How to Create a Travel Nurse Resume in 5 Minutes Using This Template

How to Create A Travel Nurse Resume in 5 Minutes: Use my Free Template!

A strong, concise travel nurse resume is vital in securing a contract in today’s market. The last few contracts that have been extended to me recently were for positions I submitted for that day or the day prior. The time between submitting your resume and securing an offer can be as short as a few hours, so a condensed resume is key. Hiring managers will only be viewing your resume for a matter of a few seconds, so it’s important to keep it short and sweet. 

Travel nurse contracts today are opening and closing within days…sometimes even within hours. The last thing you want is to miss a wonderful opportunity because you don’t have a resume ready to be submitted for the position. 

In this guide I will outline the key components of a travel nurse resume and provide an example to copy. Using my free template, you can plug in your own information and experience to have your resume ready for submission in as little as 5 minutes. 

1. Start with a Powerful Summary

Begin your travel nurse resume with a captivating summary that highlights your expertise, relevant skills, and passion for travel nursing. This snapshot should instantly grab the recruiter’s attention and provide a quick overview of your qualifications.

For example:

“Dedicated and experienced travel nurse with a proven track record of delivering high-quality patient care across diverse healthcare settings. Passionate about embracing new challenges and contributing to healthcare teams while exploring different cultures and communities.”

Keep this section to a sentence or two. In fact, half the time this section will be skimmed over anyways in search of the ‘Experience’ section.

2. Highlight Your Specializations and Certifications

Clearly outline your nursing specializations and certifications. Whether you’re a skilled ER nurse, labor and delivery expert, or have certifications in critical care, emphasize these qualifications early in your resume. This helps recruiters quickly identify your areas of expertise.

Example:

Certifications: ACLS, PALS, CCRN

Specializations: Emergency Room Nursing, Critical Care

3. Detail Your Nursing Experience

This section is the most important, as hiring managers want to know if you have at least 1-2 years of experience in your specialty. Provide a comprehensive overview of your nursing experience, emphasizing your accomplishments and responsibilities in each role. Include specific details such as the hospitals or healthcare facilities where you worked, patient demographics, and any specialized equipment or procedures you’re proficient in. 

Example:

Registered Nurse | XYZ Medical Center, Anytown, USA | May 2018 – Present

• 450-bed level I trauma center. Inpatient Cardiac Unit. 
• Patient population included patients suffering from heart attacks, stroke, and overdose.
• Skills include IV insertion, phlebotomy, and interpreting EKGs.

If your hospital was a trauma hospital, magnet hospital, etc., be sure to include those accolades. 

4. Showcase Flexibility and Adaptability

Highlight your ability to adapt to different healthcare environments and willingness to take on diverse assignments. This is especially crucial for travel nurses who thrive in dynamic and ever-changing work settings.

Example:

“Proven track record of seamlessly transitioning between various healthcare settings, demonstrating adaptability, and maintaining a high standard of patient care in each location.”

Travel nurses often receive only a shift or two of orientation, so showcasing your flexibility is important.

5. Include Education and Licensing Information

Clearly state your educational background, including your nursing degree and any additional certifications. Don’t forget to include details about your nursing license, indicating the states where you are licensed to practice.

Example:

Education:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing | ABC University | Graduated May 2017

Licensing:

Registered Nurse License: California, Texas, Florida

6. Detail Relevant Skills

Create a dedicated skills section that highlights both clinical and non-clinical skills. Include technical proficiencies, communication skills, and any additional languages spoken. Include which charting systems you have experience with.

Example:

Skills:

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Electronic Health Record (EHR) proficiency using Epic, Cerner, and Wellsky
• Multilingual: English and Spanish

7. Include Professional Memberships and Affiliations

If you’re a member of nursing organizations or professional associations, mention them in your resume. This demonstrates your commitment to ongoing professional development and networking within the nursing community.

Example:

Professional Memberships:

-American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)

-Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)

8. Tailor Your Resume for Each Application

Customize your travel nurse resume for each submission. Highlight specific skills and experiences that align with the requirements of the assignment, making it clear that you are the ideal candidate for the position. 

For example, if you are applying for a travel contract in an inpatient surgical unit, include more in-depth experience you have in that specific specialty. 

Example:

-Experience with patients following gastrointestinal, vascular, and orthopedic surgeries.

-Experience with surgical dressing management and wound care

-Experience with post-surgical pain management with a variety of pharmacological modalities including IV, topical, epidural, and oral analgesics. 

9. Proofread and Format for Clarity

Before submitting your travel nurse resume, carefully proofread it to ensure there are no typos or grammatical errors. Opt for a clean and professional format that is easy to read, using bullet points for clarity.

Remember, your travel nurse resume is your ticket to exciting opportunities. By following these steps and tailoring your resume for each application, you’ll present yourself as a highly qualified and adaptable professional ready to take on new challenges in the world of travel nursing. 

10. Plug In Your Information Into My Travel Nurse Resume Template

To have your travel nurse resume ready to submit to your recruiter in as little as 5 minutes, use my template to simply add in your own personal information and experience. Once you’ve entered your own relevant pieces of information and tweaked the overall resume to cater towards your specialty, submit it! Best of luck securing your next contract!

Travel Nurse Resume Template

Still stuck? Check out these additional resources to get your travel nurse resume perfected for submission to your recruiter!

• The Trusted Health Blog: The Ultimate Guide to Nurse Resumes: Examples, Template, and Practical Tips
• ResumeBuilder: Travel Nurse Resume Examples and Templates for 2024