How To Write a New Grad Nursing Resume

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.

  • Entry-level
  • Mid-career
  • Senior-level
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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


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

Professional Experience - Example #2


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

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.

Education

Template

  • [Degree Name]
  • [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]

Example

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

Certifications

Template

  • [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]

Example

  • 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:

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Activities of daily living (ADLS) Acute care
Case management Clinical operations
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) EHR
HIPAA Infectious disease protocols
IV therapy Medication administration
Oncology Patient advocacy
Patient centered-care Patient education
Patient management Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
Telemetry Treatment planning
Vital sign monitoring Wound care

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.

New Grad Nursing Resume Examples

  • Example #1
  • Example #2
  • Example #3

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

Profile

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.

Key Skills

  • Patient Care
  • Medical Research
  • Microsoft Office Suite
  • Electronic Health Records (EHR)
  • SPSS

Education

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

Professional Experience

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

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.

Action Verbs
Administered Analyzed
Communicated Conducted
Coordinated Collaborated
Delivered Diagnosed
Enhanced Identified
Interfaced Implemented
Improved Led
Managed Performed
Provided Resolved
Supported Treated
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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Expert Advice
Include a cover letter with your resume
If you want to stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of being called for an interview, include a cover letter with your resume. Your cover letter can provide more background on why you chose to pursue nursing and how this position fits into your career plans. A cover letter can help you connect more with the hiring manager, but remember the main focus is on how you can help the organization.
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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).

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