WRITING A NURSING CURRICULUM VITAE
What is a CV?
Curriculum vitae, also known as a CV, literally means
Course of Life. A CV is a more extensive summary of
what one has done professionally than a resume. It
is your chance to provide both a detailed and
comprehensive description of your academic
credentials and experience. It is viewed as a
marketing tool and is used primarily by those who
hold master’s or doctoral degrees when they apply
for teaching or research positions at colleges,
universities and research institutions. A CV should
be updated frequently based on the developments in
a scholar’s career.
What should I include?
Your CV is your paper introduction to potential
employers. It should be clear, concise and easy to
read so that you will be considered for an interview
by a search committee.
The following categories are often included:
Contact info (Name, address, telephone and e-mail)
Business info
Licenses
Education (Degrees, awarding institutions and dates)
Dissertation or thesis title(s), names of advisor and
committee members Awards/grants
Post-doctoral training/fellowships
Academic appointments
Hospital affiliated appointments (if applicable)
Publications and conference presentations
Teaching experience and interests
Related experience (for example, administrative or
editorial experience)
Languages or other skills (including technology)
Extracurricular activities/community service
Service and membership in professional associations
How should I organize my CV?
Two common strategies that apply to CV's as well as
resumes are gapping and parallelism. Gapping is
the use of incomplete sentences in order to present
your information as clearly and concisely as possibly.
Parallelism is also very important to a strong CV.
Generally, you will want to keep the structure of your
phrases and/or sentences consistent throughout your
document. Thus, if you use a particular verb tense in
one portion of your CV to describe your duties, try to
use the same throughout your CV. Additionally, be
consistent in your use of punctuation, type face and
indentation. Finally, liberal use of white space and
judicious use of bold type can help make your CV
easier to read. Use topical headings and consider
that what comes first will receive the most
emphasis. New job seekers usually open with their
academic preparation, drawing attention to their
degrees. Experienced job seekers, however, may
begin with their current positions.
How long should my CV be?
Content determines the length of the CV. A current
student or junior professor will likely have a CV two
to four pages in length; however, senior faculty can
create a vitae that may be ten pages or more.
Finally, meet with a career coach to review your CV
and show it to your professors to solicit their
feedback.
Additional Online Resources:
www.chronicle.com/jobs/archive/advicearch.htm
www.stanford.edu/dept/CDC/graphics/pdfs/CV_covle
ts.pdf
www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/gradstud/sampl
es.html
RESUME VS. CURRICULUM VITAE
Resume
Curriculum Vitae
● Generally limited to one page
● Concise, brief listing of relevant experiences
and skills
● Primarily used in the U.S.
● Used when applying to positions outside of
academia
● Contains no personal information (birth date,
marital status, nationality, etc.)
● Is used to create a professional identity
● Tailored to the position you are seeking
● Longer than a resume, up to two or more
pages
● Used in the U.S. when applying for academic,
education, scientific or research positions
● Provides more detailed synopsis of your
background and skills than a resume
● Includes a summary of your educational and
academic backgrounds as well as teaching
and research experience, publications,
presentations, awards, honors, affiliations and
other details
● Is used to create a scholarly identity
● Tailored to the position one is seeking
● When applying to positions in other countries,
may include personal information
DOs:
● Maintain plenty of white space (in the margins, between listings, etc.)
● Using large enough type font to make it easy to read
● Preserve order by labeling each page with your name and the page number
● Organize content by providing clear explanations and intuitive listings/sections
● Proofread information to catch errors
● If longer than one page, include name and page number on each page after the first
DON’Ts:
● Don’t have any typos due to spelling or grammatical errors
● Don’t rely on your computer program’s spell check function; it won’t detect when you’ve substituted the
wrong word (e.g. effect vs. affect)
● Don’t ignore aesthetics: Don’t skimp on space by cramming your content together, minimizing margins
or lumping separate ideas into lengthy paragraphs; emphasize independent points with separations so
that your CV will be easy to read
● Don’t include private personal information such as age, ethnicity, political affiliation, religion, social
security number, marital status, place of birth, height, sexual orientation, weight or health information
● Don’t rely on a template
Your CV should be designed to showcase your unique experiences. Your primary goal is to highlight the talents
that make you stand out. Play to your individual strengths and don’t worry if you use a different format than
others. If you speak a challenging foreign language or two, list them. If you can boast a long athletic history as
a Ping-Pong champion, include that. Spotlighting specialties in your background might increase your eligibility
for specialized scholarships
PHRASES TO ASSIST WITH DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Accountable to…
Acted/Functioned as…
All of the above resulted in…
Assigned to…
Concerned directly with…
Complete authority and responsibility for….
Concerned directly with…
Consistently…
Dual/Multiple Responsibilities included…
Due to/Because of/As a result of…
Ensuring/Assuring…
Experienced in all facets/phases/aspect of…
Expertise in…
Extensive experience in…
Extensive academic background in…
Familiar with…
For the purpose of …
Honored as…
In charge of…
In the capacity of….
Innovation resulted in…
Instrumental in…
Knowledge of…
Personally responsible for…
Proficient/competent in…
Projects involved…
Promoted from…
Proven track record of…
Provided liaison for/between…
Provided valuable/invaluable…
Recipient of…
Recommendations accepted by…
Regularly undertook…
Selected as/elected to…
Served/Operated…
Specialized in…
Specifically concerned with…
Successfully/succeeded in…
System/Program still in operation Temporarily assigned to…
To insure maximum/optimum…
Total accountability for…
TEMPLATE OF INFORMATION LAYOUT
CURRICULUM VITAE OF (INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND INITIALS OF DEGREES:
TITLE:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
CONTACT INFORMATION:
DATE OF PREPARATION:
LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION
EDUCATION
Institution, Location
Degree, Functional Area/Clinical Area, Date
Dissertation: Title and Description; Advisor’s name
FELLOWSHIPS/HONORS/AWARDS/GRANTS
Honor, Dates
CURRENT RESEARCH
Title of Project, Dates
COMPLETED RESEARCH
Title of Project, Dates
SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS
Reverse chronological order in format appropriate for your field. Write your own name in bold to highlight it
LECTURES/PRESENTATIONS AND CONFERENCE PAPERS
Sponsoring Organization
Title of Paper/Workshop/Panel, Dates
CONSULTATIONS
Consultation Activity, Dates
SCHOOL OF NURSING COMMITTEES
Committee Title/Involvement, Dates
Description of Activity
UNIVERSITY AFFILIATED COMMITTEES
Committee Title/Involvement, Dates
Description of Activity
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Institution, Location
Position and/or Function, Clinical Area, Dates
Description of Activity
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Organization, Location
Involvement or Title, Dates
Description of Activity
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Organization Involvement or Title, Dates
Description of Activity
CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS ATTENDED
Sponsoring Organization
Title of Conference, Dates
ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY
Organization, Location
Title/Involvement, Dates
Description of Activity
SAMPLE CV:
DORRIS HERKOFF, DrPH, RN, CPNP
Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Program, School of Nursing
XYZ University, City, State 12345
Phone: (xxx) 555-5555 or extension 123
Fax: (xxx) 555-5554
Email: dummy@dummy.edu
Education
RTS University (2001), certificate, pediatric nurse practitioner
ABC University School of Public Health (1994) DrPH, major in health education
ABC University School of Nursing (1968) MS, nursing education in nursing of children
ABC University School of Nursing (1966) BSN
Honors & Awards
2000. Alumna of the Year Award from ABC University School of Nursing
1994. Delta Omega, Honor Society for Public Health
1991. TAVZ Award for Excellence in Teaching
1989. Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Gamma Alpha Chapter
1966. President's Award. ABC University
Licensure/certifications
06/03 to present. Furnishing License with New York State Board of Nursing. License #XXXXX
10/01 to present. Certification as Pediatric Nurse Practitioner by National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse
Practitioners and Nurses.
08/01 to present. Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, New York Board of Registered Nursing. License #XXXXX
06/66 to present. Registered Nurse, New York Board of Registered Nursing. License #XXXXXX
08/87 to present. Basic Life Support Provider: American Heart Association.
05/01 to 05/03. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Provider.
01/93 to 2003. Certified Pediatric Nurse: The National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and
Nurses.
Professional memberships
1989 to present. Sigma Theta Tau, Gamma Alpha Chapter
1995 to present. Society for Pediatric Nursing, Inland Empire Chapter
1993 to 2001. Transcultural Nursing Society
Professional experience
01/04 to present. Lecturer and course faculty in 6 unit-junior-level course, Child Health Nursing. Lecturer and
course faculty in 4 unit-juniorlevel course, Health Promotion Across the Lifespan.
CV of Dorris Herkoff page 2
01/05 to 12/06. Course coordinator for NRSG 553, Pediatric Primary Health Care III, Clinical graduate course
for Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Students. Activities involved class presentations and evaluation.
09/04 to 01/05. Course coordinator for NRSG 552, Pediatric Primary Health Care II, Clinical graduate course
for Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Students. Activities involved class presentations and evaluation.
03/04 to 07/04. Course coordinator for NRSG 551, Pediatric Primary Health Care I, Clinical graduate course
for Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Students. Activities involved: clinical supervision, class presentations and
evaluation.
03/02 to 02/06. Pediatric nurse practitioner, Social Action Community Health Services, Norton and Arrowhead
sites. Under the supervision of: Kenneth Hart, MD; Marti Baum MD; and Anita Adorador, FNP.
09/01 to 04/01. Pediatric nurse practitioner clinical preceptorship
Kaiser Permanente-Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga Clinic, Primary Care, General Pediatrics. Under the
preceptorship of Val Nelson, PNP, provided well-infant and child care. Managed common acute and chronic
problems.
07/00 to 09/00. Pediatric nurse practitioner clinical preceptorship Beaver Clinic, Banning, Primary Care,
General Pediatrics. Under the preceptorship of Glenda Castillo, PNP, provided well-infant and child care.
Managed common acute and chronic problems.
07/00 to 04/01. Pediatric nurse practitioner clinical preceptorship Beaver Clinic, Redlands, Pediatric Urgent
Care. Under the preceptorship of Glenda Castillo, PNP, managed common acute pediatric problems.
08/00 to 04/01. Pediatric nurse practitioner clinical preceptorship ABC University Children's Hospital. Under the
preceptorship of pediatricians and nurse practitioners, rotated through cardiac, diabetic, general surgery,
and hematology/oncology. Observed and discussed management of acute pediatric health problems.
01/76 to 06/82. Tanzania Adventist Seminary and College, Tanzania, East Africa. Faculty, Maternal/Child
Health Education. Taught maternal/child health to students and their wives - a three-quarter course covering
marriage, reproduction, family planning, and child care.
Research projects
Co-principle investigator: (with J. Ramirez, EdD), SAC Norton Latino Patients Cultural Understanding of Health
Care: An Ethnographic Study of Decision Making Processes Determining the Use of Medical and Para-medical
Resources, April, 1997 - December 2000, Funding source: Sigma Theta Tau, Gamma Alpha Chapter.
Co-investigator (with Johnny Ramirez EdD & Jerry Lee PhD). Four Skills Cultural Engagement Inventory, July,
1999 - June 2001.
Co-principle investigator: (with C. J. Morgan, RN, PhD) Assessing Culture: Nurses' Beliefs and Self-reported
Practices, September, 1995 - June, 1998, Funding source: LLU School of Nursing Seed Money.
CV of Dorris Herkoff Page 3
Principle investigator: Assessing Culture: Pediatric Nurses' Beliefs and Self-reported Practices, December,
1992 - June, 1994, Doctoral dissertation, Funding source: ABC School of Nursing Seed Money.
Assisted research
Comparing the Readability of Nursing Literature with the Reading Levels of Registered Nurses." Principle
investigator, Miriam Lancaster, RN, BSN, CCRN.
Stress and Coping of Hospitalized School-age Children, Phase I Principle Investigator - Elizabeth Bossert,
DNS RN, January to August, 1991.
Stress and Coping of Hospitalized School-age Children, Phase II
Principle investigator - Elizabeth Bossert, DNS RN
January, 1992 - June, 1992.
Self-reported Fears of Hospitalized School-age Children
Principle investigator - Elizabeth Bossert, DNS RN
January, 1992 to April, 1992
Publications--peer-reviewed:
Herkoff, D., (1999). Assessing Culture: Pediatric Nurses' Beliefs and Self-reported Practices, Journal of
Pediatric Nursing 14(4), 255-262.
Herkoff, E. & Hart, D. (1998). Chapter 20, Acute Illness: Effects on the Child's Family. Core Curriculum for the
Nursing Care of Children and Their Families.
Herkoff, D. & Schneider, D., (1997). Spiritual Care of Children with Cancer, Seminars in Oncology Nursing,
13(4), pp. 263-270.
Herkoff, D., & Bossert, E. (1994). Self- reported fears of hospitalized school-age children. Journal of Pediatric
Nursing, 9:2, 83-89.
Service proposals & grant
Principle author: "Case Management in Community-based Clinic"
submitted to: Helene Fuld Health Trust, New York, NY, March, 1999
Funding requested: $100,000
Proposal request denied funding
Principle author: "Bilingual/Bicultural Project in Inland Empire of Southern California"
submitted to: Office of Minority Health, Washington D.C. by SAC Health System, June, 1995
Funding requested: $299,345.00
Proposal request - approved, not funded
Principle author:"A Healthier Community: Health Promotion Services to an Underserved Population in the
Inland Empire"
CV of Dorris Herkoff Page 4
Submitted to: The New York Wellness Foundation by ABC University, March, 1995
Funding requested: $435,676.00
Grant approved and funded with $405,000.00
School of Nursing representative and co-author: "Health Professions Schools in Service to the Nation"
Interdisciplinary Service-Learning Program
for ABC University
submitted to: The Pew Health Professions Commission by ABC University, January, 1995
Funding requested: $100,000.00
Grant approved and funded
Professional oral presentations
Herkoff, D. Health Promotion Across the Lifespan, Zhejiang University, Huangzhou, China, November 14-18,
2005.
Herkoff, D. Childhood/Adolescent Obesity, Guest Lecturer, Theoretical Foundations of Nursing of Children,
UCLA School of Nursing, March 7, 2001.
Herkoff, D. Wholistic Care for Children, Conference presentation at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital on Wholistic
Nursing Care, Global Partnership Project, March 12, 2001, Hangzhou, China.
Herkoff, D. Helping Children with Psychosocial Needs, Conference presentation at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital,
Global Partnership Project, March 13, 2001, Hangzhou, China.
Herkoff, D. Faces of Grief: Cultural Differences in the Grief Process, Grief Counselors Seminar, ABC University
Medical Center, August 7, 2000
Herkoff, D. (1995). Beliefs about assessing culture: the influence of racial identity. Presentation at the 28th
Annual Communicating Nursing Research Conference Innovation and Collaboration: Responses to Health
Care Needs, sponsored by the Western Society for Research in Nursing at the Western Institute of Nursing,
May 4-6, San Diego, CA.
Lay articles & presentations
Herkoff, D. & Hart, K. (1999), "Child Abuse: When Does Discipline become Abusive", "Preventing HIV & AIDS",
"Sex: Healthy, Happy, and Holy", Regional Children's Leaders Convention, Southern African Union
Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa, August 28 & 29, 1999.
Herkoff, D., "Preventing, Detecting, and Coping with Women's Dread Diseases"; Women and Children's
Ministry Conference, South Philippine Union Conference, Mountain View College, Mindanao, Philippines, April
7, 1998.
CV of Dorris Herkoff Page 4
Herkoff, D., & Hart, K., "Understanding the Needs of Your Spouse"; "Understanding Teenagers"; "Protecting
Children from Abuse"; "Health Across the Lifespan"; Women and Children's Ministry Conference, South
Philippine Union Conference, Mountain View College, Mindanao, Philippines, April 8-10, 1998.
Herkoff, D. & Dew, E. (May 3, 1997). Mission in our own back yard - ABC University School of Nursing's
Community Involvement, Vista SDA Church.
