New Grad Nurse Resume Template
A new graduate RN resume that turns clinical rotations, licensure, certifications, patient care, and unit interest into a credible first nursing application.
Where this template wins
Use this for new graduate nurse, RN residency, med-surg, ICU residency, emergency department residency, and first nursing job applications. It puts licensure and certifications high, then makes clinical rotations specific enough for hospital recruiters to understand your exposure.
Layout and content guidance
- Layout
- Single-column, ATS-safe layout with a strong evidence block near the top and no tables, photos, icons, rating bars, or decorative sidebars.
- Font
- Use a professional sans-serif font that stays readable in PDF and ATS parsing. Keep the body around 10-11 pt, the name around 19-22 pt, and section headings compact and uppercase.
- Recommended headings
- Professional Summary, Licensure & Certifications, Clinical Experience, Skills, Education
Section-by-section notes
Professional Summary
State licensure status, degree, clinical hours, and target setting.
Licensure & Certifications
Put licenses and required certifications before clinical detail.
Clinical Experience
Treat rotations like structured experience. Include unit, hours, patient load, and skills practiced.
Skills
Group skills by how recruiters search for this role. Keep only skills you can defend in an interview.
Education
Include degree, graduation month, honors, and relevant clinical distinctions.
Common mistakes
- Hiding RN license, BLS, ACLS, or NCLEX status below unrelated work history
- Listing rotation names without unit type, hours, patient load, or practiced skills
- Using an objective that apologizes for being new instead of showing clinical readiness
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