How to create the best travel nurse resume

The travel nurse resume 101 

When you’re constantly changing assignments and switching up your locations, the last thing you want to be doing is struggling to update your travel nurse resume.

That’s why we thought we’d break this down for you in 7 easy steps that will ensure you meet all travel nurse requirements for your next assignment.

In this blog, we’ve also provided a CV template with a certification checklist to make the process of creating the perfect travel nurse resume even easier.

Step 1: Gather Important Information

Before starting the process of building your travel nurse resume, you’ll need to make sure you have all of the following:

• Personal details (name, contact information)
• Licenses and certifications
• Education history
• Work experience
• Skills
• References

Step 2: Format Correctly

The best format for a travel nurse resume is known as ‘reverse chronological’, where you begin with your latest role and work backwards. This is vital when applying for travel nurse roles, as your most recent specialty must be the same as the specialty you’re applying for.

Your roles should be listed concisely in this format, highlighting key information.  

Step 3: Highlight Your Licenses and Certifications

In terms of travel nurse requirements, your certifications are of paramount importance, so make sure you detail:

• RN license (with state details)
• BLS, ACLS, PALS certifications (and other other certifications relevant to the position you are applying for)
• Any specialty certifications (such as PREA and AWHONN)
  
  

Step 4: Feature Your Education

For all travel nurse jobs, you’ll need to display your nursing education, including:

• Degree obtained (e.g. Bachelor's in Nursing)
• Name of the institution
• Graduation date 

Step 5: List Your Work Experience

Include your work experience in reverse chronological order. For each position, include:

• Position- your official job title
• Facility name- not your travel nurse agency if you previously worked with one
• City and state
• Nurse-to-patient ratio (if known)
• Any additional information relating to the skills gained and relevant experiences

 Step 6: Champion Yourself!

Don’t be shy about being vocal of your skills- whether they relate to your role specifically or your personality and ‘soft skills’ (such as organisational skills or verbal communication skills). You could highlight the skills gained at each position underneath each role and how they align with what you’re looking for next , to provide crucial context to any recruiter or hiring manager reading your resume. Your references are also key to feature here to provide your application with credibility. 

Step 7: Proofread!

The last thing you want is to create a professional resume and to have your spelling and grammar let you down at the last hurdle. Make sure you:

• Check for spelling mistakes
• Check your grammar
• Check your wording is concise and your sentences are not too long
• Check your information is up-to-date and accurate

As promised, click the link below to download your CV template AND a certification checklist to ensure you include everything you need to land your dream travel nursing role.

As a travel nurse staffing agency with over 35 years of experience, we have some of the most sought-after travel nurse jobs in the US- check them out here.

Got your info together or an assignment in mind? Connect to a recruiter.