5 Nursing Student Resume Examples That Work in 2022

Why this resume works

• Almost all nurses have to go through clinical rotations in nursing school. You should certainly include this relevant experience on your nursing student resume, especially if you're applying to your first-ever full-time nursing position.
• You'll hear many arguments both for and against having a resume objective. It's the one or two sentences that sit right below your name. After reviewing the performance of so many resumes, we recommend you only consider including one if 1) You're undergoing a career change, 2) You just finished nursing school and this is your first full-time nursing job, or 3) You're going to customize it for each job to which you apply.
• Include it on your resume if you're a licensed registered nurse (RN) and have passed the relevant exam. Also, include the state(s) in which you're certified because sometimes certification doesn't carry over.

Why this resume works

• If you're looking to land your first full-time nursing position out of nursing school, then play the part. That means labeling yourself as a registered nurse, not a nursing student. This is especially true if you already have an RN certification.
• Your nursing student (no experience) resume works best if you include a handful of skills (5-10) in the resume skills section. When it comes to nursing, include any specialties you might have (like pediatrics or geriatrics) plus technical skills like IV management.
• If you choose to include a career objective, it should be concise yet thorough and customized for the specific job. Add value to your objective by tying your experience (like exposure to heart health as a volunteer EMT) to what might be required in the new role.

Why this resume works

• If you have any experience in the healthcare space or leadership expertise outside of healthcare, feel free to include them as hobbies and interests (or "Activities") on your nursing student (for externship) resume.
• Most people understand the importance of nursing, but that doesn't mean it's easy to demonstrate the direct impact of your work. A good rule of thumb when writing your work experience bullet points is to start each one with a strong action word (like "Served," "Measured," or "Performed").
• When applying for externships, label yourself as a "Nursing Student" instead of a "Registered Nurse." Hospitals that hire externs are expecting students after all.

Why this resume works

• As a nurse practitioner student, you likely have plenty of experience as a registered nurse (RN). Remember that you should try to keep your nurse practitioner student resume to a single page. If you're on the border between one page and two, try reducing the font size (12-14 is acceptable) and reducing page margins to fit more content (while keeping an eye on overall readability).
• As soon as you earn your NP certification, include it on your resume. That way, you can apply for nurse practitioner jobs easily.
  • However, omit the cert if you're still earning it, whether because you're working toward a master's degree or haven't passed the certifying exam.

Why this resume works

• Obtaining a master's degree or Ph.D. in nursing is a great way to advance your career. It leads to more responsibility, higher pay, and brand new career tracks like a nurse practitioner.
  • It's also a conversation starter; consider explaining your motivation for higher ed in your nursing cover letter.
• When it comes to creating a great graduate nursing student resume, the little things matter; build your resume right by being consistent in punctuation.
  • More specifically, all the work experience bullet points should end similarly. You can either omit or add periods, but make your choice and be consistent.
• Some nursing jobs require additional certifications (beyond an RN). Don't assume a hiring manager reading your resume knows you have an ALS, CPR, or EMT certification. Instead, be exhaustive when listing your credentials.