Nursing school taught you everything a nursing student needs to become a professional healthcare provider, except the first step – writing your resume. You need to ensure that all the information you include in your application is updated and relevant to the job you’re applying for.
We will start with professional resume examples for the new graduate nurse, which will give you an idea of how the resume should look.
New Grad Nurse Resume Examples
Use these examples as a guide when writing your resume, or choose a template you like and create a standout nursing resume in a few minutes with our resume builder.
New Grad Nurse Resume
This resume is tailored for a new graduate nurse seeking a registered nurse (RN) position. It emphasizes academic achievements, clinical experience, volunteer work, or relevant skills.
Job Description
A new graduate nurse is typically looking for an entry-level role in a healthcare setting such as a hospital, clinic, or nursing home. They will be involved in patient care, administering medications, collaborating with healthcare teams, and supporting patients throughout their care process.
Key Notes
Highlight clinical rotations, certifications, and any relevant volunteer work. Showcase your skills in patient care, communication, and problem-solving.
Additional Tips
- Licensure: Include your RN or expected licensure date to ensure employers know when you’ll be eligible to practice.
- Clinical Rotations: Emphasize any specialized rotations you completed, such as critical care, pediatrics, or emergency care.
- Soft Skills: Nurses need excellent communication, empathy, and teamwork, so highlight those qualities.
New Grad Nurse Practitioner Resume
This resume is tailored for a new graduate nurse practitioner (NP) seeking their first position. It highlights the advanced education, clinical training, and certifications specific to nurse practitioners.
Job Description
A new graduate nurse practitioner typically seeks a role in primary care, specialty care, or hospital-based settings. Nurse practitioners assess and diagnose patients, create care plans, perform medical procedures, and collaborate with physicians and healthcare teams.
Key Notes
Focus on the advanced clinical experience, education, certifications, and specialized skills. Emphasize the ability to work independently and manage patient care holistically.
Additional Tips
- Certification & Licensing: Include your FNP or the expected certification date. If relevant, mention any prescriptive authority.
- Clinical Focus: Emphasize the specific areas of care you are trained in, such as pediatrics, adult care, geriatrics, or women’s health.
- Interprofessional Collaboration: NPs often work with physicians and other healthcare providers, so highlight your ability to work in teams and communicate effectively.
New Grad RN Resume with No Experience
This resume is designed for a new graduate RN who may not have professional work experience yet but has completed clinical rotations and is ready to start their career. The focus is on education, clinical experience, and transferable skills.
Job Description
New grad RNs typically seek their first role in hospitals, clinics, or healthcare facilities. As entry-level nurses, they are involved in patient assessments, administering medications, performing medical procedures, and collaborating with healthcare teams.
Key Notes
Emphasize clinical rotations, volunteer work, and any relevant certifications. Highlight transferable skills like communication, teamwork, and patient care.
Additional Tips
- Emphasize Clinical Rotations: Since you may not have professional experience, focus on the clinical skills gained during your rotations.
- Transferable Skills: Highlight skills such as communication, teamwork, and organizational abilities, which are essential in a nursing role.
- Licensure Information: Include when you expect to be licensed and your BLS and ACLS certifications.
Entry-Level RN Resume
This resume is intended for an Entry-Level RN who may have limited work experience but has completed their nursing program and clinical rotations. The focus is on relevant skills, certifications, and any volunteer or part-time expertise that supports the role of a nurse.
Job Description
An entry-level RN role involves patient care, medication administration, assisting with medical procedures, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals. Entry-level RNs are typically involved in various clinical tasks depending on the healthcare setting.
Key Notes
Highlight any internships, volunteer work, and clinical skills. Show your commitment to delivering excellent care and your ability to work well with diverse teams.
Additional Tips
- Highlight Any Work Experience: Even if it's not directly related to nursing, customer service, or volunteer roles, it can demonstrate valuable communication and teamwork skills.
- Be Specific About Clinical Skills: Include any experience with specialized equipment, software, or specific nursing tasks (e.g., wound care, IV therapy).
- Certifications: List certifications, as they demonstrate your commitment to maintaining essential skills.
Nurse Practitioner Resume
This resume is tailored for an experienced Nurse Practitioner (NP) seeking a role in a clinical or hospital setting. It focuses on clinical experience, certifications, and specialized skills.
Job Description
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice nurse who provides comprehensive care, conducts physical exams, diagnoses medical conditions, develops treatment plans, and may prescribe medications. NPs work independently or collaboratively with physicians in a variety of healthcare settings.
Key Notes
Highlight your clinical experience, certifications, and areas of expertise. NPs often specialize in family practice, pediatrics, geriatrics, or acute care, so emphasize your clinical focus.
Additional Tips
- Emphasize Specialization: If you specialize in pediatrics, geriatrics, or another area, be sure to highlight that.
- Include Your Prescriptive Authority: This key detail sets NPs apart from RNs, so be sure to mention it if applicable.
- Demonstrate Outcomes: If you can, include quantifiable outcomes from your work (e.g., patient satisfaction rates or improvements in patient health).
New Grad RN Resume
This resume is for a New Grad Registered Nurse who has recently completed their nursing program and is seeking their first professional RN role. The focus is on education, clinical experience, and relevant skills.
Job Description
New graduate RNs typically seek entry-level positions in hospitals, clinics, or healthcare facilities. Their role involves patient assessments, administering medications, performing nursing procedures, and collaborating with healthcare teams to ensure quality patient care.
Key Notes
Since this is for a new grad, it’s important to emphasize clinical rotations, education, certifications, and any relevant volunteer or extracurricular activities.
Additional Tips
- Highlight Clinical Rotations: Since you may not have professional experience, emphasize the skills and tasks you completed during your clinical rotations.
- Soft Skills: Highlight interpersonal skills such as communication, empathy, and teamwork.
- Licensure Information: If your RN licensure is pending, clearly state when you can start working as an RN.
Entry-Level Nurse Resume
This resume is tailored for a new graduate Registered Nurse (RN) who has recently completed their nursing program and is seeking their first nursing job. The focus is on education, clinical experience, and essential nursing skills.
Job Description
An entry-level RN typically works in hospitals, clinics, or healthcare settings, performing patient assessments, administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and supporting patients and their families. They are supervised by more experienced nurses and healthcare providers.
Key Notes
Since the individual is new to the profession, highlight clinical experience, education, certifications, and transferable skills.
Additional Tips
- Focus on Clinical Rotations: Emphasize the experience you gained during your clinical rotations, such as performing procedures, administering medications, and assisting with patient care.
- Highlight Soft Skills: Since you may be new to nursing, highlight skills like communication, empathy, and organization, which are vital in the nursing profession.
- Licensure Information: If you’re awaiting licensure, mention when you expect to be licensed.
Nursing Assistant Resume
This resume is for an experienced Nursing Assistant seeking a job in a healthcare setting. Nursing Assistants provide essential support to registered nurses and healthcare teams by assisting with patient care, monitoring vital signs, and maintaining a clean and safe environment.
Job Description
A Nursing Assistant helps in the direct care of patients by performing basic tasks such as bathing, feeding, and assisting with mobility. They also take vital signs, document patient conditions, and support patients with daily activities. Nursing Assistants work under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) and other healthcare professionals.
Key Notes
Highlight hands-on experience, technical skills, certifications, and the ability to work with diverse patient populations. Since the individual is an assistant, focus on patient care, assisting RNs, and maintaining a positive, supportive environment.
Additional Tips
- Emphasize Hands-On Experience: Since nursing assistants work closely with patients, showcase your experience providing hands-on care and supporting the nursing team.
- Highlight Soft Skills: Skills like empathy, communication, and attention to detail are essential for nursing assistants, so be sure to feature them prominently.
- Certifications: If you have any additional certifications like BLS, First Aid, or CPR, make sure to include them.
Nursing Graduate Resume
This resume is for a new graduate Registered Nurse (RN) who has recently completed their nursing program and is now looking for their first nursing position. The focus is on education, clinical experience, and transferable skills gained during nursing school.
Job Description
A nursing graduate typically seeks an entry-level role in hospitals, clinics, or healthcare facilities. RNs are responsible for providing patient care, administering medications, and collaborating with healthcare teams to ensure patient safety and well-being.
Key Notes
As a new graduate, the resume should emphasize clinical rotations, academic achievements, certifications, and relevant skills.
Additional Tips
- Emphasize Clinical Rotations: Since this is a new graduate role, clinical experience should be highlighted. Mention specific units you worked in, and any specialized training you received during clinicals.
- Licensure Information: If your license is still pending, mention when you are eligible to be licensed as an RN.
- Skills: Highlight technical skills (medication administration, wound care, IV therapy) and soft skills (patient education, communication, teamwork).
How to Write a New Grad Nurse Resume
When writing your nurse’s resume, you must pack as much information as possible into the fewest sentences. However, remember that it still must be well-read and formatted.
Remember, always be truthful! Lying on your professional resume will not only cost you the position, but it could also blacklist you on the hospital’s network too.
Writing Tips for a New Grad Nurse Resume
These writing tips will help you stand out as a compassionate, capable, and job-ready healthcare professional, even with limited hands-on experience:
1. Start with a Compassionate and Confident Summary - Write a 2–3 sentence professional summary highlighting your nursing degree, clinical rotations, and key strengths like patient care, empathy, and adaptability.
Example:2. List Your Nursing Credentials Correctly - Your name should be followed by your credentials, e.g., Sarah Johnson, BSN. List only licenses you've earned (e.g., RN, BLS, ACLS), and include license numbers if requested.
3. Emphasize Clinical Rotations in Detail - Since you may not have professional experience yet, your clinical rotations = your experience. Create a separate “Clinical Experience” section with:
- Hospital name & unit
- Dates
- Responsibilities (e.g., administering medications, wound care, charting)
- Exposure to patient types or technology (e.g., telemetry, EHR systems)
4. Highlight Soft Skills Through Actions - Demonstrate communication, compassion, and collaboration through bullet points.
5. Include Certifications Front and Center - Add a certifications section for credentials such as:
- NCLEX-RN (Passed / Scheduled)
- BLS – Basic Life Support (AHA)
- ACLS – Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (if applicable)
- PALS – Pediatric Advanced Life Support (if applicable)
6. Use Strong Action Verbs - Begin each bullet with nursing-focused action verbs like: Monitored, Assessed, Assisted, Documented, Supported, Administered, Educated, Collaborated.
7. Tailor It to the Job Description - Customize your resume by reflecting keywords from the job posting (e.g., “infection control,” “patient education,” “team-based care”). This also helps with ATS optimization.
8. Include Relevant Non-Clinical Experience - If you’ve worked as a CNA, volunteer, or part-time job in a hospital or care setting, include it! Even non-healthcare roles that show teamwork, communication, or stress management are valuable.
9. Keep It Clear, Professional & One Page
- Use simple fonts (e.g., Arial, Calibri)
- Stick to 1 page
- Use clear section headings: Header, Summary, Education, Clinical Experience, Skills, Certifications, Work Experience (optional)
10. Add a Skills Section Relevant to Nursing - Include both hard and soft skills, such as:
- Vital Signs Monitoring
- Electronic Health Records (EHR/EMR)
- Medication Administration
- Infection Control
- Cultural Sensitivity
- Empathy & Compassion
- Patient Education
- Multitasking under Pressure
We will now review each essential section of the new graduate nurse's resume, sharing examples and writing tips about what should be included and how to format each section.
Header
This part should contain your name, professional designation, contact information, plus professional social profile. You don’t need to include any photo here, but if you want to, ensure it’s a formal nursing student profile, not your usual social media pic. Also, make your name stand out. Ensure all information here is updated so you can be quickly reached via email or your phone number.
Here’s an excellent resume example for the header section:
CORRECT
Mary Jane Watson
Registered Nurse
(123) 456-7890
maryjwatson@example.com
Make sure that you have a professional email. An address like h0tpinkgurl99@gmail.com might be a turn-off for HR specialists, so it's better to use your name.
Summary or Objective
As you’re a new grad nurse with no work experience, a resume objective would be more appropriate than a professional summary. In this section, you can focus on what you aim to achieve in your career. However, if you have relevant experience, you can bank on writing a professional summary instead.
Resume objective examples:
CORRECT
Resume summary example:
Education
As a new graduate nurse, your education is one of the most critical parts of your resume. You should include:
- Degree and major (e.g., Bachelor of Science in Nursing)
- University or college name
- Graduation date (or expected date if still in school)
- GPA (optional, if 3.5 or above)
- Relevant honors, certifications, or coursework (optional)
Example of an education section:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Graduated: June 2024
GPA: 3.7/4.0
Relevant Clinical Rotations: ICU, Pediatrics, Med-Surg, Geriatrics
Certifications: BLS, ACLS (American Heart Association)
Clinical Experience
Although you may not have paid nursing experience yet, your clinical rotations during nursing school are considered valuable. Be sure to include:
- Hospital or healthcare facility name
- Unit or department
- Dates of the rotation
- Description of your responsibilities, skills used, and patient care provided
Sample sentences for clinical Experience:
- Provided direct patient care under RN supervision, including medication administration, vital signs, wound care, and documentation.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement patient care plans.
- Educated patients and families on post-discharge instructions, disease management, and medication adherence.
- Observed and assisted in emergency procedures, IV insertions, and catheter care.
Example of a clinical experience section:
Medical-Surgical Unit – Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
January 2024 – March 2024
- Delivered patient care to a diverse adult population with acute and chronic conditions.
- Performed head-to-toe assessments, monitored vitals, and administered medications under supervision.
- Assisted with wound care, mobility support, and patient hygiene.
- Documented patient data accurately using EPIC EHR system.
Pediatrics – Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, CA
September 2023 – November 2023
- Cared for pediatric patients with respiratory illnesses, GI disorders, and post-op needs.
- Engaged with children and families to provide emotional support and education.
- Participated in multidisciplinary rounds and discharge planning.
Skills
Your skills section should highlight a mix of: clinical skills (e.g., taking vitals, wound care), technical skills (e.g., EHR systems, IV therapy), and soft skills (e.g., communication, time management). Group them clearly or list them with bullet points. Keep them relevant to the role you're applying for.
Clinical Skills
- Patient assessment (head-to-toe, focused assessments)
- Vital signs monitoring and interpretation
- Medication administration (oral, IM, subcutaneous, IV)
- IV insertion and therapy
- Wound care and dressing changes
- Foley catheter insertion and care
- Blood glucose monitoring
- Oxygen therapy and nebulizer treatments
- Mobility assistance and safe patient transfers
- Specimen collection (urine, blood, sputum, stool)
Technical Skills
- Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems: EPIC, Cerner, Meditech
- Accurate and timely charting/documentation
- Telemetry monitoring basics
- Medical equipment operation (BP monitor, pulse oximeter, infusion pump)
- HIPAA-compliant data handling
Soft Skills
- Verbal and written communication
- Team collaboration
- Interdisciplinary coordination
- Time management
- Critical thinking
- Clinical judgment
- Compassionate interaction
- Adaptability
- Cultural sensitivity
- Inclusivity in care
Licenses and Certifications
If you have certified skills, prioritize these. An additional license or certification from a professionally recognized body will boost your application significantly.
You can include certifications not required by the hiring company but relevant to your work as a registered nurse, such as training on specific medical equipment or credentials on new patient care techniques.
Include the following details for each certification or license:
- Full name of the certification/license (with abbreviation in parentheses)
- Issuing organization
- Date obtained (or "In Progress" if applicable)
- Expiration date (if applicable)
- License number (optional; some prefer to omit for privacy)
Example:- Registered Nurse (RN) – Licensed by [State] Board of Nursing | License #123456 | Expires: 04/2026
- Basic Life Support (BLS) – American Heart Association | Obtained: 05/2023 | Expires: 05/2028
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) – American Heart Association | Obtained: 01/2020 | Expires: 01/2030
Common Certifications for New Graduate Nurses
- Basic Life Support (BLS) – Essential for all nurses; often required before clinical rotations
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) – Recommended for those working in acute care settings
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) – Beneficial if working with pediatric populations
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) – Important for those in neonatal or labor and delivery units
- Certified in Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM) – Useful for obstetric nursing roles
While some of these certifications may not be mandatory for entry-level positions, obtaining them can enhance your resume and demonstrate a commitment to the field.
Additional Sections
This part usually contains your volunteer experience, organizational affiliation, and more. Again, relevancy is key in every resume, so do not include it if it’s unrelated to your desired position.
- Volunteer experience - Relevant experience includes volunteering in medical facilities, missions, or other health-related positions.
- Organizational affiliation—Joining the Red Cross, American Nursing Association, or any student nurse group would be a good addition because it shows your commitment to the career.
- Leadership positions - If you held a position of influence or management, remember to include it. This can help your application by showing that you have organizational, interpersonal, and teamwork skills.
- Languages - If you’re applying to a medical center in a central urban area or near the country’s border, speaking relevant languages is a plus.
Cover Letter
A cover letter complements a new graduate nurse's resume, allowing you to share a bit about yourself, showcase your enthusiasm for nursing, and express why you would be a perfect match for that particular role or facility. Unlike a resume, it allows you to express enthusiasm, showcase communication skills, and briefly expand on your clinical experience or education.
In your cover letter, be sure to include:
- The position you're applying for
- A brief introduction of your background and nursing education
- Key clinical experiences or strengths (e.g., communication, patient care, teamwork)
- A short paragraph on why you're interested in that hospital or unit
- A thank you and call to action (e.g., willingness to interview)
