To write an engaging 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, creating a resume that shows you have what it takes to succeed in nursing can be challenging. 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.
New Grad Nursing Resume Templates and Examples (Download in App)
Recent Nursing Graduate Resume Example

Why this new grad nursing resume example is strong:
This resume does an excellent job listing the basic tasks and skills the candidate has mastered through the professional experience and key skills sections.
Entry-Level RN Resume Example

Why this new grad nursing resume example is strong:
Because the candidate is a new graduate, they open the resume with key skills and education before detailing their work experience.
Hospital RN Resume Example

Why this new grad nursing resume example is strong:
This resume centers on relevant professional experience that details the candidate's skills and mastery of typical job functions.
Nurse Practitioner Resume Example

Why this nurse practitioner resumes example is strong:
Under the professional experience section, this resume lists statistics about the candidate's accomplishments in their past and current positions.
Nursing Assistant Resume Example

Why this nursing assistant resume example is strong:
This resume lists important statistics about patient satisfaction, mentions the candidate's relevant education, and details their certifications.
Licensed Vocational Nurse Resume Example

Why this licensed vocational nurse resume example is strong:
The professional experience section of this resume breaks down the candidate’s job duties regarding how many patients and doctors they coordinated and lists their high patient satisfaction rating.
New Grad Nursing Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How To Write a New Grad Nursing Resume
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your 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 emergency room (ER) or pediatrics, this is also an excellent place to put this.
Professional Profile - Example #1
A registered nurse (RN) 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. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
Start the professional experience section with your most relevant positions or the most recent, depending on your work history. If you still need to hold 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 relevant education and certifications
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. Suppose you’re a new graduate with no practical work experience. In that case, 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. List relevant key skills and proficiencies
Nursing is a hands-on profession, and the hiring manager will look for applicants with specific capabilities. 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 education | Patient management |
Patient centered-care | 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 (CNA), should highlight this experience to the most significant 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 with 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 |
Collaborated | Communicated |
Conducted | Coordinated |
Delivered | Diagnosed |
Enhanced | Identified |
Implemented | Improved |
Interfaced | 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 ample focus on your skills and education while providing space to list any relevant work experience.
A reverse chronological resume can still work if you’ve held other medical positions, such as an orderly, or have an extensive work history. Avoid using a functional resume that only lists skills, as a people-oriented job outside of the healthcare field presents an opportunity for you to highlight transferable skill sets.
How many pages should my new grad nursing resume be?-
Generally, a new grad nursing resume should be one page for candidates with fewer than 10 years of experience. A two-page resume is acceptable if you’re a seasoned professional with extensive accomplishments—but only if it provides meaningful details that strengthen your application. Tailor your content to the job, focusing on your most relevant qualifications.
Work history should typically cover the last 10 to 15 years. Older positions can be excluded or briefly summarized unless they’re highly relevant. A concise, focused resume demonstrates your ability to prioritize and communicate effectively.
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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.