- Ruth Kogan
- Jan 18
- 6 min read
Ready to showcase your best work? Start building your portfolio →
Learning how to make a nursing portfolio is key to showcasing your clinical experience, education and professional achievements. This guide walks you through each step to create an online portfolio that highlights your skills, compassion and commitment to patient care.
Whether you’re applying for your first nursing job, seeking a promotion or advancing your education, a well-organized portfolio helps you stand out and demonstrates your dedication to professional growth.
Learn more: How to make a portfolio
With Wix’s portfolio builder, you can create a professional, eye-catching portfolio in just a few clicks. Customizable templates and intuitive tools make it easy to showcase your work with confidence, leaving a lasting impression on every visitor.
TL;DR: How to make a nursing portfolio
Start by including your credentials, licenses, certifications, clinical experience and work accomplishments. You can also add brief reflections to show what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown as a nurse. A digital portfolio makes it easy to update and share with employers, mentors or graduate programs.
Using tools like Wix, you can create a professional, customizable portfolio while keeping patient information secure, thanks to HIPAA compliance. Keep your portfolio organized, easy to read and updated regularly with new certifications, experiences or achievements. A well-maintained portfolio shows your professionalism and commitment to lifelong learning in nursing.
Features of a great nursing portfolio
Feature | Why it matters |
Credentials and certifications | Shows your qualifications and expertise. Include degrees, licenses, specialty credentials and CPR or CEU certificates, organized by category and date. |
Clinical and work experience | Demonstrates hands-on skills and impact. Highlight responsibilities, key accomplishments and measurable outcomes, including anonymized patient care examples. |
Professional growth and reflection | Shows critical thinking and ongoing learning. Add short reflections on experiences, what you learned and how you improved patient care. |
Clean, organized design | Makes your portfolio easy to navigate. Use clear sections like About me, experience, certifications and references with a simple, professional layout. |
Privacy and compliance | Protects patient information and builds trust. Redact identifiable patient data and use HIPAA-compliant platforms like Wix for your digital portfolio. |
How to make a nursing portfolio in 6 steps
A nursing portfolio is more than a resume it’s a professional collection that tells your story as a nurse. Follow these five steps to create a portfolio that showcases your skills, compassion and dedication to patient care.
01. Start with your nursing credentials
Its important to start the process of building a portfolio by first collecting what's essential to include in your nursing portfolio.
Degrees
Nursing licenses (RN or LPN)
Other relevant certifications (including CPR certification)
Specialty credentials (like ACLS or PALS)
Continuing education (CEU) certificates
Skill competency checklists and annual performance appraisals
A good way to organize your credentials is by category and date so they're easy for potential employers to look through.
It's also recommended to upload copies of scans of all of the above. Never include original, irreplaceable documents. It's a great way to establish your credibility as a nurse from the start.
02. Showcase your clinical and work experience
You should use your nursing portfolio to highlight your practical experience, both clinical rotations and professional roles. As part of this you can list each healthcare facility you worked at with the relevant dates, your responsibilities and and key accomplishments.
Include examples of patient care situations, teamwork and examples of your leadership in fast-paced environments. Focus on measurable outcomes such as improved patient satisfaction, reduced wait times or successful implementation of care plans.
Make your nursing portfolio stand out by including any awards you’ve won, leadership experiences, letters of recommendation, thank-you notes from patients or families (with identifying details redacted) and presentations or research.
Another thing to consider is that, testimonials from supervisors, instructors, or colleagues can provide valuable third-party credibility. Just be sure to request permission before publishing them online.
You can also include professional activities such as committee involvement, evidence-based practice projects or publications/posters to further demonstrate your engagement in the field.
03. Build and design your nursing portfolio
Building a nursing portfolio doesn't have to be complicated, time consuming or expensive.
The first thing to do is to choose a portfolio builder, like Wix. A portfolio builder makes it easy to create a portfolio because it includes:
Secure web hosting, a domain name (customizable if you need), in-built website security
Portfolio templates for a wide range of website types, including health website templates
Drag and drop editor, for easy customization of your portfolio
Customer support
Both free and paid portfolio building plans (yes, you can create a nursing portfolio free)
In some cases, an AI website builder that allows you to create a site in minutes
If you're using a template, you don't have to be a web designer to create an effective and great looking nursing portfolio. But its important to make sure it's clear, easy to read and professional, just as with building a medical website.
You can create either a physical binder or a digital portfolio depending on your preference.
Check out these best portfolio builders to explore further.
Focus on a clean layout with relevant sections such as an:
About me
Clinical experience
Certifications
Professional development
References
You can also think about adding a professional headshot and a short bio summarizing your nursing philosophy, something about what drives you, your areas of expertise and your approach to patient care.
Be inspired by some of these best portfolios.
04. Protect patient confidentiality
Confidentiality is critical in any nursing portfolio. Never include identifiable patient information, such as full names, dates of birth or medical record numbers. Redact or anonymize documentation, including case studies, evaluations or thank-you notes.
It’s also important to make sure your portfolio complies with privacy regulations, such as HIPAA, to protect patients and maintain professional standards.
Did you know? Wix is now officially HIPAA compliant. HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is a U.S. law that protects sensitive patient information. With Wix’s compliance, our platform meets top-tier data privacy and security standards.
This makes Wix a secure and reliable option for nurses and other healthcare professionals who handle personal health details. You can create your site with confidence, knowing you have the tools to protect your clients' information.
05. Add reflective and professional growth entries
Reflective entries give your portfolio depth by showing how you learn, think critically and grow as a nurse. They’re especially valuable for students and early-career professionals.
Keep reflections brief but meaningful. You can:
Describe a clinical situation you encountered
Explain your actions and reasoning
Highlight what you learned and how it improved patient care
Using a simple framework, like Gibbs’ reflective cycle, can make it easier to structure your thoughts and show your ongoing growth and professional development.
06. Keep your nursing portfolio updated
A nursing portfolio is a living, online asset. This means that you need to update it regularly with any new credentials you earn, your continuing education and work experiences. As your career progresses, include more advanced roles, new specialties or professional memberships you take on.
Regular updates ensure your portfolio always reflects your current skills making it always perfect for job interviews, annual reviews or graduate program applications.
Creating another type of portfolio?
Tips and best practices for your nursing portfolio
Following a few best practices can help your nursing portfolio stand out and clearly showcase your skills and experience. As Chava Katz, PMM @ Wix Pages at Wix says:
“Your portfolio is your visual resume, it speaks before you do. It’s how clients, employers or collaborators understand what makes your work special. The stronger the story it tells, the more doors it opens.”
How to make a nursing portfolio FAQ
Should I create a digital or printed nursing portfolio?
A digital portfolio is convenient to share and keep especially when applying for jobs online. However, a printed version can be useful for interviews or networking events.
How often should a portfolio be updated?
Update it at least once a year or whenever you complete new certifications, start a new position, or achieve a milestone. Regular updates ensure your portfolio remains accurate and professional.