Nursing Student Resume Writing Tips and Sample

Whew — you did it! You made it to the end of nursing school. Now you’re likely starting to think about what’s next and where you might want to work.

Although you haven’t graduated nursing school yet, there’s no rule that says you have to wait to start your job application process. In fact, if you want to start working immediately after nursing school, you’ll need a solid nursing student resume and cover letter that highlights your skills and experiences when you apply for jobs during your final semester of school.

The job application process is slightly different when you don’t have your RN license yet. Perhaps you don’t have extensive work experience to share, but you have relevant clinical rotations. Great — you can still create an amazing student nurse resume.

5 Writing Tips for a Strong Student Nurse Resume

1. Include key sections. Most nursing resume templates include these critical components: professional summary, key qualifications, education, experience, skills, licenses, and certifications. The professional summary is a great place to mention that you are a dedicated nursing student and highlight your experiences in clinical rotations or externships.

2. Showcase hard and soft skills. Include relevant technical qualifications and personality qualities to demonstrate that you possess both the art and science of nursing.

3. Be concise. A hiring manager is often overwhelmed with the amount of applications they receive for any given position. Don’t make their job more difficult with a resume that is a wall of text. Keep your resume format clean and skimmable. You don’t need to list every single job you’ve worked at or clinical rotation you’ve done — share only relevant clinical experience.

4. Use action verbs. When you describe duties at previous jobs or clinicals, start your bulleted lists with action verbs. Words like “completed,” “administered,” and “supported” convey initiative.

5. Use numbers when possible. Being precise is a must in nursing, and it can also help you when you’re attempting to win over a hiring manager. Quantifying your achievements is a great way to show, rather than tell, a reader what you’re capable of.

Take Cues from Job Postings

You’ll get the most out of your nursing student resume if you customize it for each job to which you apply. One way to do this is to carefully read a job posting to see what skills and training an employer is hoping to see in candidates and then making sure your resume reflects those things.

For example, if a job posting says a primary duty of the job is “educating patients and their families,” be sure your resume includes that phrase. This shows the employer that your skills align with what the job requires.

Student Nurse Resume Sample

Candace Joy

Salt Lake City, Utah • firstlast@email.com • (555) 555-5555

Nursing student with two years of experience as a certified nursing assistant. Seeking a full-time RN position in a Telemetry unit. Gained experience in cardiac nursing during clinical rotations in Cardiac ICU, Telemetry, and Emergency Department.

Key Qualifications

• Effective communication, time-management, and empathy
• Expected NCLEX test date: June 20XX
• Completed telemetry interpretation elective course in 20XX

Education

ABC Nursing University, Salt Lake City, UT, expected graduation date May 20XX

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

• Clinical rotations: 40 hours Cardiac ICU, 12 hours Emergency Department, 44 hours Telemetry

Professional Experience

St. Paul Medical Center, Nursing student, January 20XX–April 20XX

Telemetry Unit

• Collaborated with two RNs to provide high-quality care for three patients during an eight-hour shift.
• Monitored and interpreted telemetry strips for 13 patients.
• Developed skills in caring for patients post-cardiac stent placement, placing IVs, and performing 12-lead EKGs.

Rose Hospital, CNA, 20XX–20XX

Medical-Surgical Unit

• Measured and documented vital signs promptly for 10 patients during a 12-hour shift.
• Provided care for 10–12 patients under the supervision of two RNs, including assisting patients with feeding, toileting, and range of motion exercises.

Skills

Organized; Adaptable; Critical thinking; Teamwork; Compassionate; Detail oriented

Licenses and Certifications

• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

What Nursing Salary Can I Expect?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report a salary for brand new nurses, but as with other professions, you can expect your salary to be on the lower end of average when first starting. The average registered nurse salary is $94,480 per year. This depends not only on your years of experience, but also on your level of education, facility type, and where in the country you work.

The highest paying states for RNs are:

1. California
2. Hawaii
3. Oregon
4. Washington
5. Alaska

Of course, your salary will also be affected by the nursing specialty you choose to pursue. For example, the highest-paid nurses include:

• Nurse anesthetist
• Nurse midwife
• Nurse practitioner
• Nurse manager

Job Outlook

The demand for RNs is projected to grow 6% in the next 10 years. This is faster than the average growth for all professions, which means you can expect decent job security.

It’s Time to Put Your Resume to Work

You are now equipped to write a strong nursing student resume and start applying for jobs. Need help finding them? Search for student nurse jobs on IntelyCare and apply today.