Nursing Student Resume Examples + Templates
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As a nursing student, you dedicate yourself to a rigorous education that blends theoretical knowledge with hands-on clinical experience. Your commitment to patient care is evident in your work toward expertise in medical procedures, compassionate communication and critical thinking skills. You demonstrate resilience, adaptability and empathy while navigating the complexities of the healthcare industry. Your passion for improving lives and promoting wellness profoundly impacts the patients you serve and the healthcare professionals you assist.
A career in nursing requires an impressive resume. Our expert guide and nursing student resume examples will show you how to write an impressive resume to start your career.
Start by editing this nursing student resume example, or explore our library of customizable resume templates to find a suitable nursing student resume template.
Nursing student resume example (text version)
William Cento
Powhattan, KS 66527
(555)555-5555
email@email.com
Education
Expected in May 2026
Kansas Wesleyan University Salina, KS
Bachelor of Science Nursing
May 2021
Kansas Wesleyan University Salina, KS
Associate of Science Nursing Assistance
Professional Summary
Nursing student offering strong commitment to exceptional patient care. Works well in fast-paced environments managing multiple tasks and providing timely treatments and support. Possesses solid understanding of nursing principles, patient advocacy and evidence-based practices. Seeking part-time or on-call entry-level nursing position.
Skills
- Clinical judgment
- Health promotion
- Disease prevention
- Mental health care
- Family education
- Patient assessment
- Infection control
- Wound care
- Treatment preparation
- Documentation
Professional Experience
May 2023 – September 2023
Kansas Clinical – Kewanee, MO
Intern
- Enhanced communication by 20% with eight interdisciplinary team members to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
- Educated 40+ patients and families on disease processes, treatment options and self-care techniques for improved well-being.
- Educated 35 patients on nutrition, disease prevention and post-discharge care to support overall wellness.
- Practiced patient care by taking vital signs and wound care for 50+ patients.
January 2022 – March 2022
Kansas Hospice Care – Kansas City, KS
Volunteer
- Provided emotional support to 20 patients and families during difficult medical situations, fostering a sense of comfort and understanding.
- Communicated effectively with diverse populations of 30+ patients, adapting approaches based on individual needs.
- Enhanced efficiency of hospital operations by 15% by promptly responding to requests from medical professionals and administrative staff.
Important resume sections
Contact details
As our nursing student resume example shows, your contact information belongs in the header of your nursing student resume template. Include your full name, city, state, ZIP code, phone number and professional email address. If you have them, add your LinkedIn profile and a professional website.
Professional summary
A professional resume summary or resume objective briefly introduces you to the hiring manager and tells them what you offer. We recommend nursing students choose a resume objective since they outline their career goals, focusing on academic or clinical achievements and skills learned.
Here’s a great nursing student resume objective example:
“Passionate nursing student seeking a nursing student position where I can apply my theoretical knowledge and clinical skills to provide compassionate and high-quality patient care in a hospital setting. Eager to contribute to health care teams while gaining valuable experience and continuing to learn and grow in the nursing field. Committed to upholding ethical standards and promoting patient well-being through evidence-based practices.”
Skills
Nursing students develop a diverse professional skill set tailored to meet the multifaceted demands of healthcare settings. These include hard skills such as wound care, medication administration, vital sign assessment, and soft skills like effective communication, organizational, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Add a mix of nursing skills to your nursing student resume so hiring managers can see that you are well-rounded and able to perform the necessary duties of the position.
Work history
Your nursing student resume employment history displays your current and past achievements. In reverse chronological order, list your current and previous employers and provide company names, locations, and the dates you worked for them. Emphasize your accomplishments in three to five bullet points for each job.
For example:
- Administered over 100 medications with zero errors during clinical rotations, demonstrating meticulous attention to detail and adherence to safety protocols.
- Assisted in caring for 50+ patients per week in a busy hospital setting, honing time-management skills and effectively prioritizing patient needs.
- Conducted health screenings for a community outreach program, contributing to the assessment and education of 200 individuals on preventive health care measures.
Education
When crafting the education section of your nursing student resume, list your highest level of education, whether it’s a bachelor’s degree in English, communications, marketing, or a related field. Include the name of the institution, location and dates attended. If you have additional relevant coursework, honors, or awards, you can also mention those.
The education requirements for nursing students typically involve completing a formal nursing program, which can vary depending on the level of nursing they aim to achieve. Nursing students also typically complete clinical rotations and hands-on training throughout their education to gain practical experience in healthcare settings. Continuing education and professional development are essential to maintain licensure and stay updated on advancements in the field
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Action words for a resume
Use action words and numbers in your nursing student resume to make your resume more impactful.
Here’s a short list of perfect action words for a nursing student resume:
- Administer
- Assess
- Collaborate
- Educate
- Implement
- Manage
- Prioritize
- Provide
- Support
- Utilize
Ready to create an impressive nursing student resume? Our Resume Builder has all the tools you craft a professional resume in minutes!
Best skills for a resume
A diverse professional skill set is crucial to meet the multifaceted demands of healthcare environments. Aim to develop a blend of hard, soft and transferable skills to provide exceptional patient care and collaborate effectively within interdisciplinary teams.
Nursing skills for a nursing student resume focus on proficiency in clinical procedures such as medication administration, wound care and patient assessment, ensuring accurate and safe care delivery.
For example:
- Medication administration
- Wound care management
- Patient assessment
- Intravenous (IV) therapy
- Electronic health record (EHR) documentation
Hard skillsenable nursing students to apply efficient care coordination and evidence-based decision-making.
For example:
- Quality improvement methodologies
- Internet technology (IT)
- Research
- Computer skills
- Project management
Soft skills enable nursing students to build rapport with patients, families and colleagues, fostering a supportive and compassionate care environment.
For example:
- Effective communication
- Adaptability
- Stress management
- Attention to detail
- Time management
Interpersonal skills for a resume highlight effective communication, teamwork, and relationship-building abilities crucial for fostering collaborative environments and achieving organizational goals.
For example:
- Active listening
- Empathy
- Relationship-building
- Conflict resolution
- Cultural competence
Transferable skills empower you to adapt to various health care settings and navigate complex patient care scenarios with confidence.
For example:
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Adaptability
- Decision making
Review our library of resume examples for more inspiration for your nursing student resume.
Certifications for a resume
Certifications offer opportunities to specialize in specific areas of health care and demonstrate your expertise in specialized skills. These credentials enhance your qualifications and competitiveness in the job market, opening doors to advanced career opportunities and increased earning potential.
Examples of certifications for a nursing student resume include:
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
FAQ
Can I add sections to my nursing student resume?
Absolutely! Adding sections to your nursing student resume can help highlight specific experiences, skills, or accomplishments relevant to the nursing field. Here are some sections you might consider adding:
- Clinical rotations: Detail your experiences in various clinical settings, including hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities. Mention the skills you developed and the procedures you performed during each rotation.
- Volunteer experience: Highlight any volunteer work you’ve done in health care settings or community health programs. This demonstrates your commitment to patient care and community service.
- Certifications: List any relevant certifications you’ve obtained, such as Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
- Professional memberships: If you’re a member of any nursing associations or student organizations, include a section to showcase your involvement. This demonstrates your commitment to your professional development and staying connected to the nursing community.
- Honors and awards: If you’ve received any academic or professional honors, scholarships, or awards, include them in a dedicated section to highlight your achievements.
See our college student resume examples for additional samples and guidance.
How do I write a resume for a nursing student with no experience?
When writing a resume with no work experience, focus on your education, clinical rotations and relevant skills to showcase your potential as a future health care professional. Create a strong resume objective that emphasizes your passion for commitment to learning and desire to contribute to patient care. Next, focus on your education, detailing your nursing program, anticipated graduation date, and any academic achievements or honors. Since your education is your primary asset, provide specific examples of coursework demonstrating your understanding of fundamental nursing principles and practices.
Create a dedicated section for clinical experiences, where you can outline the facilities you’ve worked in, the types of patients you’ve interacted with, and the skills you’ve developed under supervision. Use action verbs and quantify your achievements whenever possible to showcase your contributions and the impact you’ve made during your clinical rotations. Include job-relevant hobbies to highlight your skills and show employers how you might fit into the organization’s culture.
What should I include in my nursing student resume?
Your nursing student resume should include sections for education, clinical experiences, skills, certifications, volunteer work and any relevant extracurricular activities. Highlight your academic achievements, clinical rotations and skills such as communication, teamwork and patient care.
How do I format my nursing student resume?
Use a clean and professional format with clear section headings and bullet points for easy readability. Include your contact information at the top, followed by a summary or objective statement, education, clinical experiences, skills, certifications and any additional sections relevant to your background.
What should I include in my nursing student cover letter?
In your nursing student cover letter, introduce yourself and express your interest in the position. Highlight key experiences and skills from your resume that make you a strong candidate. Personalize the letter for each job application and explain why you’re interested in working at that particular facility.
Should I include references in my nursing student resume or cover letter?
It’s not necessary to include professional references in your resume or cover letter. Instead, you can create a separate document with a list of references to provide upon request. However, you can mention in your cover letter that references are available upon request if you’d like to include that information.
How can nursing students prepare for job interviews?
Nursing students can prepare for job interviewsby researching the healthcare facility or organization they’re interviewing with to understand its mission, values, and patient population. They should also review common nursing interview questions and practice responses that highlight their clinical experiences, skills, and passion for patient care.
Best practices
- Use measurable achievements like “Administered medications to over 100 patients with 100% accuracy during clinical rotations, ensuring safe and effective treatment delivery.”
- Use action words like “administered,” “communicated,” “assessed,” and “collaborated” to boos your nursing student resume.
- Customize your resume for your target nursing student job.
- Use keywords from the job description throughout your nursing student resume.
- Format your nursing student resume so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
- Include irrelevant personal information such as age, marital status, or hobbies unrelated to nursing.
- Use a generic resume template. Instead, tailor your resume to the nursing field and each specific job application.
- Use unprofessional email addresses or inappropriate language in your resume.
- Do not exaggerate or lie about your qualifications or experience.
- Include negative information or reasons for leaving previous positions.
Interview tips
Research first.
Researching a clinic or hospital institution before applying for a job as a student nurse is critical to ensure the job is a good fit for you and set yourself up for success in your nursing career. By understanding the organization’s values, culture and patient population, you can determine if it aligns with your professional goals and values. Knowing the facility’s culture, needs and goals can help you tailor your job application and interview responses to demonstrate your interest in the job and institution.
Some things you might consider:
- The organization’s mission and values.
- The facility’s areas of focus or specialties include oncology, trauma, and geriatrics.
- The patient population the facility serves.
- Reputation and rankings of the institution within the healthcare community.
- Nurse-to-patient ratio and other health care staffing levels.
- Opportunities for professional development and continuing education.
- Technology and resources available for patient care, such as medical equipment and electronic health records.
- Patient and family satisfaction.
Practice your answers.
Prepare for your interview by reviewing the most common interview questions and preparing for possible behavioral questions your interviewers might ask.
And, of course, prepare answers for possible nursing student-specific questions, such as:
- Tell me about yourself and your background in nursing.
- What motivated you to pursue a career in nursing?
- Can you describe and how you handled a challenging clinical situation you encountered during your education?
- How do you prioritize patient care tasks in a fast-paced environment?
- What nursing specialties are you interested in, and why?
- How do you ensure effective communication with patients, families and health care team members?
- Describe when you had to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve a common goal.
- How do you stay updated on current trends and advancements in nursing practice?
- Can you give an example of when you had to adapt to changes in patient care plans or protocols?
- What do you hope to accomplish in your nursing career, and how do you see yourself contributing to our healthcare team?
Write down two or three possible answers for each question, then practice answering them with a friend.
Prepare questions to ask during the interview.
It’s essential to prepare questions for a nursing student job interview if you want to gain insight into the role, the organization and the workplace culture. By asking thoughtful questions, you will demonstrate your interest, initiative and readiness for the position. Consider asking about the organization’s patient population, approach to staff development and support and opportunities for professional growth.
Here are ten questions a nursing student should ask potential employers during a job interview:
- Can you tell me more about the patient population I will work with in this unit?
- What opportunities are available for professional development and continuing education for nursing staff?
- How does the organization support new graduate nurses transitioning into their roles?
- Can you describe the nurse-to-patient ratio on this unit and how staffing levels are determined?
- What is the workplace culture like in this facility, and how do nurses collaborate with other healthcare team members?
- How does the organization prioritize patient safety and quality of care?
- Can you provide information about the orientation and training program for new nurses?
- What is the organization’s approach to promoting work-life balance for nursing staff?
- How does the organization handle feedback from nursing staff, and are there opportunities for nurses to be involved in decision-making?
- Can you share any recent initiatives or advancements in patient care or nursing practice that the organization has implemented?
Gather references.
Have professional references ready during your interview if the hiring manager offers you the job on the spot (yes, it happens!). Make a list of two or three former colleagues and a former manager willing to speak highly about your abilities to perform the nursing student job.
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Nilda Melissa is a Certified Professional Resume Writer who has written for The Washington Post and Latina Style Magazine. She has a master's in Journalism from Columbia University and is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
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