resume for nursing graduate

6 New Grad Nursing Resume Examples + How To Write

Are you a new grad nurse or about to complete your nursing degree? If so, congratulations on your impressive accomplishment! At this point, you may be wondering what is your next action in the strategy to secure a job. If so, read on for vital information to help you successfully navigate the unchartered territory of finding employment as a nurse. Preparing a top-notch resume is an essential step in securing a position after graduation. When thinking about how to compose a resume, you might ask, what are some exceptional examples of new grad nursing resumes? This article, 6 best new grad nursing resume examples, will guide you through the process of creating a professional new grad nursing resume that is sure to impress. Additionally, well-structured resume examples will visually aid you in designing your resume that is sure to catch the eye of your future employer.

What Exactly is a New Grad Nursing Resume?

How is a new grad nursing resume different from an experienced nursing resume, 4 reasons why an exceptional resume makes a difference to new grad nurses, 1. you may be competing with experienced nurses-, 2. there may be many candidates-, 3. highlights new skills-, 4. helps to get your foot in the door-, what are some exceptional examples of new grad nursing resumes, example #1: resume of diane joyner, diane joyner, licenses and credentialing, clinical experience, student nurse.

• Performed new mom, baby and labor and delivery patient care duties on a 12-bed obstetrics unit. • Team leader for student nurse rotation on 2 occasions. • Developed nursing care plans on 2-3 patients each week. • Completed 75 clinical hours in obstetrics.

• Performed patient care duties on a busy 28-bed pediatric unit. Commended by clinical instructor, preceptor, and unit nurses for ease of adaptation, enthusiasm, and expert nursing care of children on unit. • Team leader for colleagues on 4 occasions. • Developed nursing care plans on 3-10 patients per week. • Developed and instituted engaging quiet activity lessons and entertainment boxes for children while in the hospital. • For children in quarantine, developed exercises to promote circulation and heart health while recovering in isolation, if applicable. • Completed 75 clinical hours in Pediatrics.

• Provided nursing care in a busy inner-city ER, ICU, and CCU. • Completed 90 hours total of critical care clinical hours. • Evaluated at 100% by the instructor for competence in critical care skills.

• Completed 30 outpatient hours as a public health nurse, either traveling for home visits or at a community clinic. • Evaluated and developed plans of care for patients from 7 months to 70 years old. • Completed 30 additional outpatient hours in a public elementary and middle school.

• Performed basic nursing care in a 400-bed community hospital with 2-4 adult patients daily. • Administered nursing services to seniors and disabled patients in community rehab and nursing facilities. • Completed 100 hours total of med-surg clinical hours.

Work History

Certified nurses aid.

• Performed basic hygiene and health aide services in a 300-bed nursing facility during vacations and summer.

Secretary to Bloomsburg University Department of Nursing

• Performed basic office duties such as filing, answering phones, and typing reports.

Babysitter for 2 diabetic sisters

• Hired to babysit and carefully monitor 2 diabetic children where carb counting, blood sugar monitoring, and insulin injections were necessary.

• Hostess, waitress, cook, and dishwasher duties as needed in a bustling restaurant.

Volunteer Work

• Mother of a newborn • Candy striper • Campus Catholic Organization • Church nursery worker • St Francis Soup Kitchen • Campus blood drive

What Makes This An Exceptional New Grad Registered Nurse Resume:

Example #2: resume of jan beck, licenses and credentialing.

1/2021-4/2021 Boseman, Montana

• Performed new mom, baby, and labor and delivery patient care duties on an 8-bed birthing center. • Developed nursing care plans on 1-2 patients each week. • Completed 75 clinical hours in obstetrics.

9/2020-11/2020 Boseman, Montana

• Performed patient care duties on a busy 20-bed pediatric unit. • Developed nursing care plans on 2-4 patients per week. • Completed 75 clinical hours in Pediatrics.

1/2020-5/2020 Boseman, Montana

• Provided nursing care ER, ICU, and CCU. • Completed 90 hours total of critical care clinical hours. • Evaluated at 99% by the instructor for competence in critical care skills. • Selected consistently by the staff and clinical instructor to work on Covid and burn units along with special cases.

11/2019-12/2019 Boseman, Montana

• Completed 30 psychiatric clinical hours at a 150-bed psychiatric hospital. • Completed psychiatric evaluations and instituted and monitored mental health treatment plans on 2 patients per day.

9/2019-10/2019 Boseman, Montana

• Completed 30 outpatient hours in a high school health clinic.

1/2019- 5/2019 Boseman, Montana

• Performed basic adult nursing care in a 200-bed community hospital with 2-4 patients daily. • Completed 100 hours total of med-surg clinical hours.

WORK HISTORY

University lab assistant.

5/2019-Present Boseman, Montana

• Selected by nursing faculty to assist in Anatomy and Physiology labs along with Microbiology lab.

Student Tutor

1/2020-Present Boseman, Montana

• Tutored students in course work for science, health, computer technology.

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Graduated second in nursing class with a 3.96 GPA • Received 4.0 in all clinical rotations • Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society • Award for future nurse in excellence and scholarship

Example #3: Resume of Joan Zimmerman

Joan zimmerman.

1/2021-4/2021

• Completed 60 clinical hours rotating between urgent care and family health clinic. • The preceptor stated she felt very confident in all skills and knowledge to independently care for patients under her supervision.

9/2020-11/2020

• Performed patient care duties on a busy 60-bed pediatric unit. • Developed nursing care plans on 2-4 patients per day. • Completed 75 clinical hours in Pediatrics.

1/2020-5/2020

• Provided nursing care ER, ICU, and CCU. • Completed 90 hours total of critical care clinical hours. • Evaluated at 100% by the instructor for competence in critical care skills. • Team head 3 out of 10-week rotation. • Nurses on the unit commented daily on my advanced knowledge of cardiovascular conditions and ability to handle patient care efficiently.

11/2019-12/2019

• Completed 30 psychiatric clinical hours at a 241-bed psychiatric hospital. • Completed psychiatric evaluations and instituted and monitored mental health treatment plans on 2 patients per day.

9/2019-10/2019

• Completed 60 outpatient hours rotating between units for women’s health, labor and delivery, NICU, PICU, and newborn nursery.

1/2019-5/2019

• Performed basic nursing care on adults in a busy 600-bed hospital with 2-4 patients daily. • Completed 100 hours total of med-surg clinical hours.

Walmart Cashier

5/2017-Present

Honors and Awards

• Graduated first in nursing class with a 3.99 GPA • Received 4.0 in all clinical rotations • Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society • Future Nurse Leader Award • School of Nursing Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award

Volunteer and Leadership Experience

• President of Student Nursing Association • Captain of the high school basketball team

Example #4: Resume of Lizzie Arndt

Lizzie arndt.

1/2021-5/2021 Jersey City, New Jersey

• Completed 60 clinical hours performing home health services on patients of a variety of ages and conditions, including prenatal and postnatal care. • Developed new mom instructional videos on breastfeeding and bathing.

9/2020-11/2020 Eastman, New Jersey

• Performed patient care duties on a busy 62-bed pediatric unit. • Developed nursing care plans on 2-4 patients per day. • Completed 75 clinical hours in Pediatrics. • Rotated onto pediatric burn unit.

1/2020-5/2020 Eastman, New Jersey

• Provided nursing care ER, ICU, CCU, and adult burn unit. • Completed 90 hours total of critical care clinical hours.

11/2019-12/2019 Eastman, New Jersey

• Completed 30 psychiatric clinical hours at a state prison on both men’s and women’s units. • Completed psychiatric evaluations and instituted and monitored mental health treatment plans on 1-3 patients per day.

9/2019-10/2019 Eastman, New Jersey

• Completed 60 outpatient hours rotating between units for women’s health, labor and delivery and NICU, PICU, and newborn nursery. • Achieved 100% on clinical skills and knowledge testing. • Developed competency checklist for pre- and post-natal teaching of pregnant women and new moms. • Established support reference material for new mom packet.

1/2019- 5/2019 Eastman, New Jersey

• Performed basic adult nursing care in a busy 575-bed hospital with 2-4 patients daily. • Completed 100 hours total of med-surg clinical hours in the hospital and adjoining rehabilitation center.

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard

5/2017-Present Jersey City, New Jersey

• Graduated first in nursing class with a 3.95 GPA • Received 4.0 in all clinical rotations • Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society • Outstanding Nursing Student Award • Scholarship for swimming • Scholarship for academic excellence

Extra-Curricular Activities

• Division I swimming all 4 years in college

Example #5: Resume of Lynn Horton

Lynn horton.

• Performed new mom, baby and labor and delivery patient care duties on a 50-bed women’s health unit. • Completed 75 clinical hours in obstetrics.

• Performed patient care duties on a busy 20-bed pediatric unit. • Developed nursing care plans on 2-4 patients per week. • Rotated onto pediatric oncology unit to care for 1-2 oncology patients per day. • Completed 75 clinical hours in Pediatrics.

• Provided nursing care in ER, ICU, and CCU units. • Completed 96 hours total of critical care clinical hours.

• Completed 30 psychiatric clinical hours at a 40-bed detox and substance abuse facility. • Completed psychiatric evaluations and instituted and monitored mental health treatment plans on 2-3 patients per day. • Assisted nursing and psychiatric staff with detox and substance abuse treatment and therapy.

• Completed 30 outpatient hours in a home health agency to include care for adults and children with cancer.

• Performed basic nursing care in a 600-bed community hospital with 2-4 patients daily. • Completed 100 hours total of med-surg clinical hours.

Certified Nurse Assistant

• Provided comfort and basic care to adult patients with cancer.

• Graduated Magna Cum Laude • Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society • Award for future nurse in excellence and scholarship

Volunteer and Extra-curricular Activities

• Served as a companion and nurse’s aide to a friend dying of cancer • Division III university softball player

Example #6: Resume of Paul Linney

Paul linney.

1/2021-4/2021 Tampa, Florida

• Performed new mom, baby and labor and delivery patient care duties on a 30-bed birthing center. • Performed basic nursing and prenatal care to walk-in women’s health center. • Completed 75 clinical hours in obstetrics and women’s health.

9/2020-11/2020 Tampa, Florida

• Performed patient care duties on a busy 38-bed pediatric unit. • Developed nursing care plans on 2-3 patients per week. • Completed 75 clinical hours in Pediatrics.

1/2020-5/2020 Tampa, Florida

• Provided nursing care in ER, ICU, and CCU units. • Completed 90 hours total of critical care clinical hours.

10/2019-12/2019 Tampa, Florida

• Completed 30 psychiatric clinical hours on a 62-bed psychiatric unit, which included detox and substance abuse treatment. • Completed psychiatric evaluations and instituted and monitored mental health treatment plans on 2-4 patients per day. • Assisted nursing and psychiatric staff with detox and substance abuse treatment and therapy. • Achieved 100% for clinical rotation. • Selected as team leader 5 out of 8 weeks on unit. • The Nurses and the preceptor remarked weekly about comfort level and ease with working with psychiatric patients.

9/2019-10/2019 St. Pete, Florida

• Completed 30 outpatient hours in a community center for at-risk youth. • Held group sessions for abused and traumatized teens. • Met individually with 2 patients per week for individual counseling and psychiatric sessions and care.

1/2019-5/2019 Tampa, Florida

• Performed basic nursing care in a 300-bed community hospital with 2-4 patients daily. • Completed 100 hours total of med-surg clinical hours.

VOLUNTEER AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

• Boys Club of Clearwater • Paxton Ministries Soup Kitchen • Special Olympics

How to Write an Exceptional New Grad RN Resume?

1. proper format.

• Your name and contact information at the top of the page • Easy to read (not fancy) fonts such as New Times Roman, Arial, and Calibri • Font size 11 or12 • Stay consistent in fonts and style types • Be concise • No abbreviations or slang

2. Summary or objective

• Professional goals • Name of unit and institution where you are applying • Nursing skills and qualities pertinent to the position • Degrees and professional certifications

3. Licenses and credentialing

• The full name of your license or certification • Institution or body that issued license

4. Education

• Official school name • Location of the school • Dates you attended or graduated • Degree that you completed

5. Clinical rotations

• The type of the clinical rotation • Dates of the rotation and total hours completed • Name of institution (and city/state) of clinical • Name of unit you worked on

6. Work history

• Position held, then the name of the company/organization where you worked and the city and state with starting and ending date of hire • In a few words, describe the job

7. Volunteerism

• Church bake sales, nursery work, chicken BBQ worker, soup kitchen, and vacation bible school assistant • Hospital candy striper • Homecoming committee • Musical lighting and props • Prepped dinners for a homeless shelter • Assistant to professor • Staffed nursing department booth for college fairs • Blood pressure checks for health fairs • Assisted with blood drives on campus

8. Honors and awards

9. skills/language summary, 10. appropriate length, 11. match your resume to the job, 12. proofread, 7 common mistakes to avoid when writing your new grad nursing resume, 1. not including non-work experience-, 2. being too modest-, 3. too wordy-, 4. not personalized-, 5. leaving out accomplishments-, 6. not customizing-, 7. not proofing-, 3 consequences of a poorly written new grad rn resume, 1. you may never get an interview-, 2. your resume sets the stage-, 3. you may receive lower compensation-, my final thoughts, frequently asked questions answered by our expert, 1. what is the difference between new grad nurse resume and new grad nurse cv, 2. as a new grad nurse, when should i write my resume, 3. do i need a different resume for each new grad nursing job i apply to, 4. how long is my new grad nursing resume good for, 5. how many words should a resume be for a new graduate nurse, 6. how much time does it take to write an exceptional resume for a new grad nurse, 7. what is the best resume format for new grad nurses, 8. should i put my gpa on my new grad nurse resume, 9. should skills be on my new grad nurse resume, 10. what is a good objective for a new grad nursing resume, 11. how to list registered nurse license on my new grad nursing resume.

• Full name of nursing license • The body that issued the license • Expiration date

12. Should I Put Clinical Experience On My New Grad Nursing Resume?

13. should i include preceptorship on my new grad nursing resume, 14. can i ask someone else to write my new graduate nurse resume, 15. is it a good idea to use ready templates to write my new graduate nurse resume, 16. are there any online apps or tools that make writing a good resume for a new graduate nurse easy.

The Ultimate Guide to Nursing Resumes in 2024

How to write a nurse resume, nurse resume research, nursing resume readers & robots, choose a nurse resume format, nurse resume format & design, writing your nursing resume, common resume mistakes, nursing resume templates, nurse resume faqs.

Expert Reviewed by: Amanda Guarniere, NP, Founder of the Resume RX

In 2024, a vague, uninspiring nursing resume just won't cut it. Recent years have fostered growing competition for the best nursing jobs , creating a greater need for nurses to learn how to write exceptional nursing resumes. With vast opportunities and diverse requirements from various employers, every nurse must put their best foot forward to market themselves for the best positions. 

However, this ever-changing world of online applications and robotic resume readers makes it more complex for nurses to get to the first rounds of interviews. This article will help you tackle the daunting task of writing a nursing resume that stands out. We'll help you build a better nursing resume by giving you an inside look at how robotic resume readers work and providing tips on how to make your resume, things you should and shouldn't include, and provide examples and templates.

Think of your job search as your own personal marketing campaign. And the product is you! Your resume is an advertisement for your professional nursing brand. A brand is more than a logo - it’s the overall impression you give your audience. In this case, your audience is a potential employer. 

As with any advertisement, the goal of your nursing resume is to pique your audience’s interest in a limited amount of time. It’s commonly said that hiring managers will spend less than ten seconds reading your resume. And in many cases, it has to first be screened by a resume-reading robot before it reaches human hands.

So, you must carefully curate your brand for these employers. Captivate them with your professionalism, unique skillset, experience, and personality using your nursing resume. These tactics may help get your foot in the door for an interview, where you can close the deal by impressing them in person.

The first and most important step in any marketing campaign is the research phase. The more you learn about potential employers, the better you can tailor your registered nurse resume to their requirements.

Initial Employer Research for Nursing Resumes

Before you begin tailoring your resume for specific jobs, take some time to answer the following questions about each company:

• Who are they?
• What is their company culture?
• What do they struggle with as an organization?
• What qualities are they looking for in a potential candidate?
• Which of their desired qualities do you possess?

Researching Company Culture and Values

The internet has made it fairly easy to hop online and start your research right now from your mobile device. Employers' websites and social platforms will give you an inside glimpse at their culture and values.

Instead of simply reading a job posting, take a few extra steps to investigate the employer's online presence:

• Check out the company website - what does their mission statement say?
• See what they tweet about
• Investigate what photos they post on Instagram
• Learn about the articles they share on Facebook
• Check their LinkedIn - do you have any connections at the company?
• Look at their Google ratings

Examine Required vs Preferred Nursing Qualifications

The research phase isn't just about investigating the company - you also need to understand the job description. Specifically, understanding the difference between "required" and "preferred" qualifications will help you build a tailored resume for each job:

Required Qualifications

These are just what they say - requirements. Those who do not possess these qualifications will not be considered. 

Preferred Qualifications

Skills that are desired but are not deal-breakers for the employer. You may still be considered even if you do not possess these. 

As you personalize your nursing resume to different opportunities, these qualifications will, in part, guide what you do and do not include. You should include any and all required qualifications if you want an employer to consider your candidacy. 

If you do not possess some or all of the preferred qualifications, you can apply anyway and still be in the running. However, including the ones you do possess on your tailored nursing resume is always the best practice.

Build a Master Resume

You may want a solid starting point from which you can use your research to build a dedicated resume for each position you apply for. Queue the "master resume," a comprehensive working document that highlights everything you've accomplished and every skill you've fostered as a nurse thus far. 

We recommend starting with a foundational nurse resume so that you can alter it for each role you apply to. This way, you won't be rewriting a new resume for every single position. But you'll also avoid submitting "cookie-cutter" resumes that employers won't bother looking at twice.

Use Research to Personalize Your Nursing Resume

Dale Carnegie once said that “A person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” Personalizing your RN resume matters, with both how you mention and address the future employer and how to include your specific qualifications that match what they are looking for.

Using your research and leveraging your professional brand and personality to target your nurse resume could lead to the interview of your dreams. Not targeting it, however, could lead you on the fast track to nowhere.

The internet revolution transformed the hiring process, impacting the entire labor market in a very short time. 15 years ago, printing your resume on off-white linen paper and hand-delivering it to employers was the status quo. But as little as five years later, doing so might only get you some perplexed looks and urges to apply online.

Technological advances will continue shaping the job market in 2024.  USC Annenberg reports that up to 55% of companies are making investments in AI recruiting measures. But even now, many employers screen online applicants using resume-reading robots. 

This section explores how these bots impact the hiring process and how to get your nursing resume past them and into a real person's hands.

What Is a Resume Reading Robot?

ATS systems are highly technical but can only do what their program says, unable to come close to human discretion. So, knowing how ATS systems work can help you write a resume that passes their screening.

Here's a brief overview of how employers use ATS software to screen nursing applicants:

1. Knockout Questions

Recruiters can use an ATS to scan for keywords or "knockout questions" like "Do you have an active Washington State Nursing License?" These functions help them swiftly eliminate unqualified candidates.

2. Disqualifying Statements

They may also configure the ATS to include “disqualifying statements.” An ATS searching for these statements will automatically reject nursing resumes with certain keywords or phrases. 

For example, an ATS screening for bachelor's-trained nurses might reject resumes that mention an associate's degree. If you have both, consider listing only your BSN.

3. Keyword Screening

Finally, recruiters may use the ATS to find resumes with exact keywords or phrases. These may include qualifications listed in the job description, degrees, or skills. They can program the ATS to reject any application that does not include their specified keywords.

How Does ATS Work?

Not all ATS systems are created equally. They vary greatly in their functionality and behavior. Most ATS systems are programmed to score resumes according to keywords. However, they can be configured to search and score resumes based on various other criteria.

The results are imperfect. Some ATS systems can't differentiate between titles, such as Clinical Nurse II and Registered Nurse, or distinguish between the terms BLS and Basic Life Support. So how do you navigate these intricacies in your nursing resume?

Best Practice:   R ead the job description and use the exact wording for the qualifications listed that you possess.

If you use acronyms and abbreviations, make sure to spell out the entire word, followed by the shortened version. It would be disappointing to have all the requested qualifications but be filtered out by the ATS because you used only the acronyms when the robot was programmed for the full phrases spelled out.

What Are the Shortcomings of ATS?

The problem is that ATS does not ‘read’ a resume as a human would - it simply collects data. It doesn’t care about aesthetics, either. It is programmed by an employer to search for the right keywords, in the right order, on the right part of the resume.  

Also, the system can get confused pretty easily. For example, if the font is too fancy or if it encounters unrecognizable symbols, it may score the resume as ‘unqualified’ and move on to the next resume. It does what it is configured to do, nothing more and nothing less.

While ATS has streamlined the hiring process for employers, it’s also made job search extremely challenging for the job seeker. In fact, 94% of hiring professionals say that ATS has positively influenced their hiring goals, while 80% of job seekers say that their online job search is stressful.

What Other Hiring Technology Might I Encounter?

Recently, some employers have started to use artificial intelligence in a different way - during the interview process. Rather than having strict ATS filters, they offer more candidates the opportunity to interview, but there is a catch.

You don't interview with the employer but with a computer. In these one-way or “on-demand” interviews, you essentially get the opportunity to record your video response to interview questions. After you submit it, hiring managers or recruiters review the video responses before choosing the candidates for formal interviews.

Does Every Employer Use ATS?

While many employers use ATS, there are definitely employers who still rely on human resource professionals to screen resumes. In those instances, a human resources professional usually skims the resumes and invites the most qualified candidates in for an interview.

The problem here is that most employers will receive hundreds of resumes for a single opening. To get through the resumes quickly, the HR professional may resort to a simple scan of the resumes knowing that even qualified applicants may not make it. It’s simply a way to reduce the number of applicants.

In either case, the goal of the modern resume is to ‘sell’ yourself in an organized, targeted manner for a specific role. The best way to design an effective, attention-grabbing resume is by making strong assertions in the beginning followed by supporting evidence.

How to Get Past the ATS

• Target your resume to the specific position. Do this by reading job descriptions and selecting keywords noted in the descriptions - competencies, skills sets, education, and experience.
• Match individual experiences to keywords/key skill sets found within the job posting.  
• Research the employer and target the resume based on the facility's values and culture. 
• Make strong assertions within the top ⅓ of the resume.
• Follow those assertions with supporting evidence.
• Include a “ Professional Summary ” if you are an experienced Nurse.
• Only apply to roles that you match 100% of the “Required Qualifications.” 
• Use simple fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri.
• Never use smaller than 10-point font. See Part 5 for more styling suggestions. 
• Use simple black bullet (dots) points, not special bullet symbols.
• Save your resume as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf format.
• If using an abbreviation, always spell out the words followed by the abbreviation or acronym. You never know how the abbreviation was entered into the ATS. 
• Use standard, simple section headers such as “Work History” or “Education.”
• Settings you’ve worked in 
• Patient demographics
• Policies/procedures
• EMR/EHR used
• Medications administered
• Equipment used
• Don’t use the same title as at your current employer if it is different from the title in the job description. Use the title in the job description. 
• Don’t overload your resume with keywords. Use them appropriately. Overusing keywords will flag a resume and could cause the ATS to lower your score.
• Don't forget to support the keywords you use with evidence throughout your resume.
• Do not put your contact information in the header section because ATS will not see it.
• Do not include tables because most ATS can’t read them. Other ATS can only read them if their operator programmed them to do so. 
• Do not use creative section headers such as “Where I’ve Worked” because the ATS likely doesn’t understand what that means.
• Don’t include a headshot, graphics, special fonts, photos, colored fonts, or unique bullets. 
• Do not state, “References available upon request.” It takes up too much space and is unnecessary. If employers want references, they’ll ask. 
• Don’t place skills at the bottom of the resume. Many ATS systems only scan the top ⅓ of the resume for keywords. If you have important keywords at the bottom, the ATS may not see them and could disqualify your resume. 
• Don’t use “I” statements; resumes should be written in the third person. 
• Do not rely on resume builder software. Stay in control of your registered nurse resume.

How to Spot an ATS

If you’ve ever visited a job posting and seen an “APPLY NOW” button, you’ve encountered the elusive resume-reading bot. ATS requires candidates to enter data on the front end. 

Maybe you’ve gone through the steps to create a login, complete the application and upload your resume. Perhaps you didn’t realize at the time that you were entering your information into an applicant tracking system.  

Raise your hand if you never heard back from an employer after applying online. Raise your other hand if you received an automated response “thanking” you for your interest and never heard back!

Now, keep in mind that it can be difficult to stand out when you are applying for a job online, especially when there is an ATS involved. As you consider your overall job search strategy, try to think of other ways that can increase your chances of getting a job. Don’t be afraid to ask your network connections for referrals and recommendations, or let friends and family know what type of position you are looking for and where. While your resume is absolutely important, it isn’t the only tool that can lead to you getting a job.

Prior to ever typing words onto your resume, it’s important to first decide on a resume format. There are three types of resume layouts. While we highly recommend the reverse-chronological layout for most nursing professionals, we’d encourage you to make the best choice for yourself.

Here’s a breakdown of the three most popular types of resume layouts: 

1. Reverse Chronological Nursing Resume

This layout focuses on career history and lists jobs in reverse chronological order. We recommend this type of registered nurse resume for the majority of healthcare professionals and will focus the details of this article on the format. It is best suited for:

• New nursing graduates
• Nurses with fewer than 5 roles within the past 5-7 years. 
• Travel Nurses with <10 completed assignments
• Nurses with experience in only 1-2 specialties
• Nurses applying for a similar role
• Nurses wanting to show vertical career progression 

2. Functional Nursing Resume

This nurse resume layout places emphasis on skills and deemphasizes work history. However, it does not pass the ATS test well, and hiring managers overall do not prefer it. We recommend against this layout for the majority of nursing professionals. Typically, people who use this format are: 

• Changing careers
• Have large gaps in employment
• Do have years of experience in the role in which they are applying

3. Combination Nursing Resume

This layout is a mixture of the reverse chronological and the functional resume. While it places emphasis on skill sets, abilities, and accomplishments, it also highlights applicable work history. We recommend combination resumes for nursing professionals with the following background, goals, and barriers: 

• Nurses with experience in multiple specialties and/or medical professions
• Seasoned travel nurses with >10 completed assignments
• Nurses with multiple small gaps in employment
• Nurses looking to change specialties
• Nurses interested in changing careers

Writing a nursing resume can feel overwhelming. It’s no easy task! Nowadays, nursing resumes must be able to pass through resume reading software before it even reaches a recruiter. That’s why we’ve put together THREE nurse resume templates to cater to your unique professional needs and employment situation.

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The first formatting and design consideration you should make when creating your nursing resume is how well an  ATS will read them. We recommend the following comprehensive design and formatting guidelines to appease common ATS systems:

Many experts believe you can achieve the perfect balance of text to white space in your nursing resume using the following margin settings:

• Top Margin: 1"
• Side Margins: .63"

Left alignment is standard since that’s how most people (and robots) read. You may think a justified alignment looks tidier, but it can leave uneven gaps between words and ultimately make text harder to read. 

In the nursing profession, length should not be the focus of the resume. While we recommend 1-2 pages, some nurses may have resumes with 3 (or more) pages.

Don’t stress over length too much. If the resume is slightly over the page amount by a few lines try changing the margin, font style, font size, or shortening statements. The bottom line is it should look visually appealing and should include keywords.

We recommend  Times New Roman or Arial to best utilize the functionality of the ATS. However, this is your personal preference. Take note that Times New Roman can be difficult to read if it is smaller than 11pt.

If you are striving for a resume that looks visually appealing when printed, there are great ways to achieve that without going overboard with design. For example, you could use the “small caps” feature for headings, which keeps the font the same but adds a bit more character and differentiation. Or, you could try a font pairing, using serif fonts for headers and sans serif for body text.

Important Note: Different font styles will take up different amounts of space. See how these identical statements look vastly different despite both being in 11 pt font:

Experienced Travel Nurse with 8 years experience in critical care nursing.

Throughout the resume, there should be different-sized fonts. We recommend the following for each section: 

It’s important to note that 10-point font should be the smallest size on the resume. 

While some ATS systems claim to read colors, we encourage you to simply use black. 

Special Characters

We recommend keeping the resume very simple. Basic bullet points (black dots) may be used when desired. Simple lines are acceptable as well. 

Design Features to Avoid

The following design features are best left off the resume: 

• Multiple font styles
• Special characters

As you’ve learned, ATS systems skim resumes and locate specific information in the correct order. We’d suggest using the following categories and section headers to optimize your nursing resume for ATS scoring.

Contact Information

This is the first section of the resume and does not require a title. Your name should be front and center. Don’t make the recruiter search for it. Make sure it’s the largest font on the page. While there are varying opinions on the exact placement of the name, we recommend a simple classic version in the following format:

Your name should be the first thing a recruiter, hiring manager, or ATS system sees on your nurse resume. It should share a line with your nursing credentials and be in a bold, readable, 18-22 pt font. If you go by a different name, make sure to list both in this section.

Nursing Credentials

Your nursing credentials should directly follow your first and last name on a nursing resume. The preferred order to list these in is Highest degree earned, Licensure, then National Certifications.

We've included a  credential quick reference guide below to help you fill out your resume perfectly.

The days of listing your home address on a resume are over - most employers don't need this information, and we advise against including it on your resume as a security precaution. However, this is a personal decision you can make at your own discretion.

You should never leave your location off completely because many employers have location parameters set in their ATS systems. Ensure you include your city and state in the contact information portion of your nursing resume.

Phone/Texting Number

Oh, technology! Yes, some employers will actually text their candidates. Make sure to indicate if you receive texts and whether the phone number is a cell phone or a home phone. This is a great time to make sure your voicemail message states your full name and is professional.

Email Address

It is in your best interest to ensure that you have a professional email address that does not reveal your age. Age discrimination is real, and listing your birth year or using an antiquated email service like AOL can definitely trigger it.

Your email address should include a variation of your name and some numbers if necessary. You can even make a totally separate email account and use it only for your job search.

LinkedIn Profile

If you have a LinkedIn profile definitely include it. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, you could be missing out on opportunities. Now is the time to create one!

In your settings, you can easily create a shortened LinkedIn URL that doesn’t have a bunch of random numbers and letters.

How Your Digital Footprint Impacts Your Nursing Job Search

Though you may not list it, you should consider your social media and online presence when you complete the contact information portion of your resume. Potential employers will likely look you up online. Many Recruiters tell us that looking a candidate up on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter is one of the first things they do. So, make sure everything you post online is what you would want an employer to see. 

Additionally, online behavior can benefit you. Do you have a nursing-related website or blog? Are you an Instagram celebrity? Maybe you created a successful YouTube channel when you were a newbie nurse. Include all this on your resume if it relates to nursing. This is all part of your unique brand!

Nursing Resume Credential Quick Reference Guide

According to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (AACN), the preferred order is Highest degree earned, Licensure, and National Certification.

Educational degrees include doctoral degrees (Ph.D., DrPH, DNS, EdD, DNP), master’s degrees (MSN, MS, MA), bachelor’s degrees (BS, BSN, BA), and associate degrees (AD, ADN).

Licensure credentials include RN, LPN, CNA, and APRN.

National certification , which is occasionally voluntary for nurses and obligatory for advanced practice nurses, is awarded through accredited certifying bodies such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), includes RNBC (Registered Nurse-Board Certified) and FNP-BC (Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified).

You may also choose to include awards and honors:

Outstanding achievements in nursing, such as FAAN (Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing).

Other certifications that recognize additional skills, such as the EMT-Basic/EMT, awarded by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

Here is an example of contact information on a nursing resume that puts it all together:

Penny Lite, BSN, RN   Los Angeles, CA | Text/Call: (987) 654 - 3210 | [email protected] | www.linkedin.com/pennylitern

Professional Summary

Don’t make an employer (or ATS) search your entire resume for reasons to invite you to an interview. Tell them right off the top exactly why you are the best candidate for the role.

Every position is unique, and this is your first opportunity to optimize the resume for ATS and to also catch the employer’s eye. Spend a little time to target it and let your qualifications and accomplishments shine. 

While there is some debate about how to introduce your resume, we suggest using a professional summary as opposed to a career objective. The professional summary can be formatted in either a short paragraph or a bulleted list asserting qualifications and providing a concise career snapshot.

How to Write a Professional Summary for a Nursing Resume

Think of your resume summary as an “elevator pitch” - a quick, attention-grabbing, loaded statement that entices the reader to want to continue on. Your professional summary is unique to you and should be targeted to a specific role, just like the cover letters career counselors used to tell us about.

However, it could definitely include the following information: 

• Number of years of experience in a specialty 
• Common keywords found in nursing job descriptions e.g., excellent patient care, acute care, family education, compassionate
• Facility designations or info about facilities 
• Supervisory experience and number of subordinates
• Special certifications or awards
• Language abilities
• Soft skills such as patience, compassion, and a cooperative spirit

Nursing professional summary example: 

4+ years nursing experience with strong clinical background in critical care (CCU) and intermediate care nursing (IMCU). Proactively streamlines operations, initiates tasks, and supports the healthcare team while prioritizing excellent patient care. Champions patient and family education by providing compassionate, inclusive care that encourages self-sufficiency. Recipient of the Daisy Award. Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Nursing Skills and Areas of Expertise

List your nursing skills within the top ⅓ of the resume - Don't make the common mistake of adding them last. With the popularity of ATS, this mistake could cost you an interview. This is especially true in nursing, as the profession requires very specific skills. 

Additionally, your hard skills should be directly targeted to the role as expressed in the job description. Is the employer asking for a specific EMR that you are experienced with? List it! Are you an expert at starting IVs because of your five years of experience in the emergency room? List it!

This should not be a generic list of skills but a specific list that is as quantified as possible. It’s possible that if you are a newer nurse or are making a specialty pivot you may not have hard skills to include. In that case, it’s okay to omit this section and highlight your transferable  soft nursing skills within your job history.

While most nurses list their license titles on their resumes, it’s been our experience that they leave off a few very important details - most notably, whether the license is active and the expiration date. 

Why is this important? Including this information lets potential employers know that you are ready to start work ASAP. They don’t have to wait for the licensing process. Including your license number is optional, and you can make this decision based on your privacy comfort. The employer will likely be verifying your license online anyway (this is all public information).

If you are an advanced practice nurse, you may decide to leave off license numbers for privacy purposes, especially your DEA number or controlled substance registration number.

Here’s an example of how to list your licensure:

Registered Nurse - California, #RN00101, expires 4/17/2024.

Certifications and Credentials

This is another key section where some important details are typically missing on the nursing resumes we’ve seen. While most nurses list their credentials, it’s important to list them in a specific manner.

Don’t simply list acronyms, as some ATS systems may not be programmed to read shortened versions. Make sure to list the accrediting body, credential/certification number (where applicable), and expiration date. 

Here’s an example of how to list your certifications and credentials: 

Basic Life Support (BLS), American Heart Association, expires: 12/1/2021

Work History

Employers want to know what you can do for them, period.  Nurse recruiters we’ve talked to will zero in on this section. What are they looking for? Evidence, facts, quantifiable points - proof to support the assertions made in your resume summary.

Vague work histories are particularly frustrating to employers - especially when applicants copy and paste job descriptions. To avoid falling into those pitfalls, try incorporating these tips: 

Use simple section headers such as “Work History” or “Relevant Experience,” these are ATS friendly. “What I’ve Done” is not. 

List your experience in reverse chronological order.  If you have a lengthy employment history, you may consider only including the most recent 10-15 years of experience. This will shorten your resume and also limit the chances that you’ll encounter age discrimination. Looking at the big-picture experience from 25 years ago doesn’t necessarily speak to your recent nursing experience because employers care about what you can do for them now.

Work History Format

Adding your work history in a logical format can help your nursing resume beat the ATS and impress recruiters. We recommend using the following format for each work history segment:

1. Job Title and Specialty

This is a controversial subject, but we believe employers care more about what you’ve done than who you’ve worked for. Use the job title as it is listed in the job posting, or use a more industry-wide job title. Registered Nurse as opposed to Clinical Nurse II. 

2. Facility Name

Add the name of the facility or company you worked for after your job title. You can add this on the same line or a different line, but using the same line will optimize space.

3. Employment Dates  

These are important and can be listed in a number of ways. However, it’s been our experience that specific dates are not necessary for a resume. On an application, yes, on a resume, not so much. You can simply list the months and years (mm/yy - present).

4. Facility-Specific and Unit-Specific Information

This information is helpful and important to employers but is left off the majority of resumes we’ve seen, it includes: 

• Trauma level: level I, II, III
• Facility Designations 
• Total Hospital beds
• Total unit beds

Primary Duties and Accomplishments

This section looks best in a bulleted list of no more than six points and should include duties, noteworthy accomplishments, and achievements. It’s important to emphasize specific duties and not be too vague.

Also, try your best not to simply regurgitate basic nursing duties that would be assumed of your role. This will take up valuable space on your resume and not really tell the reader much about you !

Wondering what specifics to include? Here are a few questions to get those wheels turning:

• What illnesses, injuries, or traumas do you care for? 
• What cases do you work on? 
• What type of medications do you administer and how? 
• What therapies do you perform? 
• What equipment do you use? 
• How have you improved processes? 
• When have I been first or best?
• No. 1 achievement in each position?
• Which achievements have the most impressive numbers?
• When have I been publicly recognized?

Write Strong Nursing Resume Bullets

Wondering how to order your bullets and what to include? Try this: start with a verb leading to quantifiable data or a specific point and include a relevant duty.

Use our comprehensive tables to build compelling nursing resume bullets that make your achievements shine:

Here is a brief work history resume example for nurses that puts it all together:

Registered Nurse, Acute Care - Example Medical Center 09-19 - Present

• Supervised staff of 15 registered nurses, 8 certified nursing assistants, and 7 paramedics while multitasking excellent patient care. 
• Cared for up to 4 patients per shift with acute neurological disorders, including strokes, spinal cord injuries, and head trauma.

Education and Training

In the nursing profession, education and training are of utmost importance. If you have work experience, this section can be fairly brief.  You should list your relevant degrees in chronological order. 

There are varying opinions regarding the specific ordering of education. However, we believe that the degree or certification title should be listed first. Employers care firstly that you have the education requirement they need and secondarily where you obtained the requirement. 

We suggest the following format:  Degree or Certification Title (acronym), Institution Name 

Here’s an example: 

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN), University of Washington 

Should I Include Graduation Dates on a Nursing Resume?

You are not required to include your college or high school graduation dates on your nursing resume , as it could reveal your age. Age discrimination is the top form of employment discrimination and affects all age groups. If you graduated more than 10-15 years ago, it may be a good idea to omit the date.  But this is a personal decision you should make at your own discretion.

Should I Include My GPA on a Nursing Resume?

Including your GPA in your nursing resume is optional. If you are particularly proud of your GPA, by all means, add it! However, it is not required. If you graduated with honors that you are proud of, you can definitely include that as well. Again the resume is a unique snapshot of you!

Should I Include my Non-Nursing Degrees and Credentials?

If you possess other degrees not related to nursing, it is not necessary to include those on your nursing resume. Some second-career nurses like to list this information, especially if there has been an interesting career pivot or one that brings a lot of value to your role as a nurse. Remember, you are telling your personal, unique story, and you get to decide what to include.

How Do I Add In-Progress Advanced Education Programs?

If you are currently enrolled in higher education to advance your studies within the nursing field, that should be listed on your resume and state that the degree is pending or in progress. However, if you started a graduate degree program, never finished, and do not plan on finishing, it is unnecessary to include it on the resume. 

Should I Include my High School Education?

Nurses do not need to include their high school diplomas on their resumes. The nursing profession requires completion of higher education, and therefore, your higher degree trumps your diploma. 

Awards, Accomplishments, and Affiliations

Though this section is not required, we encourage including awards and accomplishments that are relevant to the nursing profession. These details will provide the potential employer with more proof and evidence of who you are as a nurse. 

In this section, you can include: 

• Awards and recognitions that are specific to the hospital or facility where you work, e.g. the Daisy Award, Employee of the Month, and Nursing Excellence Award
• Professional memberships and affiliations relating to nursing and/or healthcare
• Volunteer work, if it relates to nursing

We suggest the following format: Title, organization, year

Here are a couple of examples:

• Recipient, Nursing Excellence Award, Washington Medical Center
• Volunteer, American Red Cross - Haiti - 2012

Naming Your Nurse Resume Save File

One last thing, saving! Don’t just give your resume any old name! Hiring professionals sometimes receive multiple documents from candidates, and they don’t want to waste time sorting through every document to find the resume. Some prefer to organize resumes by specialty. Tell them exactly which document is your resume. 

We suggest the following format: firstlast_specialty_resume.doc

Here’s an example:

PennyLite_ICU_resume.doc

We’ve seen a lot of resumes over the years, and you might be surprised by the amount of strange information people have included on them. So, here are the top mistakes we’ve seen:

Woot! If you’ve made it this far you should have an excellent understanding of how to write a great nursing resume. We know it’s a lot of information right now, and we hope that you’ll use the information to advance your career.

For a little more help, try using our free resume templates. And when you’ve landed your next interview, check out the next part in this series, The Complete Guide to Nursing Job Interviews .

>> Download free nurse resume templates!

What should be included in a nursing resume?

• A nursing resume should include your education, experience, including clinical, work, and volunteer, any certifications you have, and skills. 

How do I write a nurse resume?

• You can use a template to fill out your nursing resume or fill out your own. 

How do I list my nursing skills on my resume?

• List skills that are in the job description or outline on the facility’s website. For instance, common nursing skills include critical thinking, teamwork, communication, team management, and high ethical standards. 

Do you put RN after your name on a resume?

• You can include "RN" or "RN, BSN"  if you have other credentials. If you haven’t passed your NCLEX yet, you can put G.N. for Graduate Nurse.

How long should a nurse's resume be?

• A nursing resume should be no longer than 1-2 pages. 

What is your greatest skill as a nurse?

• The most valuable skill you have as a nurse may depend on your exact role and specialty, but in general, communication, kindness, empathy, and critical thinking are highly valued traits as a nurse. 

How far back should a resume go?

• If you’re a recent graduate, you don’t need to go to high school, just include your college experience and degree. For experienced nurses, include all relevant experience. 

Amanda is an Ivy-league-educated nurse practitioner and career mentor who helps nurses find and land their dream jobs. She founded The Résumé Rx  in 2018 to help nurses with career and résumé strategy  Learn more about Amanda and her products at  www.theresumerx.com  and follow her on Instagram  @theresumerx.

Angelina has her finger on the pulse of everything nursing. Whether it's a trending news topic, valuable resource or, heartfelt story, Angelina is an expert at producing content that nurses love to read. She specializes in warmly engaging with the nursing community and exponentially growing our social presence.

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Resume Examples Nursing Resume

26+ Nursing Resume Examples & Templates

Use our examples as a reference when writing your own nursing resume to land more interviews. Additionally, check out our writing guide below and nursing cover letter example to complete your application.

Want more template options? Check out our full selection of free resume templates .

Nursing Resume Template (Text Format)

Job-specific nursing resume examples, average registered nurse salaries in the us, how to write a nursing resume.

Copy-and-Paste Nursing Resume Template

FIRST AND LAST NAME

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (123) 456-7891

Address: Street, City, State

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile

Dedicated nursing professional with [No.] years of experience. Seeking to leverage my experience in [Relevant Abilities] to fill the nursing position at [Company Name]. Hold a [Degree/Diploma/Certification] in [Degree/Diploma/Certification Title]. Skilled at [2–3 Relevant Skills]. A [Adjective #1] and [Adjective #2] worker aiming to contribute to the success of [Company Name].

Professional Experience

• Use the present tense for your current nursing role, unless describing a completed project or initiative
• Include a bulleted list of your achievements as a nurse
• Start each bullet point with an action verb (like “develop” or “manage”) to grab attention
• Use hard numbers when possible to quantify your accomplishments as a nurse
• Mention how you’ve used some of the nursing skills listed in your skills section to demonstrate that you really have these abilities
• List relevant accomplishments from your previous role as a nurse
• Assuming you’re no longer working in this nursing role, use past tense verbs to describe your work
• Include 3–6 bullet points for each nursing role, both your current one and previous ones
• Skip the pronoun “I” and begin directly with a verb
• Although you’ll usually list work experience, feel free to include nursing-relevant internships as well as any volunteer work and extracurricular activities if you lack formal work experience

Education & Licenses

Skills & Certifications

• List skills and certifications relevant to the nursing job you’re applying for
• Look at the job ad for ideas of the skills the employer wants and that are common in the health care sector
• Emphasize hard/technical skills in this section
• Be as specific as possible by including names of tools, equipment, and software you’ve mastered that are used in the nursing industry

Here are some more resume examples to help you get started when writing your own nursing resume:

The following resume example highlights the key elements hiring managers look for when evaluating nursing candidates, including clinical expertise, educational background, and professional licenses. Use this as a guide to develop your own personalized resume that will help you stand out and land your next nursing role:

Why this example works

• Eye-catching design: The design features subtle accent colors and icons that make it stand out while still looking professional
• Focus on experience: The candidate goes into detail describing their extensive work experience

Nurse practitioner resume

As a nurse practitioner, you’ll diagnose and prescribe treatments for patients like a doctor would. With this extra responsibility comes a greater need to show you’re capable of doing the job. Demonstrate that you’re up to the job with an outstanding nurse practitioner resume like this one:

• Professional layout: This layout is clean and organized, with neutral colors and fonts
• Showcases certifications: The candidate includes an additional certifications section that demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning

Your LVN resume needs to clearly and concisely convey your specific clinical skills, practical nursing experience, and commitment to quality patient care. Use this example as a starting point when writing your own:

• Stands out: The bright green header font grabs attention without being over-the-top
• Spotlight on qualifications: The candidate includes both “Education” and “Licenses” sections to show that they’re qualified

ICU nurse resume

Check out our downloadable ICU nurse resume sample to inspire you when writing your own:

• Simple template: This clean, basic layout lets the candidate’s skills shine through without distracting design features
• In-depth experience: Including a lot of detail in the work experience section shows employers that you’re qualified

Nursing student resume

Our nursing student resume sample will help you demonstrate to hospitals that you have the skills necessary for an internship:

• Detailed experience: The student does a good job of showcasing what they’ve learned during their externships
• Education front-and-center: The candidate moved their education section to the top so that it’s easily noticeable

New grad nurse resume

To land an entry-level job as a nurse you’ll need to emphasize your certifications and education, like in this example:

• Showcases practical experience: Despite being a new grad, the candidate describes their clinical rotation experience in detail
• Strong introduction: The candidate comes across as being driven and enthusiastic about the role

New grad RN resume

Landing a job as a new grad registered nurse isn’t easy. The healthcare industry has stringent hiring standards because people’s lives depend on your care. Our new grad RN resume example will give you a reference point for how to write a successful application:

• Emphasis on education: The candidate puts their degree front and center to ensure that it’s noticeable
• Lists licenses: This resume features the candidate’s nursing license towards the top of the page to ensure employers will notice it when scanning the resume

Entry-level nurse resume

If you’re applying for your first nursing position, you’ll need to win employers over with an entry-level nurse resume that showcases your skills, like this one:

• Showcases skills: This resume includes a range of essential nursing skills in both the skills and work experience sections
• Shows dedication:  The candidate lists additional certifications they earned as well as their membership in a student organization

New grad nurse practitioner resume

To get a great job as a newly graduated nurse practitioner, you need a resume that showcases your top skills and clinical experience. Check out our new grad nurse practitioner example to use as a guide:

• Showcases practical experience: The candidate includes enough detail about their clinical rotation experience
• Eye-catching icons: The icons at the beginning of each header draw attention without being distracting

Nurse manager resume

As a nurse manager, your resume needs to showcase not only your clinical nursing expertise, but also your leadership abilities, administrative skills, and strategic vision, like in this example:

• Professional layout: The basic fonts and clean design convey a professional tone
• Proven experience: The candidate backs up their experience with quantifiable data to show their impact in previous roles

Director of nursing resume

This example showcases the strategic vision, administrative prowess, and commitment to exceptional patient care that a director of nursing needs to have:

• Emphasis on experience: The candidate describes their past work experience in detail
• Solid introduction: The resume summary highlights the candidate’s enthusiasm and leadership abilities

Operating room nurse resume

Check out our operating room nurse resume example to learn how to showcase your invaluable perioperative nursing skills.

• Bold header: The color-blocked resume header is eye-catching while still looking professional
• Additional certifications: The candidate showcases other certification courses they’ve completed in addition to their nursing degree

Certified nursing assistant resume

Look through our certified nursing assistant resume sample for inspiration when you write your resume.

• Emphasis on skills: The ratings in the skills section draw attention to the candidate’s unique skill set
• Unique layout: The resume’s design is attention-grabbing while still looking sleek and organized

Labor and delivery nurse resume

Our example below teaches you how to write a resume for a labor and delivery nurse that shows off your unique skills and highlights your professional achievements:

• Quantified metrics: The candidate backs up their experience with numbers where possible
• Strong skills: The skills section highlights a range of hard and soft skills

NICU nurse resume

Learn how to impress employers using our NICU nurse resume example as a guide:

• Eye-catching sidebar: The color-blocked sidebar helps this resume stand out while still maintaining a professional look
• Spotlight on certifications: The candidate demonstrates their dedication to patient care by showcasing their additional certifications

Use our LPN resume sample for inspiration as you put together your application:

• Strong header: The capitalized, blue text helps this resume stand out without being too flashy
• Emphasis on experience: This format leaves plenty of room to describe your work experience in an in-depth way

Oncology nurse resume

This oncology nurse resume example showcases the unique qualifications needed to thrive in this challenging but immensely rewarding nursing specialty:

• Attention-grabbing header: The graphic and subtle pop of color help this resume stand out
• Data-backed experience: The candidate gives context to their past work experience by including numbers where possible

Charge nurse resume

From coordinating patient care and supervising nursing staff to ensuring regulatory compliance and driving process improvements, this charge nurse resume example demonstrates the multifaceted responsibilities required to be a charge nurse:

• Solid summary: The introduction presents the candidate as competent and reliable
• Scannable layout: The horizontal lines and clear headings make this resume easy to skim

Hospice nurse resume

The role of a hospice nurse requires a unique blend of clinical expertise, emotional intelligence, and compassion. This hospice nurse resume example showcases the specialized skills and experiences that are essential for success in this specialty:

• Well-organized layout: The timeline graphic and clearly delineated sections keep the reader’s eye moving throughout the page
• Attention-grabbing header: The color block and bold header font draw the viewer’s eye

Orthopedic nurse resume

Use this orthopedic nurse resume example as a springboard to create a resume that markets you as a highly-skilled orthopedic nursing professional capable of delivering exceptional, patient-centered care:

• Optimized use of space: The layout ensures all of the necessary sections can be included without making the resume look crowded
• In-depth experience: The candidate demonstrates their skills in their descriptions of past job responsibilities

Pediatric nurse resume

This pediatric nurse resume example highlights the qualifications that demonstrate your ability to excel in this rewarding specialty:

• Concise summary: The introduction is short while still conveying the candidate’s enthusiasm
• Clean design: The layout leaves lots of room to include a detailed work history while still looking organized

School nurse resume

Use this school nurse resume example as a guide to craft a resume that demonstrates your dedication to fostering a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment for all students in your care:

• Bold header: The pop of color and bold text help this resume stand out
• Highly skimmable: The dotted line dividers and red heading text make this resume easy to scan quickly

Telemetry nurse resume

This telemetry nurse resume example can show you how to demonstrate your commitment to providing exceptional, data-driven patient care:

• Hard numbers: The candidate uses numbers to give potential employers a sense of the scope of their past job responsibilities
• Good use of whitespace: The sections are spaced out enough to ensure that the resume doesn’t look crowded

Travel nurse resume

Your travel nurse resume needs to highlight your adaptability and diverse clinical experience, like in this example:

• Spotlight on education: The red header text ensures that the candidate’s degrees and certifications stand out
• Simple layout: The straightforward layout ensures that this resume is well-organized and easy to scan

ER nurse resume

As an emergency room nurse, your resume must showcase your ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. Check out this example for inspiration:

• Includes data: The candidate provides data about their past experience to show the scope of their previous roles
• Range of skills: The skills section includes both hard and soft skills necessary to succeed in ER nursing roles

The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data is presented based on the top states in USA.

No matter what type of medicine you specialize in, getting a nursing job in a good hospital can be challenging. It’s not just a matter of having the right licenses – you need to convince hiring managers that you’re the perfect candidate for the job at their specific hospital or clinic.

That’s why knowing how to write a strong resume that advertises your skills, experience, and certifications is essential.

Follow this guide to make an effective resume that gets noticed by employers and lands you more interviews.

Write a compelling resume objective

To immediately grab the attention of potential employers, you should begin by writing a strong resume introduction that includes details about your education, licenses, and past work experience.

We recommend using a resume objective for a nursing resume , because it allows you to quickly and clearly summarize your qualifications and career goals.

Here’s an example:

Nurse RN with 8+ years of experience providing quality care to a wide variety of patients. Possess a Master’s qualification in nursing and currently focused on earning a doctorate in the field. Aiming to leverage my experience and knowledge to effectively fill the nursing position at your hospital.

Highlight nursing-related skills on your resume

One of the most important parts of any nursing resume is a strong, up-to-date skills section .

Here are some of the top nursing skills for today’s job market:

And here are some additional nursing skills and certifications to put on your resume, depending on your specialization and the needs of your potential employer:

Although nurses require specific technical skills to do the job, those aren’t the only skills required. As a nurse, you also deal with patients and colleagues each day, which demands a strong set of soft skills .

Soft skills like communication and emotional intelligence allow nurses to build trust with patients, show empathy, educate effectively, and deliver a higher quality of care.

You should include soft skills in the summary, skills section, and work experience section of your resume to show hiring managers that you have the interpersonal skills necessary to succeed as a nurse.

Here’s a list of soft skills to emphasize on a resume for any nursing position:

Include enough detail in your work experience section

Writing the work experience section of a nursing resume isn’t as straightforward as in other industries.

Hiring managers want to make sure your experience is directly relevant to their hospital’s requirements.

To make your qualifications as clear as possible, include facility- and unit-specific information in your work experience bullet points, such as the total number of beds available at your previous hospital, and the types of units you worked in.

More specifically, you should include the following information (if applicable to your previous work experience):

• Trauma level: level I, II, III
• Unit type (ICU, ER, PICU, etc.)
• Facility types (i.e. urgent care, nursing home, etc.)
• Number of hospital beds
• Number of unit beds
• Patient demographics
• Whether you used EMR or EHR (or both)

In addition to this, you should try to quantify achievements in your work experience section .

For example, you could add details about:

• How many patients you took care of in your unit
• How many hours you worked per rotation
• How many nurses you worked with or trained

Numbers give the hiring manager a clear picture of your skills and abilities because they add context to the accomplishments on your resume .

Here’s an example of a bullet point without numbers:

NO HARD NUMBERS

Supervised unit of a large psychiatric facility

Here is the same statement with numbers and context added:

WITH HARD NUMBERS

Supervised up to 10 staff in the 200-bed adolescent unit of a large psychiatric facility, specializing in eating disorders

Organize your education section according to ANCC preferences

Nurses have a lot of education and certifications compared to other professions. It can be confusing deciding how to include all this extra information on your resume or how to organize it.

Fortunately, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has a standardized order for how you should list your nursing credentials on your resume:

• Highest degree earned – add any lower-level or less relevant degrees underneath.
• Licensure – this includes registered nurse (RN) and licensed practical nurse (LPN). Include your licenses in your education section or in their own dedicated section.
• State designations or requirements – state designations or requirements show that you can practice at an advanced level in certain states
• National certifications – list your certifications in a dedicated section on your resume
• Awards and honors – if you’ve received any honors or awards, list them in a dedicated section
• Other certifications – finally, list any other non-nursing healthcare-related certifications

Here’s an example of a nursing resume that follows proper ANCC order:

Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing – Graduated 2018 Rutgers School of Nursing, 3.8 GPA Registered Nurse (RN): License number 5668124 New Jersey Board of Nursing, active since January 2019

CERTIFICATION

Certified Pediatric Nurse (PED-BC) Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification, 2019-Present

If you have numerous licenses, list them in a dedicated “Licenses” section on your resume. Otherwise, just list them in the education section of your resume.

Here’s the information you should include for each license you add:

• License type – Nurse Practitioner (NP), Registered Nurse (RN), etc.
• Licensing state – the state or body that issued the license
• License number – the number of your license
• Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) – mention if your license is included in the NLC, allowing you to practice in multiple states
• License expiration date – the month and year that your license expires

Here’s an example of the entry of a properly formatted license on a nurse resume:

Registered Nurse: 362585 California Board of Registered Nursing Active until October 2024

Are you still in nursing school and looking for study tips? Check out this video by experienced RN Miki Rai:

Include a section showing the professional organizations you belong to

If you’re worried you still don’t have enough qualifications on your resume, consider adding an additional section for your honors or professional affiliations.

There are numerous professional organizations for nurses, and listing them on your resume is a good way to make yourself look more accomplished and possibly get an immediate “in” with the hiring manager if they belong to the same organization.

Some examples of popular nursing affiliations include:

• The National Student Nurses Association (NSNA)
• Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma)
• The American Nurses Association (ANA)
• The American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS)

When listing organizations on your resume, include the name of the organization, the date you were admitted, and a short description of your role within the group.

If you want to make the resume writing process easier, try using an automated resume builder to do all the formatting and design work for you. At the end of the process, you’ll have an attractive, professional resume ready to use for any nursing position.

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New Grad Nurse Resume Example (W/ Templates & Tips!)

You're an aspiring nurse, and you just graduated!

You've mastered the art of patient care, so now you’re out and looking for your first job as a registered nurse.

But when it comes to writing your resume, you're self-diagnosed with writer's block.

It's ironic that after so many detailed reports you've tackled during nursing school, you just can’t seem to show off your skills and experience.

Just take a deep breath.

Preparing a resume might not be as exciting as your first clinical rotation, but it doesn’t have to be difficult.

With the right pointers, you can create the perfect new grad nurse resume!

And guess what? We're here to guide you every step of the way.

In this article, we’re going to cover:

• What an Amazing New Grad Nurse Resume Example Looks Like
• 8 Steps to Writing a Job-Winning Resume as a Recently Graduated Nurse
• The 67 Top Nursing Skills for 2024

...and so much more!

Ready to begin? Let’s jump right in.

New Grad Nurse Resume Example

That’s a spot-on example of a resume for a recently graduated nurse.

Here’s what it gets right:

• Uses the reverse-chronological resume format. This recent nursing grad has a resume that shows their newest experience first and then works its way back, so hiring managers can have a clear look at their experience.
• Starts with a strong resume objective. The nursing resume example above includes a brief paragraph in the header that catches employers’ attention and lets them know the candidate’s top skills, achievements, and professional aspirations.
• Only includes relevant contact information. Social media profiles aren’t appropriate for a nurse job application, so this candidate only lists her full name, phone number, email address, and location.
• Quantifies achievements. The candidate backs up their achievements with relevant data, which lets employers immediately see the benefit of hiring them.
• Expands on education. Since the candidate has just recently graduated, they elaborate on their education and how well-prepared they are for the role.
• Shows off in-demand skills. This new grad nurse resume makes sure the most relevant hard skills are in plain view, so hiring managers can easily see just what the candidate can do.
• Adds optional sections. The candidate leverages sections such as conferences and languages to make their resume stand out from other recently graduated nurses with similar skills and experience.
• Fits everything on one page. This new grad nurse resume uses every bit of space available to fit all the sections on one page.

8 Steps for a Great New Grad Nurse Resume

You know what a spot-on new graduate nurse resume includes, and now it’s your turn to write one.

Luckily, you just need to follow these easy steps:

#1. Choose a Resume Format

Before you can fill in the contents of your resume, you have to decide how it’s going to look.

Start by choosing the right resume format .

You have three main resume formats to choose from:

• Reverse-chronological (sometimes called chronological)
• Functional (sometimes called skill-based format)
• Combination (which blends elements of both)

For the vast majority of nursing graduates, the reverse-chronological resume format is the best choice.

This format shows your most recent work experience, skills, and accomplishments, which are what healthcare employers will want to see first.

It’s also hiring managers’ favorite resume format worldwide, so that should make it your first choice. 

Here's a quick glance:

Next, it’s time to perfect your resume layout .

Before a hiring manager reads your resume, they’re going to look at it. But if your resume is chaotic and hard on the eyes, it’ll probably get tossed aside.

Here’s how to make sure your new grad nurse resume leaves a great first impression:

• Adjust the margins. The margins on your document should be set to one inch on all sides so it doesn’t look too cluttered.
• Choose an appropriate font. Your resume’s font should be easy to read and stylish, but not overused. Skip Times New Roman and opt for something like Roboto instead.
• Set the font size. If the hiring manager has to squint to read your resume, they might just stop altogether. Use 10-12 pts for the body of your text and 14-16 pts for headings and section titles.
• Change the line spacing. To make sure your text isn’t too spaced out or overlapping, set the line spacing to 1.0 between text and 1.15 after subheadings.
• Send it in the right file format. Your new grad nurse resume should always be sent as a PDF. This way, your layout stays intact regardless of what device or software the hiring manager uses to open it.

Or Use a Professional Resume Template Instead

Starting your nurse resume from scratch takes a lot of effort.

You have to tweak the margins, adjust the line spacing, pick the best font, and make sure the sizes are uniform throughout your whole resume.

What if there was another way?

Just give any of our free resume templates a go and spare yourself the hassle.

Each of our templates is designed hand-in-hand with hiring managers from around the world, all to make sure your resume meets industry standards easily fits on one page, and lets you show off your personality.

Check for yourself how one of our resume templates compares to a standard text editor template:

#2. Fill In Your Contact Details

Once you’ve taken care of your resume format and layout, you can start filling in its contents.

Your contact information is the easiest section to fill out. All you need to do is make sure it’s factual – this isn’t the place to be inattentive. A single typo in your phone number or email address could cost you an opportunity.

Here’s what you need to include in this section:

• Full Name. (E.g. Jessica Smith)
• Professional Title. Make sure your resume’s professional title matches the specific nursing job you’re applying for. (E.g. Pediatric Nurse)
• Phone Number. If you're aiming for a job abroad, don't forget to include the dial code at the front of your number.
• Email Address. Ideally, use a combination of your first and last name. Quirky email addresses from high school won't cut it. (e.g. [email protected] is great, but [email protected] isn’t.)
• Location. List your city and state/country. If you’re willing to relocate for a job, specify it somewhere in your resume.

Jessica Smith - Registered Nurse +1 234 567 8910 [email protected] San Francisco, CA

Jessie Smith, Nurse 1234 567 8910 [email protected] Cali, USA

#3. Write a Convincing Resume Summary (or Objective)

Hiring managers go through hundreds of resumes daily, and they rarely spend more than a few seconds looking at a single resume . So if you want your new grad nurse resume to make an impression, you need to have an elevator pitch ready.

That would be the brief paragraph in your resume’s header, where you summarize some of your top skills, achievements, and other qualifications that make you right for the role.

Depending on your level of experience, here’s what you can write:

• Resume summary. If you have any clinical experience or internships from your time at university, a resume summary is the ideal choice. It provides a snapshot of your hands-on experience, primary nursing skills, and academic achievements.
• Resume objective. For fresh nursing graduates with limited experience, a resume objective is the way to go. This focuses on your nursing skills, relevant academic accomplishments, and your passion for patient care.

Here's a sample for a new grad nurse with some hands-on experience:

• Committed and compassionate Registered Nurse, seeking a position with Hospital X. With over two years of clinical experience during studies, skilled in patient care, medical documentation, and emergency response. CPR and First Aid certified. Eager to support a team in delivering patient-centered care.

For those just stepping into the nursing profession, here's a resume objective for a student with no experience :

• Dedicated Nursing Graduate, eager to join Hospital Y. Proficient in patient assessments, foundational nursing procedures, and effective communication. Motivated to contribute positively to patient outcomes and grow professionally in a dynamic healthcare environment.

#4. List Your Work Experience

The work experience section of your new grad nurse resume is what hiring managers will pay attention to, even if you're fresh out of school.

Presentation is key, so let's make sure yours is on point.

Here’s how to structure this section:

• List in reverse chronological order. Since you're newly graduated, start with your most recent clinical rotations or internships and then any related roles.
• Add the name of the facility. Specify the name of the hospital, clinic, or healthcare facility, and then its location.
• Include dates. Stick to the mm/yyyy format for clarity.
• Describe responsibilities and achievements. Highlight five to six key examples from your most recent experience in bullet points. Older roles might only need two to three.

But if you’re a recent nursing graduate, just listing your experience the right way isn’t enough.

You need to make it shine. Here’s how:

• Tailor your experience to the job. Look at the job ad and compare it to your experience so far. Your recent pediatric rotation might be more relevant for the position of school nurse than that summer you spent as a lifeguard.
• Focus on your impact. The hiring manager knows what a typical nursing student does, so you won’t impress them that easily. Instead, wow them by focusing on the difference you made during your rotations, such as improving patient outcomes or boosting morale.
• Quantify whenever possible. Put numbers next to any achievement you can. Quantifying your achievements can change the generic "assisted with patient care," into the more impressive "aided in the care of 10-15 patients daily under supervision."
• Use strong verbs. Instead of just "helped" or "worked", use powerful words like "administered", "collaborated", or "monitored" to show you as a proactive worker.

Check out this example for a nursing graduate:

Nursing Intern

St. Peter's Hospital

Seattle, WA

05/2022 - 09/2022

• Collaborated with a team of 5 registered nurses in the cardiac unit, assisting in the care of 10-12 patients daily.
• Administered medications under supervision, achieving a 100% accuracy rate throughout the internship.
• Assisted in patient documentation, updating medical histories and vital signs for over 250 patients during the rotation.
• Monitored and reported changes in patient conditions, resulting in timely interventions on several occasions.
• Received commendation from the head nurse for dedication and keen attention to detail during high-pressure situations.

What If I Don’t Have Work Experience?

Entering the world of healthcare as a fresh graduate nurse might seem overwhelming, especially if your resume feels light on professional experience.

However, your nursing resume can absolutely reflect your dedication and skills, even as you’re entering the field!

It's all about highlighting relevant experience, even if it isn’t professional.

Here are some examples you can choose from:

• Volunteering at health camps or local clinics
• Personal projects related to healthcare
• Academic projects related to patient care
• University health drives or campaigns

For example, if you volunteered at a health camp during your summer break, that’s an invaluable hands-on experience that can elevate your resume as a recently graduated nurse.

Here's an example:

Nurse Intern & Health Educator

Springfield Health Camp

06/2022 - 08/2022

• Volunteered in patient care, assisting registered nurses in administering basic treatments and wound care.
• Educated local community members about preventive healthcare measures, receiving positive feedback for clear communication.
• Assisted in organizing health seminars, ensuring informative sessions on nutrition, and hygiene.
• Collaborated with fellow interns to gather patient feedback, leading to improved patient education materials.
• Partnered with local schools to conduct health check-ups, providing basic healthcare knowledge to students.

#5. Add Your Most Vital Nursing Skills

Nursing is more than just administering medication or checking vitals. The job requires a broad range of skills , and the ones you add to your new grad nurse resume should align with the specific nursing position you're after.

Your skills section shows potential employers your clinical competencies and the depth of your training. If you tailor this section right, they’ll see how prepared you are to step into the role.

Here are some tips for writing a great skills section:

• Tailor them to the ad. Does the job description mention certain requirements for candidates? Whether it's wound care, patient education, or managing specific health conditions, add the skills you have to your resume.
• Research what skills you need. The world of healthcare is ever-evolving and the key to success is ongoing learning. Stay updated on patient care guidelines, innovative treatment methods, or emerging healthcare technologies.
• List hard and soft skills separately. Your new grad nurse resume should keep soft skills and hard skills neatly separate. This way, employers can find exactly what skills they’re looking for at a glance.

You've got the know-how to list your nursing skills.

All that’s left is to figure out which you should include on your resume.

Take a look at this list of the 67 most in-demand hard and soft skills for recently graduated nurses to get started!

67 Most In-Demand New Grad Nurse Skills

51 new grad nurse hard skills.

• Aseptic technique
• Electronic Health Records (EHR)
• EPIC Systems
• Record keeping
• Patient assessment
• Wound dressing
• IV insertion and management
• Medication administration
• First Aid and CPR
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Catheter insertion and care
• Infection control
• Vaccination administration
• Pain management
• Patient education
• Care and discharge planning
• ECG interpretation
• Emergency response
• Surgical assistance
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
• Oxygen therapy
• Endotracheal intubation
• Fluid and electrolyte balance
• Palliative care
• Ventilator management
• SOAP note documentation
• Patient charting
• Patient transport
• Tracheostomy care
• Gastrostomy feedings
• Diabetes management
• Hemodynamic monitoring
• Sterilization techniques
• Seizure precautions
• Ostomy care
• Orthopedic casting and splinting
• Isolation procedures
• Defibrillation
• HIPAA compliance
• Manual blood pressure measurement
• Nasogastric (NG) tube placement
• Critical care
• Telemetry monitoring
• Mobility assistance

16 New Grad Nurse Soft Skills

• Communication
• Adaptability
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Problem-solving
• Active listening
• Self-awareness
• Stress management
• Interpersonal skills
• Organizational skills
• Conflict re solution

#6. Elaborate on Your Education

In any resume, work experience and skills speak louder than academic credentials. Usually, this section only gets a passing mention.

However, when you’re a newly graduated nurse, you might want to dive into more details.

If you don’t have as much hands-on experience as your peers, your education section is where your resume can shine.

Here’s how you should format the basics:

• Degree Name. (E.g. Bachelor of Science in Nursing)
• University Name. (E.g. Metropolitan University of Health Sciences)
• Location. (E.g. Los Angeles, CA)
• Years Attended. If you haven’t graduated yet, don’t worry about it. Over 74% of new graduate nurses have a job offer lined up before graduation. Instead of using the yyyy - yyyy format, you can specify your expected graduation date. (E.g. Expected graduation: May 2024)
• Optional Details. List any relevant coursework, such as classes, projects, or clinical rotations, that’s relevant to the nurse position you’re applying for.

The goal here is to paint a clear picture of how your studies have prepared you for the hands-on work in the world of nursing. Everything you add should be relevant, so you should skip your high school education.

Here’s an example of how your education section might look:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Metropolitan University of Health Sciences

Los Angeles, CA

08/2019 - 06/2023

• Relevant Coursework: Pediatric Nursing, Critical Care Nursing, and Nursing Ethics.
• Research Project: "The Impact of Patient-Nurse Ratios on Care Quality."
• Clinical Rotations: Completed practical training in Pediatric, ICU, and Emergency Nursing departments.

#7. Leverage Optional Sections

Once you’ve come to the end of your new grad nurse resume, you have some leftover space.

This is a great opportunity for you to add optional sections, which can take your resume to the next level. These sections can be the cherry on top, giving potential employers deeper insight into who you are both professionally and personally.

Here are some sections you can choose from:

• Licenses and certifications. The more qualifications you have, the more commitment and readiness for nursing your resume shows.
• Awards. Any scholarships, academic honors, or nursing-related competitions you've won are good for showing off on your new grad nurse resume.
• Memberships. Being a part of professional nursing organizations gives you credibility and shows your drive to stay updated with industry trends.
• Languages. Hospitals and clinics appreciate nurses who can communicate with diverse patient populations, so speaking multiple languages is a huge plus.
• Publications or conferences. If you've written healthcare-related articles or created presentations for nursing school or even conferences, list them! It shows expertise and enthusiasm for particular subjects.
• Hobbies and interests. This section gives a glimpse into your personality. Activities like team sports can show teamwork skills and physical stamina, while interests like medical literature or meditation can show an interest in continuous learning and stress management.
• Florence Nightingale Academic Scholarship State Nursing School - 2022
• Top Performer American Red Cross First Aid Competition - October 2021

Memberships:

• National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA) Member - 2020

Always be sure to keep the optional sections you add to your new grad nurse resume relevant. Your interests in cooking or experience in the university drama club probably won’t do.

If you’re based in the USA, you should always include your nursing license number on your resume. But in countries where Nursing graduates are automatically registered with the board, there’s no need to add this credential.

#8. Attach an Equally Well-Made Cover Letter

Once you’ve completed your resume, your work isn’t done yet.

The last step on your resume-writing journey is writing a cover letter .

In reality, not writing a cover letter can significantly lower your chances of getting an interview since hiring managers expect to get cover letters .

There’s no need to worry, though! Your new grad nurse resume can be paired with a matching cover letter in no time.

Just take a look at what a great cover letter for a recently graduated nurse looks like:

You know the drill - you’ve seen a great cover letter, so now it’s time to make one yourself.

Follow our cover letter tips to nail it:

• Include the right contact information. Your new grad nurse cover letter should have the exact same contact information as your resume. Your full name, phone number, professional email address, and general location are enough, followed by the hiring manager’s contact information.
• Address your cover letter. Don’t skip the greeting or use something generic like “To whom it may concern”. Instead, do a bit of research and address the hiring manager by name to make a strong impression.
• Start with a strong opening. Your first paragraph should always include why you’re writing and what skills you can offer the employer, so they’ll want to read more.
• Expand on the details. This is the place to get creative! Elaborate on anything that makes you perfect for the job, but don’t just repeat what’s on your resume. Offer the hiring manager insight they wouldn’t get from just reading your new grad nurse resume.
• Finish it appropriately. Once you’re ready to wrap it up, invite the hiring manager to do something, like contact you. Then add an appropriate closing line and sign your name.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap!

Now you’ll be well on your way to delivering extraordinary patient care.

But before you pick out your new scrubs, let’s recap what we talked about:

• Always add an eye-catching paragraph at the top of your new grad nurse resume. A resume summary is a great way to catch the hiring manager’s attention.
• Don’t worry too much about not having enough professional experience. Hiring managers won’t expect a fresh graduate to have Dr. House’s list of achievements.
• List your soft skills separately from your hard skills so hiring managers can easily find what they’re looking for, and make sure to tailor any skills on your resume to the job ad.
• While your education is usually less important than your hands-on experience, don’t be afraid to give more detail if you’re very inexperienced. It still shows off your medical know-how and it’s better than having blank space.
• Any licenses and certifications are a great addition to your resume as a newly graduated nurse, so make sure to add them right after your most important sections are filled in.

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• New Graduate Nursing

New Graduate Nursing resume examples & templates

• New graduate nurses' job outlook and income

With your degree in hand, you’re ready to look for your first great nursing job. The demand for these compassionate, dedicated workers is high. But you want to make sure you have options, so you need a new graduate nursing resume that shows you in the best light.

The best resumes all contain common qualities no matter what type of career they are aimed at. They present a compelling case for employment by highlighting professional demeanor and skills in a format that is friendly to recruiters and human resources personnel. If that sounds like a lot to accomplish in a page or two, let the experts help out. At Resume.io, our resources for job hunters include everything from this guide to our resume examples that can help give you that boost.

In this guide, and the accompanying new graduate nursing resume example, you will answers to

• What do newly graduated nurses do?
• The outline for a new graduate nurse resume
• How to choose the best format for a new graduate nurse resume
• Tips and ideas for developing each section of your resume: the summary, employment history, education, and skills sections
• How to create an eye-catching and professional layout and design

What does a newly graduated nurse do?

As a newly graduated nurse, you are ready to lend a hand in this challenging healthcare career. As a nurse, your main responsibilities will be for hands-on patient care, communication and emotional support for patients and their families; and communication and coordination with physicians and other healthcare providers.

Your degree and certification qualify you to work in any healthcare setting including hospitals, doctor's offices, home healthcare, nursing care, and skilled rehabilitation centers. 

There are more than 100 nursing specialties, so it may take you some time to find your niche, or you may be a grad nurse who leaves school knowing exactly what you want to specialize in. Either way, opportunities abound.

Finding the right job

Your first job sets the stage for your healthcare career. Your new grad nurse resume has gotten you interviews, but remember that you are also interviewing the hospital or facility so that you find the best fit for you.

Nursing World offers a list of potential questions to ask your prospective employer.

New graduate nurses' job outlook and income

You have chosen a career that requires dedication, long hours, and hard work. Add to that the exhausting work the pandemic plunged nurses into, the increasing number of retirements from the nursing field, and the aging U.S. population, and you will find that you’re in high demand. 

In fact, McKinsey predicts that by 2025, the demand for nurses will outstrip the supply by 200,000-450,000 people. That means you’re in a great place to find the right position and command a good salary.

The median salary for a new grad registered nurse is $66,728, according to Salary.com . The top 90 percent of earners bring home almost $85,000, while the lowest earners start out at $53,603 or less. If you’re looking for the highest hourly rate, head to California, where the median hourly rate for registered nurses is $59.62, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.

How to write a new graduate nurse resume

You may think that you must distinguish yourself by developing a new grad nurse resume that breaks the mold. Nothing is further from the truth. You want your job application to reflect who you are within the bounds of a typical outline.

To that end, your graduate nurse CV should contain the following standard elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

The main goal of your resume is to get the interview. You don’t want to tempt the recruiter to triage your application out of the list. So, opt for a familiar organization.

Account for the Applicant Tracking System

The Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is another way HR departments make the hiring process easier for themselves. Whenever you apply online, you are inputting your data into an ATS. The ATS scans your information and ranks it against other resumes to create a top tier of documents that will be seen by a person. To make it past the ATS algorithms, which are partly based on keywords and phrases associated with the position, you need to match your words to those in the job listing.

The trick here is to do so while still sounding natural and avoiding any tricks such as “stuffing” your resume with keywords.

Choosing the best resume format for a new graduate nurse

We recommend reverse chronological order in most cases and your new grad nurse resume is one of them. You may choose to move your education section above your employment history section since your experience is limited, however, you should still list your latest degrees and experience first.

You may opt for a hybrid-style resume format, which showcases your nursing skills as well as any internships or other healthcare experience you may have, but a functional resume, which puts highly scientific or technical expertise at the forefront, is not the best choice for a newly graduated nurse.

Resume summary example

Because you are new to a profession that requires empathy, compassion, and detailed communication, you should pay careful attention to the summary of your new grad nurse resume. Here you have the freedom to show your personality and how you will enhance care at the facility.

Your summary, or profile, if you prefer, gives employers an overview of your career or accomplishments to date. As a newly minted nurse, you take these 3-4 sentences to describe why you choose this demanding field, the specialty (if you have one), and the type of environment.

The key to a successful summary (and application documents as a whole, including your cover letter) is to let your prospective employer know what you will bring to them. Let your professional voice shine through, especially since a large part of your job is clear communication. See our adaptable summary in the new graduate nursing resume example.

For more resume examples to guide you through this most challenging section, see our nurse resume sample, nursing student resume example, physician assistant resume sample, ICU nurse resume example, and CNA resume sample.

Recent graduate with a passion for supporting healthcare needs through empathetic patient service, engagement, communication, and education. Strong talent for cultivating and maintaining relationships, partnering with physicians, nursing staff, administrative teams, and patients/families to ensure positive experiences and health outcomes.

Employment history sample

If you went right into nursing school from high school, you may not have an extensive work record to detail in your new grad nurse resume. That’s OK. Recruiters understand that you are in search of your first job.

List any summer or part-time work experience you do have, particularly if it relates to caring for others. Work such as volunteering in a senior center or with other populations shows that you have experience as a carer. Barring that, list work that demonstrates your reliability, time management, and other soft skills since employers value those highly. The same advice holds if you are a career changer. 

Each bullet item should convey what you did and the results you achieved because of your actions on the job. Be as detailed as you can and use data when appropriate.

Action verbs for a nursing resume

Here is a list of some verbs you should consider as you compile your employment history section:

• Administered
• Rehabilitated

New Grad Residency Nurse , Mercy Hospital, San Antonio, TX August 2022 - Present

• Provide effective, engaged care for up to 10 patients per shift.
• Consult with Physicians and colleagues to develop and execute healthcare plans, ensuring alignment with patient needs.
• Manage patient medications, assessing prescriptions and dosages for contraindications.
• Meet with patients, caregivers, and families to provide health education and address healthcare inquiries.
• Secure patient samples and administer medications in adherence to Physician orders.

CV skills example

Here is your chance to shine – and to easily target each job. Your new graduate nurse resume should contain a robust skills section that highlights the job attributes at which you excel while ensuring employers that you have what they seek in a newly certified nurse.

Your skills list should include your knowledge of medicine, healthcare, and nursing and the best practices you learned in school. Examples of those include starting peripheral IV lines, giving injections, checking vital signs, and having a deep understanding of both HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and privacy practices. Don’t list those to the exclusion of the people skills that will make you a great all-around employee.

NurseJournal calls these soft skills “crucial” for nursing:

• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Professionalism
• Accountability
• Stress management
• Critical observation
• Self-development

Choose from among those or from your own skillset, making sure that you cross-reference the job listing to include the attributes your prospective employer has specifically mentioned. See our adaptable skills section in the new graduate nursing resume example.

• Patient Care
• Patient & Caregiver Engagement
• Physician Partnership
• Medication Management
• First Aid & CPR
• Immunization
• Data Confidentiality
• Electronic Medical Records (EMR)
• Electronic Health Records (EHR)
• Health Education

New graduate nurse resume education example

The education section of your new grad nurse resume may look a bit different from that of a registered nurse with experience. You may choose to list specific courses you completed that went above the minimum nursing degree requirements to bolster your desirability as a candidate.

In some states, nurses only need an associate’s degree, but in others, they must complete a bachelor’s degree. Each type of nursing and each state has slightly different requirements, but you will also need to take a licensing test. List all of these qualifications in this section.

Unless you have other extensive healthcare experience, you should move this section up above your work history because it is your main qualification – along with your nursing certification – for the position. If you have any specialized certifications, list those here as well.

Lady of Infinity College of Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, San Antonio, TX May 2017 -  May 2022

University of Texas at San Antonio, Practical Nursing Degree, San Antonio, TX December 2012 - December 2016

Resume layout and design

Precision and cleanliness are absolute requirements in healthcare jobs; the design and layout of your new graduate nurse resume need to reflect that. You wouldn’t show up to an in-person interview looking anything less than professional – your layout makes the first visual impression before you even get there.

The best way to project a professional image is with a professional layout. Consider using one of our expertly-designed and adaptable resume templates. Also, take the following resume design tips into consideration:

• Create neat lines by left-justifying your text.
• Choose easy-to-read fonts and use two at maximum.
• Keep color to a minimum. Allow yourself more leeway if you want to work in a pediatric ward since your upbeat personality will play a role in cheering up little patients and their parents.
• Use boldface and enlarge the font slightly to help your section titles stand out.
• Use your header (where you display your contact information) as an eye-catching  graphic element, but keep it legible.
• Proofread, proofread, proofread! You can’t make mistakes in medicine, so make sure there aren’t any on your resume.

Key takeaways for a new grad nurse resume

• You may have a choice of jobs, but you will need a great resume to get the job you really want.
• With nurses in demand, you should be prepared to interview your prospective employer to find the best fit for you.
• Consider highlighting your education section above your employment history since you are new to the nursing field.
• Project attention to detail and efficiency in your resume layout.
• Avail yourself of the professional job-hunting resources available at Resume.io.

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

• Resume Examples

New Grad Nurse (RN) Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

You chose a career that keeps you on your toes and saves lives. But how will the HR team know you’re worth your clipboard? Show them with your new grad nurse resume.

There are over 200,000 new nurses every year and they want the same jobs you do. To get noticed in that mob, you need a Theresa-Brown-level resume for new nursing graduates.

You can do it, with the right focus on your schooling and clinical experience. Below, I'll show you how.

In this guide:

• New grad nurse resume examples better than most.
• How to write a new nurse resume that lands interviews.
• How to custom-craft your new grad nursing job description.
• Why you can’t just list new grad nursing skills (and what to do instead).

Save hours of work and get a job-winning resume like this. Try our resume builder for free. Start by choosing a resume template .

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Are you looking for something similar to the new grand nurse resume? See other guides for nurses: 

• ER Nurse Resume Examples
• Medical Assistant Resume Examples
• Medical Scribe Resume Examples
• Medical Student Resume Examples
• Medical-Surgical Nurse Resume Examples
• Nurse Manager Resume Examples
• Nurse Practitioner Resume Examples
• Nursing Student Resume  Examples
• Nursing Resume Examples
• School Nurse Resume Examples

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our  Resume Examples for Any Job.

Sample New Grad Nurse (RN) Resume You Can Copy and Use

Molly Michaud

Personal Info

Phone: 757-944-3536

Email: [email protected]

linkedin.com/in/mollyzmichaud

twitter.com/mollyzmichaud

Licensed RN with 2+ years of precept nurse experience. Eager to deliver high-level care at APMC. At Richmond Medical Center, was scored at 97% for patient education and wound-dressing by preceptor. Completed assigned tasks 10% ahead of schedule.

License & Certifications

• Registered Nurse, Virginia Board of Nursing, License #00000000
• Certified Patient Care Technician
• Basic Life Support

Bachelor of Science, Nursing

University of Virginia

2015–2019

• Excelled in patient education coursework.
• Worked as teacher's assistant in wound dressing classes.
• Member, Student Nursing Association.

Clinical Experience

Precept Nurse 

Richmond Medical Center

2018–2019

• Provided care and assisted with creation of plan of care in general 35-bed inpatient ward.
• Collected patient information and communicated results to preceptor. Used collected data to assist preceptor in creating plan of care.
• Established track record for efficiency, completing assigned tasks 10% ahead of schedule with 90%+ accuracy as judged by preceptor.
• Performed medical procedures including IV insertion, intradermal injections, blood pressure assessments, and wound care.

Key Achievement

• Rated at 97% by preceptor for wound-dressing and patient education.

Precept Nurse

Alexandria Medical Clinic

2017–2018

• Facilitated mobilization of patients to minimize falls and skin breakdown. Achieved 10% lower bedsore rate than clinic average.
• Scored 100% in HIPAA compliance.
• Sterilized instruments with 99% scores in spot checks by preceptor.
• Recorded vital signs of 5+ patients per day.

Additional Activities 

• Volunteer educator, American Red Cross.
• My article on catheterization was published in The Nursing Show.
• Weekly yoga for fitness & self-care.

Hard Skills:   wound dressing, patient education, IV insertion, medication administration

Soft Skills:   interpersonal skills, teamwork, communication, problem solving

Here’s how to write a healthy new grad nurse resume:

1. Choose the Best New Grad Nurse Resume Format

Which new grad nurse resume format is right? Easy choice. Select the reverse-chronological format for resumes . It shows off your Cleveland-Clinic-worthy achievements first.

Use these resume format tips:

New Grad Nurse Resume Format

• Create a one–page resume for new grad nursing jobs.
• Set 1-inch resume margins .
• Pick a resume font like 11–14pt Cambria or Arial.
• For max readability, add some white space.
• Make resume sections for Heading, Summary, Experience, Education, and Skills.

Expert Hint: Save your work as a PDF resume so it works on all devices. A new grad RN resume in PDF form won’t confuse the ATS, and hiring teams love them.

2. Write a New Grad Nurse Resume Objective

The charge nurse will skim your new grad nurse resume. If it doesn’t grab her, she’ll toss it. So—make your first paragraph sparkle like Meredith Grey.

Do that with a career objective .

• An adjective (licensed, energetic)
• “RN”/"LPN"
• What you’ll do and for whom (deliver high-level care at APMC)
• Best resume achievements (scored 97% for patient education)

See these new grad nursing resume examples:

New Grad Nurse Resume Objective—Example

Here's the diagnosis:  The second of those new grad nursing resumes samples just says what you can do. The first shows you’ve done it—fast and well. Your precept nurse experience counts as real experience in a new grad nurse resume. Don’t waste it!

Expert Hint: Write your new grad RN resume objective last. You’ll have an easy time summarizing your resume when you’ve got the finished copy at your fingertips.

3. Give Your Education Section a Fighting Chance

How should you list education in a new grad nurse resume? That’s easy. Show your degree and the name of your school. But—to wow the charge nurse, put skills in your resume education section .

See this new grad nursing resume sample:

New Grad Nurse Resume Example—Education

First rate. You just added patient education and wound dressing to your new grad RN resume.

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now .

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Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now .

4. Show Clinical Experience and Skills in a New Grad RN Resume

What skills function in a nursing resume for new grads? Here are sample  skills to put on a resume :

New Grad Nurse Resume Skills

• Documentation
• Medicine Administration
• Wound Dressing
• Patient Education
• Patient Transport
• Electronic Health Records (EHR)
• Recording Vital Signs
• Creating Plan of Care
• Time Management
• Attention to Detail
• Active Listening
• Problem Solving
• Physical Stamina
• Interpersonal Skills
• Communication

Let me give you a word of caution: Don’t pump them all into a new grad nurse resume.

Only a tailored resume will get you hired. So, pluck resume keywords from the nursing job description. These new grad nursing resume samples show how:

The job wants skills in collecting patient information , efficiency , IV insertion , and wound dressing .

New Graduate Nurse Job Description for a Resume [Sample]

• Established track record for efficiency , completing assigned tasks 10% ahead of schedule with 90%+ accuracy as judged by preceptor.
• Performed medical procedures including IV insertion , intradermal injections, blood pressure assessments, and wound care.

Key Achievement:

• Rated at 97% by preceptor for wound dressing and patient education.
• Provided patient care daily in busy hospital.
• Administered medications using various routes.
• Kept physicians informed about changes in the condition of patients.
• Performed patient education as needed and requested, per hospital guidelines.
• Participated in project to improve ICU procedures and guidelines.

With the second of those ICU nursing resume examples, you’re circling the drain. But—The first is skin-glued to the job ad.

Expert Hint: A peer-reviewed study found that clinical nursing simulations were no substitute for real experience. If you’ve volunteered or worked an internship, show that in your new grad nursing resume.

5. Add Bonus Sections to Your New Grad RN Resume

More than 200,000 new nurses graduate from school each year. Your new grad nurse resume has to outshine them all. So—add extras to your new grad nursing resume.

Choose from:

• Certifications ( RN , CPN , ONCC , etc.)
• Associations ( ANA , etc.)
• Volunteer positions
• Internships
• Honors or awards
• Media appearances
• Publications
• Language levels
• Conferences
• Additional activities
• Sports and fitness

New Grad RN Resume—Other Sections

• Making sauerkraut

What’s wrong with making sauerkraut or singing? Nothing! But they don’t prove RN skills. The first of those new grad nursing resume samples shows you can take the heat.

Expert Hint: Write a cover letter for your nursing new grad resume. Show off your love of nursing and your best few nursing high points that make you a great choice.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOW

Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here .

Here’s how to write a new grad nursing resume:

• Start with a new grad nursing resume template . Infuse it with your top new grad nursing moments.
• Add new grad nursing skills like wound dressing or patient education. Put a few numbers in to measure your results.
• Write a new graduate nurse resume objective as a snapshot of the best reasons to hire you.
• Add extra sections to list your license or an ANA membership.
• Don't forget to write a new grad RN cover letter . 

Got questions on how to write good resumes for new grad nursing jobs? Want to see more new grad nurse resume examples? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines , ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets . Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

Having published over 200 career-advice articles, Tom Gerencer is a career expert who covers the whole array of job-seeking topics for people at all career stages, from interns to C-suite members. His insights, commentary, and articles reach over a million readers every month. With inside knowledge of key industry players and in-depth research, Tom helps job seekers with advice across all professions and career stages.

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New Grad Nursing Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

• Resume Examples
• Resume Text Examples

How To Write a New Grad Nursing Resume

• Entry-level
• Senior-level

Alice Doe (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 123 Address Rd, Anywhere, USA

A recent nursing graduate with entry-level work experience, specializing in EHR, patient relations, post-anesthesia care, and process improvement. Adept at collaborating with physicians and nursing teams to deliver high quality patient care.

Professional Experience

Hospital Orderly, Regional Hospital, Chapel Hill, NC January 2019 – Present

• Prepare equipment for medical procedures, including IVs and physical exams, as directed by care teams
• Assist with physical exams, including moving patients when necessary
• Keep rooms neat and clean by replacing linens, sterilizing surfaces, wiping down diagnostic machines, and cleaning floors
• Transfer patients to X-rays, MRIs, CT scans and other testing locations as directed by care teams

Receptionist, Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, Winston-Salem, NC June 2017 – December 2018

• Interfaced with patients, managed appointments, provided pre-appointment paperwork, and processed insurance information
• Answered phones to schedule appointments and fielded patient questions about course of care
• Processed insurance claims when necessary, including submitting paperwork and speaking with insurance company representatives
• Patient Care
• Treatment Plans
• Electronic Health Records (EHR)
• Team Collaboration
• Patient Relations

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC August 2015 – May 2019

Allen Doe (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 123 Address Rd, Anywhere, USA

A Registered Nurse with three years of patient care experience, specializing in clinical workflows, communication, and emergency room operations. Adept at identifying opportunities to improve efficiency in fast-paced ICU environments.

• Medical Research
• Microsoft Office Suite

Bachelor of Science, Nursing, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC September 2018 – May 2022

Nursing Assistant, Dr. Steve’s Medical Practice, Durham, NC January 2022 – Present

• Interface with patients and provide safe transport to exam rooms for appointments with physicians
• Monitor preliminary vitals, including blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, height, and weight
• Document findings in electronic health records database for use by physicians
• Discuss medical findings with physician prior to appointments, including patient concerns and red flags during testing

Research Assistant, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC September 2021 – December 2021

• Processed study participants, including entering full demographic information into tracking software and providing any disclosures related to participation
• Entered study results into the database, collecting information to determine study conclusions
• Supported the compilation of data, including statistical analysis to include in completed research report

Alanzo Doe (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 123 Address Rd, Anywhere, USA

A Registered Nurse with five years of experience improving patient outcomes and elevating healthcare standards. A proven track record of coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to enhance the delivery of patient-focused care.

Nurse, North Carolina State Hospital, Raleigh, NC August 2019 – Present  

• Conduct patient assessments, collect medical history for EHR, and perform a variety of medical testing, including X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and blood testing
• Interface effectively with diverse patient populations and develop treatment plans in alignment with emotional, spiritual, and physical needs
• Provide education to patients on symptoms, diagnosis, and long-term outlook and communicate instructions for future care

Certified Nursing Assistant, North Carolina Senior Center, Raleigh, NC May 2017 – June 2019  

• Provided support to patients and residents throughout both treatment and rehabilitation, including bathing, dressing, toileting, and nutrition
• Transported residents to and from activities like physical therapy, meals, movie nights, and game nights
• Recorded daily activities of residents, including eating habits and recreation, and reported any changes to the nursing staff

Accelerated Bachelor of Science, Nursing, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC August 2017 to May 2019

Bachelor of Science, Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC August 2017 to May 2019

• Clinical Operations
• Patient-centered Care
• Communication
• Patient Assessment

New Grad Nursing Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

To write a compelling new grad nursing resume, you must highlight your medical knowledge and ability to deliver compassionate care under stressful conditions. If you’re just starting your career, it can be difficult to create a resume that shows you have what it takes to succeed in nursing. This guide provides tips for writing a nursing entry-level resume, examples of each section, and links to other resources to help your job search.

1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your new grad nursing qualifications

The profile section of a resume summarizes your skills and experience, but if you just graduated, some creativity may be required. Include any medical experience you have, such as working as a nursing assistant or aid in a nursing home, and mention any specialties you enjoyed or excelled at in nursing school. If you plan on entering a certain area, such as the ER or pediatrics, this is also a good place to put this.

Professional Profile - Example #1

A registered nurse with five years of experience improving patient outcomes and elevating health care standards. A proven track record of coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient-focused care delivery.

Professional Profile - Example #2

A recent nursing graduate with entry-level work experience specializing in Electronic Health Records (EHR), patient relations, post-anesthesia care, and process improvement. Adept at collaborating with physicians and nursing teams to deliver high-quality patient care.

2. Showcase your new grad nursing experience

Start the professional experience section with your most relevant positions or the most recent, depending on your work history. If you haven’t held a nursing job, focus on the experience you garnered during your nursing externship. Emphasize important trends within the medical industry, such as patient-centered care, diversity and inclusion, and patient advocacy. Even without years of experience, you can still craft a results-driven resume that highlights the unique aspects of who you are as a health care professional.

Professional Experience - Example #1

North Carolina State Hospital, Raleigh, NC | August 2019 – present

Professional Experience - Example #2

Hospital Orderly

Regional Hospital, Chapel Hill, NC | January 2019 – present

• Transfer patients to X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and other testing locations as directed by care teams

3. Include new grad nursing-related education and certifications

Successfully completing nursing school is an accomplishment to highlight on your resume. Make sure to list your degree and any licenses or certifications you hold. If you have a license or National Provider Identifier (NPI) number, include that in this section. If you’re a new graduate with no practical work experience, it’s a good idea to include some of the topics you covered in your clinicals to show the reviewer you have hands-on nursing experience, even if it wasn’t a paid position.

• [Degree Name]
• [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC – May 2019

Certifications

• [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
• Advanced HIV/AIDS Certified Registered Nurse, 2020

4. Include a list of skills and proficiencies related to new grad nursing

Nursing is a hands-on profession, and the hiring manager will look for applicants with specific skills. While some of this may be covered in your work history, it’s a good idea to include a key skills list so the reviewer can quickly see if you’re a match for the position. This should be a mix of technical nursing skills, such as inserting IVs and calculating medication dosages. Also, highlight interpersonal skills, such as de-escalating conflicts and educating patients.

Here are some of the most common skills listed for entry-level nursing positions:

5. Highlight your clinical experience

For newly graduated nurses, there are often more similarities than differences from one resume to the next. All nursing students, for example, are expected to rotate through different areas of medicine and shadow professionals in numerous clinical settings.

However, clinical experience outside nursing school can help any resume stand out. Candidates who previously served in a health care field, like working with emergency medical services (EMS) or as a certified nursing assistant, should highlight this experience to the greatest level possible. The ability to manage patients and provide care outside of an academic setting can indicate success in a nursing role.

How To Pick the Best New Grad Nursing Resume Template

You don’t have to create your resume from scratch. Using a nursing entry-level resume template means all you have to do is plug in your information, tailor it to the job description, and hit the submit button. When selecting your template, prioritize structure, organization, and readability over visual appeal. Hiring managers want to see you have the qualifications to succeed in the role, and it’s best not to distract them with flashy colors and graphics.

Frequently Asked Questions: New Grad Nursing Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for new grad nursing resumes -.

An action verb should start each bullet in your work history, and each one should be powerful and show what you did in your position and the impact you had. Coming up with the right words can be challenging, especially if you don’t have much experience yet. You can find some options in the job description, but we’ve also provided a list of common action verbs for nursing entry-level resumes below to help give you some ideas.

How do you align your resume with a nursing job description? -

Hiring managers often have to deal with hundreds of applications for one position, even in industries expecting only average growth , and many are turning to applicant tracking systems to make this process easier. You’ll need to tailor your resume to the job description to increase the chances of getting it in front of a human reviewer. Include any relevant skills, qualifications, and other keywords, such as EHR software or pediatric nursing, from the job posting in your resume.

What is the best new grad nursing resume format? -

The best format for an entry-level nursing resume is often a combination style. This ensures there is ample focus on your skills and education while still providing space to list any relevant work experience. If you’ve held other medical positions, such as an orderly, or have an extensive work history, a reverse chronological resume can still work. Avoid using a functional resume that only lists skills, as a people-oriented job outside of the health care field presents an opportunity for you to highlight transferable skill sets.

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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

Check Out Related Examples

Nurse Practitioner Resume Examples and Templates

Nursing Assistant Resume Examples and Templates

Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) Resume Examples and Templates

Build a Resume to Enhance Your Career

• How To List Relevant Coursework on a Resume Learn More
• How To List Volunteer Experience on a Resume Learn More
• How To List Your Education on a Resume Learn More

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• How to Land Your Dream Job Learn More
• How to Organize Your Job Search Learn More
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• The Best Questions to Ask in a Job Interview Learn More

New Grad Nursing resume example

As a newly graduated nurse you are eager to get into your first nursing role and start helping people.

But first you’re going to need a winning resume, to wow healthcare hiring managers and bag yourself plenty of interviews.

So, we’ve put together this guide which includes a real-life new grad nursing resume example, and shows you exactly how to write an eye-catching resume of your own.

Resume templates 

New Grad Nursing Resume Example

This example newly graduated Nurse resume gives you a general idea of how to structure your own resume, along with the type of content you need to include.

Sticking with this resume format will help you to get noticed by employers and ensure that they can quickly see the benefit of hiring you.

Now, lets take a look at how to write your own winning resume.

New Grad Nursing resume layout and format

Your resume layout and format will play a big role in helping hiring managers to take notice of your resume and stay glued to it.

Shoot for a simple yet professional look to ensure you make a strong first impression, and organize the page in a way that is easy for readers to digest the information.

The following formatting tips should help.

Resume formatting tips

• Length: Keep your resume to 2 pages or under. You’ve probably heard that recruiters and hiring managers don’t have lots of time to read every resume, so keep yours brief if you want to ensure that they read all of the important info in yours.
• Font and text : Readability is the name of the game when it comes to your resume. Ensure yours is a dream to read by using a simple clear font, and breaking the text up with plenty of bullet points and short paragraphs.
• Design & structure: Go with a resume design that looks good, but also allows for easy reading and navigation for employers. Ensure the page is clearly split up into sections by adding large font headings and dividing borders. Keep the color scheme simple and don’t overcrowd the page.
• Photos and images: It’s not mandatory to add a photo to your resume in the USA but it if you’re applying to organizations within the creative fields, it can be beneficial.

Quick tip: Formatting a resume to look professional can be difficult and time-consuming. If you want to create an attractive resume quickly, try our quick-and-easy Resume Builder and use one of their eye-catching resume templates.

Resume layout

When you write your resume , include the sections below.

• Name and contact details – Pop these at the very top to ensure recruiters know how to contact you.
• Resume summary – An eye-catching paragraph which summarizes your most valuable attributes – placed near the top of your resume
• Skills section – A bullet pointed list of your most in-demand skills, enabling recruiters to see your suitability from a glance.
• Work experience – List some or all of your previous jobs in reverse chronological order – voluntary work and college placements can be included if you have no paid experience.
• Education – A summary of your professional training and academic qualifications.
• Additional info – An optional section for anything that may boost your application, such as relevant hobbies and interests

Now here’s exactly what you should include in each of these sections in your resume.

Resume Contact Details

Add your name and contact details to the very top of your resume, making it easy for recruiters to get in touch

• Name and profession title
• Cell phone number – or another number you can answer quickly
• Location – Add your local area such as San Diego or New York – not your full address as that will take up too much space.
• Email address – Use your name or close variation – no nicknames from high school.

You can add a link to your LinkedIn profile if you have one – you do not need to include personal details like date of birth or marital status.

New Grad Nursing Resume Summary

Your resume summary is like an elevator pitch. It’s your chance to sell yourself to employers within a short space of time.

Achieve this by summarizing your skills and expertise, whilst highlighting your abilities that closely match the jobs you are aiming for.

Tips for creating an strong resume summary:

• Keep it brief: Your summary is intended to be a high-level introduction to hook readers’ attention, so keep it brief (4-7 lines) – save the details for later in your resume.
• Tailor it: Tailor your resume to your target jobs by studying the job description and adding as many matching skills as you can.
• Avoid cliches: Recruiters always see cringey cliches like “ hardworking guru who works well in a team or individually ” – they don’t mean much to anyone, so focus your summary on tangible skills and experience.

Example resume summary for New Grad Nursing

What to include in your new grad nursing resume summary.

• Summary of professional experience: Provide an overview of the type of work you have done in the past and the impact you have made at previous employers.
• Relevant skills: Include your skills which are hyper relevant to newly graduated Nursing jobs to instantly show your suitability.
• Essential qualifications: Showcase your level of education with a quick mention of any qualifications that are essential for the newly graduated Nursing roles you are applying to.

Quick tip: Choose from hundreds of pre-written summaries across all industries, and add one to your resume with one click in our quick-and-easy Resume Builder . All written by our recruitment experts and easily tailored to suit your unique skillset.

Core skills section

Sitting just underneath your resume summary, your core skills section gives recruiters 4-10 of your most in-demand skills in just a glance.

As newly graduated Nursing jobs may get hundreds of applications, this is a great way to stand out and quickly grab hiring managers’ attention.

It should be made up of 2-3 columns of bullet points and highlight attributes that are hyper-relevant to the jobs you are aiming for.

Best skills for your New Grad Nursing resume

• Patient care and education – Informing and involving patients in the diagnosis and treatment of their illness or injury and ensuring they are comfortable with all procedures that take place.
• Patient assessment – Gathering information on family history, surgical history, medical history, medication history, psychosocial history, alongside obtaining vital signs such as temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, and pain level.
• Medication/treatment administration – Administering appropriate treatments and medications for the patients diagnosed condition.
• IV administration and management – Administering patient IV lines to administer medications such as pain medications, nausea medications, or antibiotics, and renewing IV lines every 4 days when required.
• Electronic health documentation – Completing and reviewing an electronic version of the former paper chart, including the medical and treatment history of patients.

Quick tip: Our quick-and-easy Resume Builder contains thousands of in-demand skills for every profession that can be added to your resume in seconds – saving you time and greatly improving your chances of landing job interviews.

Work experience section

Once you’ve got recruiters interested with your impactful summary, your work experience is where the real detail will lie.

Lay out your previous jobs from current to oldest, detailing what you contributed and achieved in each one.

If you’re highly experienced you can cut this section down to your most recent few years of work, but if you are junior you can bulk this up with voluntary work and college placements.

Structuring your job descriptions

It’s easy to overwhelm readers when writing about a job you have been doing for years or even months.

Break the information up like this to keep it simple for recruiters to understand.

Job outline

Begin each job with a short summary of who the organization is, where you sit within it, and what the main goal of your position is.

Key responsibilities

Next, write up a punchy list of your daily duties and responsibilities, using short bullet points.

Describe how you apply your skills and contribute to the running of the employer’s business – highlighting skills which are applicable to your target jobs.

Key achievements

Show employers the value you can bring to them by adding a few achievements to your jobs.

Whether you’ve saved the company money or improved an internal process, let recruiters know

Add some numbers to give readers a real scale of the impact, e.g. “reduced call wait time by 10%”

Example job for New Grad Nursing resume

Worked within a busy Emergency Department at a specialist children’s hospital outside of Seattle. Supported patients between the ages of 3 months to 17 years with a variety of conditions from minor injuries, severe allergic reactions, drug overdose etc.

Key Responsibilities

• Conducted initial patient examinations to determine the patient’s condition
• Received ambulance admitted patients including checking in patients and assisting with triage work
• Applied dressings and administered pain relief, antibiotics and other medications as required
• Kept patients and their family members updated on test results and treatment recommendations

Quick tip: Create impressive job descriptions easily in our quick-and-easy Resume Builder by adding pre-written job phrases for every industry and career stage.

Education resume section

Towards the bottom of your resume, add your education section.

Here you should list your professional qualifications and academic record, such as high school diplomas or college degrees.

If you have lots of work experience, you can keep this section brief (because recruiters will be more interested in your career. If you have little/no experience then you should bulk this section up with plenty of detail, such as double major info, Deans list and modules studied.

Additional info for your resume

Any other info that didn’t fall into any of the previous sections can be added here.

If you have hobbies that are related to your profession or any awards or publications – add them here.

Writing your New Grad Nursing resume

Writing a newly graduated Nurse resume can be challenging but following the steps above will ensure that you land plenty of interviews.

If you want to speed up the process and use an attractive professional template, try out our quick-and-easy Resume Builder .

Good luck with your job search!

Resume Worded   |  Proven Resume Examples

• Resume Examples
• Medical Resumes

44 Nursing Resume Examples - Here's What Works In 2024

The essential role that nurses play has never been so obvious. with the profession increasingly in demand, now is the perfect time to apply for nursing roles. this guide contains everything you need to write an effective nursing resume, including essential skills to include and resume templates you can use..

Nursing is a demanding but incredibly rewarding field, requiring dedication, compassion, and a lot of hard work. Nurses can choose from dozens of specialties and a variety of settings, including frontline hospital work, education, and private healthcare. Whatever your role, as a nurse, you’ll find that soft skills — including communication, problem solving, and conflict resolution — are essential, as are hard skills in patient care, technology, and basic medical procedures. There are multiple pathways leading to nursing, all culminating in the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Aspiring nurses can pursue a Diploma, Associate Degree, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing, while accelerated programs are open to those with an existing undergraduate degree or experience in the field. In 2023, the face of nursing is expected to change significantly. Shortages elsewhere in the medical field are likely to lead to an increased demand and higher responsibilities for Nurse Practitioners and more nurses choosing to specialize. Nurses are also likely to see a greater emphasis on technology in healthcare, including telehealth visits, medical chatbots, and online education programs. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 12% job growth for nurses over the next several years, well above the national average.

Nursing Resume Templates

Jump to a template:

• General Nurse
• Experienced Nurse
• Certified Nursing Assistant
• Registered Nurse
• Psychiatric Nurse
• Nurse Case Manager
• Nursing Student
• Travel Nurse
• Nurse Practitioner
• New Grad Nurse
• Director of Nursing
• Nursing Supervisor
• Clinical Rotation Nurse
• Charge Nurse
• Remote Nurse
• Preceptor Nurse
• Relief Charge Nurse
• LPN Nurse (Licensed Practical Nurse)
• LVN Nurse (Licensed Vocational Nurse)
• ICU Charge Nurse
• Prior Authorization Nurse
• Clinic Nurse
• Medical Surgical Nurse
• Patient Care Technician

Jump to a resource:

• Keywords for Nursing Resumes

Nursing Resume Tips

• Action Verbs to Use
• Related Medical Resumes

Get advice on each section of your resume:

Template 1 of 44: General Nurse Resume Example

Nurses are integral to the healthcare system. Under the guidance of a doctor or surgeon, nurses support and perform crucial patient care duties. Nurses are often most hands-on with day-to-day patient treatment. They perform a wide variety of tasks, including administering medication, monitoring patients health status, performing blood tests, administering IV fluids, running testing, and more. To become a nurse, you can choose a few different educational paths. You may earn an associates in nursing and go on to earn your LPN (licensed practical nurse) license. You also could get a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and go on to receive your RN (registered nurse) license. LPN’s are slightly more limited in their job scope than RN’s. In any case, great nurses will have a strong medical background, a caring and calm demeanor, a deep understanding of safety procedures, and strong multi-tasking skills.

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Tips to help you write your General Nurse resume in 2024

   gain hands-on patient experience.

While in nursing school, it’s wise to gain hands-on patient experience. This typically comes in the form of getting a position as a certified nursing assistant, healthcare aid, or medical assistant. You will learn how to perform basic activities of daily life with patients in these roles, and it gives you an opportunity to learn from the nurses you will work under.

   Consider learning a second language

Hospitals see everyone under the sun, and it’s no secret that many people speak a different language than English. Hospitals often look for bilingual staff and find them incredibly valuable when trying to communicate treatment and get consent from those who speak a foreign language. Find out what foreign language is most popular in your area, learn it, and highlight it on your resume.

Skills you can include on your General Nurse resume

Template 2 of 44: general nurse resume example.

The most important duty of a nurse is patient care, but that’s far from their only responsibility. As a nurse, you’ll be administering medication, monitoring and evaluating patient progress, and working closely with doctors to provide care in hospitals, clinics, residential homes, and a variety of less typical environments. To land a nursing position, you’ll need to emphasize both hard and soft skills in your resume.

   Good use of skills section to highlight nursing skills

If you feel like a comprehensive list of nursing skills could easily take up half your resume, you aren’t wrong. Even so, a good skills section shouldn’t include more than about 5-10 skills, which means you’ll need to read the job description carefully and pull out the most important skills recruiters are looking for.

   Lists additional qualifications relevant to nursing

At minimum, you’ll need a nursing degree or diploma to begin a career in nursing. If you have additional qualifications, like field-specific qualifications or general first aid, CPR, or basic life support (BLS) certification, it’s worthwhile to list those, too. You can include these in an additional section at the bottom of your resume or in your education section.

Template 3 of 44: Experienced Nurse Resume Example

As an experienced nurse, you've seen it all. You're the backbone of the healthcare system, working long hours to care for patients and being a team leader. In recent years, the healthcare industry has seen a growth in roles that require experienced nurses due to an aging population and the increasing complexity of care. When tailoring your resume for this role, it's important to highlight your experience, specialized skills, and the results you've achieved. While the pandemic has put nursing roles in the spotlight, it's also crucial to show how you adapted during these challenging times. Hiring managers are looking for nurses who can handle crises, adapt to changes quickly, and take a lead role in a team. Showcase your resilience and leadership skills in your resume and make sure it feels personal. No two nursing roles are ever the same, just as no two resumes should ever be identical.

Tips to help you write your Experienced Nurse resume in 2024

   highlight your specialized skills.

As an experienced nurse, you've no doubt gained some specialized skills. Perhaps you're an expert in critical care, or you've got a knack for pediatric nursing. Highlight these specialties on your resume. Not only do they showcase your experience, but they also show you're a nurse with a wider skill set.

   Show off your leadership skills

In a job where difficult decisions are made daily, leadership is crucial. You may have mentored new nurses, spearheaded a new initiative, or simply taken charge in a crisis. Show hiring managers you're not just a team player, but a potential team leader. It's these qualities that differentiate experienced nurses from the rest.

Skills you can include on your Experienced Nurse resume

Template 4 of 44: experienced nurse resume example.

As an experienced nurse, you’ll want to emphasize your experience in the field and advanced skill set. You may find yourself moving into positions of leadership or other increased responsibilities, which means highlighting transferable skills and evidence of solid career progression. Your accomplishments are key — instead of listing as many bullet points as you can, consider your most impressive achievements, particularly ones that demonstrate leadership and commitment.

   Bullet points feature strong action verbs to highlight nursing accomplishments

Choosing the right action verb is key to presenting your accomplishments in a positive, proactive light. Verbs like “assisted” and “collaborated” show your ability to work well in a large healthcare team, while ones like “organized,” “coordinated,” and “spearheaded” emphasize your willingness to take on leadership roles and higher-level responsibilities.

   Emphasize career growth in the nursing field

As you move on to more experienced roles, you’ll want to emphasize career progression in your resume. You can demonstrate growth through your job titles, bullet points, or both. Even if you haven’t been formally promoted or your job titles don’t show an obvious progression, you can make this clear by highlighting increased responsibilities in your accomplishments.

Template 5 of 44: Certified Nursing Assistant Resume Example

As a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), you're likely familiar with the critical role you play in patient care. While your daily tasks might involve things like personal care, taking vitals, and assisting with mobility, your resume needs to do more than just list these duties. Recently, employers have been valuing CNAs who can demonstrate empathy and effective communication, in addition to technical skills. When crafting your resume, remember to weave in how you've made genuine connections with patients and supported their wellbeing. Moreover, in light of the pandemic and the changing healthcare landscape, it's impressive if you can show adaptability and willingness to learn new protocols and technologies. This isn't just a list of your tasks - it's a narrative about how you've used your skills and traits to make an impact in your past roles.

Tips to help you write your Certified Nursing Assistant resume in 2024

   include relevant certifications.

As a CNA, you should include any specialized certifications, like CPR or dementia care, on your resume. This isn't just about meeting the job description requirements - it shows potential employers that you're committed to professional development and maintaining high standards in patient care.

   Demonstrate emotional intelligence

Aside from technical skills, you should reflect your emotional intelligence on your resume. Try to describe how you've managed sensitive situations, provided emotional support to patients, or how you've communicated effectively with patients' loved ones.

Skills you can include on your Certified Nursing Assistant resume

Template 6 of 44: certified nursing assistant resume example.

As a certified nursing assistant, you’ll work closely with patients under the supervision of registered nurses. Your nursing assistant resume should emphasize the hard skills you’ll need to do the job, including performing routine medical procedures like taking blood samples, monitoring vital signs, cleaning and sterilizing equipment, and assisting patients with eating, dressing, and bathing. You’ll also need a solid understanding of relevant policies and legislation, including HIPAA.

   Use a relevant resume title

One of the easiest ways to bypass resume screeners and ensure your resume lands on the desk of a hiring manager is to include the exact title of the job you’re applying for on your resume. Including a resume title not only does this, it also clearly shows that you’ve customized your resume for this particular job — always a necessity.

   Include volunteer work where you used your nursing skills

If you don’t have a lot of traditional work experience, consider including volunteer work on your resume. You can create a separate volunteer work section, or simply list it alongside paid work experience. If you do this, you should list it in the same way, with an employer heading, dates of employment, and action-oriented bullet points.

Template 7 of 44: Registered Nurse Resume Example

Registered nursing is a step up the nursing ladder, allowing you to provide care directly to patients. Licensure as a registered nurse (RN) is also a pathway to graduate nursing programs, practice as a nurse practitioner, and specialty certification. As an RN, you’ll provide education and advice to patients and coordinate with physicians and other members of your healthcare team, meaning communication skills are also essential.

Tips to help you write your Registered Nurse resume in 2024

   emphasize hard skills related to nursing.

As an RN, you’ll need a firm grasp on essential skills. Focus on technical skills you’ll need, like phlebotomy, rehabilitative care, triage, and electronic health record (EHR). If you want to include soft skills or more than a handful of hard skills, use your accomplishments to highlight accomplishments that demonstrate them in action.

   Use bullet points provide context on your nursing achievements

Focusing on accomplishments in your bullet points is good, but even better is if you can provide the context for those achievements. A bullet point reading “triaged 50+ patients daily” is far more descriptive than simply “triaged patients.” Try to give clear numbers when talking about the size of teams you’ve led or number of patients you’ve cared for.

Skills you can include on your Registered Nurse resume

Template 8 of 44: icu nurse resume example.

As an ICU nurse, you're stepping into a high-stakes world where precision, quick decision-making, and resilience are part of everyday life. Your resume should reflect this reality and showcase your competencies, experiences, and specializations. It's important to note that hiring trends within ICU roles are leaning towards value-based healthcare delivery. Hiring managers are on the lookout for nurses who are able to provide holistic care, focusing on patient outcomes and satisfaction. When crafting your resume, remember to highlight your accomplishments in these areas, rather than just listing your duties.

Tips to help you write your ICU Nurse resume in 2024

   highlight specialized icu skills.

As an ICU nurse, you've developed a unique skill set. On your resume, be sure to highlight your expertise in areas like critical care, advanced life support, and specific ICU equipment. Demonstrate how you've applied these skills in previous roles to deliver quality patient care.

   Emphasize on team collaboration and leadership

ICU environments are high-stress, high-intensity spaces that require strong teamwork and leadership. Be sure to showcase any experiences where you've effectively coordinated with a team, or led initiatives to improve patient outcomes or processes within the ICU.

Skills you can include on your ICU Nurse resume

Template 9 of 44: icu nurse resume example.

Working in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital means working in an emergency setting providing care to critically ill patients. As an ICU nurse, you may also work in an emergency room or burn center. The crucial and fast-paced nature of ICU nursing means you’ll need extensive nursing experience and additional certifications. Your resume should also emphasize transferable skills recruiters are looking for, including quick thinking and decision-making.

   Focus on ICU experience

When applying for a specific role like ICU nurse, it’s best to focus your resume on experience that’s relevant to that position. If you have past experience as an ICU nurse, it’s a good idea to include more bullet points for that job and cut down on the space you give to less closely related experience, like general nursing positions.

   Clearly list certifications related in nursing

The more specialized the role, the more likely it is that you’re going to need specific qualifications. If you already have the qualifications hiring managers are looking for — like critical care or life support certification — list them in your education section or in an additional section at the bottom of your resume.

Template 10 of 44: NICU Nurse Resume Example

As a NICU nurse, you'll be working in a fast-paced and highly specialized environment, caring for some of the most vulnerable patients. When crafting your resume, it's important to emphasize your skills and experience that are especially relevant to neonatal intensive care. There's a recent trend in the industry that focuses on evidence-based practices and mental-health support for families, so showcasing your knowledge in these areas will give you an edge. Additionally, with advancements in technology and medical devices, many NICU departments prefer nurses who are skilled in using the latest equipment. Mention your experience with different monitors, ventilators, and other NICU-specific devices on your resume, as this can demonstrate your ability to adapt to a rapidly evolving field.

Tips to help you write your NICU Nurse resume in 2024

   highlight relevant certifications.

In addition to your RN license, emphasize any advanced certifications that are relevant to neonatal care, such as the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) or the Certification for Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-NIC). These certifications demonstrate your commitment to providing high-quality care for NICU patients.

   Showcase your teamwork and collaboration skills

NICU nurses work closely with a multidisciplinary team of professionals. Highlight instances on your resume where you collaborated effectively with physicians, respiratory therapists, social workers, and other nurses to develop and implement comprehensive care plans for your patients.

Skills you can include on your NICU Nurse resume

Template 11 of 44: nicu nurse resume example.

Neonatal intensive care (NICU) nurses provide critical care for premature and severely ill infants. As an NICU nurse, you’ll also run NICU equipment, support women during labor, provide neonatal services to healthy newborns, and document patient histories. You’ll need a high level of compassion, the ability to work in a stressful, fast-paced environment, and specific skills in neonatal care, telemetry monitoring, and neonatal medical equipment.

   Tailored to the NICU nursing job

Tailoring your resume to the specific job you’re applying for is essential. One easy way to do this is by including a resume title that matches the job title. Another is to tailor your skills list — for example, by listing NICU-specific skills like neonatal health monitoring and assessment.

   List skills and certifications separately

If you’re listing additional qualifications and skills together in an “other” section of your resume, make sure you don’t just lump everything in together. Using separate subsections for skills and certifications allows you to list more information while ensuring that a recruiter can still easily skim your resume to find the information they’re looking for.

Template 12 of 44: Psychiatric Nurse Resume Example

As a psychiatric nurse, your role entails assessing, supporting, and treating patients with mental health disorders in a variety of settings. In recent years, there's been an increased focus on the importance of mental health care, which has led to a higher demand for psychiatric nurses. When crafting your resume, it's crucial to highlight your clinical experience, therapeutic communication skills, and empathy for patients, as these are qualities that set you apart in this specialized field. In addition to showcasing your clinical skills, it's also important to mention any specific areas of expertise or certifications you hold within the psychiatric nursing field. This not only demonstrates your dedication to the profession but helps you stand out to potential employers who may be seeking nurses with specialized experience to meet the evolving needs of mental health care.

Tips to help you write your Psychiatric Nurse resume in 2024

   emphasize therapeutic communication skills.

As a psychiatric nurse, your ability to communicate effectively with patients is paramount. Highlight your proficiency in therapeutic communication techniques, such as active listening, empathy, and validation to show potential employers that you can provide exceptional care to patients in need.

   Showcase specific mental health certifications

If you have any mental health certifications, like a Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse (CPMHN) credential or training in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), include these in your resume. This not only showcases your advanced knowledge in the field but indicates your commitment to continually improving your skills in psychiatric nursing.

Skills you can include on your Psychiatric Nurse resume

Template 13 of 44: psychiatric nurse resume example.

A psychiatric nurse is a specialized healthcare professional who focuses on the identification and treatment of psychiatric disorders. These nurses are responsible for determining a patient’s mental status, providing appropriate treatments and solutions, monitoring patient safety, and more. Psychiatric nurses must have a strong educational background in both psychiatry and general nursing. To land this role, you should have an undergraduate degree in psychology or nursing and then go on to earn your LPN or RN credential. Many people who land this role will have a dual-degree with a major in nursing and minor in psychology, or vice versa. After you’ve become a licensed nurse, you should gain hands-on psychiatric experience. Hiring managers will look for nurses who are sensitive to the needs of psychiatric patients, display great listening skills, and problem solving abilities.

   Highlight your ability to de-escalate and negotiate with patients

When dealing with psychiatric patients, you will need to have the ability to de-escalate high emotion situations, provide useful mental health interventions, and negotiate with agitated patients. It’s important to highlight any experience you have using these skills.

   Highlight your knowledge in behavioral analysis

Psychiatric nurses will identify problematic behaviors in patients and have the knowledge to prescribe treatment plans based on behavioral symptoms. As such, any knowledge in behavioral analysis or behavioral therapy will be valuable for this role.

Template 14 of 44: Psychiatric Nurse Resume Example

Psychiatric nurses are responsible for supporting patients with mental health and substance abuse issues. As a psychiatric nurse, you’ll be spending more time with a smaller number of patients, developing strong relationships and building trust in order to support patients over the long term. Soft skills in this role are a must, so use your accomplishments to highlight your empathy, resilience, and people skills.

   Short resume summary tailored to psychiatric nursing field

Including a summary at the top of your resume is a great idea if you want to provide extra context for your work history or quickly highlight one or two particularly impressive accomplishments. It’s also a handy place to put anything that doesn’t fit elsewhere on your resume — for example, if you’re changing careers or transitioning to a new specialization.

   Highlight transferable skills

Never list soft skills in your skills section. Instead, use your bullet points to highlight transferable skills. Rather than listing something like “attention to detail,” which is far too subjective, include a bullet point like “administered medications while ensuring correct dosage, frequency, and accuracy,” which shows how you demonstrated that skill in action.

Template 15 of 44: Nurse Case Manager Resume Example

Nurse Case Managers are vital in the healthcare industry as they coordinate patient care and improve healthcare outcomes. They manage and monitor patient cases, ensuring the best possible care is provided to address patients' unique needs. To write a resume for a Nurse Case Manager role, it's essential to stay up-to-date on industry trends and showcase the skills that make you an exceptional candidate. Emphasize your ability to work with interdisciplinary teams, manage patient cases, and navigate complex healthcare systems. In recent years, the focus on preventive care and patient advocacy has grown significantly. Therefore, a Nurse Case Manager's resume should demonstrate the ability to assess patients' needs holistically and develop personalized, comprehensive care plans. It's essential to show your understanding of the importance of patient-centered care and the impact of industry trends on your role as a Nurse Case Manager.

Tips to help you write your Nurse Case Manager resume in 2024

   highlight care coordination skills.

In your resume, emphasize your experience in coordinating care, working with interdisciplinary teams, and managing communication between patients, families, and healthcare providers. Nurse Case Managers need to effectively collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure seamless, efficient care delivery.

   Showcase your expertise in patient advocacy

Nurse Case Managers play a crucial role in advocating for the needs and preferences of their patients. Highlight instances where you've successfully advocated for patients, secured resources, or facilitated access to necessary services. This demonstrates your commitment to patient-centered care and your ability to navigate complex healthcare systems.

Skills you can include on your Nurse Case Manager resume

Template 16 of 44: nurse case manager resume example.

Nurse case managers are registered nurses (RNs) who provide dedicated recovery plans to individual patients, often in a hospital or acute care setting. In addition to licensure as an RN, you’ll need an understanding of patients’ health needs, the ability to monitor patients and work with other care professionals to ensure continued recovery, and the knowledge and background to source cost-effective care solutions.

   Includes numbers and metrics to emphasize case manager achievements

Including numbers and metrics on your resume isn’t just for show. Quantifying your achievements makes them more objective and reliable, and numbers speak to the exact nature of your achievement and its impact on the company or organization. Plus, they’re also just more impressive — consider “managed clinic referrals” versus “managed an average of 400 clinic referrals per month,” for example.

   Focuses on hard skills as a case manager

As a nurse case manager, you’ll need more than just people skills to succeed. Your resume should list any hard skills the job requires, including HCPCS, MEDITECH, and billing software. You should aim to pick 5-10 of the top skills you need and list them at the end of your resume, in a skills or additional information section.

Template 17 of 44: Nurse Case Manager Resume Example

Unlike most nursing positions, the role of a nurse case manager is more administrative in nature. As a nurse case manager, you’ll be in a supervisory role, with responsibilities including making decisions regarding budgets and scheduling, managing a team of nurses, and developing patient care plans. Your resume should highlight soft skills like leadership, decision making, and communication alongside hard skills in patient care and technology.

   Use hard numbers and metrics relevant to nursing

Using concrete numbers in your bullet points can be the best way to demonstrate your achievements. Instead of “lowered spending costs,” be specific and write “lowered spending costs by 25%.” If you led a team of 30, managed records for 500 patients, or oversaw a 26-bed unit, including those details will help your accomplishments stand out.

   Highlight key skills in nursing

In a role like nurse case manager that requires specific hard skills, you can list these in a separate skills section at the bottom of your resume. This includes specific software like HCPCS or MEDITECH systems, which are often keywords that hiring managers or applicant tracking systems (ATS) will be screening for.

Template 18 of 44: Nursing Student Resume Example

As a nursing student, you’ll be relying less on traditional work experience to fill out your resume and more on the skills you’ve gained through coursework and student nursing placements. Even without much experience, you can distinguish yourself by listing your student nursing experience the same way you would paid experience, focusing on your accomplishments and making sure to include relevant skills and keywords.

Tips to help you write your Nursing Student resume in 2024

   emphasize student nursing experience.

If you’re still a student and don’t have any relevant paid work experience, that doesn’t mean your resume should be blank. You can list your student nursing experience in your professional experience section, listing the location you worked at as the employer and “student nurse” as your job title.

   Lists specific competencies relevant to nursing

Even without paid work experience, you’ll be graduating with plenty of the skills you’ll need in your first role. Include a skills section at the bottom of your resume where you list a few of the skills that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for — typically between 5-10 skills.

Skills you can include on your Nursing Student resume

Template 19 of 44: travel nurse resume example.

As a travel nurse, your resume should reflect your unique skill set and adaptability to different clinical environments. With the healthcare industry constantly evolving, it's important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and practices in the field. When writing your resume, showcase your experience in various medical settings and emphasize any specialized skills or certifications you hold. Travel nursing is all about being flexible and reliable, so highlight your ability to adapt quickly and maintain high-quality patient care in an ever-changing environment. In recent years, travel nursing has become more competitive, and employers are looking for candidates who can easily transition between different roles and facilities. Your resume should not only highlight your clinical skills and experience, but also demonstrate your strong communication and interpersonal skills to ensure seamless collaboration with your colleagues.

Tips to help you write your Travel Nurse resume in 2024

   demonstrate adaptability in clinical settings.

As a travel nurse, you'll be placed in various medical environments, so it's crucial to showcase your adaptability in your resume. Mention instances where you've successfully adjusted to new procedures, protocols, or environments, making sure to highlight the positive outcomes for your patients and team.

   Emphasize specialized skills and certifications

In the competitive world of travel nursing, having specialized skills and certifications can set you apart from other candidates. List any relevant training or certifications, such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), to show potential employers that you're well-prepared for the challenges of travel nursing.

Skills you can include on your Travel Nurse resume

Template 20 of 44: travel nurse resume example.

Travel nursing is a unique experience, allowing you to travel across the United States or even around the world. Many travel nurses still work in traditional hospital and clinic settings, but on temporary contracts. As a travel nurse, you may be entitled to additional benefits, including a higher salary and free accommodation or tax-free housing stipend. You’ll need a high level of flexibility to succeed in this role.

   Use metrics to emphasize soft skills, like communication, which is core to nursing

Want to show off your leadership and teamwork skills? That’s great! Just don’t fall into the trap of listing soft skills in your skills section. Demonstrate them through your accomplishments instead, using metrics like “educated 15 precept nurses in best practices” or “collaborated with 10+ medical specialists” to emphasize how you’ve used these skills in a professional setting.

   Contact information includes LinkedIn profile (make sure your LinkedIn is up to date too!)

Your contact information is a small but important part of your resume. If you don’t already list your LinkedIn profile as a contact option at the top of your resume, you should. This is particularly true as a travel nurse, since you may be more difficult to contact than local applicants — especially if you’re in a different time zone.

Template 21 of 44: Nurse Practitioner Resume Example

A Nurse Practitioner (NP) role is a step forward from a registered nurse, allowing you to really hone in on a specialty of your choosing. As more healthcare facilities are seeking out NPs for their advanced training, it's a hot position on the market. You’re often the first point of contact for patients; this calls for a well-rounded combination of clinical expertise, empathy, and excellent communication skills. When crafting your resume, you need to reflect this diversity of skills and your potential as a healthcare leader. Healthcare trends lean towards a team-based approach, so your resume should showcase not only your clinical competencies but also your ability to work within interdisciplinary teams.

Tips to help you write your Nurse Practitioner resume in 2024

   highlight relevant certifications and specializations.

You've worked hard to obtain your specialized certifications in addition to your RN license. It's crucial to list them proudly on your resume. This could be a Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate or a Pediatric Primary Care NP certificate, for example. This really sets you apart in the NP field.

   Showcase your patient care outcomes

As an NP, results matter. Don't just say you've managed patient care - show the outcomes. Did you achieve a high patient satisfaction rating? Or maybe you led a project that reduced hospital readmissions? Any data you can provide to demonstrate your direct impact on patient care will make you stand out.

Skills you can include on your Nurse Practitioner resume

Template 22 of 44: nurse practitioner resume example.

Nurse practitioners serve as primary care practitioners, often with responsibilities approaching those of physicians. Nurse practitioners need at least a master’s degree but command a higher salary and a greater return on investment than a full medical doctorate. As a nurse practitioner, you’ll have the ability to perform physical examinations, prescribe medication, assist in surgical procedures, and even practice independently in some states.

   List your most relevant and recent experience first

Your work history should always be listed in chronological order, with your most recent experience at the top. The more recent and relevant the position, the more space it can command on your resume — you can get away with listing as many as 5-6 bullet points under your current job, while much older or less relevant roles should only get 1-2.

   Includes appropriate keywords relating to nurse practitioners

The higher responsibilities of a nurse practitioner mean you’ll need to emphasize a high level of skill and competency. Make sure you’re highlighting keywords that show your range of experience, including medical diagnosis, physical examination, education, consultation, and patient care.

Template 23 of 44: New Grad Nurse Resume Example

As a new grad nurse, you're entering an ever-evolving healthcare field with unique challenges. Your resume should not only showcase your nursing skills but also emphasize your adaptability and eagerness to learn. Employers are looking for candidates who can adapt to changes in the industry and effectively communicate with patients and colleagues alike. Healthcare organizations are increasingly focusing on patient satisfaction and outcomes, so highlighting your clinical experience and ability to work in various settings will position you as a strong candidate for such roles. When writing your resume, it’s vital to be specific about your nursing education, clinical rotations, and any relevant certifications.

Tips to help you write your New Grad Nurse resume in 2024

   highlight clinical rotations and experiences.

Detail the clinical rotations you completed during your nursing program, describing the type of units you worked on and the skills you gained. Showcase any experiences in diverse or high-acuity settings to demonstrate your adaptability and competence.

   Emphasize soft skills and teamwork

Since new grad nurses often work in interdisciplinary teams, emphasize your soft skills, such as communication, empathy, and collaboration. Use specific examples from clinical rotations or team projects to showcase your ability to work effectively with others.

Skills you can include on your New Grad Nurse resume

Template 24 of 44: new grad nurse resume example.

As a new graduate nurse, you're entering a highly competitive job market where employers are seeking the best candidates to fill their open positions. In recent years, the nursing industry has seen an increasing demand for skilled nurses, but also a higher number of job applicants. To stand out, it's crucial that your resume effectively showcases your education, clinical experience, and key strengths. Crafting a tailored resume will not only help you land interviews, but also demonstrate your professionalism and commitment to a career in nursing. Resumes are particularly important in the nursing field, as hiring managers need to assess your clinical competencies, ability to work under pressure, and adaptability. Both tactical and strategic recommendations can help you create a resume that highlights your skills and makes you an attractive candidate for potential employers.

As a new grad nurse, you might lack extensive work experience, so it's important to emphasize your clinical rotations and any hands-on experiences you've had during your education. Include the facility's name, department, and a brief description of the patient population and any specialized skills you practiced.

   Focus on soft skills and certifications

While technical skills are essential, nursing is also about communication, empathy, and teamwork. Highlight your soft skills, such as active listening, problem-solving, and time management, throughout your resume. Additionally, mention any relevant certifications (e.g., BLS, ACLS) that showcase your commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

Template 25 of 44: New Grad Nurse Resume Example

As a new graduate nurse, you’ll face a steep learning curve, so be prepared to learn and adapt on the go. Without much professional work history on your resume, you should highlight any nursing experience you’ve gained during your studies, including student nursing placements, clinical practicums, and any experience as a technician or extern.

   Includes student nursing and practicum experience

As a new grad, hiring managers aren’t expecting you to have extensive work experience. Any experience you’ve gained as a nursing student or early in your career can go on your resume in place of paid work experience. Simply list your practicums and student nursing experience the same way you would any job, using action verbs to highlight your accomplishments.

   Lists specific skills relevant to nursing

Even graduate nurses need a firm grounding in essential skills. When it comes to your skills section, be explicit about the skills you’re proficient in, but don’t feel the need to list every skill you’ve ever learned — choose the top ten or so skills that fit the specific job you’re applying for and list those.

Template 26 of 44: Director of Nursing Resume Example

Also called a nursing director, this professional is tasked with managing and overseeing the nursing staff in a healthcare establishment. Some of your tasks will include distributing nurses and resources effectively, creating targets and strategies for the department, and ensuring that all nurses under you follow all healthcare protocols and regulations. To qualify for this job you will need a degree in nursing and an RN license. Beyond that, you will need to show managerial and leadership experience in the nursing field. You must have the ability to work under pressure and in a very fast-paced environment and you must have critical problem-solving skills. Take a look at this successful resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Director of Nursing resume in 2024

   show a career progression in nursing..

The director of nursing position is a very senior position. Recruiters will appreciate seeing a steady upward career progression reflected on your resume. It will give them confidence that you understand the jobs and functions of all your subordinates and will also show them that you are an excellent and driven employee. This applicant has risen in the ranks from a registered nurse to a director of nursing.

   Use metrics to show maximized efficiency and minimized cost.

As much as healthcare facilities are built to offer healthcare to the community, they still need to work to maximize efficiency and reduce costs without reducing the standard of care. It is usually a balancing game that all healthcare directors must play. It is beneficial to show recruiters how successful you have been at increasing efficiency or reducing costs without affecting the standard of care. Use metrics to further impress recruiters. This applicant has done this very effectively.

Skills you can include on your Director of Nursing resume

Template 27 of 44: nursing supervisor resume example.

As the name suggests, a nursing supervisor supervises the nursing staff at a healthcare facility. Tasks you can expect include assigning staff, interviewing incoming nurses, monitoring the nurses, and overseeing patient care. Your main function is to ensure your nursing staff is providing the best possible care and that they are satisfied and happy in their jobs. Your resume must show a degree or diploma in nursing and you must have a valid nursing license. Beyond that recruiters would appreciate any history as a nursing supervisor and evidence of great organizational and interpersonal skills. Here is a recruiter-approved resume sample.

Tips to help you write your Nursing Supervisor resume in 2024

   highlight the nursing teams you have worked with and their relevant achievements..

This is a leadership role and as such recruiters would like to see the size of nursing staff you have managed in the past and the kind of things the team has been able to achieve under your leadership. For example, this applicant supervised 25 nurses in their most recent position, and under the applicant’s leadership, the team managed to the reduce infection rate by 76%.

   Begin your resume with a key achievement.

Including a key achievement in the introduction is a great way to get recruiters impressed from the beginning of your resume. They are bound to look more favorably on the rest of your resume because of it. Try and include a nursing supervisor achievement that is rare or hard to achieve.

Skills you can include on your Nursing Supervisor resume

Template 28 of 44: er nurse resume example.

As an ER nurse, you're on the front lines of healthcare, providing immediate care and treatment to patients in crisis. Nowadays, hospitals and clinics are on the lookout for nurses who not only possess the necessary skills and qualifications, but also display resilience, adaptability, and the ability to work under immense pressure. When crafting your resume for ER nurse roles, remember it's your chance to show how you've excelled in high-stress situations, and how you've used your skills to improve patient outcomes. Moreover, with the recent impact of COVID-19 on healthcare settings, there's a significant increase in demand for ER nurses with experience in infectious diseases, as well as experience supporting critically ill patients. Your resume needs to reflect these industry demands and trends, displaying your comprehensive understanding of emergency care, including your familiarity with ventilators, and infectious disease protocol.

Tips to help you write your ER Nurse resume in 2024

   emphasize on-job emergency experience.

You should make a point to list the types of emergencies you've handled. Have you treated patients in trauma situations? Have you dealt with cardiac arrests, strokes, or acute respiratory issues? Showing your breadth of on-job emergency experience can make your resume stand out.

   Showcase infectious disease understanding

Given the recent pandemic, hospitals are particularly interested in ER nurses who understand infectious diseases. Include specific training or experiences you've had dealing with infectious diseases - this could be anything from measles, to COVID-19.

Skills you can include on your ER Nurse resume

Template 29 of 44: er nurse resume example.

Being an ER Nurse is no walk in the park. This job requires a unique blend of quick thinking, medical expertise, and genuine compassion. When you're crafting your resume, it's essential to wrap this trifecta in a neat, compelling package. Recently, there's been a trend of emphasizing special skills like triage, emergency procedures, and trauma care. More and more, ER Nursing roles require a balance of technical abilities and emotional intelligence. Therefore, your resume needs to show not just your qualifications, but also your knack for handling stressful situations and interacting with patients. Additionally, these days the hiring process has evolved considerably. Many hospitals and healthcare institutions use Application Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter through the flood of resumes. To dodge this digital gatekeeper, you need to include relevant keywords and demonstrate your experience through quantifiable achievements. A well-made ER nurse resume is not just a list of duties, but a showcase of your skills and contributions in a high-pressure environment.

   Detail your emergency room skill set

It's crucial to list down the specific skills that make you a great ER nurse. For instance, if you're proficient in emergency procedures, acute patient care, or triage, do mention them. If you have crisis management skills, don't forget to include that too.

   Feature scenarios where you shone

Describe situations where your quick thinking and nursing skills made a significant difference. It could be a life-saving intervention or a time when you managed a serious crisis. Just remember—it's not bragging if it's fact.

Template 30 of 44: Clinical Rotation Nurse Resume Example

Being a Clinical Rotation Nurse is a unique role in the healthcare field. It’s a position where you'll gain hands-on experience across numerous departments, such as the ER, ICU, and Pediatrics, giving you a versatile skill set. As the healthcare sector evolves, many hospitals are looking for nurses with varied experience, making Clinical Rotation Nurses increasingly valuable. When crafting your resume, keep in mind that hiring managers are looking for evidence of your adaptability, quick learning, and breadth of nursing experience across different departments.

Tips to help you write your Clinical Rotation Nurse resume in 2024

   include specific clinical rotations experience.

On your resume, explicitly list the clinical rotations you've completed and the related skills gained. Remember, this position's essence is to gain diverse experiences. Mention the departments you've worked in and the unique practices you learned there.

   Illustrate Problem-solving Skills

As a Clinical Rotation Nurse, you must rapidly adapt to new environments and challenges. Use examples to depict how you've employed problem-solving skills during your rotations. Maybe you dealt with a unique patient case, or implemented a new process that improved patient care.

Skills you can include on your Clinical Rotation Nurse resume

Template 31 of 44: charge nurse resume example.

The Charge Nurse role is a pivotal one in healthcare. As a Charge Nurse, you're essentially the team leader, the one who sets the pace and coordinates the entire nursing staff. It's a job heavily reliant on excellent communication and management skills. Nowadays, nurses are not just caregivers but also patient educators and advocates, role flexibility that employers love. So one key thing when writing your resume is showcasing how you perform nursing tasks while leading the team. Additionally, with the digitization trend in healthcare, showcasing comfort and competency with medical software or telehealth can really make you stand out. The industry has shifted slightly too, employers are putting a lot of emphasis on soft skills. They want leaders who can handle high-stress situations, manage conflicts and bring teams together. So, your resume should reflect not just the tasks you can perform but also your leadership style and how that contributes to an efficient and collaborative work environment.

Tips to help you write your Charge Nurse resume in 2024

   include key leadership accomplishments.

As a Charge Nurse, your leadership accomplishments can set you apart from other candidates. Ensure to include specific instances where your leadership led to improved patient outcomes or staff efficiency. Use numbers or percentages to quantify these improvements.

   Showcase Digital Competency

With the rise of telehealth and digital record keeping, it's important to demonstrate your capability in navigating such platforms. If you've used these technologies, or even led the implementation, highlight this experience on your resume.

Skills you can include on your Charge Nurse resume

Template 32 of 44: charge nurse resume example.

Being a Charge Nurse is an interesting blend of clinical expertise and leadership. You not only need to be up-to-date with the latest medical practices, but also have the ability to manage a team and coordinate patient care. Recent trends in the industry show an increased demand for Charge Nurses with advanced degrees and certifications, like a MSN or a CNL. When writing a resume for a Charge Nurse, understand that hiring managers are looking for both your clinical competence and your leadership abilities. They want to see your capacity to manage a team and improve patient care, alongside your nursing skills.

   Showcase Leadership Experience

As the Charge Nurse role involves managing a team of nurses, it's vital to display your experience in leadership roles. Include details of previous positions where you were in charge, even if it was outside of healthcare. Describe your responsibilities and any improvements you implemented.

   Highlight Certifications and Education

In this role, academic qualifications, like a master's degree in nursing or relevant certifications, provide an edge. Therefore, you should clearly list your degrees, courses, or any nursing specializations you've attained. But remember, don’t just resort to listing them, delve into how they will be beneficial for your role as a Charge Nurse.

Template 33 of 44: Remote Nurse Resume Example

If you're seeking a remote nursing position, your resume needs to reflect your unique set of skills. Remote nursing roles often require a higher level of independence, self-motivation, and tech savvy abilities, as you won't have physical assistance from colleagues or direct supervision. The recent shift towards telehealth and online patient care, especially during COVID-19, has created a surge in these types of roles. When you're putting together your resume, remember that hiring managers for remote roles are looking for specifics - they want to see how your skills translate to the digital realm. With the rise of digital health platforms, telemedicine, and remote patient monitoring, quite a few healthcare providers are seeking remote nurses who are comfortable with technology. While traditional nursing skills are important, you also need to demonstrate your familiarity with these new technologies and how you've used them in patient care. Your resume should not just outline your skills, but also showcase how those skills were applied in a remote context - a nurses' station is vastly different from a home office.

Tips to help you write your Remote Nurse resume in 2024

   emphasize your technical competencies.

With remote nursing, your ability to use various software and applications for patient care is more important than ever. Include in your resume specific programs and tools you're comfortable using, such as telehealth platforms or electronic health record systems.

   Showcase your communication and self-management skills

As a remote nurse, you won't have in-person contact with patients or team members. Demonstrate how you've managed patient care from a distance and the methods of communication you've effectively utilized, such as video calls, emails, and instant messaging.

Skills you can include on your Remote Nurse resume

Template 34 of 44: preceptor nurse resume example.

Being a Preceptor Nurse means you're a blend of mentor, educator, and leader. You guide newly hired nurses or student nurses through the complexities of the real-world nursing environment. The role itself is evolving, as many healthcare institutions are increasingly recognizing the importance of structured mentoring programs to improve staff retention and patient outcomes. So, in your resume, you need to strike a balance between showcasing your clinical prowess and your ability to effectively instruct and inspire others. Make sure to highlight your nursing experience, specialized skills, and ability to shape fellow nurses' careers.

Tips to help you write your Preceptor Nurse resume in 2024

   demonstrate your leadership and mentoring abilities.

It's imperative that you convey your skills in mentoring, leadership, and supervision, as these are vital for a Preceptor Nurse role. Make sure to include specific instances where you have guided, trained, or supervised new or student nurses in your previous job roles.

   Showcase your advanced clinical skills

As a Preceptor Nurse, you are expected to have advanced clinical skills that you can teach others. On your resume, list any specialized nursing experience or skills you have, using concrete examples from your work history. This could be your ability to handle complex medical equipment, specific procedures you're skilled in, or even patient handling techniques.

Skills you can include on your Preceptor Nurse resume

Template 35 of 44: relief charge nurse resume example.

A Relief Charge Nurse is a unique nursing role where you have to show your versatility and adaptability. Being a transitional leader, you're not just filling in the gaps, but actively steering the unit during your shift. Lately, I've seen a trend for companies seeking nurses skilled in crisis management and staff delegation, reflecting our challenging healthcare environment. When you're crafting your resume for this role, remember, you need to illustrate how you've tackled tough situations and made critical decisions under pressure, all while providing excellent patient care. For this role, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to step in and lead. Your resume should articulate how you've handled both clinical and administrative tasks, while seamlessly transitioning between regular and relief charge nurse duties.

Tips to help you write your Relief Charge Nurse resume in 2024

   show your leadership skills.

Be specific about your experience as a nurse leader. Did you lead a team during a crisis? Have you mentored junior nurses? Discuss these instances, focusing on the number of people you've managed and the outcomes you've achieved.

   Showcase your adaptability

Relief Charge Nurse roles require flexibility. Display moments where you've stepped into different roles or handled fluctuating patient volumes. Remember, it's about showing how well you cope with change and unexpected situations.

Skills you can include on your Relief Charge Nurse resume

Template 36 of 44: lpn nurse (licensed practical nurse) resume example.

Becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is all about showing you've got the chops to provide high-level care under the guidance of registered nurses and physicians. When crafting your resume, remember that it's not just about showing your clinical skills, but also demonstrating your ability to support patients emotionally. This field is rapidly changing with technologies like telemedicine and electronic health records becoming more prominent, which means you need to show you can keep up. Given that many LPNs work in elder care, where we're seeing a surge in demand, emphasize any relevant experience or skills in this area.

Tips to help you write your LPN Nurse (Licensed Practical Nurse) resume in 2024

   include relevant certifications and training.

As an LPN, you've likely completed a bunch of certifications, such as IV therapy or gerontology. Make sure these are clearly outlined in your resume, particularly if they're ones that the job description specifically mentions.

   Detail your patient care experience

Hiring managers want to see that you can handle patient care responsibilities, so include details of the type of care you've provided. For instance, if you worked in a long-term care facility, describe how you managed patient hygiene, medication administration, and vital signs monitoring.

Skills you can include on your LPN Nurse (Licensed Practical Nurse) resume

Template 37 of 44: lpn nurse (licensed practical nurse) resume example.

As you pursue a role in the world of nursing as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), you must be prepared to showcase your unique blend of clinical skills and empathy. In recent times, healthcare settings are increasingly relying on LPNs not just for basic nursing care but for their ability to connect with patients. They appreciate LPNs who can balance human touch with technical proficiency. So, when drafting your resume, remember to present a compelling mix of your technical knowledge, patient care skills, and ability to work under pressure. The industry is moving towards more specialized care, which means your resume needs to emphasize any specific nursing skills or areas of expertise you've developed. Similarly, companies value LPNs who are continuous learners and are adapting to the evolving healthcare landscape. It's critical to demonstrate your commitment to ongoing education and upskilling on your resume.

   Show your hands-on experience

Keep in mind, recruiters are likely to favor LPN applicants who can prove real-world experience. Be sure to detail your clinical rotations, duties performed, and the types of healthcare settings you've worked in.

   Emphasize your specialized skills

If you have expertise in a specialized area like geriatrics, palliative care, or rehabilitation, make it prominent on your resume. Don't bury unique skills, these can set you apart from other LPN applicants.

Template 38 of 44: LVN Nurse (Licensed Vocational Nurse) Resume Example

As an LVN (Licensed Vocicational Nurse), you have a key role in healthcare that is rewarding and challenging. The demand for LVNs is quite high due to an aging population and an increasing need for healthcare services. However, the competition for positions in prestigious facilities is as fierce as ever. Your resume, therefore, needs to clearly communicate your technical skills, hands-on nursing experience, and compassion for patients. And although patient care is paramount, do not underestimate the importance of displaying soft skills such as communication and teamwork. Keeping up-to-date with current trends, such as the shift towards home health care, can also give your resume an edge.

Tips to help you write your LVN Nurse (Licensed Vocational Nurse) resume in 2024

   include relevant certifications and trainings.

As an LVN, you've probably undergone additional training or earned complementary certifications, like IV certification or wound care. Include these to demonstrate your commitment to continuing education and to stand out from the competition.

   Emphasize your patient care experience

You should explicitly list the types of care you have provided to patients. Whether it's administering medication, assisting with personal hygiene, or working with specific patient populations (like geriatrics or pediatrics), your experiences can make you particularly attractive to certain employers.

Skills you can include on your LVN Nurse (Licensed Vocational Nurse) resume

Template 39 of 44: lvn nurse (licensed vocational nurse) resume example.

As a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), you play a vital role in the healthcare industry, often serving as the backbone of patient care. Your resume should reflect your robust skills set — your ability to assist with diagnostic tests, take vital signs, and provide emotional support to patients. Recently, the industry's focus has increasingly shifted to holistic care, and as an LVN, you're more likely to work in interdisciplinary teams. When crafting your resume, it's essential to convey the breadth of your nursing skills and your ability to work well with a diverse set of professionals. In the ever-evolving world of healthcare, trends tend to focus on emerging technologies and automation of administrative duties. This doesn't reduce the value of an LVN, but rather increases the demand for interpersonal and technical skills. Your resume should show your adaptability to new technologies, and your knack for juggling both patient interaction and administrative tasks. Remember, your resume doesn’t just outline your past jobs—it tells your professional story, offering a glimpse into who you are as an LVN.

   Showcase your expertise in patient care

To stand out as an LVN, you should convey your extensive knowledge in basic patient care. This includes taking vitals, administering medications, and wound care. Make sure to detail your hands-on experiences in these tasks on your resume.

   Highlight your technical and interpersonal skills

Since the LVN role involves working with a variety of tech tools and diverse teams, your resume should reflect your ability to navigate both. Mention any software you're proficient in, and provide examples of your teamwork skills within your past roles.

Template 40 of 44: ICU Charge Nurse Resume Example

As an ICU Charge Nurse, you're the backbone of the Intensive Care Unit, handling not only patient care but team leadership as well. In recent times, the demand for experienced and skilled ICU charge nurses has soared; critical care has become a focal point due to the pandemic. When writing your resume, remember ICU charge nursing is not just about medical proficiency, but also leadership and crisis management. With hospitals increasingly prioritizing these qualities, it's crucial to convey these attributes effectively on your resume. Balancing between the dual nature of the role, both as a nurse and a team leader, can be challenging. However, your resume should demonstrate your nursing expertise while not neglecting your leadership acumen. Ensure you portray yourself as a competent medical professional and a proficient manager, adaptable to high-pressure situations, and capable of making crucial decisions swiftly.

Tips to help you write your ICU Charge Nurse resume in 2024

   emphasize your leadership achievements.

You should detail your leadership roles and accomplishments in your previous positions, specifically in crisis situations. Explain how you coordinated the team, handled emergencies, and managed resources efficiently. It's critical to show you can successfully lead a team under stress.

   Demonstrate your specialized ICU nursing knowledge

As an ICU Charge Nurse, you need advanced knowledge in areas such as mechanical ventilation, advanced life support, and patient assessment. Provide specific examples of how you have used this specialized knowledge in critical situations to improve patient outcomes.

Skills you can include on your ICU Charge Nurse resume

Template 41 of 44: prior authorization nurse resume example.

When creating a resume for a Prior Authorization Nurse, it doesn't follow the traditional nursing resume structure. It's essential to know that though medical knowledge is a plus, employers look out for administrative prowess and excellent communication skills. In the recent past, companies hiring for the prior authorization nurse role focus on those with solid experience in insurance protocols, and electronic health record (EHR) systems. Realistically, when writing your resume, you'll need to emphasize these aspects. Moreover, with the healthcare industry becoming more digitized and the significance of cost management, there's an increasing demand for nurses who can navigate insurance issues efficiently. You must consider this when crafting your resume — underscore your capability in handling insurance matters and proficiency in digital health systems.

Tips to help you write your Prior Authorization Nurse resume in 2024

   emphasize insurance knowledge.

Understanding insurance company operations, criteria for prior authorizations and claims processes is crucial. Ensure you elaborate on your grasp of Medicare and Medicaid procedures, private insurance policies and your ability to interpret and apply complex insurance documents.

   Detail Proficiency in EHR Systems

With the move towards digitization in healthcare, you should underscore your proficiency in EHR systems. Discuss your experience in using these platforms for patient data management, billing, and prior authorization requests. It will demonstrate your ability to work efficiently in today's digital health environment.

Skills you can include on your Prior Authorization Nurse resume

Template 42 of 44: clinic nurse resume example.

As a clinic nurse, your role is extremely dynamic and multifaceted. Your resume should reflect this. You're not just administering care to patients but educating them, assisting physicians, and keeping track of medical records. An increasing trend in the healthcare industry is the need for nurses to be technologically adept to handle electronic health record systems. Writing your resume for this role needs strategic emphasis on these unique skill areas. When penning down your resume, bear in mind that you're writing for hiring managers possibly shifting through hundreds of applications. They're looking for the standout features they can pick up in seconds. Make their job easy by providing punchy, concise details of your experiences and skills.

Tips to help you write your Clinic Nurse resume in 2024

   showcase your technical competency.

As more healthcare facilities embrace technology, your competence in using electronic health record systems is of high value. Mention specific systems you have experience with and any related accomplishments.

   Highlight patient education skills

As a clinic nurse, you're often the bridge between doctors and patients, translating complex medical jargon into understandable terms. Illustrate instances in your career where your ability to educate patients made a marked difference, be it in patient recovery, satisfaction scores or clinic efficiency.

Skills you can include on your Clinic Nurse resume

Template 43 of 44: medical surgical nurse resume example.

Medical Surgical Nurses, or Med Surg Nurses, are a vital part of the healthcare team. They work in a highly dynamic environment, providing care to patients post-surgery, and are often the ones providing round-the-clock monitoring. The medical field is evolving rapidly, with technological developments influencing care delivery methods. Therefore, in writing your resume, you need to showcase your ability to adapt and learn quickly. It's also important to note that the healthcare sector is increasingly seeking a holistic approach to patient care. This means demonstrating not only your technical skills but also your capability to provide patient-centered care.

Tips to help you write your Medical Surgical Nurse resume in 2024

   evidence of continuous learning.

In this rapidly changing field, it's critical to show that you're up to date. Include any additional training or certifications you've obtained, especially those relating to new technologies or procedures in surgical care.

   Demonstrate a blend of skills

Beyond your clinical skills, recruiters are looking for nurses who can provide compassionate patient care. Be sure to include experiences that emphasize your communication skills, empathy, and ability to work in a team.

Skills you can include on your Medical Surgical Nurse resume

Template 44 of 44: patient care technician resume example.

Patient Care Technician roles are evolving rapidly with the ever-changing dynamics of the healthcare field. Nowadays, PCTs do much more than just direct patient care; they are often involved in medical record maintenance and can even assist with minor procedures. This increased responsibility has made it crucial for PCTs to demonstrate a wider range of skills on their resumes. Not only medical knowledge and hands-on skills, but soft skills like communication and teamwork are rising to the forefront. Remember, while the trend is to digitize, the role remains hands-on, and your resume should reflect this balance. In crafting your resume, it's important to know that hiring managers are seeking versatile candidates who can swiftly adapt to new protocols and technologies, while still delivering high-quality patient care. The key here is to clearly project both your technical proficiency and human touch. So when you're working on your resume, work towards striking that perfect balance.

Tips to help you write your Patient Care Technician resume in 2024

   showcase your certifications and training.

As a Patient Care Technician, your certifications and specialized training are essential and should take center stage on your resume. Clearly, list your PCT certification, CPR training, any additional relevant certifications, and your proficiency in using electronic health record software.

   Highlight patient care experiences and achievements

To paint a full picture of your practical skills, mention specific experiences where you provided high-quality care to patients. For example, you might talk about a time when you effectively managed the care of multiple critically ill patients. If you've ever been recognized for your patient care skills, don't hesitate to share that too.

Skills you can include on your Patient Care Technician resume

As a hiring manager who has recruited nurses at top hospitals like Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Johns Hopkins, I've seen countless nursing resumes. The best ones always stand out by showcasing the candidate's unique skills, experience, and impact in a clear and concise way. Here are some tips to help you create a strong nursing resume that will catch the attention of hiring managers and help you land your dream job.

   Highlight your nursing specializations and certifications

Nursing is a broad field with many specializations. Make sure to highlight your specific areas of expertise and any relevant certifications you have earned. This will help you stand out from other candidates and show that you have the skills and knowledge needed for the job.

Here are some examples of how to showcase your specializations and certifications:

• Certified Critical Care Nurse (CCCN) with 5+ years of experience in intensive care units
• Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) with expertise in administering chemotherapy and managing cancer patients
• Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) skilled in assessing and treating complex wounds

   Quantify your nursing achievements and impact

When describing your nursing experience, don't just list your job duties. Instead, focus on the impact you made and the results you achieved. Use specific numbers and metrics to quantify your accomplishments whenever possible.

Here are some examples:

• Reduced patient falls by 50% through implementing a new fall prevention protocol
• Improved patient satisfaction scores from 75% to 95% by providing compassionate and attentive care
• Trained and mentored 20+ new graduate nurses to help them transition to practice

In contrast, here are some examples of what not to do:

• Provided patient care
• Administered medications
• Collaborated with healthcare team

   Tailor your resume to the specific nursing job

One mistake many job seekers make is using the same generic resume for every job application. Instead, take the time to tailor your resume to the specific nursing position you are applying for.

Here's how:

• Read the job description carefully and identify the key skills and qualifications the employer is looking for
• Highlight any relevant experience or accomplishments that match those requirements
• Use the same language and terminology as the job description to show that you are a good fit

For example, if the job description emphasizes experience with electronic health records (EHR), make sure to include any EHR systems you have used and how you leveraged them to improve patient care.

   Showcase your nursing soft skills

While technical skills are important for nurses, soft skills are equally crucial. Employers want nurses who are compassionate, empathetic, and able to work well in a team. Make sure to highlight these soft skills in your resume.

Some examples of nursing soft skills include:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work well under pressure and in fast-paced environments
• Attention to detail and ability to multitask
• Empathy and compassion for patients and their families

You can showcase these skills through your job descriptions, achievements, and even volunteer experiences. For example:

• Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to develop and implement a patient education program
• Provided emotional support and guidance to patients and families during end-of-life care

   Include any relevant volunteer experience or leadership roles

Nursing resumes shouldn't just include paid work experience. Any relevant volunteer experience or leadership roles you have held can also help you stand out to employers.

For example:

• Volunteered at a local free clinic, providing basic healthcare services to underserved populations
• Served as a board member for the American Nurses Association, advocating for nurses and advancing the profession
• Led a quality improvement project to reduce hospital-acquired infections, resulting in a 30% decrease in infection rates

These experiences show that you are dedicated to the nursing profession and have taken on additional responsibilities outside of your day-to-day job duties. They can help demonstrate your leadership skills, initiative, and commitment to providing high-quality patient care.

Writing Your Nursing Resume: Section By Section

  header, 1. include your full name and credentials.

Start your header with your full name, followed by your nursing credentials. This quickly establishes your identity and qualifications. For example:

• Jane Smith, RN, BSN
• Michael Johnson, APRN, MSN, FNP-C

Avoid nicknames or short forms of your name. Use your legal name as it appears on your nursing license. If you have a preferred name you go by, you can note that in parentheses.

Elizabeth (Liz) Thompson, RN

2. Add your phone number and email

Next, add your phone number and email on a single line below your name. This makes it easy for hiring managers or recruiters to contact you. For example:

• [email protected] | 123-456-7890
• [email protected] • 987-654-3210

Double check that your email address is professional. Avoid outdated email providers or informal handles like:

• [email protected]

Instead, stick with a standard format using your name and a modern provider like Gmail.

3. Decide if you should include your location

In the past, including your full mailing address was standard. However, with more digital and remote job searching today, including your city and state is usually sufficient. For example:

• Seattle, WA
• Tampa, Florida

If you're applying for jobs in a different city than where you currently live, consider listing your targeted location instead. This signals to employers that you are serious about relocating for the role.

In some cases, you may decide to omit your location entirely, especially if you are searching for fully remote nursing roles.

  Summary

As a nurse, your resume summary is an opportunity to highlight your most relevant qualifications, skills, and experiences that make you an ideal candidate for the role. While a summary is optional, it can be particularly useful if you are a career changer or have a diverse background that may not be immediately apparent from your work history alone.

When crafting your summary, focus on your nursing expertise, specializations, and key accomplishments. Avoid using an objective statement, as it shifts the focus away from what you can offer the employer. Instead, use your summary to provide a snapshot of your nursing career and the value you bring to the position.

To learn how to write an effective resume summary for your Nursing resume, or figure out if you need one, please read Nursing Resume Summary Examples , or Nursing Resume Objective Examples .

1. Tailor your summary to the specific nursing role

When writing your nursing resume summary, it's essential to customize it to the specific role you are applying for. This demonstrates to the hiring manager that you have carefully considered how your skills and experiences align with their needs. Consider the following examples:

• Experienced registered nurse seeking a challenging position in a healthcare facility.
• Dedicated and compassionate nurse with 5+ years of experience in various healthcare settings.

While these summaries provide an overview of the candidate's nursing background, they lack specificity and fail to target a particular nursing role. Instead, try something like this:

• Critical care nurse with 5+ years of experience in fast-paced ICU environments, skilled in managing high-acuity patients and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams.
• Pediatric nurse with 3+ years of experience in providing compassionate care to children and their families, adept at patient education and fostering a positive healthcare experience.

2. Highlight your nursing specializations and expertise

As a nurse, you may have specialized skills or certifications that set you apart from other candidates. Your resume summary is an excellent place to showcase these qualifications and demonstrate your expertise in a particular area of nursing. For example:

Oncology nurse with 7+ years of experience in providing comprehensive care to cancer patients. Certified Oncology Nurse (OCN) with expertise in chemotherapy administration, symptom management, and patient education. Skilled in collaborating with oncologists and multidisciplinary teams to develop personalized treatment plans and improve patient outcomes.

By highlighting your oncology nursing certification and specific skills related to cancer care, you demonstrate your specialized knowledge and commitment to professional development in this field.

3. Quantify your accomplishments and impact

To make your nursing resume summary more impactful, include quantifiable achievements that demonstrate your value as a healthcare professional. This could include metrics related to patient outcomes, process improvements, or leadership initiatives. Consider the following examples:

• Experienced nurse with strong clinical skills and a commitment to patient care.
• Skilled in managing a busy unit and mentoring new nurses.

While these summaries touch on important nursing skills, they lack specific, quantifiable evidence of the candidate's impact. Instead, try incorporating metrics like this:

• Experienced emergency room nurse who treated an average of 50 patients per shift, maintaining a 95% patient satisfaction rating.
• Nurse leader who mentored and trained 15 new graduate nurses, resulting in a 20% reduction in staff turnover rates.

To identify your key accomplishments and quantify your impact, reflect on your nursing career and consider instances where you:

• Improved patient outcomes or satisfaction
• Implemented process or quality improvements
• Assumed leadership roles or mentored others
• Received recognition or awards for your work

By highlighting these achievements in your summary, you'll give hiring managers a clear picture of the value you can bring to their organization.

For more insights on crafting a compelling resume, try using Score My Resume , which provides instant, expert feedback on your resume based on 30+ key criteria that hiring managers look for.

  Experience

Your work experience is the most important section of your nursing resume. It's where you show recruiters and hiring managers how you've applied your skills to make an impact for previous employers. It's also the best place to position yourself as a qualified applicant.

In this section, we'll break down everything you need to know about writing an effective work experience section for your nursing resume, including what to include and what to leave out, how to list your work experience, and tips for making your experience stand out.

1. Focus on your relevant nursing experience

When listing your work experience, it's important to focus on the nursing positions that are most relevant to the job you're applying for. This means including your clinical experience, as well as any relevant volunteer work, internships, or externships.

Be specific when describing your nursing experience. Instead of simply listing your job duties, use action verbs to describe how you contributed to patient care, improved processes, or made an impact on your unit.

• Developed and implemented a new patient education program that reduced medication errors by 15%
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary team to create a fall prevention protocol that decreased patient falls by 20%
• Provided compassionate end-of-life care to patients and their families, ensuring their comfort and dignity

2. Quantify your accomplishments with metrics

Whenever possible, use metrics to quantify your accomplishments and show the impact of your work. This helps recruiters and hiring managers understand the scope of your experience and how you can contribute to their organization.

For example, instead of saying:

• Responsible for administering medications to patients
• Administered medications to up to 20 patients per shift, ensuring accurate dosing and timely delivery

Other examples of metrics you can use include:

• Number of patients served
• Infection control rates
• Patient satisfaction scores
• Number of staff trained or supervised

3. Highlight your clinical skills and expertise

Your nursing resume should showcase your clinical skills and expertise, as well as your ability to work effectively in a healthcare setting. Use your work experience section to highlight specific skills and competencies that are relevant to the job you're applying for.

This can include:

• Patient assessment and triage
• Medication administration
• Patient and family education
• Electronic health record (EHR) documentation

Skilled in conducting comprehensive patient assessments, developing individualized care plans, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Proficient in EHR documentation using Epic and Cerner systems.

4. Include relevant certifications and training

In addition to your clinical experience, be sure to include any relevant certifications, training, or continuing education you've completed. This shows your commitment to staying current in your field and can help set you apart from other candidates.

Some examples of certifications and training to include:

• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)
• Certified Critical Care Nurse (CCRN)

You can also include any relevant coursework or academic projects that demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in a particular area of nursing.

  Education

The education section of your nursing resume is a crucial component that showcases your academic background and qualifications. It demonstrates to employers that you have the necessary knowledge and training to excel in the nursing field. Here are some key tips to keep in mind when crafting your education section:

1. Highlight your nursing degree

As a nursing professional, your nursing degree is the most important aspect of your education section. Make sure to prominently feature your degree, including the full name of the degree, the institution you attended, and the year of graduation.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Graduated: May 2018

2. Include relevant coursework and clinical experience

If you are a recent graduate or have limited work experience, you can strengthen your education section by including relevant coursework and clinical experience. This helps employers understand the specific skills and knowledge you gained during your nursing education.

Avoid listing every course you took. Instead, focus on courses that are directly relevant to the nursing position you are applying for, such as:

• Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Pharmacology for Nurses
• Community Health Nursing

3. Showcase your nursing licenses and certifications

In addition to your nursing degree, it is crucial to highlight your nursing licenses and certifications in the education section. This demonstrates to employers that you have met the necessary requirements to practice as a registered nurse and have specialized knowledge in certain areas.

Include the following information for each license or certification:

• Name of the license or certification
• Issuing organization
• Date of obtainment
• Expiration date (if applicable)

Registered Nurse (RN), California Board of Registered Nursing License Number: 123456 Expires: February 2024

4. Keep it concise for experienced nurses

If you are a mid-level or senior-level nurse with extensive work experience, you can keep your education section brief. Employers will be more interested in your professional accomplishments and skills rather than your academic background.

Here's an example of what to avoid:

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) New York University, New York, NY Graduated: May 2005 Relevant Coursework: Advanced Pharmacology, Healthcare Informatics, Nursing Leadership and Management GPA: 3.8

Instead, keep it concise and focus on the essentials:

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) New York University

Action Verbs For Nursing Resumes

You probably know that it’s important to focus your bullet points on your accomplishments. But how? Frame your achievements in a positive light by using strong action verbs at the start of each sentence. Structuring your bullet points this way emphasizes what you actually did and avoids listing bullet points that read more like a job description. In addition to technical skills and medical know-how, nurses need a lot of transferable skills — think qualities like leadership, communication, empathy, and resilience. The best way to show that you have these qualities is through your choice of action verbs. If you’re applying for an entry-level nursing assistant role, you might want to emphasize your ability to follow instructions and work as part of a team, so choose verbs like Assisted or Prepared. If you’re looking for a more senior role, highlight your leadership potential with verbs like Implemented or Oversaw.

• Coordinated
• Administered
• Implemented

For more related action verbs, visit Nursing Action Verbs .

For a full list of effective resume action verbs, visit Resume Action Verbs .

Action Verbs for Nursing Resumes

Skills for nursing resumes.

Targeting your skills section is the easiest way to tailor your resume to the specific job you’re applying for. You can use a separate section at the bottom of your resume for this or include these skills as part of your bullet points. If you are using a dedicated skills section, make sure you’re only listing hard skills — soft skills, like communication and attention to detail, should be demonstrated through your accomplishments instead. Often, recruiters will be looking for specific skills and may even be using ATS to automatically screen resumes for certain keywords. You can get a feel for what keywords you should be including by reading over the job description, or by checking out our list of recommended skills and keywords or using our free Targeted Resume tool.

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety
• Inpatient Care
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Healthcare Information Technology (HIT)
• Nursing Management
• Quality Improvement
• Nursing Education
• Clinical Research
• Patient Education
• Public Health
• Patient Advocacy
• Medical-Surgical
• Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
• Nursing Process
• Critical Care Nursing
• Customer Service
• Strategic Planning
• Emergency Nursing

How To Write Your Skills Section On a Nursing Resumes

You can include the above skills in a dedicated Skills section on your resume, or weave them in your experience. Here's how you might create your dedicated skills section:

Skills Word Cloud For Nursing Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Nursing job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more 'important' it is.

How to use these skills?

Other medical resumes, dental assistant.

Respiratory Therapist

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7 Nursing Student Resume Examples That Work in 2024

Nursing Student

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Nursing Student Resume

• Nursing Student Resumes by Experience
• Nursing Student Resumes by Type

Without registered nurses (RNs), healthcare as we know it would cease to exist. They’re the glue that keeps hospitals together, and nurses serve on the front lines in the service of their patients.

RNs are more in demand now than ever, but the road to becoming a nurse is still challenging. Whether you’re working toward your BSN or becoming a nurse practitioner, hard work is required.

You shouldn’t have to be an expert at making a resume or writing a nursing student cover letter .

After analyzing numerous resumes from nursing students, we’re sharing the best resume-writing practices along with  seven excellent nursing student resume samples that are succeeding in 2024 .

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Why this resume works

• If you’ve held multiple full or part-time nursing roles, you can omit your rotations, but otherwise, leave them in. They’re great experience!
• If those circumstances fit, add an objective! Just remember you have to tailor it to each job you apply for . If you don’t have time to do that, then skip this part.

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Beginner Nursing Student Resume

• Narrow down your focus on critical thinking, data gathering and analysis, and other skills that shore up your competency.

Nursing Student No Experience Resume

• This is especially true if you already have an RN certification. If you do have certification, make sure to list it in a separate section, along with the year you got certified!
• List any specialties you might have (like pediatrics or geriatrics), plus technical skills like clinical documentation.

Nursing Student for Externship Resume

• Volunteer experience is a good idea, especially if it relates to healthcare.
• If you can, include numbers. For example, how many people did you work with? How many rotations did you serve? Did you increase efficiency or productivity by a quantifiable amount? There are numbers there if you know where to look!

Nursing Student Clinical Experience Resume

• Show your research, communication, and problem-solving skills and crown them with adding your experience gained from clinicals on your nursing student clinical experience resume.

Nurse Practitioner Student Resume

• If you’re on the border between one page and two, try some handy  resume formatting tricks , like reducing the font size and page margins to fit more content (while keeping an eye on overall readability). Don’t make your text too small, or it’ll be hard to read.
• Also, include the state(s) where you’re certified since, sometimes, certification doesn’t carry over.

Graduate Nursing Student Resume

• When it comes to  checking your resume , consistency is key. For example, your work experience bullet points should end the same, either with or without periods.
• Instead, add a certifications section to prove you have an ALS, CPR, or EMT certification.
• Do you need a  nursing student cover letter ? Keep reading for a cover letter template you can edit and adjust as needed!

Need Help with Your Nursing Student Cover Letter?

It’s satisfying to finish writing your resume, but don’t forget about writing a cover letter , too! We’ve got you covered (get it?) with a cover letter template you can edit in Google Docs and Word.

Nursing Student Cover Letter Example

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Why this cover letter works

• Always tie your skills to the organization’s values by pulling phrasing like “shape the future of healthcare” from their website’s mission statement.
• If you have stand-out experience, like exemplary bedside manner or familiarity with a specialized area like pediatrics, showcase these. 
• Always make sure you list your certifications in your graduate nursing student resume, of course—but it doesn’t hurt to mention them in your cover letter, too!
• It’s also ideal to establish how much experience you have alongside your qualifying certifications at the intro to your cover letter.
• An extra resume tip: your resume should be concise, but your cover letter should tell a story about your qualifying background.

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Graduate Nurse Resume Example (Free Guide)

Create an graduate nurse resume that lands you the interview with our free examples and writing tips. use and customize our template and land an interview today..

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to craft the perfect graduate nurse resume. Whether you're a seasoned healthcare professional or a recent nursing school graduate, this guide will help you develop a powerful resume that will showcase your qualifications and experience. We'll walk you through the essential components of a resume, provide tips on how to stand out from the competition, and provide a downloadable template to get you started. With the right approach, you'll be able to highlight your skills and strengths for the perfect resume that will get you the job you want.

We will cover:

• How to write a resume , no matter your industry or job title.
• What to put on a resume to stand out.
• The top skills employers from every industry want to see.
• How to build a resume fast with our professional Resume Builder .
• What a resume template is, and why you should use it.

What does a Graduate Nurse do?

A graduate nurse is a newly-licensed nurse who is just beginning their career in the nursing field. They typically gain experience by working under a more experienced nurse or physician. Their duties may include providing patient care, administering medications, taking patient vital signs, assisting with diagnostic tests, documenting patient progress, preparing patient rooms, providing emotional support to patients and families, and educating patients and families about health care topics.

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What are some responsibilities of a Graduate Nurse?

• Performing patient assessments and administering medications
• Providing patient education and counseling
• Developing and implementing patient care plans
• Collaborating with other healthcare professionals
• Monitoring patient progress and making adjustments to care plans
• Conducting research to improve patient care
• Documenting patient care and treatments

Sample Graduate Nurse Resume for Inspiration

Name: Jane Smith

Address: 123 Main Street, Anytown, CA 12345

Phone: (123) 456-7890

Email: [email protected]

Recent graduate nurse with experience in providing patient care in a variety of settings. Proven ability to collaborate with other healthcare professionals and to deliver high-quality patient care. Possesses excellent communication skills and a commitment to providing compassionate care.

Work Experience

• Assisted doctors in providing quality care to patients on a daily basis.
• Developed nursing care plans and provided direct patient care.
• Collaborated with other healthcare professionals to provide patient education.
• Provided patient care in a variety of settings.
• Performed assessment of patients and documented findings.
• Performed treatments and procedures according to physician orders.
• BSN, Anytown University, Anytown, CA - 2017
• Patient Assessment
• Medication Administration
• Patient Education
• Team Collaboration
• Emergency Care

Certifications

• Registered Nurse (RN) - State of California
• Basic Life Support (BLS) - American Heart Association
• Spanish - Conversational

Resume tips for Graduate Nurse

Creating a perfect, career-launching resume is no easy task. Following general writing rules can help, but it is also smart to get advice tailored to your specific job search. When you’re new to the employment world, you need Graduate Nurse resume tips. We collected the best tips from seasoned Graduate Nurse - Check out their advice to not only make your writing process easier but also increase your chances of creating a resume that piques the interest of prospective employers.

• Highlight any relevant certifications, programs, or degrees you have earned.
• Include any special training or skills you have acquired.
• Focus on any experience you have gained in the nursing field since graduating.
• Make sure to quantify your accomplishments with numbers, if possible.
• Emphasize any leadership roles you have held in nursing organizations.

Graduate Nurse Resume Summary Examples

A graduate nurse resume summary or resume objective is an important tool for communicating your qualifications to potential employers. It is a concise summary, usually around three sentences, of your professional experience and qualifications that demonstrates why you are the ideal candidate for the job you are applying for. It provides the employer with a snapshot of your professional experience and qualifications that can help them quickly decide if you are the right fit for their organization. The graduate nurse resume summary or resume objective should highlight your key qualifications, experiences, and skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for. For Example:

• Recent graduate nurse with experience in both clinical and administrative roles. Highly organized and motivated to provide quality patient care.
• Recent graduate nurse with a BSN degree and excellent bedside manner. Passionate about providing patient-centered care and helping others.
• Recent graduate nurse with experience in acute care settings. Strong clinical skills and a commitment to delivering compassionate care.
• Recent graduate nurse with a proven ability to think quickly and act decisively in critical situations. Dedicated to providing quality care.
• Recent graduate nurse with exceptional communication and problem-solving skills. Committed to providing compassionate care and advocating for patients.

Build a Strong Experience Section for Your Graduate Nurse Resume

Building a strong experience section for a graduate nurse resume is important for several reasons. First, it gives potential employers a snapshot of your experience and accomplishments within the nursing field. This can help them to determine if you have the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in their organization. Additionally, it allows you to showcase your ability to work under pressure and provide high-quality care to patients. Finally, the experience section can demonstrate your commitment to the nursing profession, which is invaluable to employers. For Example:

• Provided holistic care to a diverse population of patients in a fast-paced medical environment.
• Conducted patient assessments and triaged patients according to their medical needs.
• Developed individualized care plans and monitored progress throughout patient's duration of stay.
• Worked collaboratively with physicians, specialists and other healthcare professionals to ensure patient safety and optimal outcomes.
• Administered medications and treatments properly and in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Assisted with patient transfers and ambulation as required.
• Provided comfort, emotional support and compassionate care to patients and families.
• Performed patient care rounds and communicated patient status to the healthcare team.
• Participated in multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss patient plan of care.
• Fostered a positive working relationship with patients, families and healthcare staff.

Graduate Nurse resume education example

Graduate nurses need a minimum of a bachelor's degree in nursing. Most graduate nurses also require additional education to specialize in a particular field. This could include a master's or doctoral degree in nursing, certifications for specialized nursing, or continuing education courses. Here is an example of an experience listing suitable for a Graduate Nurse resume:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, May 2020
• Received the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence in 2020
• Certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) by the American Heart Association
• Completed multiple nursing clinical rotations in various medical settings, such as pediatrics and psychiatric/mental health.

Graduate Nurse Skills for a Resume

Adding skills to a Graduate Nurse Resume is important because it helps to highlight the knowledge and abilities that you possess that are applicable to the nursing field. This allows employers to quickly identify what you have to offer and can make a difference in the decision-making process when selecting applicants for a position. Skills should be tailored to the position you are applying for and should focus on those that are applicable to the position. Examples of skills may include patient care, clinical skills, time management, communication, teamwork, problem solving, and critical thinking. Soft Skills:

• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Organization
• Time Management
• Flexibility
• Problem Solving
• Interpersonal Skills
• Critical thinking
• Medication administration
• Patient assessment
• Interpersonal communication
• Clinical documentation
• Health promotion
• Infection control
• Emergency care
• Pharmacology

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Graduate Nurse Resume

In this competitive job market, employers receive an average of 180 applications for each open position. To process these resumes, companies often rely on automated applicant tracking systems, which can sift through resumes and eliminate the least qualified applicants. If your resume is among the few that make it past these bots, it must still impress the recruiter or hiring manager. With so many applications coming in, recruiters typically give each resume only 5 seconds of their attention before deciding whether to discard it. Considering this, it's best to avoid including any distracting information on your application that could cause it to be thrown away. To help make sure your resume stands out, review the list below of what you should not include on your job application.

• Not including a cover letter. A cover letter is a great way to explain why you are the best candidate for the job and why you want the position.
• Using too much jargon. Hiring managers do not want to read a resume full of technical terms that they do not understand.
• Omitting important details. Make sure to include your contact information, educational background, job history, and any relevant skills and experiences.
• Using a generic template. Take the time to customize your resume to the job you are applying for. This will show the employer that you are serious about the position.
• Spelling and grammar errors. Always double-check your resume for typos, spelling mistakes, and grammar errors.
• Focusing too much on duties. Make sure to include accomplishments and successes to show the employer that you are a great candidate.
• Including personal information. Avoid including any personal information such as age, marital status, or religious beliefs.

Key takeaways for a Graduate Nurse resume

• Highlight your clinical experience and nursing skills.
• Include your current state nursing license or any licenses from other states.
• Include your certifications in the field of nursing.
• Mention any leadership roles you’ve had.
• Include volunteer experience.
• Include relevant technology or computer programs you’ve used.
• Mention any awards or honors you’ve received.
• List your memberships in professional organizations.
• Include any continuing education courses you’ve taken.
• Use industry-specific keywords.

Top 10 New Graduate Nurse Resume Objective Examples

A well-written resume is essential for any new graduate nurse looking to land their first job.

Among all the sections, the objective statement holds the most significance. It acts as a powerful tool to capture the recruiter’s attention and compel them to read your resume in detail.

In this guide, we will provide you with the 10 best examples of new graduate nurse objectives to help you understand how to craft a compelling one for your entry-level RN resume.

By following our practical tips and incorporating impressive words and phrases, you can grab the recruiter’s attention, demonstrate your enthusiasm, and highlight your ability to provide high-quality patient care.

A well-crafted objective statement is the key to a successful resume that piques the interest of potential employers, increases your chances of securing an interview, and opens the door to exciting opportunities in the nursing field.

So let’s dive in and create an objective statement that sets the stage for your career as a new graduate nurse.

10 New Graduate Nurse Resume Objective Examples

Tips for Writing a New Graduate Nurse Resume Objective

• Be Specific: Tailor your objective to the specific position and healthcare facility you are applying to.
• Highlight Skills: Emphasize the key skills and experiences that make you a strong candidate, such as clinical rotations, internships, or relevant coursework.
• Show Enthusiasm: Demonstrate your passion for nursing and your eagerness to contribute to patient care.
• Include Career Goals: Mention your long-term career aspirations and how the position aligns with them.
• Use Keywords: Incorporate keywords from the job posting to increase the chances of your resume passing through applicant tracking systems.
• Focus on Value: Show how your skills and experiences can add value to the healthcare facility and improve patient outcomes.

Recommended: Entry Level RN Cover Letter Sample

Call to Action

Take these tips and examples and start crafting your own compelling resume objective today. Stand out to recruiters and secure your first job as a new graduate nurse by demonstrating your unique skills, passion, and commitment to providing excellent patient care.

Top Comments from Readers

Samantha W.

This guide was exactly what I needed! As a new nursing graduate, I was struggling to write a compelling objective statement. The examples provided really helped me understand how to frame my experience and enthusiasm. I just landed an interview at my top-choice hospital – thank you!

I appreciate the detailed tips and the real-world examples. It’s challenging to stand out as a new grad, but these suggestions make it seem a lot more doable. I’m feeling more confident about my resume now.

The emphasis on being specific and using keywords is such a game-changer. I’ve read so many generic objectives, and I didn’t realize how important it was to tailor it to each job and facility. Great advice!

Fantastic resource for new graduate nurses! The examples were not only practical but also inspiring. I modified one of the examples to suit my needs, and it made my resume shine.

Thank you for the comprehensive guide! I struggled with how to showcase my clinical rotations effectively, and your tips on highlighting specific skills made a huge difference. Feeling so much better about my resume now.

The call to action to share our own objectives was a nice touch. I’ll be sure to share my journey in the comments soon. It’s great to have a community where we can support each other!

This couldn’t have come at a better time. I have been tweaking my resume for weeks and felt like I was getting nowhere. These examples gave me the clarity I needed to craft a strong objective statement. Thanks a lot!

Brilliant tips! The idea of aligning career goals with the position truly resonated with me. I think it will help show potential employers that I’m serious about my career in nursing.

This guide went above and beyond just listing examples. The tips for writing a strong objective, especially focusing on value and patient outcomes, were incredibly helpful. Definitely recommending this to my classmates!

Loved the practical examples and actionable tips. I was able to create a personalized and impactful objective statement and already noticed a difference in responses from potential employers. Thank you for the help!

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We’d love to hear from you! Share your own resume objectives or success stories using these tips in the comments below. Your experiences can inspire and guide fellow new graduates on their journey to a rewarding nursing career.

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Bachelor’s in Nursing Degree Program Guide

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Considering a career in healthcare ? Nurses are in extreme demand as the U.S. battles a nursing shortage, which may leave you contemplating whether to pursue a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN).

This nursing degree program guide will walk you through what to expect from a BSN program, as well as the expedited pathways to earning a BSN. You can also read on to learn more about what it takes to get into a BSN program and how many years you'll spend earning your degree.

What Is a BSN Degree?

A BSN degree, or a bachelor of science in nursing, is the most common degree type for practicing nurses in the U.S.

It’s through a BSN program that you’ll learn many of the skills necessary to function as a nurse. This includes ways to work with patients and physicians that lead to favorable health outcomes.

A BSN degree will set you up to pursue a nursing license. A license is one of the requirements for a career in nursing , and most students who take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) do so right after graduation.

Understanding the Types of Bachelor's in Nursing Degree Programs

If you’re interested in earning a BSN, it’s worth noting that there are more options beyond the typical four-year bachelor’s track. Many programs are designed to accommodate working adults or those with prior educational experience.

Traditional BSN Program

A standard BSN program allows you to earn a bachelor’s degree in roughly the same timeframe as any other bachelor’s degree. You’ll start with general education requirements, then you’ll get the chance to dive into more nursing-specific topics during the back half of your program.

BSN programs require you to complete clinical rotations. The number of hours you must complete, however, largely depends on the state your program is based in. Typically, programs require participants to earn 400-700 hours of hands-on experience. The average requirement is 600 hours.

RN-to-BSN Program

You are eligible for an RN-to-BSN program if you are already a registered nurse (RN) with an associate degree. These programs allow RNs to advance their education, and potentially their careers, too. RN-to-BSN programs typically require fewer clinical hours, ranging from 50-100.

If you qualify, you’ll take more specialized classes focused on nursing and avoid many of the general education requirements of most BSN programs. You will likely also finish an RN-to-BSN program faster than a traditional BSN program, depending on how many credits you can transfer.

Accelerated BSN Program

Accelerated BSN programs are typically for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree that is not in nursing. If you already hold a bachelor’s degree, an accelerated BSN program allows you to earn your BSN in just one or two years, rather than the standard four years.

You’ll have the opportunity to skip many of the general education courses and get into the meat of your nursing coursework right away.

What to Expect in an Online Bachelor's in Nursing (BSN) Program

There are two primary structures for an online BSN program : synchronous and asynchronous learning.

In a synchronous program , you’ll be expected to attend lectures and complete coursework at a specified time. In an asynchronous program, you can complete class requirements at your own pace so long as you hit deadlines. Earning a BSN also requires an in-person clinical experience.

If you’re attending an online BSN program, you will likely need to find a nearby healthcare facility where you can complete your practicum requirement. Alternatively, if you live close to the school, you may also be able to complete these requirements on campus.

Online RN-to-BSN and accelerated BSN programs function similarly, although you can typically skip general education requirements through these programs.

Courses You Can Expect to Take in a BSN Program

You will likely have flexibility in the courses you take while pursuing a BSN, but there are many foundational courses nearly all future nurses must take. Some of those classes include:

• Anatomy and Physiology: This class focuses on the different parts and systems of the human body. It’s a lynchpin course for virtually any healthcare-related major.
• Public Health Ethics: This course offers an introduction to the values and principles necessary for a career in public health. It will likely involve reviewing case studies and learning about ethical theories.
• Nursing Fundamentals: This class offers an introductory-level overview of nursing. It’s here that you’ll learn the framework for patient care, as well as the different specializations you can pursue as a nurse.
• Pharmacology: Nurses may not prescribe medications, but it’s essential they have an understanding of different drugs and their side effects. A basic pharmacology course will offer a broad overview of this topic.
• Health Assessment: This course teaches you how to carry out a health assessment, which may be a common occurrence as a nurse. It’s in this cllass that you’ll review skills like how to administer a physical examination of a patient.

How Long Does a Bachelor's in Nursing Program Take?

An online BSN program can take 1-4 years, depending on your education, experience, and whether you attend full time or part time. The type of nursing program, such as an RN-to-BSN or an accelerated BSN, also affects your graduation timeline.

RN-to-BSN programs are designed for working nurses. If you attend full-time, you can complete most programs in 1-2 years. Part-time students may need up to four years. Accelerated BSN programs for those with a non-nursing bachelor's degree can be completed in two years or less.

How to Get into a Nursing Program

Getting into a BSN program is a similar process to getting into any bachelor’s program. You should plan to submit the following application materials when applying:

• Check Circle Letters of recommendation
• Check Circle Personal statement or essay
• Check Circle Standardized test scores such as from the SAT or ACT
• Check Circle Official transcripts

If you are a high school senior pursuing a BSN after graduation, you may also want to include a list of extracurricular activities you were involved in.

GPA Requirements

It’s worth noting that BSN programs have varying degrees of selectivity. Enrolling in a BSN program at an Ivy League institution may require a minimum GPA of 3.80 or higher.

Meanwhile, a public college or university with mid-level selectivity will likely have a lower GPA threshold of around 3.0. Many community colleges don’t have a minimum GPA requirement.

Admissions for Nontraditional BSN Programs

The application process for an RN-to-BSN program or accelerated BSN program will likely be different than that of a traditional BSN. These programs will require you to show proof that you meet the prerequisites to enroll.

You’ll need to prove that you already have an RN license to enroll in an RN-to-BSN program. You may also need to provide your college transcripts to start an accelerated BSN program so that your institution can count previously earned credits.

RN Salary and Job Outlook

Nursing salaries typically are high enough to live comfortably . Individual salaries, however, are dependent on many factors. Location is a big one, as nurses in high-cost cities are more likely to earn higher salaries than those in rural areas.

The type of healthcare facility you work for will also influence your salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nurses who work at hospitals earned a median salary of nearly $10,000 higher than those who worked at residential care facilities in 2023.

Median Annual RN Salary, 2023

Lowest 10% of RNs $63,720

Median Salary $86,070

Top 10% of RNs $132,680

Top Paying States For RNs

West Coast states tend to pay the highest salaries to RNs. These states also tend to have among the highest costs of living in the U.S., so it’s fitting that RNs are paid handsomely there. Even still, every state in the country reported an average salary of at least $65,000.

Is a Bachelor's in Nursing (BSN) Degree Worth It?

When determining whether a BSN is right for you, first ask yourself whether you’d enjoy a career as a nurse. While the role may be stressful, many nurses report that helping patients heal is a fulfilling experience.

Next, it’s important to consider that a BSN is becoming a common prerequisite among many healthcare institutions.

Just under 72% of practicing nurses in the U.S. held at least a BSN by 2022. Research has also shown that hiring nurses with at least a bachelor’s degree may lead to better patient outcomes, including improved patient mortality rates.

Featured Online Nursing Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bachelor's in Nursing Degrees

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Where do nurses work?

Nurses work virtually anywhere healthcare is practiced, including settings such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers.

Nursing roles are also common in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Additionally, other industries you wouldn't automatically think of as being tied to nursing -- such as higher education -- often employ nurses.

What degree do you need to be a nurse?

You need at least an associate degree to become a nurse. An associate degree, which generally takes two years to earn, is required to become a registered nurse.

You'll need to continue your studies if you want to become a nurse practitioner (NP) or pursue a career in any nurse specialization .

Can you get a nursing degree online?

Yes, you can earn a nursing degree through an online-only program. It's worth noting, however, that BSN programs have clinical requirements.

This means that even in an online program, you'll need to find a healthcare facility where you can work hands-on with patients and other medical professionals to meet degree requirements.

How do I pay for nursing school?

You can pay for nursing school in a variety of ways, although it's best to rely on scholarships and grants rather than loans when possible. Nursing school often costs tens of thousands of dollars, so many nursing students opt to use student loans to help subsidize the cost.

Federal student loans are preferred, as these loans offer better interest rates. You can also examine the numerous student loan forgiveness programs -- such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness -- that nurses can take advantage of if they have federal loans.

How difficult is a nursing program?

Nursing programs require a courseload heavy on medical topics, which may prove difficult for some students. However, a nursing education typically prepares students to pass the NCLEX, which is required to become a licensed nurse.

According to data from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing , over 90% of U.S.-educated BSN students passed the NCLEX on their first attempt in 2023.

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed June 11, 2024.

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