Powerful nursing student resume examples for 2024

How to write an effective nursing student resume?

Choose the appropriate nursing student resume format

Start writing your nursing resume by choosing the effective format for your career situation. Here are the common formats for nursing jobs:

• The chronological format works better for experienced candidates. In it, you list previous jobs with dates and detailed descriptions. Such a resume is suitable for nurses with internships, clinical rotations, and paid employment as it focuses on your job descriptions in the first place.
• The functional format focuses on your education and training. Thus, it is suitable for a new nurse or a nursing school student. It emphasizes your academic background, relevant coursework, and clinical skills you gained during your studies. A functional resume is also suitable for nurses who return to work after a long break.
• A hybrid resume combines the features of the two. It usually features a nursing student resume summary, a list of skills and detailed professional experience. Hiring managers like such resumes as they highlight your skills and show where you acquired them. It is suitable for all career levels.

Add the summary section

The above-listed resume doesn't have an objective or summary. Yet, if you are a nursing student or an entry-level registered nurse, it is a good idea to add a short Summary section. Briefly introduce your qualifications and degrees to employers and explain what you can bring to the table if hired. Keep this section to 3-4 short sentences.

This section is your chance to catch the attention of the hiring manager and stand out. For this, include specific achievements that you are proud of.

Here's an example:

• Nursing graduate with a BA in nursing and hands-on experience delivering patient care. I bring a strong theoretical background and experience with medical equipment, having completed 650+ hours of clinical experience under supervision. Experienced in delivering care in a high-volume unit helping 25 patients per shift. Eager to apply my medical knowledge and adaptability to a dynamic hospital and achieve excellence in patient care.

List your rotations and volunteering experience

Work experience is the most important section in any nursing resume. Yet, if your experience is limited, you might struggle to complete it. Here is how to describe a nursing student experience effectively:

• List your rotations as real jobs. Specify the departments, your responsibilities, and any achievements or recognition from your supervisors. Mention your experience with specific equipment and knowledge of medical terminology.
• Include any volunteering projects where you delivered direct patient care, emotional support, or handled other tasks related to nursing. Most nursing students volunteer to gain essential skills for the nursing job.
• If you have had paid jobs as a nurse, describe them in detail. Do not copy and paste job descriptions from the internet. Describe your responsibilities so that they demonstrate different experiences, strong clinical skills and empathy. If you received a promotion or achieved excellent patient satisfaction scores, make sure to add this to your resume.

Here are some examples of responsibilities:

• Supported nursing staff and delivered compassionate care to patients in a 60-bed hospital
• Monitored vital signs and administered medications under the guidance of preceptor nurse

Craft a persuasive Education section

As a nursing student, you should emphasize your Education section and show that you have the theoretical knowledge that the job description asks for. Here's how to list education in your entry-level nurse resume:

• List the name of the school, your nursing program, and your graduation date. If you are still a student nurse, include the expected graduation date. Mention any academic awards (such as graduating cum laude) and coursework that aligns with your target job. Education plays a fundamental role in your resume, so show that you qualify for your target position.

List essential nursing skills

Resume skills are good to add for two reasons. Firstly, they instantly catch attention so the hiring manager will see what you are good at. Secondly, most skills are keywords, which will help you pass the applicant tracking system (ATS) screening. You can list skills in a separate section, formatting them as a bulleted list for better visibility.

Here are the skills you can add to your entry-level nurse resume:

• Monitoring vital signs
• Patient advocacy
• Electronic health records (EHR)
• Patient education
• Administering medication
• Patient assessment
• Communication skills
• HIPAA
• Telemetry
• Phlebotomy
• Attention to detail
• Empathy

Include both soft and technical skills in the list. To write this section effectively, review the job posting and include the specific skills that your target employer asks for. Thus, you will have a higher chance of passing applicant tracking systems successfully.

Feature training and certifications

In addition to a degree, your nursing student resume will benefit from relevant certifications and additional training. Certifications will increase your employability. Plus, some clinics and hospitals prefer hiring new nurses that have one or several certifications.

Here are some good certifications to consider:

• Certified nursing assistant (CNA)
• Registered nurse certification (RN)
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC)

Add hobbies (if relevant)

Including hobbies isn't a must. Yet, if you are engaged in activities that can differentiate you from other candidates, adding them at the bottom of your resume is a good idea.

Remember to keep your hobbies relevant to the target job. When writing an entry-level nurse resume, include activities that show your compassion, ability to work in a team, or healthy hobbies. Here are some good examples:

• Volunteering in hospitals or organizations that provide community support. If you are a member of a student nursing association, mention that.
• Playing team sports, such as football, baseball, or soccer.
• Engaging in hiking, cycling, or practicing yoga.

Attach a relevant cover letter

About 60% of employers expect a cover letter with a resume. Even though not all hiring managers read them, sending a letter is good etiquette and it shows that you are really interested. Here is how to craft a persuasive nursing student cover letter:

• Personalize the salutation. Research the hiring manager of your target clinic or hospital, or start your letter with "Dear Hiring Manager". Do not use "To whom it may concern" as a salutation.
• Adapt your cover letter for each specific job you are applying for. Read the job description to know what qualifications and what type of clinical experience to emphasize.
• In the first paragraph, introduce yourself and include the target position. Add 2-3 qualifications or areas of expertise that will help you excel in the role. If you have a reference in the company, mention their name early in the letter.
• Show interest in the company and occupation, and confidently list your skills.
• List your academic and professional successes, experience, and hard and soft skills that will make you an asset for the organization. Where possible, use figures and percentages to add context.
• End your letter with a paragraph expressing interest in meeting in person. Tell how the hiring manager can contact you.

With the above tips and strategies, you will create a strong resume even with limited experience.