New Grad Nurse Resume Example (+Writing Tips)

Congratulations are in order! You have graduated from nursing school and gained all the credentials required to be a nurse. Now, it’s time to find your first job. That’s exciting, but also a big challenge. Entry-level nursing jobs are very competitive, especially if you’re looking to work in an acclaimed healthcare institution. 

You need to give yourself the best chance possible. That includes having an amazing resume copy on hand. We are here to help with that. Keep reading for a new grad nurse resume example and some great writing tips.

New Grad Nurse Resume Example (Word)

Download example (.docx)

New Grad Nurse Resume (plain text)

How to Write a Winning Resume as a New Grad Nurse 

Recent nursing graduates don’t have a ton of work experience to flash (which is understandable). Still, you have quite a number of clinical, organizational, and soft skills to bring to the table. 

When writing your resume focus on what you have — clinical rotations, part-time work, academic, research, and volunteering experiences, rather than whatever you feel you may be lacking.   

Use the below tips to structure all your personal information in a compelling, one-page resume. 

Always Follow Proper Resume Writing Guidelines

Many new nurses tend to get so caught up in the details of their resumes that they forget the proper guidelines for writing one. You shouldn’t have to worry about stuffing every single detail and certification into your resume unless the hospital specifically requests it. 

Keep your resume a single page long. Go with a chronological resume format as it’s the go-to standard. Select an easy-to-read resume font and leave plenty of white space. Once you’re done, check back with the original job post to verify that you’ve met all the requirements and provided all the requested details.  

Choose Your Tone Carefully

In a profession such as nursing where you work with diverse people, your communication skills are of great importance. When you are writing your resume try to use words and phrases that showcase your initiative and drive in the field. 

For example, instead of saying that you simply took care of 6 patients per shift on average, you could say that you gave them assessments and helped to provide care and comfort to them. 

Choose strong verbs that indicate decisiveness, confidence, and knowledge. Your resume should make it sound like you know how to do all the standard procedures and don’t second-guess your decisions (even if you do sometimes!).   

Include Information on Your Education

Most if not all nurses are college graduates, and are usually required to have some level of higher education. However, not all colleges are the same as some focus heavily on nursing while others focus more on technical studies or literature. Your education will also most likely be your only experience in nursing. Therefore, always include the name of any schools you attended, your GPA, and the graduation date.

Add your Licenses and Certifications

A portion of your resume should always be reserved for your certifications. After all, they are what proves that you are capable of performing your duties as a nurse. Take the time to enter the name of the certification, the date you received it, the expiration date, and any other deets, associated with that certificate. 

Final Tip: Mind Applicant Screening Software

Many hospitals now use screening software to weed out unqualified candidates. While this software does create less work for employers they are nowhere near perfect and are normally just looking for a few keywords and phrases within submitted documents. 
So take the time to pull keywords from the job listing, For example, if they are looking for a nurse specifically for pediatrics make your experience in pediatrics the focus. By doing this you will ensure that your resume gets past the applicant tracking system and land in front of an actual person.