positively impact nurse stress, mindfulness, and resilience. Resilient nurses can better manage their response to stress and adversity, which will contribute to patient safety and promote positive patient outcomes.

Do you want to know more?

List of chief nursing officer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a chief nursing officer resume and required skills for a chief nursing officer to have include:

Patients
CNO
Rehabilitation
Patient Safety
Performance Improvement
Quality Care
Customer Service
Patient Care
Quality Improvement
Employee Engagement
Oversight
Health System
Infection Control
Executive Leadership
Home Health
Staff Development
Surgery

Critical Care
Patient Outcomes
Clinical Services
Compassion
Professional Development
Strategic Plan
FTE
Wound Care
Clinical Operations
Acute Care Hospital
Regulatory Compliance
CMS
Process Improvement
Acute Care Facility
Radiology
Contract Labor
HR

Direct Reports
Risk Management
Registered Nursing
Surgical Services
ICU
LOS
JCAHO
Oncology
Patient Flow
Perioperative
Bed Facility
EMR
Physical Therapy
OB
Telemetry
Business Development

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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