Back to Blog
Career

New Grad Nurse Resume Tips 2025: Essential Strategies to Land Your First RN Position

December 17, 2025
14 min read

Landing your first registered nurse position in 2025 is both exciting and challenging. With competitive markets in many areas and hospitals using sophisticated applicant tracking systems (ATS), your nursing resume needs to stand out while demonstrating your clinical competencies, patient care values, and readiness to transition from student to professional nurse. This comprehensive guide provides the latest strategies to help you craft a resume that gets you interviews at top healthcare facilities.

What's Changed in Nursing Hiring for 2025

Before diving into specific tips, understand the current nursing job market:

  • ATS screening is universal: 88% of hospitals use applicant tracking systems to screen nursing resumes
  • Clinical competencies matter most: Hiring managers want evidence of hands-on patient care skills, not just coursework
  • Specialty experience counts: Even rotation experience in ICU, ER, or specialty units can differentiate you
  • Certifications are expected: BLS is baseline; ACLS, PALS, or specialty certs give you an edge
  • EHR proficiency is assumed: Epic, Cerner, or other electronic health record experience is highly valued
  • Patient outcomes over tasks: Focus on patient-centered care and outcomes, not just tasks completed
  • References are critical: Strong preceptor and clinical instructor references can make or break your application

The 12 Essential New Grad Nurse Resume Tips for 2025

1. Lead with Your Clinical Rotations as Experience

As a new graduate, your clinical rotations ARE your experience—treat them as such.

❌ Wrong:

"Completed clinical rotations in various hospital departments"

✅ Right:

"Medical-Surgical Clinical Rotation, Memorial Regional Hospital | 120 clinical hours • Provided direct patient care for 5-6 post-operative patients per shift under RN supervision • Administered medications via oral, IV, and IM routes following six rights of medication administration • Performed wound care, dressing changes, and catheter insertion with 100% procedural compliance • Documented patient assessments and care plans in Epic EMR achieving 100% charting accuracy"

Why it matters: Nurse managers want to see what you CAN DO, not what you learned in class. Clinical rotations demonstrate hands-on competencies.

Key elements to include for each rotation:

  • Facility name and unit type
  • Total clinical hours completed
  • Patient population and typical patient load
  • Specific procedures and skills performed
  • Assessment and documentation practices
  • Technology/EMR systems used
  • Collaboration with interdisciplinary teams

Formula: Unit Type + Facility | Clinical Hours → Patient Care Responsibilities → Skills/Procedures → Technology → Outcomes

Your action items:

  • List each major clinical rotation as a separate "experience" entry
  • Include total hours (most rotations are 80-150 hours)
  • Focus on the last 2-3 semesters (most relevant, advanced practice)
  • Quantify patient loads and procedures when possible

2. Showcase Your Nursing Skills with Specificity

Generic skills won't differentiate you—be specific about what you can do.

Strong examples:

  • "IV insertion and management: Successfully placed peripheral IVs in 15+ patients, managed IV infusions including vasoactive medications"
  • "Wound care: Performed sterile dressing changes for post-surgical, pressure injury, and diabetic wound patients using evidence-based protocols"
  • "Patient assessment: Conducted head-to-toe assessments on medical-surgical patients, identified changes in condition, and escalated to RN/MD appropriately"

Essential skills to highlight:

Basic Nursing Skills:

  • Vital signs monitoring and interpretation
  • Medication administration (oral, IV, IM, subcutaneous)
  • IV insertion and IV therapy management
  • Wound care and dressing changes
  • Catheter insertion and care (Foley, NG tube)
  • Patient hygiene and mobility assistance
  • Fall risk assessment and prevention
  • Pain assessment and management

Clinical Assessment:

  • Head-to-toe physical assessment
  • Focused assessments (respiratory, cardiac, neuro, etc.)
  • Patient interview and health history
  • Recognition of clinical deterioration
  • Critical thinking and clinical judgment

Documentation & Technology:

  • Electronic health records (Epic, Cerner, Meditech)
  • Accurate and timely documentation
  • SBAR communication
  • Care plan development
  • Medication administration records (MAR)

Specialized Skills (if applicable):

  • Ventilator care and monitoring
  • Telemetry monitoring and EKG interpretation
  • Chest tube management
  • Post-operative care
  • Pediatric vital signs and care
  • Labor and delivery assistance
  • Mental health crisis intervention

Your action items:

  • Create a robust "Clinical Skills & Competencies" section
  • Group skills by category (Assessment, Procedures, Technology)
  • Include proficiency level when relevant (Basic, Intermediate, Proficient)
  • Emphasize skills mentioned in job descriptions

3. Highlight Your Certifications Prominently

Certifications demonstrate commitment and readiness for specialty practice.

Must-have certifications:

  • BLS (Basic Life Support) - Required for all RN positions
  • ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) - Highly valued for acute care
  • PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) - Essential for pediatric or ER positions
  • NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) - Critical for L&D, NICU, Mother-Baby

Valuable specialty certifications:

  • TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course) - For emergency nursing
  • NIHSS (Stroke Scale Certification) - For neuro/stroke units
  • Oncology Nursing Certification - For oncology positions
  • CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) - For psych nursing
  • IV Certification - Some states require additional IV therapy certification

How to format:

CERTIFICATIONS
• Basic Life Support (BLS) - American Heart Association | Exp: Dec 2026
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) - American Heart Association | Exp: June 2026
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - American Heart Association | Exp: June 2026

Your action items:

  • Include expiration dates (shows certifications are current)
  • Place certifications section prominently (after Education or Skills)
  • Get ACLS before applying if targeting critical care, ER, or telemetry units
  • List certifications in progress if relevant ("ACLS - Scheduled Feb 2025")

4. Optimize for Nursing ATS Keywords

Hospital HR systems screen for specific nursing keywords—include them naturally.

Essential keywords by specialty:

Medical-Surgical Nursing:

  • patient assessment, post-operative care, medication administration, vital signs, wound care, IV therapy, patient education, discharge planning, electronic health records, interdisciplinary collaboration

Critical Care/ICU:

  • hemodynamic monitoring, ventilator management, critical care, vasoactive medications, arterial lines, central lines, code response, rapid response team, titration, ICU protocols

Emergency Department:

  • triage, emergency nursing, trauma care, TNCC, rapid assessment, code response, conscious sedation, emergency protocols, ESI (Emergency Severity Index), crisis intervention

Pediatric Nursing:

  • pediatric nursing, child development, family-centered care, growth and development, pediatric assessment, weight-based dosing, play therapy, PALS, pediatric protocols

Labor & Delivery:

  • fetal monitoring, labor support, postpartum care, newborn assessment, breastfeeding support, NRP, obstetric nursing, maternal-newborn nursing

Mental Health/Psychiatric:

  • mental health nursing, crisis intervention, therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, psychiatric assessment, CPI, milieu therapy, medication management

General nursing keywords (include in all resumes):

  • patient-centered care, evidence-based practice, compassionate care, critical thinking, clinical judgment, safety protocols, infection control, HIPAA compliance, patient safety, quality improvement, SBAR communication, teamwork, time management, prioritization

Best practices:

  • Mirror exact phrases from job descriptions
  • Use both spelled-out terms and acronyms: "Basic Life Support (BLS)"
  • Include unit-specific terminology
  • Weave keywords naturally into experience descriptions
  • Don't keyword stuff—maintain readability

5. Demonstrate Patient-Centered Care and Outcomes

Modern nursing emphasizes patient outcomes, not just task completion.

❌ Wrong:

"Assisted patients with activities of daily living"

✅ Right:

"Provided compassionate patient care for post-surgical patients, educating patients and families on pain management, wound care, and mobility exercises, contributing to 95% patient satisfaction scores on unit"

Ways to show patient-focused care:

Patient Education:

  • "Educated diabetic patients on insulin administration, blood glucose monitoring, and dietary management, ensuring understanding through teach-back method"
  • "Provided discharge teaching to CHF patients on medication compliance, daily weights, and symptom recognition, supporting successful home transitions"

Compassionate Care:

  • "Delivered culturally sensitive care to diverse patient populations, utilizing interpreter services and adapting communication styles to patient needs"
  • "Provided end-of-life care to terminally ill patients and emotional support to families during difficult transitions"

Safety & Quality:

  • "Maintained 100% medication administration accuracy through diligent use of six rights and barcode scanning"
  • "Prevented patient falls through hourly rounding, fall risk assessments, and environmental modifications"
  • "Identified early signs of sepsis in post-operative patient, escalating to provider and facilitating rapid intervention"

Patient Advocacy:

  • "Advocated for patient pain management needs, collaborating with providers to adjust pain protocols for improved comfort"
  • "Served as patient advocate during interdisciplinary rounds, ensuring patient preferences were incorporated into care plans"

Your action items:

  • Connect your actions to patient outcomes when possible
  • Use patient-centered language (avoid task-oriented phrases)
  • Highlight examples of patient teaching and health literacy support
  • Show cultural competence and sensitivity
  • Demonstrate critical thinking that improved patient care

6. Emphasize Technology and EMR Proficiency

Electronic health record experience is essential in 2025.

❌ Wrong:

"Familiar with computer charting"

✅ Right:

"Documented patient assessments, medication administration, and care plans in Epic EMR across 200+ patient encounters with 100% charting compliance and zero documentation errors"

Technology to highlight:

Electronic Health Records (EMR/EHR):

  • Epic (most common in large hospital systems)
  • Cerner
  • Meditech
  • Allscripts
  • CPSI (common in smaller hospitals)

Clinical Documentation:

  • Medication administration records (MAR)
  • Electronic flow sheets
  • Nursing notes and assessments
  • Care plan documentation
  • SBAR communication notes

Medical Equipment & Monitors:

  • IV pump programming (Baxter, Alaris, BD)
  • Telemetry monitoring
  • Vital signs monitors
  • Glucometers
  • Feeding pumps
  • PCA (patient-controlled analgesia) pumps
  • Sequential compression devices

Best practices:

  • Name specific EMR systems you've used
  • Quantify your documentation experience (number of charts, accuracy rate)
  • Mention specialized modules (surgery scheduling, blood administration, etc.)
  • Show comfort with technology adoption

Your action items:

  • Include an "Electronic Health Records" or "Technology Proficiency" subsection
  • Mention EMR systems in your clinical rotation descriptions
  • If you learned Epic in school, note the modules (Hyperspace, Willow for maternity, etc.)
  • Highlight any technology training or proficiency awards

7. Show Teamwork and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Nursing is a team sport—demonstrate your collaborative skills.

Strong examples:

  • "Collaborated with interdisciplinary team including physicians, physical therapists, case managers, and social workers to develop comprehensive discharge plans for complex patients"
  • "Participated in daily interdisciplinary rounds on medical-surgical unit, contributing nursing assessments and patient status updates for 30+ patients weekly"
  • "Assisted charge nurse with patient assignments, supply management, and unit coordination during high-census shifts"
  • "Communicated patient status changes to physicians using SBAR format, ensuring clear and concise information exchange"

Types of collaboration to highlight:

Interdisciplinary Teamwork:

  • Physician collaboration
  • Physical therapy coordination
  • Respiratory therapy partnerships
  • Case management/social work
  • Pharmacy consultation
  • Dietary/nutrition coordination

Nursing Team Collaboration:

  • Working with charge nurses
  • Supporting fellow student nurses
  • Assisting CNAs/PCTs
  • Participating in unit huddles
  • Shift-to-shift handoffs

Patient/Family Collaboration:

  • Family meetings
  • Involving family in care decisions
  • Coordinating with patient advocates
  • Cultural liaisons and interpreters

Your action items:

  • Include 1-2 bullets per rotation highlighting teamwork
  • Use collaborative language: "partnered with," "coordinated with," "collaborated with"
  • Show communication skills through SBAR mentions
  • Demonstrate respect for the entire healthcare team

8. Use the CAR Framework for Clinical Achievements

Challenge - Action - Result framework tells compelling nursing stories.

Example:

Challenge: "Cared for anxious pre-operative patient with limited English proficiency expressing fears about upcoming cardiac surgery"

Action: "Utilized interpreter services, provided reassurance through therapeutic communication, educated patient on surgical process using visual aids, and coordinated pre-operative teaching with cardiac surgery nurse educator"

Result: "Patient reported decreased anxiety (from 8/10 to 3/10), demonstrated understanding of post-operative expectations through teach-back, and experienced successful surgery with smooth recovery"

More examples:

Medical-Surgical Example:

"Identified early signs of post-operative infection (increased temp, elevated WBC, wound redness) in day-2 surgical patient → Promptly notified surgeon, obtained wound culture per order, initiated antibiotic therapy → Early intervention prevented sepsis, patient recovered fully and discharged on schedule"

Pediatric Example:

"Managed care for fearful 6-year-old requiring IV insertion for antibiotics → Utilized child life specialist, play therapy techniques, and distraction with age-appropriate explanation → Successful IV placement on first attempt, child remained calm, parent satisfaction score 5/5"

ICU Example:

"Monitored critically ill septic patient with declining hemodynamics (MAP <65, rising lactate) → Titrated norepinephrine per protocol, monitored arterial line, reported changes to intensivist during rounds → Patient stabilized, MAP maintained >65, successfully weaned off pressors within 48 hours"

Formula for nursing:

  • Challenge: Patient situation or clinical problem
  • Action: Your nursing interventions, assessments, or collaboration
  • Result: Patient outcome, safety improvement, or positive result

Your action items:

  • Transform at least 2-3 bullets per rotation into CAR format
  • Show your clinical reasoning process
  • Demonstrate patient-centered problem-solving
  • Connect actions to positive outcomes when possible

9. Include Relevant Coursework and Academic Achievements

Strong academic performance demonstrates your knowledge foundation.

What to include:

If GPA is 3.5+:

  • Include overall GPA: "Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), GPA: 3.7/4.0"
  • Include nursing major GPA if higher: "Nursing Major GPA: 3.8/4.0"

If GPA is 3.0-3.49:

  • Include if applying to competitive programs
  • Consider including major GPA only if higher than overall

If GPA is below 3.0:

  • Omit GPA entirely
  • Focus on clinical strengths, certifications, and skills

Academic honors to highlight:

  • Dean's List
  • President's List
  • Nursing Honor Society (Sigma Theta Tau)
  • Summa/Magna/Cum Laude graduation
  • Academic scholarships
  • NCLEX pass on first attempt (if applicable)

Relevant coursework (optional, if space allows):

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) | University of Texas Health Science Center | May 2024
GPA: 3.6/4.0 | Dean's List: 4 semesters | Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society

Relevant Coursework: Advanced Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, Health Assessment,
Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing, Critical Care Nursing, Maternal-Child Nursing,
Mental Health Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Nursing Leadership

Clinical hours summary (optional):

  • "Completed 800+ clinical hours across medical-surgical, critical care, emergency, pediatrics, obstetrics, and mental health settings"

Your action items:

  • Lead with your degree and graduation date
  • Include GPA if 3.5 or higher
  • Highlight honors and recognitions
  • Mention NCLEX status if passed
  • Consider adding clinical hours summary for impact

10. Format for Scanability and ATS Compatibility

Nurse managers review dozens of resumes—make yours easy to read and ATS-friendly.

Formatting best practices:

Structure:

  • Clear section headers: Professional Summary (optional), Education, Clinical Experience, Certifications, Skills
  • Reverse chronological order (most recent rotations first)
  • Consistent bullet point format
  • Adequate white space
  • 1-2 pages maximum (1 page for new grads is ideal)

Typography:

  • Standard fonts: Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Times New Roman
  • 10-12pt body text, 14-16pt headers
  • Bold for hospital names and rotation titles
  • No tables, text boxes, or graphics (ATS can't read them)
  • Simple bullet points (•) not decorative symbols

Contact Information:

  • Name (largest text, 18-22pt)
  • Phone number (professional voicemail)
  • Professional email (firstname.lastname@email.com)
  • LinkedIn profile URL (optional but recommended)
  • City, State (full address not necessary)
  • RN license number (if already licensed)

File format:

  • PDF preferred (maintains formatting)
  • .docx acceptable (better for some ATS)
  • Check job posting for specific requirements
  • Name file: "FirstName_LastName_RN_Resume.pdf"

ATS optimization:

  • Use standard section headers ("Education" not "Academic Background")
  • Avoid headers/footers (ATS often skips them)
  • Don't use images, logos, or graphics
  • Spell out acronyms first: "Registered Nurse (RN)"
  • Use simple formatting (no columns or tables)

Your action items:

  • Keep formatting clean and simple
  • Test resume through ATS checker (Jobscan, Resume Worded)
  • Ensure consistent formatting throughout
  • Have someone proofread for typos
  • Use action verbs: provided, administered, assessed, documented, collaborated

11. Tailor Your Resume for Each Application

Generic nursing resumes miss opportunities—customization is critical.

How to customize efficiently:

Step 1: Analyze the job description

  • Identify required skills and qualifications
  • Note preferred certifications
  • Highlight unit-specific keywords (ICU, ER, med-surg, etc.)
  • Research the hospital's EMR system

Step 2: Prioritize relevant rotations

  • If applying to ICU, emphasize ICU rotation first
  • If applying to pediatrics, lead with pediatric clinical experience
  • If applying to ER, highlight emergency department rotation
  • De-emphasize less relevant rotations (but keep them)

Step 3: Adjust skills section

  • Prioritize skills mentioned in job description
  • Add unit-specific competencies
  • Include their EMR system if you have experience with it
  • Match certification requirements (ACLS, PALS, etc.)

Step 4: Customize professional summary (if using)

  • Mention the specific unit or specialty
  • Highlight most relevant strengths
  • Mirror language from job description

Example:

For ICU Position:

"New graduate registered nurse with ICU clinical rotation experience at level I trauma center. Skilled in hemodynamic monitoring, ventilator care, and critical patient assessment. ACLS certified with strong critical thinking and ability to remain calm under pressure."

For Medical-Surgical Position:

"Compassionate new graduate registered nurse with extensive medical-surgical clinical experience. Proficient in post-operative care, medication administration, and patient education. Committed to evidence-based practice and patient-centered care."

For Pediatric Position:

"Dedicated new graduate registered nurse with pediatric clinical rotation experience at children's hospital. Skilled in family-centered care, growth and development assessment, and age-appropriate patient education. PALS certified with passion for pediatric nursing."

Your action items:

  • Spend 15-20 minutes customizing each application
  • Reorder clinical rotations to emphasize relevant experience
  • Adjust skills section to match job requirements
  • Add unit-specific keywords throughout
  • Research the hospital's values and incorporate them

12. Include Strong References and Preceptor Endorsements

References can make or break new grad applications.

Who to ask:

  • Clinical preceptors (most important)
  • Clinical instructors
  • Nursing professors
  • Charge nurses from rotations
  • Nurse managers who supervised you

How to present references:

Option 1: "References available upon request"

  • Standard approach, saves space
  • Prepare reference list separately

Option 2: Include reference sheet

  • Separate document with 3-5 references
  • Include name, title, relationship, contact info
  • Bring to interviews

Reference list format:

PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES

Sarah Johnson, RN, BSN
ICU Preceptor, Memorial Regional Hospital
Supervised 120-hour critical care clinical rotation
Phone: (555) 123-4567 | Email: sarah.johnson@hospital.org

Dr. Emily Martinez, PhD, RN
Clinical Instructor, University of Texas School of Nursing
Supervised medical-surgical and leadership clinical rotations
Phone: (555) 234-5678 | Email: emily.martinez@university.edu

Michael Chen, RN, MSN
Charge Nurse, Emergency Department, County Medical Center
Preceptor for 80-hour emergency department clinical rotation
Phone: (555) 345-6789 | Email: michael.chen@hospital.org

Best practices:

  • Ask permission before listing someone as a reference
  • Give them a copy of your resume
  • Brief them on jobs you're applying to
  • Send thank-you notes after they provide references
  • Keep references updated on your job search progress

Your action items:

  • Identify 3-5 strong clinical references
  • Ask permission and provide your resume
  • Prepare a formatted reference sheet
  • Update references on your timeline
  • Thank references after you land a position

Common New Grad Nursing Resume Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Treating Clinical Rotations as "Just School"

Don't: List clinical rotations under education with no details Do: Create a "Clinical Experience" section with detailed descriptions of patient care

Mistake #2: Focusing on Coursework Instead of Clinical Practice

Don't: "Completed coursework in medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology, and pathophysiology" Do: "Provided direct patient care for medical-surgical patients, administered medications, performed assessments, and documented care in Epic EMR"

Mistake #3: Using Vague Language

Don't: "Helped patients with various needs" Do: "Assisted patients with activities of daily living including bathing, ambulation, toileting, and meals while maintaining patient dignity and safety"

Mistake #4: Omitting EMR Experience

Always include your EMR experience—it's one of the most valuable skills for new grads.

Don't: No mention of documentation systems Do: "Documented patient assessments, medications, and care plans in Epic EMR across 150+ patient encounters"

Mistake #5: Missing Keywords

Don't: Generic descriptions that could apply to any nursing role Do: Use unit-specific keywords that match the job description (critical care, telemetry, post-operative, pediatric assessment, etc.)

Mistake #6: No Certifications Section

Don't: Mention BLS in passing or omit certifications Do: Create prominent "Certifications" section with cert names, issuing organizations, and expiration dates

Mistake #7: Unprofessional Email Address

Don't: partygirl2001@email.com or cutienurse@email.com Do: firstname.lastname@email.com or firstname.lastname.rn@email.com

Mistake #8: Including Irrelevant Information

Remove or minimize:

  • Unrelated work experience (unless demonstrating transferable skills)
  • High school information
  • Personal information (age, marital status, photo)
  • Hobbies (unless directly relevant to nursing)

Focus on:

  • Nursing education and clinical experience
  • Patient care skills and competencies
  • Certifications and professional development
  • Relevant healthcare experience

New Grad Nursing Resume Template Structure

Here's the optimal structure for new grad RN resumes in 2025:

[YOUR NAME, RN] (include RN if licensed)
[Phone] | [Email] | [City, State] | [LinkedIn]
[RN License Number: TX123456] (if licensed)

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) | [University Name] | [Month Year]
GPA: 3.7/4.0 | Dean's List | Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society
NCLEX-RN: Passed [Month Year] | Clinical Hours: 800+

CERTIFICATIONS
• Basic Life Support (BLS) - American Heart Association | Exp: Dec 2026
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) - American Heart Association | Exp: June 2026
• [Additional certifications]

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

[Unit Type] Clinical Rotation | [Hospital Name] | [Dates] | [Hours]
• Patient care responsibilities with patient load and population
• Specific skills and procedures performed
• Assessment and documentation practices
• Technology/EMR systems used
• Collaboration and teamwork examples
• Patient outcomes or safety contributions

[Repeat for 3-4 major rotations, prioritizing most recent/relevant]

CLINICAL SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

Patient Care: [List of patient care skills]
Procedures: [List of procedures and technical skills]
Assessment: [List of assessment skills]
Technology: [EMR systems and medical equipment]
Specializations: [Any specialty-specific skills]

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE (if relevant)
[Healthcare-related jobs: CNA, PCT, medical assistant, etc.]

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS (optional)
• Student Nurses Association
• American Nurses Association (Student Member)
• [Specialty nursing organizations]

New Grad Nursing Resume Examples by Specialty

Medical-Surgical Bullet Example:

"Provided direct nursing care for 5-6 post-operative patients on busy medical-surgical unit, administering medications via multiple routes, performing wound care and dressing changes, monitoring vital signs, and educating patients on discharge instructions, contributing to 95% patient satisfaction scores"

Critical Care Bullet Example:

"Monitored critically ill ICU patients with arterial lines, central venous catheters, and mechanical ventilation, titrated vasoactive medications per protocol, performed focused assessments every 2 hours, and documented care in Epic ICU module with 100% accuracy"

Emergency Department Bullet Example:

"Assisted with rapid triage and assessment of emergency department patients using ESI system, performed interventions for trauma, cardiac, and respiratory emergencies, initiated IV access, and communicated patient status to interdisciplinary team using SBAR format in high-volume Level II trauma center"

Pediatric Nursing Bullet Example:

"Provided family-centered care to pediatric patients ages newborn to 18, performed age-appropriate assessments using pediatric vital signs and developmental milestones, administered weight-based medication dosing, and utilized play therapy to reduce anxiety during procedures"

Labor & Delivery Bullet Example:

"Assisted with labor support and postpartum care for 12+ patients, performed newborn assessments, educated new mothers on breastfeeding techniques and newborn care, monitored fetal heart tones, and documented care in Epic Willow module"

The 2025 New Grad Nurse Resume Checklist

Before submitting your resume, verify:

Content:

  • Clinical rotations listed with hospital names, units, and hours
  • Specific patient care skills and procedures highlighted
  • EMR/technology experience clearly stated
  • Certifications prominently displayed with expiration dates
  • Action verbs used throughout (provided, administered, assessed, documented)
  • Patient-centered language emphasizing outcomes
  • Teamwork and collaboration demonstrated
  • Keywords from job description naturally incorporated

Formatting:

  • 1 page (or 2 if you have significant healthcare experience)
  • Consistent formatting throughout
  • Standard, readable font (10-12pt)
  • Clear section headers
  • No tables, graphics, or complex formatting
  • Professional contact information
  • No spelling or grammar errors

Optimization:

  • Tailored to specific unit/specialty
  • Keywords from job posting included naturally
  • File named professionally (FirstName_LastName_RN_Resume.pdf)
  • Saved as PDF unless .docx requested
  • Tested through ATS checker
  • References prepared separately

Strategy:

  • Most relevant clinical rotation emphasized first
  • Certifications match job requirements
  • Skills section prioritizes job description needs
  • GPA included (if 3.5+)
  • License number included (if licensed)
  • Professional summary customized (if using)

Beyond the Resume: Additional Tips for Landing Your First RN Job

Your resume is just the first step. Here's how to maximize your chances:

1. Network Strategically

  • Attend hospital career fairs and new grad events
  • Connect with clinical preceptors on LinkedIn
  • Join local nursing associations
  • Reach out to nurse recruiters at target hospitals
  • Ask faculty for connections and recommendations

2. Apply Early to Nurse Residency Programs

  • Many hospitals have structured new grad programs
  • Applications often open 3-6 months before graduation
  • Residency programs provide mentorship and training
  • Acceptance rates are competitive—apply to multiple programs

3. Perfect Your Cover Letter

  • Customize for each position
  • Explain why you chose nursing
  • Connect your clinical experience to their unit
  • Show enthusiasm for their hospital/values
  • Keep it to one page, 3-4 paragraphs

4. Prepare for Interviews

  • Practice answering behavioral questions using STAR method
  • Prepare clinical scenario responses
  • Research the hospital's mission, values, and patient population
  • Bring copies of resume, reference sheet, and certifications
  • Prepare questions to ask the interviewer

5. Consider All Opportunities

  • Be open to night shift or weekend positions (often more available for new grads)
  • Consider smaller hospitals or rural facilities (often hire more new grads)
  • Look at less competitive specialties initially
  • Be willing to relocate if your market is saturated

6. Keep Learning

  • Take additional certifications while job hunting
  • Volunteer at hospitals or clinics
  • Consider per diem CNA or PCT work
  • Stay current on nursing trends and evidence-based practice
  • Join professional organizations

Understanding New Grad Hiring Timelines

Timing matters when applying for nursing positions:

Nurse Residency Programs:

  • Applications open: 4-6 months before graduation
  • Interviews: 2-4 months before graduation
  • Offers: 1-3 months before graduation
  • Start dates: 1-3 months after graduation

General New Grad Positions:

  • Start applying: 2-3 months before graduation/licensure
  • Follow up: 1-2 weeks after application
  • Interview process: 2-4 weeks
  • Offers: 1-2 weeks after final interview
  • Start dates: After licensure is obtained

Best practices:

  • Don't wait until after graduation to start applying
  • Apply to residency programs early in your final semester
  • Follow up on applications after 1-2 weeks
  • Be patient—hiring processes take time
  • Keep applying to multiple positions

Conclusion

Landing your first registered nurse position in 2025 requires a resume that showcases your clinical competencies, patient care values, and readiness for professional practice. By treating clinical rotations as experience, emphasizing hands-on skills, optimizing for ATS, obtaining relevant certifications, and tailoring each application, you'll significantly increase your chances of landing interviews at top hospitals.

Remember: Your resume isn't just a list of what you did—it's a professional document demonstrating your readiness to provide safe, compassionate, evidence-based patient care. Every word should reinforce one message: you are prepared to be an excellent nurse.

Start by auditing your current resume against this guide, then rebuild it using the frameworks and examples provided. Invest the time now, and you'll reap the rewards throughout your nursing career.

You've worked incredibly hard to become a nurse. Now it's time to show the healthcare world what you can do.

Good luck, and congratulations on beginning your nursing career!

About the Author: Sarah Martinez, MSN, RN, is a Nurse Manager at a major teaching hospital, where she has hired and mentored 50+ new graduate nurses over the past 8 years. Sarah reviews 100+ new grad nursing resumes annually and leads her hospital's nurse residency program, helping new nurses transition successfully from students to confident, competent professionals.