Today, I will be starting off this post with the very common question that I get to hear from nurses when it comes to creating resume for their next job. I hope this post will answer most of your queries and help you in building your nurse Resume that includes your volunteer experience to stand out. Lets gets started.
“I don’t have any paid nursing experience… can I still apply?” this is the question hear so many times in my entire experience as a Certified Professional Resume Writer.
Here’s the truth I always give them:
Yes. 100% yes. Especially if you’ve done any kind of volunteer work in a healthcare setting.
Volunteer experience on a nursing resume isn’t just a filler. When done right, it can show your initiative, compassion, and hands-on readiness to care for others—all before you even clock in your first shift as a paid nurse.
Whether you helped at a local clinic, supported seniors in your community, or volunteered at a blood drive—it counts.
This guide will walk you through how to add volunteer experience on a nursing resume in a way that feels honest, confident, and impactful. Let’s make your resume feel like you.
How Do You Write a Resume With No Experience?
Use a skills-based format. Start with your education, certifications, and relevant volunteer experience. Highlight your strengths like compassion, communication, and teamwork—even if they came from unpaid work.
Step 1: Don’t Underestimate Your Volunteer Experience
Let me say this loud and clear: volunteering is real experience.
It shows commitment. It proves you care. It demonstrates initiative.
When I helped Carla, a first-year nursing student, build her resume, she thought her experience handing out hygiene kits to the homeless didn’t count.
But she had listened to people with complex needs, given comfort with limited resources, and worked alongside nurses and case workers. That experience ended up in the top third of her resume. And it landed her an interview.
Step 2: Choose a Format That Highlights Volunteer Work
If you’re still a student or newly licensed, here’s a layout that works beautifully:
- Contact Info
- Summary
- Core Skills
- Certifications
- Volunteer Experience
- Education
Step 3: Write a Strong Summary That Mentions Volunteer Work
Your summary sets the tone.
Keep it short (2–3 sentences) and human.
Example:
“Nursing student with over 100 hours of volunteer service at Riverbend Community Health. Passionate about compassionate, trauma-informed care. Skilled in communication, basic patient support, and eager to grow in clinical settings.”
Step 4: Where to Put Volunteer Experience on Your Nursing Resume
You have two options:
A) As Its Own Section
Volunteer Experience
Community Health Volunteer – Riverbend Clinic, June 2023–Present
- Helped 20+ patients daily with check-in, translation, and follow-ups
- Supported flu vaccine events by organizing flow and calming anxious patients
- Worked with nurses to educate families on hygiene and health access
B) Under “Experience” If It Was Medical-Related
If your volunteer work was similar to an internship or unpaid clinical setting, you can add it under Professional Experience or Clinical Experience and clarify it was unpaid.
Example: Volunteer Patient Support – City Hospice, Jan 2023–May 2023 (Unpaid)
- Sat bedside with patients in palliative care; offered emotional support
- Assisted nursing team with linen changes and meal setup
- Documented visit logs and followed strict HIPAA guidelines
🩺 Whether you’re a new grad, a float nurse, or detailing your clinical experience, your resume can still shine. Learn how to list your clinical rotations like a pro, craft an entry-level nurse resume with no experience, and tailor a standout float nurse resume that shows you’re ready for anything on the floor.
Step 5: Add Detail That Shows Heart + Skill
Anyone can write “Volunteered at hospital.”
That won’t stand out.
But saying something like:
*”Helped calm anxious children in pediatric waiting area by reading stories and playing games while they waited for immunizations.”
That shows your humanity.
Here’s what to focus on:
- What you did (action verbs)
- Who you helped (patients, seniors, kids)
- How it mattered (impact)
Step 6: Use Keywords from Real Job Listings
This is where your resume becomes SEO-optimized for hiring systems (ATS).
Sprinkle in phrases like:
- volunteer experience on a nursing resume
- nursing volunteer experience resume
- healthcare volunteer resume examples
- nursing student volunteer activities
- unpaid clinical experience resume
- community service for nurses
Use them naturally. Don’t keyword stuff. If it sounds robotic, change it.
Step 7: Soft Skills? Yes. But Make Them Real.
Don’t just write “compassionate” or “good communicator.”
Example: “Built trust with an elderly patient struggling with dementia by showing up consistently, listening patiently, and learning her life story.”
That tells a story. That’s what employers feel.
Step 8: Include Certifications That Match Your Volunteer Work
If you completed any training before or during your volunteer work, include it.
Certifications:
- CPR (AHA) Certified
- BLS Certification
- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
- HIPAA Awareness Training
Even if the course was short or online, if it added to your patient care knowledge, include it.
Step 9: List Education + Relevant Coursework
Especially if you’re a student or recent grad.
Example: Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN)
Brighton College of Nursing – Expected May 2025
Relevant Coursework: Anatomy & Physiology, Community Health Nursing, Medical-Surgical Nursing
If you’re still early in school, don’t worry. You’re showing progress, not perfection.
Can You List Volunteer Experience on a Resume?
Absolutely. Volunteer work in healthcare or community settings is valuable. It shows initiative, empathy, and hands-on experience. Use a separate section or list it under Experience if it relates closely to the role.
Real-Life Coaching Moment: Meet Lena
Lena was in her second semester of nursing school. She hadn’t worked in a hospital yet but volunteered twice a week at a shelter’s medical tent.
She helped distribute hygiene supplies. Calmed people down. Ran intake surveys.
She told me, “But I never touched a patient. It doesn’t count.”
Oh, it counted. We crafted a bullet that said:
“Supported nursing staff during health fairs by welcoming patients, answering intake questions, and de-escalating anxious situations with empathy and calm.”
She landed a competitive student externship a few weeks later.
Where to Find Volunteer Opportunities If You Need More Experience
- Local hospitals (ask about auxiliary programs)
- Blood drives (Red Cross, Vitalant)
- Nursing homes or assisted living
- Community clinics
- Hospice organizations
- Public health events (flu shot clinics, health fairs)
- Churches, shelters, youth centers
Even one hour a week counts. One smile, one story, one shift at a time.
FAQs
Should I include volunteer experience on a nursing resume?
Yes! Especially if you’re new or switching careers. It shows initiative, soft skills, and real-world readiness.
How do I list volunteer nursing experience on my resume?
Create a “Volunteer Experience” section or include it in your Experience section if it’s medically relevant. Add bullet points that describe what you did and who you helped.
What counts as volunteer work for nursing?
Anything that shows service, compassion, or health-related support: helping at a clinic, supporting seniors, assisting during flu drives, mentoring, etc.
Can volunteer experience help if I have no paid nursing experience?
Absolutely. Many employers value character and willingness to serve as much as formal employment.
Where should I place volunteer work on my nursing resume?
If it’s relevant, put it right below Certifications. If it’s a big strength, move it closer to the top. Format depends on how closely it relates to your target job.
How detailed should I be when describing volunteer experience?
Use action verbs, quantify where you can (“helped 25+ patients weekly”), and describe the impact.
Can I include non-nursing volunteer work on a nurse resume?
Yes—especially if it shows leadership, compassion, communication, or stress-handling skills. Everything counts.
Finally
If you’re still wondering, “Does my volunteer work even matter?”
Let me assure you: It matters deeply.
Every time you showed up without pay. Every time you helped someone without being asked. Every time you learned something without a grade or title attached.
It mattered.
And when you include that on your resume, you’re not just filling space.
You’re telling the world who you really are: someone who leads with service, shows up when it counts, and wants to make a difference.
Want a head start? Build Your free nursing resume . It’s clean, simple, and helps you include every piece of who you are.
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