New Grad Nursing Resume Mistakes to Avoid in 2025

I’ve worked with hundreds of new nurses—fresh out of school, full of passion, but totally overwhelmed by resumes.

You know what most of them say?

“I don’t know what I’m doing. I feel like I’m messing it up before I even get started.”

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

I remember working with a nursing grad named Jenna. She was bright, compassionate, and had killer clinical skills. But her resume? It was all over the place. Paragraphs instead of bullets. No summary. Half the important stuff buried at the bottom.

After a few tweaks and some straight talk about what not to do, she landed her first interview within two weeks.

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure, this post is for you. Let’s talk about the new grad nursing resume mistakes I see all the time—and how you can avoid them.

Mistake #1: Ignoring the Format (It Really Matters)

First impressions count. Your resume has about 6–8 seconds to grab a recruiter’s attention.

Yet I still see resumes:

• Written in giant blocks of text
• Using three different fonts
• Center-aligned (please don’t)

Fix it: Use a clean, simple layout with consistent formatting.

Best practice:

• Font: Calibri, Arial, or Helvetica
• Size: 10.5–12 pt
• Margins: 1″ or 0.75″ if needed
• Bullet points, not paragraphs
• Save as a PDF (unless asked for Word)

“Formatting isn’t just about looks—it affects readability, ATS compatibility, and how professional you come across.” — Glassdoor

Mistake #2: Leaving Out Clinical Rotations

So many new grads skip this part. Why? Because they think it “doesn’t count.”

Big mistake.

Clinical rotations are your real-world experience.

Hiring managers know you’re new. They want to see where you’ve trained, what departments you’ve been exposed to, and how you’ve handled patient care.

How to list it:

Clinical Experience
Student Nurse — Sunrise Medical Center, Tampa, FL
Jan 2024 – Apr 2024

• Completed 150+ hours in Med-Surg and ICU units
• Documented patient vitals, assisted in wound care, supported RNs during rounds

Simple. Clean. Powerful.

Mistake #3: Weak or Missing Resume Summary

The resume summary is your 30-second elevator pitch. But many new nurses either:

• Don’t include one at all
• Write a generic, robotic sentence like: “To obtain a position that allows me to utilize my nursing skills in a healthcare setting.”

Yikes.

Instead, say something real.

“Compassionate BSN graduate with BLS/ACLS certifications and 160 hours of clinical experience. Passionate about delivering patient-centered care and growing in a fast-paced hospital setting.”

Now that’s a summary.

Mistake #4: Stuffing Too Much Into One Page

I get it. You want to show them everything. But a cluttered resume is overwhelming.

Keep it focused. Highlight your clinicals, your certifications, your education, and your strengths.

“Think of your resume like a highlight reel, not a diary. Don’t list everything—just the stuff that matters most to that job.”

Mistake #5: Copy-Pasting the Same Resume for Every Job

Not tailoring your resume = missed opportunities.

Each hospital, clinic, or facility is looking for something a little different. Some want peds experience. Others love teamwork language. Some prioritize bilingual nurses.

Solution: Match your summary, keywords, and clinicals to the job description.

For example:

• If a job lists “discharge planning,” mention it in your bullet points.
• If they want someone with strong documentation skills, include your EMR experience.

“A generic resume looks like you’re applying everywhere. A tailored one looks like you belong there.”

Mistake #6: Forgetting Keywords (ATS Will Ghost You)

Most hospitals use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). If your resume doesn’t have the right keywords, it won’t even make it to a human.

Use these LSI/ATS-friendly keywords:

• “patient care”
• “clinical documentation”
• “EMR” or “electronic medical records”
• “infection control”
• “discharge planning”
• “vital signs monitoring”

Want help? Indeed has a great list of nursing resume keywords.

Mistake #7: Making It All About Soft Skills (Without Proof)

Saying “I’m a great communicator” isn’t enough.

Show it.

“Led patient education sessions on wound care with an average satisfaction rating of 9.5/10.”

That says way more than just “good at talking.”

Mistake #8: Listing Irrelevant Info

Please don’t include:

• High school info (if you’ve graduated college)
• Hobbies like “watching Netflix” or “shopping”
• Jobs that have zero transferable skills (unless you spin them well)

Ask yourself: Does this show I’m ready to be a nurse?

If not, leave it out.

Mistake #9: Using Outdated Templates or Fancy Designs

I know, I know—some templates on Canva and Etsy look super cute.

But they confuse ATS.

Avoid:

• Columns
• Icons
• Tables
• Headers/footers with your contact info

Stick with simple formatting. Or use an ATS-friendly nursing resume template that’s built for modern hiring systems.

Mistake #10: Typos, Grammar Errors, and Inconsistent Style

Even one small mistake can hurt your chances.

Common issues I see:

• “responsible for assisting patient’s” instead of “patients”
• Switching between past and present tense
• Random capitalization (e.g., “Patient Care Technician” vs “patient care technician”)

Fix it:

• Use Grammarly or Hemingway App
• Read it out loud
• Ask a friend (or a coach like me!) to proofread it

FAQs

Q: What if I have no experience to include?
A: Use your clinicals! They count. Also add volunteer work, certifications, and transferable skills.

Q: Should I include GPA or coursework?
A: If your GPA is 3.5+ or the job is academically focused, yes. Otherwise, it’s optional.

Q: Can a bad resume stop me from getting hired?
A: Unfortunately, yes. But the good news? It’s 100% fixable.

Q: What Are the Most Common New Grad Nursing Resume Mistakes?

A: New grad nursing resume mistakes include skipping clinical rotations, using poor formatting, forgetting keywords for ATS, writing vague summaries, and failing to tailor the resume to each job.

Final Thoughts

I know writing your first nursing resume can feel… stressful. Confusing. Even a little hopeless at times.

But I promise—it doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be clear, honest, and focused on what you bring to the table.

You’ve made it through nursing school. You’ve cared for patients. You’ve got heart, hustle, and the training to back it up.

Let your resume reflect that.