Creating a compelling travel nurse resume is key to landing the assignments you’ve been dreaming of. In this guide, you’ll find expert tips, a breakdown of essential sections, examples of what to include (and what to avoid), and even a free downloadable template to help you get started.

Travel Nurse Resume Example

PRN-Patty-Resume-1Download

Essential Sections for a Strong Travel Nurse Resume

Designing an appealing and organized layout for your travel nurse resume is crucial to making a strong first impression on potential employers. Every nurse’s resume should include these essential sections:

#1 Contact Information

✓ Full name in a legible, slightly larger font

✓ Current job title or the position you’re applying for

✓ Address (City and State for the US)

✓ Professional email address

✓ Phone Number

Example:

#2 Objective

This brief introduction should summarize your career goals and what you’re looking for in your next opportunity. Tailor this to each job for best results.

✓ Keep it brief and include relevant skills

✓ Write about 1-2 sentences for this section

#3 License

State all active licenses, including the dates each was issued. This helps in tracking upcoming expiration dates and determine if any renewals are needed before or during your contract period.

✓ License type and issuing state

✓ License number (optional)

✓ Dates received and expiration

Example:

#4 Certifications

Include any relevant certifications, such as:

✓ BLS, ACLS, PALS, TNCC, etc.

✓ Issuing organization

✓ Date earned and expiration (if applicable)

#5 Work Experience

The work experience section of your travel nurse resume will make you stand out from other applicants. This section is arguably the most important for employers and dates of employment.

✓ Facility name, City, and State

✓ Employment dates (Month/Year format)

✓ Specific responsibilities and achievements

✓ Relevant specialties and clinical enviroments (e.g., ICU, ER, OR)

Example:

#6 Skill

This section showcases the unique abilities and expertise that set you apart in nursing. Highlight both clinical and soft skills, including:

✓ Adaptability

✓ EMR/EHR systems (specify which ones)

✓ IV insertion, wound care, patient assessment

✓ Strong communication and teamwork

#7 Accomplishments

This section highlights vital achievements that demonstrate your exceptional skills and contributions to the nursing field. This section showcases measurable successes and recognitions, underlining your professional excellence and dedication.

✓ Patient satisfaction scores

✓ Awards or recognitions

✓ Efficiency or workflow improvements

#8 Education

In the education section, list your degrees and diplomas with dates. If you are a new graduate, feel free to list other specialized skills you already have education in that other new grads may not.

✓ School Name

✓ City and State

✓ Graduation year

Comparison of Good and Bad Travel Nurse Resumes

In the table below, we have delineated the essential components of an effective travel nurse resume. Each element is crucial in conveying your qualifications and professional background to prospective employers.

Pros and Cons of a Travel Nurse Resume

Key Components Good Resume Example Bad Resume Example
Contact Information Clear listing of full name, phone number, professional email, and city/state of residence. Missing/incorrect contact info, unprofessional email, or inclusion of unnecessary personal details.
Resume Summary Concise summary stating experience, specialties, and career objectives, tailored to the specific position. Vague/generic summary or no summary at all.
License Details Clear listing of nursing licenses with state(s) of licensure and license numbers. Missing/incomplete licensure info or failure to mention compact licensure.
Work Experience Well-organized listing of relevant work experiences with facility, location, dates. Disorganized/incomplete work experience section or listing irrelevant jobs.
Education Clear listing of nursing education with relevant coursework or clinical rotations. Missing/unclear education info or failing to list important credentials.
Certifications Detailed listing of relevant certifications with dates of attainment and expiration. Missing/incomplete certification info or listing outdated/irrelevant certifications.

5 Tips to Improve a Travel Nurse Resume

Selecting the appropriate resume format is the first crucial step in crafting a travel nurse resume that effectively communicates your skills and experience.

#1 Customize Your Summary

Tailor your resume summary to each position and facility.
Example:
“I’m excited to apply for the ICU RN position with PRN Healthcare. With six years of ICU experience, I excel in high-pressure environments and patient-centered care. I’m seeking new travel opportunities and would love to contribute to your team.”

#2 Use Action Verbs in Your Experience Section

Using action words in your experience section will add dimension and momentum. Say “Administered medications to post-op patients” instead of “Responsible for giving meds.” Your experience section should not be a long paragraph of sentences but a bulleted list of your experiences.

#3 Be Honest About Your Experience

The number one way to frustrate your interviewers is to exaggerate your experience. This is dangerous for you and a waste of time for interviewers. The agency or hiring managers select travel nurse resumes based on what they need based on experience and certifications. If you exaggerate your experience, you could be expected to carry out responsibilities you are not trained for. This could cause costly medical errors. If the interviewers find out you lied on your resume during their interview, that can leave a bad impression, especially if you apply for other jobs through them later. Accurate representation helps ensure patient safety and builds trust with recruiters.

#4 Optimize for ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)

Travel nurse resumes may be run through a computer at large hospital systems or agencies to weed out good and bad candidates. The trick to having the computer select your resume over others is the keywords you use, mirror job description keywords for skills and specialties. Review the job description and try to match key phrases and words to what is in the job description. For example, if the job description says, “Record patient vital signs and medical information accurately and in detail,” you can write in your experience section, “Recorded patient vital signs and information with close attention to detail.” These phrases are close enough together that the computer will pick them up as a match!

#5 Check Spelling and Grammar Twice

We understand this is a travel nurse resume, and you are not applying to be a book editor, but having great grammar and spelling will be a great sign for employers. After all, written and verbal communication is a huge part of being a successful registered nurse. We all make grammatical errors now and again, especially if you have been staring at your resume for a long time. A rule of thumb is to take a break and come back to review your resume later. Even one typo can weaken your credibility—review carefully or get a second pair of eyes.

What is the Right Resume Format for Travel Nurses?

Creating a well-structured and professionally formatted travel nurse resume is essential to make a strong first impression on potential employers and enhance your chances of landing the assignments you desire

• Font: Use Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman (10–12 pt)
• Formatting: Keep it consistent and clean
• Bullets: Use bullet points to improve scan-ability
• Margins: Standard 1-inch margins
• Color: Stick to black and white with optional subtle accents
• File Type: Save and send as a PDF

By following these formatting guidelines, you’ll create a professional and visually appealing travel nurse resume that is more likely to capture the attention of potential employers and pass through automated applicant tracking systems with ease.

What is the Ideal Length for a Travel Nurse’s Resume?

• 1 page: New grads or limited experience
• 2 pages: Experienced nurses with multiple assignments

Focus on clarity, relevance, and impact.

By following this updated guide, you’ll be ready to create a powerful travel nurse resume that stands out to recruiters and passes ATS screenings. Good luck on your travel nursing journey!

Check out open travel positions here!