You’ve finally graduated from nursing school. You’ve passed your NCLEX. You’ve got your RN license in hand and you’re ready to start saving lives. But when you sit down to create your new graduate nurse resume, you’re hit with a paralyzing thought: how do you stand out when you barely have any real-world nursing experience?

Here’s the reality: Your lack of extensive work history isn’t the dealbreaker you think it is. Hiring managers know new graduate nurses won’t have years of bedside experience. What they’re really looking for is evidence of solid clinical skills, the ability to work under pressure, and proof that you can hit the ground running after a proper orientation period.

A new graduate nurse resume is a targeted document that showcases your nursing education, clinical rotations, relevant skills, and certifications to demonstrate your readiness for entry-level RN positions. The most effective new graduate nurse resumes emphasize hands-on clinical experience, ATS-optimized keywords, and quantifiable achievements from clinical rotations. When creating your new graduate nurse resume, focus on highlighting specific patient populations you’ve worked with, clinical procedures you’ve performed, and the measurable impact you made during your training to demonstrate your value to potential employers.

In this guide, you’ll discover exactly how to craft a new graduate nurse resume that gets you interviews. We’ll show you what hiring managers are actually looking for, how to format your resume to pass applicant tracking systems, and provide you with a downloadable template to make the process easier.

By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear roadmap for creating a resume that positions you as a capable, confident new nurse ready to make a difference in patient care.

What Makes a New Graduate Nurse Resume Different?

Let’s be honest: your resume looks different from an experienced nurse’s resume, and that’s completely fine. The key is understanding what makes a new graduate nurse resume unique and using that to your advantage.

New graduate nurse resumes prioritize education and clinical training over work experience. While experienced nurses lead with their employment history and career progression, your resume should spotlight your nursing degree, clinical rotations, and the specific patient care skills you developed during training. This isn’t a weakness. It’s simply a different starting point.

Hiring managers reviewing new graduate nurse resumes are looking for specific indicators of success. They want to see that you’ve had exposure to diverse patient populations, that you can perform essential nursing skills, and that you understand professional healthcare environments. About 77% of new BSN graduates receive job offers at graduation, which means the competition is real but opportunities are definitely available.

The challenge isn’t your lack of experience. The real challenge is presenting your education and clinical training in a way that demonstrates real-world readiness. Most new graduate nurses make the mistake of simply listing their clinical rotations without explaining what they actually did or what they accomplished. The nurses who land interviews quickly are the ones who can articulate specific contributions, even from their training period.

Interview Guys Tip: Think of your clinical rotations as actual work experience. You weren’t just observing. You were providing patient care, administering medications, collaborating with healthcare teams, and solving problems in real-time. Treat these experiences with the same weight as paid positions.

The reality is that most resume templates weren’t built with ATS systems or AI screening in mind, which means they might be getting filtered out before a human ever sees them. That’s why we created these free ATS and AI proof resume templates:

Essential Components of a New Graduate Nurse Resume

Your new graduate nurse resume needs these six core sections to be effective:

1. Contact Information and Professional Header This seems basic, but it’s where many new grads stumble. Include your full name, phone number, professional email address, city and state, and your LinkedIn profile if you have one. Skip the full street address for privacy reasons. Make sure your email address is professional, meaning your name rather than something like “partygirl2025@email.com.”

2. Resume Summary or Objective As a new graduate, you’ll benefit from a brief objective statement that clarifies your career goals and highlights your strongest qualifications. This 2-3 sentence section should mention your degree, key clinical experiences, and the type of nursing role you’re seeking. Keep it specific and results-oriented.

3. Education For new graduate nurses, this section goes near the top of your resume, right after your summary. List your nursing degree (BSN, ADN, or diploma), the institution name, graduation date, and your GPA if it’s 3.5 or higher. You can also include relevant coursework, academic honors, or dean’s list recognition.

4. Clinical Experience This is the heart of your new graduate nurse resume. List each clinical rotation as you would a job, including the healthcare facility name, department or unit, dates, and 3-4 bullet points describing your responsibilities and achievements. Focus on patient populations served, procedures performed, and any measurable outcomes.

5. Licenses and Certifications Your RN license and certifications like BLS (Basic Life Support), ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support), or PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) should be prominently displayed. Include license numbers and expiration dates. This section can go near the top since certifications are often ATS keywords.

6. Skills Create a dedicated skills section with both hard skills (IV insertion, wound care, EHR systems) and soft skills (communication, time management, critical thinking). Match these skills to the job posting you’re applying for to improve your chances of passing through applicant tracking systems.

Interview Guys Tip: With about 189,100 nursing openings projected annually, healthcare facilities are actively seeking qualified new graduates. Your resume’s job is to prove you’re one of them by demonstrating both clinical competence and cultural fit.

How to Write Each Section of Your New Graduate Nurse Resume

Contact Information and Header

Your contact information should be clean, professional, and easy to locate. Place it at the very top of your resume in a slightly larger font than the body text.

Include:

• Full name (first and last)
• Phone number (with professional voicemail)
• Professional email address
• City and State (skip street address)
• LinkedIn profile URL (optional but recommended)

Skip:

• Photos or headshots
• Full home address
• Marital status or age
• Social media links (unless LinkedIn)

Strong Example: Sarah Martinez, RN (555) 123-4567 | sarah.martinez@email.com Austin, TX | linkedin.com/in/sarahmartinezrn

Weak Example: Sarah M. sarah_party_girl@email.com 123 Main Street, Apartment 4B, Austin, Texas 78701

The weak example includes too much information (full address) and an unprofessional email address that would make hiring managers question your judgment.

Resume Summary or Objective

As a new graduate nurse, an objective statement helps hiring managers immediately understand what you’re looking for and what you bring to the table. Keep it concise and focused on what you offer rather than what you want.

Structure your objective using this formula: [Your credential/degree] + [relevant clinical experiences] + [key skills or strengths] + [type of role you’re seeking]

Strong Example: “Recent BSN graduate with clinical rotations in ICU, emergency, and medical-surgical settings. Skilled in patient assessment, medication administration, and electronic health record documentation. Seeking an entry-level RN position in a fast-paced acute care environment where I can apply evidence-based nursing practices and contribute to positive patient outcomes.”

Weak Example: “Recent nursing school graduate looking for a nursing job where I can gain experience and continue learning. Passionate about helping people and interested in working in a hospital.”

The strong example is specific about clinical experience, mentions concrete skills, and names the desired work environment. The weak example is vague, focuses on what the applicant wants rather than what they offer, and could describe literally any new nursing graduate.

Interview Guys Tip: Customize your objective for each job application. If you’re applying to pediatrics, mention your pediatric rotation. If you’re applying to a surgical unit, highlight your perioperative clinical experience. This small change dramatically improves your chances of passing ATS screening.

Education

For new graduate nurses, education is your strongest credential, so place it prominently on your resume. Format it clearly with all the details hiring managers need to verify your qualifications.

Include:

• Degree type and full name (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)
• University or college name
• Location (city, state)
• Graduation date (or expected graduation date)
• GPA (if 3.5 or higher)
• Relevant honors (Dean’s List, magna cum laude, etc.)
• Relevant coursework (optional, if space allows)

Strong Example: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Graduated: May 2025 GPA: 3.8/4.0, Dean’s List (4 semesters) Relevant Coursework: Advanced Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Critical Care Nursing, Community Health

Weak Example: Degree: Nursing School: UF 2025

The strong example provides complete information formatted professionally, while the weak example leaves hiring managers with questions and looks rushed or careless.

Clinical Experience

This section is where you prove you have hands-on nursing skills. List each clinical rotation as a separate entry, treating it like a job position. Use the SOAR Method (Situation, Obstacle, Action, Result) to structure your bullet points and demonstrate measurable impact.

Format each clinical rotation entry: Clinical Rotation Title | Department/Unit Healthcare Facility Name, City, State | Dates

For each rotation, include 3-4 bullet points that describe:

• Patient population you cared for
• Specific nursing procedures and skills you performed
• Technologies or systems you used (EHR, monitoring equipment)
• Measurable outcomes or achievements

Strong Example: Medical-Surgical Clinical Rotation Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, FL | August 2024 – December 2024

• Provided direct patient care for 4-6 patients per shift with conditions including diabetes, heart failure, and post-operative recovery
• Administered oral, IV, and subcutaneous medications while documenting accurately in Epic EHR system
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary team of physicians, respiratory therapists, and dietitians to coordinate comprehensive patient care plans
• Educated patients and families on discharge instructions, medication management, and follow-up care, contributing to a 95% patient satisfaction score for the unit

Weak Example: Hospital Rotation Tampa General Hospital | 2024

• Took care of patients
• Gave medications
• Worked with doctors and nurses
• Learned a lot about patient care

The strong example uses specific details, numbers, and the SOAR Method to show real impact. The weak example is vague and doesn’t demonstrate any meaningful skills or achievements.

More Clinical Rotation Examples:

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Rotation:

• Monitored critically ill patients with life-threatening conditions requiring continuous assessment and rapid intervention
• Operated advanced monitoring equipment including ventilators, hemodynamic monitors, and continuous IV infusions
• Responded to three code blue situations, performing chest compressions and assisting with emergency interventions
• Managed complex medication regimens for patients with multiple comorbidities, ensuring accurate timing and dosing

Pediatric Rotation:

• Delivered compassionate care to pediatric patients ages 2-17 with acute and chronic conditions including asthma, diabetes, and infectious diseases
• Administered immunizations and educated parents on pediatric development, nutrition, and safety practices
• Used age-appropriate communication techniques and therapeutic play to reduce patient anxiety during procedures
• Documented growth and development assessments using pediatric-specific charting protocols

Licenses and Certifications

Licenses and certifications are often the first things ATS systems search for, so make this section easy to find and read. List your RN license first, followed by any additional certifications.

Format:

• Registered Nurse (RN), Texas Board of Nursing, License #123456, Expires 2027
• Basic Life Support (BLS), American Heart Association, Expires December 2025
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), American Heart Association, Expires June 2026

Include expiration dates so hiring managers know your certifications are current. If you’re awaiting licensure results, you can note “RN License Pending” with your NCLEX exam date.

Skills

Your skills section should include a balanced mix of technical nursing skills and interpersonal abilities that make you effective in patient care settings. Align your skills with keywords from the job description to improve ATS compatibility.

Hard Skills for New Graduate Nurses:

• Patient Assessment
• Medication Administration (oral, IV, IM, subcutaneous)
• Wound Care and Dressing Changes
• IV Insertion and Maintenance
• Catheter Care
• EHR Systems (Epic, Cerner, Meditech)
• Vital Signs Monitoring
• Sterile Technique
• Blood Glucose Monitoring
• Basic Life Support (BLS)

Soft Skills for New Graduate Nurses:

• Critical Thinking
• Communication (patient, family, healthcare team)
• Time Management
• Attention to Detail
• Compassion and Empathy
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Adaptability
• Problem-Solving
• Cultural Sensitivity
• Stress Management

Interview Guys Tip: Don’t just list skills randomly. Prioritize the skills mentioned in the job posting, placing the most relevant ones at the top of your list. This strategic ordering helps both ATS systems and human reviewers quickly see you’re a strong match.

Optional Sections

Depending on your background and the job you’re applying for, consider adding these optional sections:

• Volunteer Experience If you’ve volunteered at health fairs, medical missions, or community clinics, include this experience. It demonstrates your commitment to healthcare and can fill gaps if you have limited clinical experience.
• Professional Affiliations Membership in organizations like the American Nurses Association (ANA) or your state nurses association shows professional engagement and networking initiative.
• Awards and Honors Academic awards, scholarships, or recognition from clinical instructors can differentiate you from other candidates. Only include relevant honors from your nursing education.
• Languages Bilingual nurses or those with multilingual capabilities are increasingly valuable as healthcare facilities serve diverse patient populations. List your language proficiency (fluent, conversational, basic) for each language.

New Graduate Nurse Resume Template

Now that you understand each component, let’s look at how these sections come together in a professional, ATS-friendly format. Below is an example of a completed new graduate nurse resume that demonstrates best practices.

This template showcases the key elements that make a new graduate nurse resume effective:

• Clean, professional layout with clear section headers that both humans and ATS systems can easily parse. No graphics, tables, or columns that might confuse resume parsing software.
• Education-forward structure that places your nursing degree and clinical rotations prominently, since these are your strongest qualifications as a new graduate.
• Quantified achievements that demonstrate real impact during clinical rotations rather than just listing duties. Numbers and specific outcomes catch hiring managers’ attention.
• ATS-optimized keywords naturally incorporated throughout the resume, matching terminology commonly found in nursing job postings.

Want to use this template? Download our blank, customizable version in both PDF and DOCX formats. The DOCX version is fully editable, allowing you to customize every section while maintaining professional formatting.

CLICK THE IMAGE OF THE TEMPLATE TO DOWNLOAD AN EDITABLE DOC FILE

Interview Guys Tip: When customizing the template, resist the urge to cram in more content by shrinking fonts or reducing margins. White space actually improves readability and makes your resume look more professional. Keep font sizes between 10-12 points and margins at least 0.5 inches on all sides.

Common New Graduate Nurse Resume Mistakes to Avoid

Even with a solid template, new graduate nurses often make preventable mistakes that cost them interview opportunities. Here are the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them:

1. Treating Clinical Rotations Like Observations You weren’t just watching. You were performing nursing care. Use action verbs like “administered,” “assessed,” “collaborated,” and “educated” rather than passive phrases like “observed,” “shadowed,” or “assisted with.”

2. Listing Duties Instead of Achievements Don’t write: “Responsible for taking vital signs.” Instead write: “Monitored vital signs for 5-7 patients per shift, identifying and reporting abnormal findings that led to timely interventions.” The difference is showing impact, not just describing tasks.

3. Using an Unprofessional Email Address Your email should be some variation of your actual name. If you’re still using that email from high school, create a new professional one today. This takes five minutes and dramatically improves first impressions.

4. Including Irrelevant Work Experience Your part-time retail job or restaurant server position doesn’t need to be on your nursing resume unless you can connect it to relevant skills (customer service, working under pressure, teamwork). Save the space for nursing-related content.

5. Forgetting to Proofread Attention to detail is crucial in nursing, and the same applies to resumes. A single typo suggests you might be careless with patient documentation or medication administration. Read your resume multiple times, use spell-check, and have someone else review it.

6. Making It Too Long As a new graduate, your resume should be one page. If you’re struggling to fit everything, cut the least relevant information rather than shrinking the font to an unreadable size.

7. Using Generic Objective Statements “Seeking a nursing position where I can use my skills” tells hiring managers nothing. Be specific about the type of unit, patient population, or healthcare setting you’re targeting.

New Graduate Nurse Resume Keywords and ATS Optimization

With healthcare organizations receiving hundreds of resumes for each nursing position and hospitals increasingly using applicant tracking systems to screen candidates, understanding ATS optimization is essential for new graduate nurses.

Applicant tracking systems are software programs that scan resumes for specific keywords before a human ever sees them. These systems search for keywords that match the job description, and only the highest-ranking applications are forwarded to the hiring manager.

How to Optimize Your Resume for ATS:

Use exact terminology from the job posting. If the job description says “medication administration,” use that exact phrase rather than variations like “giving medications” or “administering meds.” ATS software searches for keywords that match the job description, so duplicating the exact terminology improves your ranking.

Spell out acronyms first, then include the abbreviation. Write “Basic Life Support (BLS)” rather than just “BLS” because ATS sometimes cannot distinguish between acronyms and their full names.

Include keywords naturally throughout your resume. Don’t just stuff them in a skills section. Incorporate keywords in your professional summary, skills, and experience sections in natural-sounding ways.

Use standard section headings. Stick with conventional headers like “Education,” “Clinical Experience,” “Skills,” and “Certifications” rather than creative alternatives like “My Learning Journey” or “Where I’ve Been.”

Common ATS Keywords for New Graduate Nurses:

• Patient Care
• Clinical Experience
• Medication Administration
• Electronic Health Records (EHR)
• Epic, Cerner, or Meditech (specific EHR systems)
• Patient Assessment
• Vital Signs
• IV Therapy
• Wound Care
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Medical-Surgical
• Critical Care
• Emergency Department
• Patient Education
• Healthcare Team Collaboration
• Infection Control
• HIPAA Compliance

Interview Guys Tip: Most ATS systems only scan the top third of a resume for keywords, so don’t bury your most important qualifications at the bottom. Place critical keywords in your summary, skills section, and the first clinical rotation entry.

Top Skills to Include on a New Graduate Nurse Resume

The right skills section makes your resume both ATS-friendly and appealing to hiring managers. Balance technical nursing competencies with the interpersonal abilities that make you effective in patient care.

Clinical Skills:

• Patient Assessment and Physical Examination
• Medication Administration (PO, IM, IV, Subcutaneous)
• IV Insertion and Management
• Wound Assessment and Dressing Changes
• Catheter Insertion and Care
• Blood Glucose Monitoring
• ECG Monitoring and Interpretation
• Vital Signs Monitoring
• Sterile Technique and Infection Control
• Tracheostomy Care
• Nasogastric Tube Management
• Patient Mobility and Transfer Techniques
• End-of-Life Care
• Pre and Post-Operative Care

Technical Skills:

• Electronic Health Records (Epic, Cerner, Meditech)
• Medication Dispensing Systems (Pyxis, Omnicell)
• Patient Monitoring Equipment
• Medical Terminology
• HIPAA Compliance
• Clinical Documentation
• Medical Calculations
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Quality Improvement Initiatives

Interpersonal Skills:

• Patient and Family Education
• Therapeutic Communication
• Active Listening
• Cultural Competence
• Conflict Resolution
• Team Collaboration
• Time Management
• Critical Thinking
• Stress Management
• Adaptability in Fast-Paced Environments
• Empathy and Compassion
• Professional Ethics

Interview Guys Tip: Demonstrate your skills rather than just listing them. Instead of only writing “Communication” in your skills section, include a bullet point in your clinical experience that shows how you used communication: “Educated 15+ patients on discharge instructions, medication schedules, and follow-up care, achieving 100% understanding confirmation through teach-back method.”

Frequently Asked Questions About New Graduate Nurse Resumes

How long should a new graduate nurse resume be? A new graduate nurse resume should be one page. As someone early in your career, you don’t yet have enough experience to justify a longer resume. Focus on quality over quantity by highlighting your most relevant clinical experiences, skills, and education. If you’re struggling to fit everything on one page, cut less relevant information or tighten your bullet points rather than extending to a second page.

Should I include my GPA on my new graduate nurse resume? Include your GPA on your resume if it’s 3.5 or higher. This demonstrates strong academic performance and can help differentiate you from other candidates. If your GPA is below 3.5, simply omit it from your resume. Never lie about your GPA as this can be easily verified and would be grounds for dismissal.

Do I need a cover letter with my new graduate nurse resume? Yes, include a cover letter whenever possible. While not always required, a well-written cover letter gives you an opportunity to explain why you’re interested in the specific facility and role, demonstrate your enthusiasm, and highlight aspects of your background that might not be obvious from your resume alone. Keep it to one page and customize it for each application.

What if I don’t have any clinical experience yet? If you haven’t completed clinical rotations yet, focus on relevant academic projects, volunteer work, or transferable skills from other jobs. Highlight coursework in your education section and include any healthcare-related volunteer work or patient care experience. Consider waiting to actively apply for RN positions until you’ve completed at least some clinical rotations, as these experiences are highly valued by employers.

Should I include references on my new graduate nurse resume? No, don’t include references directly on your resume. This wastes valuable space. Instead, prepare a separate reference list with contact information for 3-4 professional references (clinical instructors, nursing professors, or preceptors) and have it ready to submit when requested. You can note “References available upon request” at the bottom of your resume if you have extra space, but this isn’t necessary.

Conclusion

Creating an effective new graduate nurse resume isn’t about having years of experience. It’s about strategically presenting your education, clinical training, and skills in a way that demonstrates you’re ready to provide quality patient care from day one.

Remember these key points as you craft your resume: prioritize your clinical rotations and treat them like real work experience, use the SOAR Method to quantify your achievements, optimize your resume for ATS by including relevant keywords naturally, and keep your format clean, professional, and easy to read.

With employment of registered nurses projected to grow 5% through 2034 and about 189,100 openings projected each year, opportunities are available for prepared candidates who present themselves effectively.

Download our free template, customize it with your unique experiences and qualifications, and remember that your lack of extensive work history doesn’t define your potential as a nurse. What matters is demonstrating your clinical competence, commitment to patient care, and readiness to learn and grow in your first nursing role.

Your nursing career starts with a strong resume. Now you have the tools to create one that gets you noticed.

Ready for the next step? Check out these related resources:

• How to Ace Your Nursing Interview: Common Questions and Winning Answers
• New Nurse Orientation: What to Expect in Your First 90 Days
• Behavioral Interview Questions for Nurses: The SOAR Method Guide

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The reality is that most resume templates weren’t built with ATS systems or AI screening in mind, which means they might be getting filtered out before a human ever sees them. That’s why we created these free ATS and AI proof resume templates:

External Sources Cited

1. IntelliStaff Medical – Navigating the 2025 U.S. Nursing Job Market: Insights for Registered Nurses (January 2025)
2. American Nurse Journal – Factors Influencing New Graduate Nurse Employment (December 2024)
3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Registered Nurses: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2024)
4. National University – 120 Healthcare and Nursing Statistics for 2025 (October 2025)
5. Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare – How CNOs are Tackling Nurse Recruitment in 2025 (January 2025)
6. Fresno State Career Center – Nursing Resume Guide With Template & Examples (February 2025)
7. Nurse.org – Ultimate Guide to Nursing Resumes 2025
8. Northeastern University – 12 Nursing Student Skills for Resume Writing (March 2025)
9. Nurseslabs – Nursing Resume: 35 Writing Tips for Nurses and ATS Tricks (January 2023)
10. BluePipes – 16 Tips for Your Nursing Resume and Applicant Tracking Systems (February 2016)
11. Nucleus Healthcare – How to Optimize Your Resume for Nurses (June 2024)