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.
A new grad nursing resume is a written profile of qualifications, education, and experience that a new RN writes for a first nursing job. The best place to begin writing a new graduate nurse resume is by understanding exactly what this document is and the difference between an experienced nurse and a beginner nurse resume.
New grad nursing resumes focus on college clinical and academic experience and personal traits that highlight attributes that a potential employer will find desirable in a new nurse. Previous college and high school work experience can be included to showcase a positive work ethic and any related medical background, such as working as a nurse's aide.
As a new RN grad, my resume included both candy striper and nursing home aide experience. I was also fortunate to have worked a private duty job for an older woman (where I was paid exceptionally well for an 18-year-old college student). These nurse “related” positions undoubtedly helped give me a leg-up over other new grad nurses who were inexperienced in the actual healthcare realm.
As you may be aware, an experienced nurse's resume aims to include relevant nursing jobs and attributes that highlight on-the-job traits that exemplify excellent nursing examples. For instance, as a seasoned nurse of many years, I would not include my (long ago) college clinical or academic information in my resume. Instead, I would focus on my vast pediatric and home health nurse background and highlight the leadership, writing, and organizational skills that I picked up along the way as a nurse.
As described earlier, a nurse who has just graduated concentrates on college clinical and academic information to fill a resume.
Both a new grad RN resume and that of an experienced nurse showcase the best attributes and experience, but each concentrates on different areas based on nursing background. The goal either way is to make you shine as a prospective employee and sell yourself as the best candidate in the pool of applicants.
An exceptional resume can make the difference between getting the job or languishing as an unemployed new RN.
To land your first nursing position quickly, read on to learn a few tricks that will propel you to the top of the list for new nurse hires.
Your exemplary character, ability, and willingness to learn new concepts and skills need to shout out loud and clear via your resume to outshine the competition of nurses who have the edge due to nursing experience in the field. It is not unheard of for an eager and passionate grad nurse to land a job over one with experience if you can convince your future employer that you are worth the risk.
Depending on where you want to work, there may be over a hundred applicants for a position. With the current nursing shortage, this problem has lessened, but there are still many nursing possibilities out there where the competition is steep.
Recent grad RNs come with fresh skills and concepts. Your new grad nursing resume should highlight these areas to showcase how you can add to the pool of expertise in your first job.
By providing an exceptional resume, you are more likely to attain a first interview. You need to put your best foot forward right from the start to land the all-important first nursing job. After all of your hard work in nursing school, the next most crucial step is a quality and provoking resume to take you to the interview process.
(The following 6 exceptional new graduate nurse resume examples illustrate ideas to be included in a well-prepared new grad nursing resume that will work for you in 2024. Content can be made more visually appealing by adding spacing and dividing lines that can be found in many different online template styles.)
Dedicated, compassionate and enthusiastic new graduate RN with vast experience with children, seeking a pediatric nurse position at Penn State Health. Bringing new ideas, a willingness to learn, team spirit, and a professional, calm, and encouraging demeanor.
Registered Nurse - Pennsylvania Board of Nursing - Active until April 2024
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Certification, Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification- American Heart Association- Current through July 2024
Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA
Bachelors of Science in Nursing, May 2021
• 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.
• Performed basic hygiene and health aide services in a 300-bed nursing facility during vacations and summer.
• Performed basic office duties such as filing, answering phones, and typing reports.
• 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.
• Mother of a newborn
• Candy striper
• Campus Catholic Organization
• Church nursery worker
• St Francis Soup Kitchen
• Campus blood drive
Nurse Diane is seeking a pediatric nurse position. Her summary details all of the qualities of an exceptional children’s nurse. Even though she is a new grad, her passion and willingness to learn will give her high points and make her a solid choice to take a chance on as an inexperienced nurse. Being a mom and a good all-around person as illustrated in her volunteer experience, leads an employer to have confidence in her as a pediatric nurse. This new grad nursing resume example highlights some distinctive aspects of her clinical and work experience to help Diane stand out among her peers as a potential pediatric nurse. In general, the resume is simple to read yet includes all of the necessary information needed for the reader.
Fresh and talented new RN seeking an ICU position at Farmington University Hospital. Top-performing graduate with lab and teaching experience brings excellent technical, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Registered Nurse - Montana Board of Nursing - Active until April 2024
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Certification, Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification- American Heart Association- Current through April 2024
University of Montana, Boseman, Montana
Bachelors of Science in Nursing, May 2021
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.
5/2019-Present
Boseman, Montana
• Selected by nursing faculty to assist in Anatomy and Physiology labs along with Microbiology lab.
1/2020-Present
Boseman, Montana
• Tutored students in course work for science, health, computer technology.
• 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
This is one of the new grad nursing resume examples that prove that the candidate is competent for the type of job where she is applying. Her supervisors will appreciate nurse Jan’s keen intellect and technical expertise as a future ICU nurse. Her ability to work with computers and possession of advanced critical care skills, along with a sharp mind, will serve her well in the ICU, where many new nurses tend to flounder. Her exceptional grades in her critical care clinical rotation and advanced opportunity to work on special care units will propel her resume to the top of the pile for first-round interviews. Although Jan lacked volunteer and health-related work experience, she made up for it in honors, awards, and grades.
Graduate RN with leadership abilities dedicated to the profession of nursing seeking a CCU position at Geisinger Medical Center. Exceptional work ethic and energy to learn new skills and work tirelessly.
Registered Nurse - Alabama Board of Nursing - Active until August 2024
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Certification, Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification- American Heart Association - Current through April 2024
University of Alabama, Montgomery, Alabama
Bachelors of Science in Nursing, December 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Completed 60 outpatient hours rotating between units for women’s health, labor and delivery, NICU, PICU, and newborn nursery.
• 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.
• 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
• President of Student Nursing Association
• Captain of the high school basketball team
Joan is clearly a leader as illustrated in this new grad resume example. Strong, independent work skills are necessary as a CCU nurse, where Joan excelled, as proven by her grades and clinical comments by the nurses in the unit. Although her work history is brief, this resume accentuates that she is a loyal worker as she has been employed in the same position for many years. High praise from a preceptor also illustrates Joan's aptitude towards excellence in the critical care arena. Awards and honors are highlighted in this resume detailing an intelligent nurse with potential for leadership in the future. Joan is a likely top candidate for any nursing position, but her keen mind and “go-get-em” attitude will make her exceptionally suitable for a CCU job.
Outgoing and dedicated new graduate RN seeking an obstetrics position at Silvan Heights Medical Center. Exceptional multitasker who is motivated to learn brings innovative skills and highly developed ideas to the new position. Compassionate RN with exceptional organizational and patient teaching abilities.
Registered Nurse – New Jersey Board of Nursing - Active until August 2024
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Certification, Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification- American Heart Association- Current through April 2024
East Stroud University, Stroudsburg, New Jersey
Bachelors of Science in Nursing, May 2021
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.
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
• Division I swimming all 4 years in college
It is rare to see division I athletes on new graduate RN resume examples. We all know that it is hard enough to successfully navigate nursing school without the extra daily time requirements of a college athlete. To graduate at the top of her class in addition to swimming at such a highly competitive level is quite a feat! In addition, Lizzie demonstrated an excellent work ethic by her employment history in addition to keen organizational skills to be able to juggle many balls at once while in school. It is no wonder that she describes herself as a multitasker in her objective. In her OB and outpatient rotation, Lizzie highlighted some specific areas where she went above and beyond the normal student nurse expectations by developing new teaching and organizational documents for the patients. This resume highlights many positive attributes that will make Lizzie an excellent obstetrics nurse.
Compassionate and diligent new grad RN seeking an oncology position at Marymount Hospital. Experienced in oncology and enthused to be able to make a difference in the lives of patients dealing with cancer and their families.
Registered Nurse – New York Board of Nursing - Active until November 2024
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Certification, Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification- American Heart Association- Current through June 2024
Utica College of Nursing, Utica, New York,
Bachelors of Science in Nursing, May 2021
• 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.
• 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
• Served as a companion and nurse’s aide to a friend dying of cancer
• Division III university softball player
Lynn clearly has a heart for oncology nursing as illustrated in this new grad RN resume. The words that she chose for her objective portray her compassion for cancer patients as well as the care of a dying friend. Her clinical choices highlight her commitment to rounding out her schooling to reflect her passion for this field of nursing. In addition, Lynn’s experience and work on an oncology unit as a CNA as well as assisting her friend with cancer will surely make her a great choice for an oncology nurse. To achieve excellent grades and play softball speak to her knowledge of nursing content and ability to multi-task and do it well.
Florida licensed new grad registered nurse with minor in psychology eager to contribute to the team at Tampa Psychiatric Hospital. Offers a unique new grad candidate with exceptional communication, listening and mental health background to strive to meet patients' emotional and psychological needs and well-being.
Registered Nurse –Florida State Board of Nursing- Active until November 2024
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Certification, Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification- American Heart Association- Current through August 2024
Orange College of Nursing, Tampa, Florida
Bachelors of Science in Nursing, May 2021
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.
• Boys Club of Clearwater
• Paxton Ministries Soup Kitchen
• Special Olympics
This new graduate resume sample is slightly different from the others listed in this article. There is a possibility that John was not an A student, as some of the other examples illustrate. However, he made it through nursing school successfully with possibly a different skillset as the outcome. His resume clearly emphasizes that he will make a fine psychiatric nurse by his positive clinical results and psychiatric and outpatient rotation experience and successes. In addition, John shows a heart for the underserved, youth, and those with special needs through his volunteer experience. His nature to serve those who may have special emotional needs will aid him in securing a psychiatric nurse position. John’s objective strongly speaks to his competence in this specialty area due to his extra coursework in psychology and redeeming words affirming his passion for psychiatric nursing.
(The following are the 12 steps to write an exceptional new grad RN resume that stands out in 2024.)
There are many different formats for new grad nursing resumes, some basic and others more showy. Unless you are applying for a creative job such as a web designer, choosing a resume template or format that illustrates your artistic side is unnecessary. Although a fun design may be appealing, nurses should provide a simple, clear, concise, and informative new grad RN resume in a more traditional layout. There are many templates to choose from (see FAQs for examples at the end of this article).
No matter which template you choose, it is recommended that all nurses follow the same rules for 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
Next comes the objective or summary that is personalized for the registered nurse position that you seek. You should look at examples of objectives to get a good feel for what to include. Since this is the first item your prospective employer will read, you want to write something noteworthy and not too general. The summary or goal should serve as a brief picture of who you are and why you are a great candidate. Remember to tailor this objective to the particular job and institution where you apply. This is one area of your resume that you may frequently be updating depending on how many jobs resumes you send out.
An effective new grad nursing resume objective should be 1 to 3 sentences and include:
• Professional goals
• Name of unit and institution where you are applying
• Nursing skills and qualities pertinent to the position
• Degrees and professional certifications
Although you don't have to prepare your new grad RN resume in the order that I am outlining, it is recommended that education and licensing be listed first. For the licenses and credentialing section, you will want to include:
• The full name of your license or certification
• Institution or body that issued license
If you have not graduated or do not have your RN license or any credentials yet, do not add this section to your resume.
Another major section in a new graduate nurse's resume is your education. Nurse employers are always curious about where nurses attended school and are particularly excited to see one from their alma mater. Although all-new BSN grads have similar credentials and educational background, each nurse recruiter or supervisor has their own opinion as to top institutions for the training of RNs.
You need to list each college you have attended, even if it was not for your nursing degree.
Items to include are:
• Official school name
• Location of the school
• Dates you attended or graduated
• Degree that you completed
Since you do not have any work experience as a nurse, your clinical rotations are essential to include in your new grad RN resume to highlight your exposure to nursing and patients as a student. This area of your training is especially vital in our current times due to the interruption of clinical placements during the covid pandemic. With new grad nurses graduating with limited clinical experience coming to the floors, there is much skepticism about the quality of new RN clinical skills and nursing expertise. You will need to prove on your resume that you are a well-prepared and knowledgeable graduate nurse to sell yourself as a worthy prospective employee.
Include the following for each clinical rotation that you completed:
• 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
To personalize this section, you can include patient type, any noteworthy information about the hospital or unit, and your grade, if exemplary.
Hopefully, you have some work experience to add to this section. Healthcare-related jobs should be showcased. But for a new grad nursing resume, any positions you have held in your life can be included. You want to prove that you are a willing employee with a good work ethic and not afraid to hold down a responsible job.
I included my waitressing experience as well as my work as a CNA. For anyone who has waited on tables, it is apparent that you have people skills and sometimes work under pressure. Both of these abilities are great traits for a successful nurse. You can even mention some of the skills you picked up on the job, such as problem-solving, and leadership, etc.
On your resume, list the following for each job that you worked:
• 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
List all notable volunteer positions and activities under their own heading. Donating your time to help others shows a compassionate and caring nurse with an altruistic nature. Employers are interested and impressed by potential new grad RNs who spend time volunteering. Sometimes, your volunteer activities may match some of a future employer's interests, and you can form a connection on this one aspect alone, giving you a step up in the hiring process.
Follow the same format as in your work history section (listed above) for this part of your resume.
Don’t forget to include any activities that may qualify for volunteerism while in college and high school. Some examples of volunteer participation that I included on my new grad RN resume are as follows:
• 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
These ideas are just a sprinkling of what you can list under the volunteer category on a new graduate nurse's resume.
Hopefully, you have a good memory or have been keeping a list of all of the awards and honors that you have achieved over the years. Here is your chance to highlight why others found you an exceptional student and human being. Bragging rights are on the table, so don’t hold back. In today’s competitive market, you want to gain an edge over your competition. By featuring your honors and awards, you will demonstrate that you are a cut above the other new grad RNs.
A bulleted list is an efficient way to illustrate your honors. If you are fortunate enough to have many honors and awards, you should choose the most relevant and impressive awards so as not to overwhelm your resume in this section.
There is some disagreement over whether or not to include your GPA on your resume. Your future employer will be getting a copy of your transcripts if they so desire. Many experts will advise you to take advantage of your excellent GPA and include it if you are at the top of your class.
Suppose you took an extraordinary class or studied abroad. In that case, it is worth mentioning in this section, or you can make a new section categorized as “additional skills or information” to fit the description.
As a nursing student, I was a consistent but average achiever. On the other hand, my roommate was a brilliant and top student. Although she was the pride of her professors, my roommate did not participate in any volunteer or college activities. In contrast, I was the vice-president of the student nurse’s association and was involved in many campus and volunteer activities. Although we did not go head-to-head for the same new grad nursing job, we both were hired quickly at our hospital of choice due to excelling in our own unique way.
The important take-away is that you need to illustrate where your strengths are on your resume. My roommate had a long docket of honors to add, while my extensive list was in the category of volunteer and work activities. Nursing employers look for different types of personalities and traits for each position so just be sure to emphasize your best points.
This section displays well in a bulleted list. Nurses who speak Spanish, Chinese or other languages are especially in demand, so don’t forget to add this skill if you have it. Even basic Spanish is helpful.
One of my first clinical rotations in my graduate program was in a Spanish heath center. I was pleased to have taken a few years of Spanish in high school and college to be able to communicate with the patients at least on a fundamental level. They appreciated my attempts to relate to them in their native language also. So even if you are not exceptionally proficient in a language, you can add in your new grad RN resume that you are adept at basic language skills. Bilingual nurses will always find a job.
A new grad nursing resume should only be about one full page. Since you do not have actual nursing job experience to relate, the content length will be shorter than that of an experienced RN.
Once you have a rough resume draft, play around with the font size to adjust the content to fit the page. Stick with a font size of 11 or 12. See which size fills the page adequately so as not to have the words spill onto a 2nd page or, worse yet, a lot of white space left at the bottom. Nothing is worse than a resume that does not look like you have enough background and experience to fill one full page.
I recall having too much information for my new grad RN resume for just one page. I then returned to my draft and crafted a more concise document, carefully including only my most relevant information. I also applied an 11 font instead of 12 to make the contents visually appealing and smaller to fill the page appropriately.
Although you may not be an exact match for your first RN job, due to lack of nursing experience, you most likely will have plenty of skills and classroom knowledge you can point out to tailor your resume to the job. You can start by personalizing your objective as a nurse (as specified above under the objective/summary section). Then build on your specific qualifications for that particular position throughout your resume.
For example, my first nursing job was in a hospital on a pediatric unit. As a mother, it behooved me to call attention to that important fact. Someone with personal experience as a parent is certainly a good candidate for a pediatric nursing position compared to a fresh nurse who does not know how to relate to children or parents. In addition, I highlighted my excellent clinical experience in pediatrics along with babysitting of several medically fragile children while in college. Although I had never worked as a pediatric nurse, I had some of the basic skills that should lead to nursing success on that particular job.
Once you have a basic draft of your new grad nursing resume, it is time to proof it. Look over the tips above and compare them to expert examples of resumes. Hand over your draft to someone you know to be adept at grammar and experienced with writing or reading resumes. Getting feedback is essential for both grammar and content. Use grammar checking applications such as Grammarly and Microsoft editor.
Don’t make the mistake of having an excellent resume with solid content but has errors throughout. If you are a weak writer, consider having a friend write your resume or even an expert resume writer. Your resume is too important to allow for anything but perfection.
When preparing your new grad RN resume avoid these frequent mistakes that will push your resume to the bottom of the pile.
If you look at all of your skills and life experience, it is a good bet that many are non-work related. Shine a light on all of your positive traits, whether from work, school, home, volunteerism, passions, etc. You, in your entirety, are a valuable commodity that will seem less worthwhile as a nurse without all of the little pieces that make up you.
Don’t make the mistake I made while in nursing school. I was brought up that modesty is a virtue. Tooting my own horn is uncomfortable for me and frankly goes against my teaching and nature.
In college, I learned a hard lesson that I should not have been so modest and hard on myself in one particular nursing class. For this module, we had to fill out a self-assessment of our performance. I was a leader in that course and enjoyed every second of it, putting my heart and soul into the patients and classwork. But I figured that since we were just students, we all had a lot to learn. I was uneasy grading myself above any of the other students. I wrongly surmised that since I was not an expert I should get an “average” grade. When the evaluation was tallied, it translated to a C. I later found out that my self-assessment grade was my final grade for a 12-credit class.
Looking back on this experience, I was silly and did not give myself credit where credit was due. It was the only C that I ever received, and it was my own fault due to feeling that it was wrong to flaunt my worth. This example was a bitter learning experience for me.
There are times that you do need to speak up for yourself and all of your accomplishments and outstanding traits. When searching for a nursing job, showcasing your talent and experience is what is expected to get the job. Too much modesty can be a fatal flaw when searching for a job.
Rambling on or obviously padding your new grad nursing resume to make it look longer will only cause the reader to become disinterested in you as a potential candidate. Stick to as few words as possible to clearly and concisely get your point across.
Your new grad nurse resume should not be a cookie-cutter version of an online template or example. Your words need to paint a vivid picture of who you are and why you are the best grad nurse for the position.
It is easy to write the basic duties of your previous jobs and background. But to highlight your impressive accomplishments, you need to detail how you went above and beyond that of your peers. List any unique or challenging accomplishments that may stand out.
Remember to tailor your new grad nurse resume for each position you are applying for. The objective/summary should be the first place where you begin to revise your resume to better fit each job.
As discussed above, don’t waste all of your good time and effort of resume prep by not double proofreading your resume. You can proofread it yourself first but always have a trusted colleague, friend, or professor do the final edits.
A poorly written new graduate nurse resume is one of the top reasons job seekers may have difficulty finding work.
Getting your foot in the door for an interview is an exciting and essential step to employment. You need to sell yourself on paper before you can convince an employer that they want to contact you for an interview. A well-prepared and provoking new grad nurse resume will help the employer become excited about you before you even meet.
Preconceived visions of who you are can be either good or bad. You do not want an employer to have low expectations of you prior to your interview. Creating a written, vivid and alluring picture of you as a person and future nurse makes your chances of a successful interview even higher.
Without written proof that you are a competent and top choice for an RN position, your chances for negotiating better pay and benefits are reduced. If there are no other applicants, you may get a job offer, but you can bet you will be offered only the standard and least desirable position.
Do you feel more comfortable now answering the question of what are some exceptional examples of new grad nursing resumes? Hopefully, by reading examples of other new grad resumes, you have started to formulate your own ideas about what will make you stand out from other applicants.
Now that you have successfully graduated from nursing school, you should proudly proclaim all of your outstanding attributes. Your professional nursing resume should do just that. With the 6 best new grad nursing resume examples + how to write a polished and impressive resume, you have the tools to create a resume that will help to land you the job of your dreams. Good luck in preparing an outstanding resume and joining the greatest profession in the world!
A resume is a concise summary of education and work experience. The new grad resume examples in this article represent how an excellent resume should look. On the other hand, a curriculum vitae (CV) is much more in-depth and, therefore, a longer document, typically 3-10 pages. At times, employers use these 2 names interchangeably. Certain countries and occupations prefer a CV over a resume. However, in the US, nursing positions typically expect a concise resume.
It would be best to write your resume depending on when you plan to begin your job search. Some prefer to wait to look for an RN job until after they attain their RN license. Other nursing students are anxious to utilize their knowledge as soon as they graduate. Occasionally, new RNs have job offers even prior to graduation. Despite your plan to seek your first nursing job, it is best to begin to write your resume well ahead of time. You can even start to jot down notes for your resume at the onset of your first clinical to capture any positive feedback and highlight exemplary or unique experiences that you may forget to include later.
No, you do not need a different resume for each new grad job where you apply. However, you should tweak it to fit the particulars of the position to increase your chances of hire. Specifically, look at your objective or summary to highlight keywords that will jump out favorably in the eyes of a particular specialty or employer. In addition, you may want to expand your clinical, work, and volunteer experience to convince your future employer that you have what it takes to be a great nurse at their institution.
Your new grad RN resume is acceptable to use as long as it is current. For instance, once you have a nursing job, you no longer need to include a section on clinical rotations. Instead, it would be best if you focused on your nursing experience. As you gain more experience, education, or anything essential to add to your resume, update it as needed.
New grad nurse resumes should fit one full page. The word count should be between 350 and 400 words.
Once you know the format and what to include in your new grad nurse resume, the actual writing should take approximately 1-2 hours. However, putting together a resume can be a challenge and often takes several attempts to achieve a polished resume. Unless you are a professional resume writer, it may be helpful to break down the process into smaller steps. First, write a very rough draft of the content. Then select a template to follow. Once you have filled in your essential information, tweak it to highlight your best attributes. Then proofread it. Once you have done your own edits, it is best to have 1 or 2 others give their input. Writing a professional and captivating resume takes time and should not be rushed.
The best advice for new grad nurse resume format is to keep it concise and straightforward. The structure outlined in this article is an excellent place to start, but there are many other acceptable layouts to follow that can be found online.
You can if you have achieved high grades. However, it is not necessary.
Some new nurses do include skills in their resumes. If you have enough room to include skills, it will not hurt to incorporate innovative or unique skills that you have acquired. However, employers assume that you have mastered basic nursing skills and, if included, may be interpreted as a waste of their time to read.
Choosing the best keywords is essential when formulating your objective. Tailor these words to highlight your best qualities and fit the particular position you are seeking. A good objective for new grad nurses is to show their passion along with a capacity and willingness to learn and adapt to a new environment.
Some sources recommend that you include your nursing license number in your resume, while others prefer to leave out that information. However, the consensus is to incorporate the following information for a new grad nursing resume:
• Full name of nursing license
• The body that issued the license
• Expiration date
You should include clinical rotation information in your resume as a new grad nurse. Without actual nursing experience, your background gained as a nursing student is your only proof that you have any hands-on training as a nurse.
Yes, it is wise to include preceptorship in your new graduate nurse resume.
Hiring a resume writer is an excellent idea if you are not a strong writer or want to be confident that you are submitting a top-notch professional new grad nurse resume. The extra few dollars to hire someone to prepare this essential tool for the next steps in your career may well be worth it. If you know someone experienced and knowledgeable with resume preparation, they may be another great choice to compose a quality document.
Tried and true resume templates are an easy and sure bet for creating a professional new grad RN resume.
There are numerous online apps and tools to aid you in constructing an impressive new grad nurse resume that is sure to catch the attention of your potential employer. Resume Nerd has a simple 3 step approach to create a visually appealing and professional resume. Zety online resume builder offers a similar approach and has some free options.
Donna Reese MSN, RN, CSN
Donna Reese is a freelance nurse health content writer with 37 years nursing experience. She has worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner in her local community clinic and as an RN in home health, rehabilitation, hospital, and school nursing.
