Nursing Student Resume Examples & Writing Tips
Going from being a nursing student to getting hired is about more than just knowledge. Learn how to impress a hiring manager with our standout resume tips.
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Nursing Student Resume Example
What Should I Highlight in a Nursing Student Resume?
To get a job as a nursing student, highlight your certifications and your clinical experience. Recruiters are looking for someone who fits the job description, and despite what you might think, your training and abilities probably do. A good resume will take the skills and experiences you’ve built throughout school and uses them to create an overview of your qualifications that can impress any recruiter. Highlight anything that the job description says the medical center is looking for, especially your soft skills.
Build my resumeThe Structure of a Nursing Student Resume
The structure of your resume may depend on what resume format you use. This may include the chronological resume, which emphasizes work experience, the functional resume, which emphasizes skills, or the combination resume, which emphasizes both. Either way, you’ll typically be using the same sections, but you may change the order.
Header
The resume header always goes at the top of your resume, and it includes basic information about you. For example, it will include your full name and your contact information, including your phone number, any networking links like your LinkedIn profile, and sometimes a resume headline. The headline is a one-sentence description of who you are and your best attribute.
Resume Summary/Resume Objective
Next is the resume summary or resume objective. This is typically 2-3 sentences that list your absolute best skills and key achievements you’ve had so far. Resume examples are a great place to look for more information about these summaries. A resume summary is typically best for students who have lots of experience, while a resume objective typically works best for those who don’t have as much experience. Looking for inspiration? Check out our resume objective statement examples.
Skills
In healthcare, resume skills are a crucial part of getting hired. Here are a few resume skills examples you can list as bullet points to improve your hiring chances:
- Patient care
- Clinical rotations
- Pediatrics
- Measuring vital signs
- Life support
- General nursing care
- Interpersonal skills
- Time management
- Critical thinking skills
- Knowledge under pressure
- Care for individuals
- Teamwork
Notice how this list includes both hard skills and soft skills. As you look over nursing student resume examples, note the mixt of hard and soft skills to get a feel for how many of each you should include.
Work history
As a student, you’re not going to have a lot of what you would initially think of as “work experience”. However, resumes for nursing students will usually include volunteer work, internship work, and even coursework as part of your work experience. Feature these activities in your resume, focusing on useful skills you’ve utilized, as well as skills and qualifications you’ve picked up in the process.
Education
Education spans a variety of potential certifications and extracurricular activities. Here are a few you might include on your resume:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Student Nurses’ Association
Licensure is important to note in your education section. Even an entry-level job will require certain licenses that you need to list for consideration. Listing your GPA isn’t mandatory, but noting honors like a Cum Laude can help elevate you above other job seekers.
Do’s and Don’ts for a Nursing Student Resume
- Use resume templates to make your resume shine. The ResumeHelp resume builder can help your resume look even more unique and give you writing tips for a more polished style.
- Include as much work history as possible. Your coursework and internships count as work history, and they can help significantly.
- List your education in reverse chronological order. If you have multiple degrees, then list the most recent one first.
- List only hard skills or only soft skills. Nurses need to be great at both.
- Neglect the resume writing process and assume that your basic skills will get you a job. Everyone has unique skills and experiences, and your nursing student resume is the place to showcase them.
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FAQ: Nursing Student Resumes
Have questions? We’re here to help.
Do I need to include a cover letter with a nursing student application?
Yes. Nursing students need to include cover letters to explain who they are and what motivates them. The ResumeHelp nursing cover letter example can help you understand what a hiring manager is looking for in your cover letter, so you’re more likely to impress the recruiter with both your resume and your cover letter.
How can I write a nursing student resume without a lot of experience?
Most nursing students don’t have a lot of technical experience in the field. However, you should still highlight whatever experience you have. This may include internships, coursework, volunteer work, and any other activities you’ve undertaken while in school.
How do I change my nursing student resume to apply to different jobs?
Every time you apply to a new nursing job, you should update your resume to target the needs of the employer. This is because of resume keywords. Every job description will be slightly different because every job is looking for a slightly different individual. Tailoring your resume to the keywords present in the job description (e.g., “knowledge of MS Office” or “teamwork skills”) will help you showcase the abilities you have that meet those needs.
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