Resume examples / New grad nurse resume
New grad nurse resume example
By Alexander Phillip · Career Coach and Recruitment Expert · Updated November 2026
Quick answer
A new grad nurse resume replaces nursing jobs with clinical experience: education first with your BSN or ADN and graduation date, your RN license (or "NCLEX-RN scheduled"), BLS, then a Clinical Experience section listing each rotation and your capstone preceptorship with the unit and hours, followed by any healthcare work such as CNA or patient care tech jobs. Keep it to one page.
- One page, US Letter
- Fictional example to adapt
- Madison template
New grad nurse resume example
Here is the full new grad nurse resume example from the picture above, as text: Hannah Kim is a fictional new grad nurse, and the Madison template lays it out on one US Letter page.
Hannah Kim
New Graduate Registered Nurse
Phoenix, AZ · (602) 555-0164 · hannah.kim@example.com · linkedin.com/in/hannahkimrn
Summary
New graduate registered nurse with a BSN and 720 clinical hours across medical-surgical, pediatric, labor and delivery, and emergency rotations, including a 144-hour capstone in a Level I emergency department. Two years as a patient care technician. Looking for a new graduate residency in emergency or critical care.
Experience
Capstone Preceptorship, Emergency Department (144 hours), Desert Valley Medical Center
Phoenix, AZ · February 2026 to April 2026
- Carried up to four emergency patients with a preceptor on 12-hour shifts in a Level I trauma center
- Triaged walk-in patients with the ESI scale under supervision and started IVs and blood draws
- Gave report using SBAR at shift change and on transfers to the ICU
Clinical Rotations (576 hours), Medical-Surgical, Pediatrics, Labor and Delivery, Behavioral Health
Phoenix, AZ · August 2024 to December 2025
- Completed head-to-toe assessments, care plans and medication passes for two to three patients per shift
- Taught new parents feeding and safe sleep in the postpartum unit
Patient Care Technician, Camelback Regional Hospital
Phoenix, AZ · May 2024 to present
- Take vital signs, blood glucose checks and EKGs for up to 12 patients a shift on a step-down unit
- Help patients with mobility, bathing and meals, and report changes to the charge nurse
Education
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Arizona State University, May 2026
Certifications and licenses
- Registered Nurse License, Arizona State Board of Nursing
- Basic Life Support (BLS), American Heart Association
Skills
Patient assessment · IV insertion · Phlebotomy · 12-lead EKG · SBAR handoff · Epic EHR · Patient education · Infection control
Languages
English (native) · Korean (conversational)
Activities and achievements
- Dean's List, six semesters
- Student Nurses Association, community health fair volunteer
New grad nurse resume bullet points: instead of, write
| Instead of | Write |
|---|---|
| Completed clinical rotations | Carried up to four emergency patients with a preceptor on 12-hour shifts in a Level I trauma center |
| Hard-working and eager to learn | Two years as a patient care technician on a step-down unit while in school |
| Did patient assessments | Completed head-to-toe assessments, care plans and medication passes for two to three patients per shift |
| Good at teamwork | Gave report using SBAR at shift change and on transfers to the ICU |
What a US new grad nurse resume needs
- Education first: degree (BSN or ADN), school and graduation month; add your GPA only if it is 3.5 or higher
- Your RN license and state once you pass the NCLEX-RN; before that, write "NCLEX-RN scheduled, July 2026"
- A Clinical Experience section: each rotation with the unit and hours, and the capstone or preceptorship with the most detail
- Any healthcare job counts: CNA, patient care tech, EMT, medical assistant or scribe, with real duties
- BLS is expected; add ACLS or PALS only if you hold them
- One page, no photo, no references
New grad nurse pay and job outlook
The median annual wage for registered nurses was $97,550 in May 2025. Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. Both figures are from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. Pay varies by state, employer and shift, so check postings near you.
Build your new grad nurse resume on your phone
Start from the Madison template or any other, write each section with help on the wording, and see your resume on US Letter as you type. Preview it free and pay once to download the PDF and a Word copy. No subscription.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a nursing resume with no experience?
Write a nursing resume with no experience by putting education first, then a Clinical Experience section that lists each rotation with the unit and hours and gives your capstone or preceptorship three or four bullet points. Add any healthcare job, such as CNA or patient care tech work.
Should clinical rotations go on a new grad nurse resume?
Yes. Clinical rotations are the main experience on a new grad nurse resume. List the unit and hours for each, and describe the capstone or preceptorship in the most detail because it is closest to the job.
Can I apply before I pass the NCLEX?
Yes. Many new graduate residencies accept applications before the exam. Write "NCLEX-RN scheduled" with the month, and update the resume with your license and state as soon as you pass.
Should a new grad nurse resume be one page?
Yes. A new grad nurse resume should be one page: education, licenses, clinical experience, any healthcare work and skills fit comfortably when each line is specific.
Write your own new grad nurse resume, not a copy
Use the example for the order and the kind of lines that work, then build yours with your real jobs and dates. Preview it free; pay once to download.