New Grad Nursing Resume Sample and Writing Tips
You’ve worked diligently to complete nursing school, and you can’t wait to start your first job as a nurse. But you have one more assignment before you enter the world of work: You need a new grad nursing resume.
All resumes have standard components, but nurse resumes have a few extras to add, particularly as a new grad nurse. Read about the key resume sections and the unique parts for nurses, and then look at the sample resume for a new nurse grad to get started on yours. And don’t forget to check out our new grad nursing cover letter.
What to Include in Your New Grad Nursing Resume
Here are tips for each standard resume section and a few optional sections that may apply to you.
1. Contact Info
Your resume header includes your name and credentials (RN, LPN, etc.), city and state, email, phone number, and LinkedIn ID. If you don’t have a profile on LinkedIn, you might want to create one. It’s good exposure and a way to keep in touch with professional contacts now and throughout your career. Be sure to upload your resume to LinkedIn too.
2. Professional Summary
Use the resume summary section of your new grad nursing resume to highlight your skills and personality traits that make you a good job candidate. These two or three sentences give a prospective employer a snapshot of who you are. If you completed a clinical rotation in the specialty area you’re applying for, be sure to include those hours. Bonus if you worked at the same facility where you are applying.
3. Licensing and Credentials
Include your primary active license and the state of issue, along with any special certifications you’ve earned. List Basic Life Support (BLS) if you have it, as it will enable you to start work sooner.
4. Education
Nurses with a couple years of experience may opt to put their education at the end of their resume. But it works better in a new grad nurse resume when it’s up top. Include your school and its location, plus your degree and graduation date.
5. Clinical Experience
Rather than including all of your clinical rotations on your resume for a new grad nurse, tailor your experience to the job you’re applying for by including the most relevant clinical rotations. For example, if you’re applying for labor and delivery nurse jobs, you can include antepartum, postpartum, labor and delivery, and NICU rotations.
Summarize your accomplishments for each job with two to four bullet points. Turn your tasks into accomplishments by using numbers and powerful verbs. For example, instead of writing, “Worked in the obstetrics unit for a semester,” write, “Completed 50 clinical hours in the 40-bed obstetrics unit.” If you worked with an electronic medical record (EMR) system (EPIC is a common one), be sure to include that in this section too.
6. Work History
Include non-clinical jobs in the work history section of your new grad nurse resume. Jobs related to health and wellness are particularly desirable, such as a certified nursing assistant or medical assistant. Follow the same format as clinical experience for these entries.
Optional Resume Sections
Some optional new grad nursing resume sections to consider are:
7. Honors and Awards
Use bullet points to include an outstanding GPA, membership in honor societies, and scholarships.
8. Volunteer Work
Volunteer work looks great on a resume, mainly if it is related to health and wellness.
9. Extra-Curricular Activities
Participating in extracurricular classes, sports, community service, or other activities while in nursing school shows that you are active and can juggle multiple tasks.
Sample New Grad Nurse Resume
Reagan Marshall, RN
Springfield, OH | 555.555.5555 | reagan@email.com
LinkedIn.com/rmarshallrn
Energetic and compassionate nursing school graduate with clinical experience in pediatrics and PICU. Maintained a 3.8 GPA during rotations while minoring in human development.
Licensing and Credentials
- Registered Nurse – Ohio Board of Nursing
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support
- Basic Life Support
Education
The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus, Ohio
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, [MONTH YEAR]
Minor in Human Development
Clinical Experience
Student Nurse
Pediatric Unit, Hospital One, City, State
XX/XX/XXXX
- Completed 40 clinical hours in a 500-bed hospital with 30 pediatric beds.
- Provided nursing care for patients released from the NICU.
- Wrote 2 to 3 care plans a week for pediatric patients.
Student Nurse
Obstetrics Unit, Hospital Two, City, State
XX/XX/XXXX
- Completed 24 clinical hours in the obstetrics unit.
- Assisted in the delivery room during 3 births.
Student Nurse
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Three, City, State
XX/XX/XXXX
- Completed 12 clinical hours in a busy NICU.
- Provided support to 1 to 2 parents each week during their babies’ admission and stay in the NICU.
- Performed immediate care upon the delivery of 2 babies who were going to the NICU.
Work History
Server, Restaurant One, Columbus, OH
XX/XX/XXXX – XX/XX/XXXX
- Hostess and waitress for a downtown restaurant for three summers during high school.
- Supervised new employees and delegated hostessing tasks during peak hours.
Clerk, Store One, Worthington, OH
XX/XX/XXXX – XX/XX/XXXX
- Seasonal work during the holidays in the children’s clothing department.
- Selected age-appropriate toys for Santa’s elves to give away.
Honors and Awards
- National Honor Society 20XX-20XX
- Amanda Purple scholarship to nursing school for academic achievement
Volunteer Work
- Led craft classes for 2nd and 3rd grade students at the community recreation center during summer break.
- Organized several service projects to benefit the Children’s Lunchbox Fund.
Extra-Curricular Activities
- Lettered on my high school swim team junior and senior years.
- President of my high school Latin club in my senior year.
New Grad Nurse Salary and Job Outlook
The average RN salary is $89,010 per year, but you can expect to earn on the lower end when you’re first starting out. In addition to your years of experience, your salary can be impacted by your level of education, facility type, and location.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6% job growth for registered nurses in the next 10 years, which is faster than the average for all other jobs. The top five states employing the largest number of registered nurses are:
The Latest Nursing Jobs Are Waiting for You
Your new grad nursing resume can help you land your first job. Ready to start looking? Check out all the available RN jobs on IntelyCare right now and apply today.